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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews12:1-2ESV This idea that we are called to run a race with endurance, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses...have you ever really considered what this means? God is calling us to put down the things that slow us down, to train so we can endurance run...and we have cheerleaders! Scripture is giving us a beautiful picture to encourage us to fight against the desire we have to sprint, our need for instant gratification. It shows us we must commit to the longer race. There are many difficulties in this for me! The biggest one is I can’t see the finish line when I start. I like to know where I am going, what the road looks like, what all I need for the trip and the list goes on. It is hard for me to put things down – to lay aside the unnecessary weight. I have armored up and I have lots of baggage. But it is impossible to endurance run unless I put some of those things down. That’s a little bit scary because in my human frailty, I believe that I need all of my things. But today, we want to talk about the things that really matter when you are preparing for mission work (running the race that is set before us). I am so encouraged that we are not running this race alone. There are those surrounding us, a great cloud of witnesses. But for the joy set before ME, can I follow the example of Christ? When preparing for mission work, Leigh Taylor Hamilton, from World Medical Mission, asks us to consider adding these things to the checklist: Humility My dad declared at the dinner table “I feel like I’m becoming more humble lately.” I quickly said, “Dad, you can’t say that!” I believe what he meant to say was, “God has really been working on me and my pride.” After thinking about this, I realized that while most believers do not outwardly make such contradictory statements, we do harbor secret pride. Secret pride creeps into mission work because of one word: sacrifice. We secretly look at our sacrifices within material wealth, time, and skills and then think look what I gave up. We know that in mission work, if we hold onto this pride in sacrifice we will never fully experience true biblical humility therefore missing freedom from our selfishness. It doesn’t mean we do not have confidence in our calling and knowing who we are but it does mean that we need to lay aside any thoughts toward titles and renown – especially in the secret place of the heart that harbors these desires and need of recognition. 1 Peter 5:5 reminds us that, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Flexibility Missions will put your flexibility to the test. Between third-world systems, licensing, transportation, and minimal resources you will quickly realize how important it is to know your limits and how to work through those tests. This is why we must surrender any expectations of how the journey will go towards the will of God. Be open to new plans, cancellations and changes in directions. This allows for God to work through us. Versatility Be pretty good at a lot of different things. Missionary work will require you to do different things you aren’t always comfortable with or feel prepared for but we at least try and learn different ways of doing things in order to understand others we will work alongside. And Remember: Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts) and reveal the areas that exist where secret pride creeps in, flexibility limits us, and versatility fails -the known and the unknown. May He reveal this to your hearts as you confidently accept this call to serve. To God only be the Glory.  

Today we are going to go back to the topic of short term trips. First we're going to hear from my friend Tina, who willingly steps in and serves in any capacity, any location, any time. She is an amazing servant. Then we will hear from Dr. Peter Chu and Dr. Hyon Kim, who were "Short Term Long Term" trailblazers with SIM. Both of these perspectives bring a much needed reminder that each of us brings something different to the table. God created us all to serve in the way he designed and we need to be faithful to that.  A More Excellent Way by Tina Bruner “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Cor 12: 4-7 ESV The great thing about the body is that it MUST work together. It is many different parts with different functions – but one part without the others means it isn’t whole. Scripture is clear that each part of the body is equal. God made each of us to be part of the body that needs the other parts, and our part is needed. As a non-medical person on a trip to Nigeria to train pastors to do basic dentistry, I learned how even our teeth are created for different functions and without certain teeth and their role, eating would be difficult. During that training I witnessed how beautiful it is when the body of Christ works together. Believers teaching and serving one another so that they might better serve those in need and bring hope to the hurting. It is a powerful witness to our divided world when we work together in the way God designed us. He is showing us a more excellent way by creating us this way. Long Term Goals by Dr. Peter Chu and Dr. Hyon Kim Peter first served at SIM’s Galmi hospital in 1998 for 3 months, and shortly after returned with Hyon in 1999 to serve for 6 months to provide medical coverage and to discern future ministry direction. It was during this time that they developed a vision for “long-term-short- term-medical-mission-work”. God helped them see the need for physicians who bridged those who “sent” mission workers and those who were “sent” as mission workers. For the next 20 years, Peter and Hyon made regular annual trips to Galmi for a few weeks to months at a time. They remained flexible to the staffing needs of the hospital and tried to offer their service when long-term physicians were on home assignment or at conferences. Returning to the same hospital reduced the need for orientation and shortened learning curves and adjustment periods. Committing to one hospital and returning on a regular basis gave them a unique “long- term-outsider’s” perspective which enabled them to participate and speak into strategic hospital issues. They developed deep relationships with long-term mission workers and hospital staff, which allowed them to carry out their most meaningful ministry of walking alongside people and encouraging them to persevere in their call and faith. Although, they cared for many patients at Galmi, they look back and see how God used them to encourage the long-term workers, by providing a loving and listening ear, procuring special hospital supplies, and supporting the work financially and by prayer. “Long-term-short-term-medical-mission-work” was also a helpful way to maintain a winsome witness in their passport country. They both worked in academic settings in Toronto and had many opportunities to speak to their colleagues, medical trainees, and patients about their medical mission work and faith in Jesus. Over the years they had the privilege of taking several residents and colleagues to Galmi – people who otherwise would not have considered a mission trip except that they were invited by Peter and Hyon to serve with them. Some of these people have gone on to serve in medical missions on their own in both long- and short-term capacities. They are grateful to have had this special opportunity to serve God in medical missions. They hope others will consider doing the same.   So, can short-term teams really have an impact? Clearly, yes! To take a deeper dive into the world of short term trips, find more resources and a trip list here: https://www.medicalmissions.com/missions/shortterm To download our FREE 30 Day Journal: https://www.medicalmissions.com/finding-my-place-in-short-term-missions

This year’s Global Missions Health Conference was a special one. After a full two years, we were back in person. We got through some of the hardest days of our lives in 2020, and wasn’t it good to be together again in 2021? It felt like a family reunion, a time to gather together and remember all the ways that the Lord has been so faithful to us over the last two years. I’m going to go over some highlights that stood out to me, but I would also encourage you to talk with your family and friends about what impacted you. Don’t just let this year’s conference come and go. Take that next step in missions. Talk, pray, learn, grow, listen. And if you weren’t at the conference this year, be encouraged by the 2200 people that were in person and online being challenged to enter into the next step of healthcare missions for the glory of God. Arriving at the GMHC As the conference is getting started each year, there is always a buzz of excitement in the air that you can almost feel. Exhibitors are setting up their booths, pre-conference meetings are happening, the registration counter is priming for thousands of people to arrive. The anticipation was even greater this year after our virtual only event in 2021. As attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and volunteers started arriving on Thursday afternoon, masks were in place, but that did not diminish the joy in seeing one another in person and catching up on all that the has happened over the last few years. This year’s Thursday afternoon plenary with Dr. Daisey Dowell was an inspiring way to kick off the weekend. She challenged each one of us with her story and her perseverance and reminded us that we are all servants in training. New to this year’s conference was the addition of a Thursday evening church service with Southeast Christian Church. It gave attendees the chance to join in a worship service or take the time to visit exhibitors and learn more about what is happening in the world of healthcare missions. Breakout Sessions The breakout sessions were outstanding this year, with topics ranging from Domestic Health Disparities to International Equipping and everything in between. We had speakers from all over the globe, some even joining us via Zoom from the Middle East or Africa. Everyone had patience with this new digital world we live in, knowing that we have to be patient with technology sometimes! This was our first year to live stream some of our sessions and it was overall a great experience. Our Hands On sessions were popular as always. Everyone loves learning how to suture, do an ultrasound with minimal equipment/skills, and equipping themselves with newborn care at birth. These hands-on sessions are a great way for our undergraduate students to get a taste of what could be their future! Plenary Sessions All of our plenary sessions this year were outstanding. On Friday Dr. Phil, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Hillis shared about how we can use data to make informed, loving decisions for those around us. On Friday we heard from many different speakers from all different backgrounds about their journeys in and through healthcare missions. Dr. Donlon was an amazing facilitator throughout that plenary and led us through the many ways that we can all be challenged to learn, pray, send, and go.  On Saturday morning, Dr. Jason closed us out with a convicting talk on Z groups – the places and people in the world that have zero disciples. He called on us all to lay down on pride and our sense of self-importance in order to truly listen to Jesus’ call on our life. And we finished our time together with a call to commitment, in the traditional GMHC way – bringing a commitment card up to the map and laying it on a location we feel that God is pulling us toward. These cards will be mailed to everyone in a few months as a reminder of this time and this passion. Other Fun and Interesting Tidbits We tried out food trucks this year! The people who were in the front of the lines enjoyed the food trucks immensely…and the people in the back of the lines, not so much! While we know that some of you loved it and some of you didn’t, we are always committed to trying and improving. We’ll be back next year with something even better! Our exhibitors were amazing as always. The exhibitors represent all the ways you can move toward your next step in missions, so their presence is extremely important to us. We are thrilled that so many exhibitors come ready to engage attendees with interactive and thoughtful displays and materials. Our virtual audience was able to experience some unique interviews with speakers, exhibitors, and partners. This feature was a great way to go a little deeper and learn a little more about some of our most seasoned and experienced medical professionals. Many of them have been coming to the GMHC for years now, and they bring a wealth of knowledge. We’re lucky to have these amazing men and women in our midst! We introduced a new idea that will be percolating for all of 2022 – the Pathways to Healthcare Missions. This idea was introduced in the Friday night plenary and we encouraged attendees to take the online survey so that we can tailor the forthcoming classes, materials, and online resources to your needs. We want to create resources that will be a guide and a pathway to help people navigate their next step, wherever that might be. We’re excited for where this path is going to take us! Thank you. Thank you for being a part of the GMHC. Whether you attended in person, virtually, or historically (or if you simply hope to attend someday!), we are thankful for you. We are thankful for your heart that desires to serve and for your skills that you are willing to share. You are an inspiration to us here at GMHC/MedicalMissions.com and you are the reason we do what we do. We long to see every people group and every nation experience the love of Jesus and the physical care that they deserve – and we hope that we can be a small part of you becoming the hands and feet of Jesus.

Dr. and Mrs. McDonald have served in international ministry with over 30 years of experience. Offered an international career with the UN and World Bank, they took the path less traveled, and it has made all the difference…for eternity! With work experience in over 50 countries, together they have helped set up or empower scores of development projects that continue today. These include hospitals, clinics, medical training, orphanages, community centers, schools from preschool to graduate level, businesses, farms, plantations, factories, safe houses, all providing products and services for the local community and export. Trial and error have revealed ten important principles foundational to success in social enterprise. One of them of particular interest in ministry is the issue of multiple “bottom lines.” Profit, the usual bottom line, cannot stand alone. Their core value is that any effort must produce spiritual results, at least in opening doors. Results are God ordained, not man driven. For what profits a man to gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Other principles flow from this core foundational premise. How do you determine the most strategic set of needs when there are so many? And how do you prioritize? How do you find a competitive advantage? How do you diversify to minimize risk? How do you write a business plan to know viability? How do you find the “Champion” if you are not on the ground yourself? How do you avoid colonialism while creating accountability? How do you measure results? How do you avoid corruption? Be encouraged that there is nothing greater than empowering a people group sold out to Christ to become independent to leverage the gospel in their own community! The story of McDonald’s journey is there’s no greater joy than seeing men, women and children come to know the True and Living God while standing free and reaching their own through economic, social and spiritual empowerment! Phil holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State in international development and is the CEO of L.E.A.D. Inc. Rebecca is the Founder and CEO of Women At Risk, Int’l, addressing multiple risk issues in 56 countries and licensed in all 50 states to train medical professionals in anti-trafficking. As a family, they raised four children in the developing world and know the unique challenges of marriage, family, career, ministry, business, and social entrepreneurship in a cross-cultural environment. They never expected to be serial entrepreneurs. Last year Phil authored an Amazon bestselling book entitled, “unreal: Adventures of a Family’s Global Life.” Written in memoir form, the book recounts 90 stories that highlight 60 principles learned from more than 30 years of experience.

As we approach the annual Global Missions Health Conference, I get more and more excited to see everyone together. I know we’re still in the midst of the ravaging effects of Covid-19, but I truly hope and pray that our time together will serve as a time to bolster our faith as we move forward in God’s mission. As a group of healthcare professionals, you are the exact people that are most in need right now. You are the people that can bring the only hope and healing that we need in the world – both physically and spiritually. We’ve been talking about short term trip opportunities this month on the blog and the Global Missions Health Conference always provides unique ways to engage in every kind of mission opportunity. We’re excited to see all the organizations and agencies you will interact with and learn from. One of those organizations that you will see is CMDA – Christian Medical & Dental Associations. Dr. Shari Falkenheimer, MD, MPH, MA (Bioethics), PhD works with CMDA USA as the Director of Medical Education International. She is going to share a story with us today about how short-term trips really can make a difference. We hope you will take the time to meet many others like Dr. Falkenheimer, who can share all of their resources, time, and wisdom with you while at the GMHC.                         Are short-term teams really beneficial? Can short-term trips have a long-term impact spiritually and medically? If done right, they can! Here’s an example... A US short-term medical education ministry was asked by the Kenyan Christian Medical & Dental Association (KCMDA) to provide training in trauma life support. Like many countries, motor vehicle and other trauma are common causes of death, and they wanted to be able to provide appropriate life-saving care. The US ministry sent five small teams over five years to meet the KCMDA’s goals. The Kenyans set up and advertised the training, arranged the venue, registered attendees and charged to cover their costs. The US team taught trauma life support principles, along with skills labs and a final mega-code practical to ensure students were able to use what they learned in a realistic scenario. A large number of participants attended these courses in Nairobi, many funded by a local Muslim hospital system. Optional devotions were offered each morning. After a couple of years, top graduates of the program were mentored and trained to teach the course and were mentored by the US team the first time they taught it. It was truly a training of trainers, multiplying the impact of the US team. This training became the standard of care in Nairobi medical facilities. And those Kenyan trainers took the course to over 1500 Kenyan medical personnel in 3 cities over the next 2 years and to an adjacent nation. Not long after the training, the Kenyan doctors were faced with post-election violence. They credited the course as having taught them how to respond to the resulting trauma patients. One even credited his relative’s survival to the training. Those who attended devotions were exposed to the gospel. The Kenyan CMDA became better known and appreciated for bringing the training to their country. Remaining funds from registration helped their ministry. And the KCMDA’s goal was met – they brought real improvement in trauma care not only to Nairobi but other cities and an adjacent country. So, can short-term teams really have an impact? Clearly, yes! To take a deeper dive into the world of short term trips, find more resources and a trip list here: https://www.medicalmissions.com/missions/shortterm To download our FREE 30 Day Journal: https://www.medicalmissions.com/finding-my-place-in-short-term-missions

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken it’s toll on every family, from frustration with being stuck at home, to job loss, to loneliness and social deprivation. But for many families, those three factors have been the perfect combination to provide an environment ripe for trauma. For children, we see that trauma has an impact on the development of the brain that effects learning, relationships, and emotional regulation. This seminar will give you a greater understanding of the developmental impact of trauma and tools to help children and adults grow in resilience rather than destruction through hard circumstances.

Short-term mission trips are focused seasons of service that support long-term gospel work through practical help, humble partnership, and shared commitment. When people ask how mission trips help, they often want to know if the impact is real and lasting. Healthy short-term engagement strengthens long-term teams, builds local capacity, and shapes the hearts of those who go. The goal is not a memorable trip but a faithful partnership that endures. In September of 2021, Medical Missions hosted a virtual event featuring several people from around the world who are involved in healthcare missions. That virtual event created space to explore the realities of the mission landscape today. Those realities connect with what has been true for a long time: long-term missionaries often face difficult circumstances with little relief, and they need more people to step in with steady support. The virtual event also made a case for short-term trip involvement that promotes sustainability through consistent commitment. Short-term teams can help shoulder burdens, encourage leaders, and strengthen ongoing work when the trip is built around the needs and direction of those serving on the ground. During the virtual event, attendees also had the chance to download a 30-Day Journal exploring each person’s place in short-term missions. The reflections in that journal point toward a simple idea: the benefits of short-term missions grow when short-term engagement fits into something bigger than a single trip.   Key Takeaways Short-term mission trips are rooted in a long biblical and historical pattern of people going with purpose, even though the form and length of those trips have always varied by context. Mission trips are most effective when they are designed in partnership with long-term teams and focused on strengthening local work rather than operating independently. When planned well, short-term trips can meaningfully support long-term missionaries by relieving pressure, providing targeted help, and sharing both practical and spiritual burdens. Healthy and sustainable short-term engagement prioritizes humility, listening, and alignment with local goals, recognizing that steady support often matters more than dramatic intervention. Time constraints do not determine impact, because mission trips help most when creativity, focus, and faithful alignment guide how available time is used.   Principles for Engaging with Short-Term Trips So, start with the basics. What are short-term mission trips? A helpful starting point is the story of mission movement in Scripture. The first missions are in the book of Acts and the journeys of Paul and others. Groups went out with purpose to different regions to share the good news. The details changed from place to place. Routes varied. Lengths of stay differed. Some seasons involved work in one location, and other seasons required moving on. That variety still matters. The Lord calls people to respond to real cultures and real needs, not a one-size-fits-all formula. Yet one thing stays consistent: people went. In more recent history, especially over the past century, modern travel and technology have increased short-term missions. In many ways, the North American church now associates mission work primarily with short-term trips. That reality carries opportunity, but it also requires wisdom. A trip can do lasting good, and it can also do harm when motives are tangled or when teams operate independently of local leadership.  It is worth taking seriously that poorly designed trips can create dependency, disrupt local systems, or center the missionaries in ways that miss the point. That said, there are also a lot of myths about the negative effects of mission trips.    How to Keep Mission Trips Effective Here are a few principles that help keep short-term mission trips effective and grounded: Work with long-term teams. Short-term teams (groups or individuals) should work with long-term teams to strengthen long-term impact, not compete with it. Return with regularity. Greater impact often comes when groups and individuals find a rhythm of consistent service to the same place over time. Treat the trip as a step, not the destination. Short-term trips should support a larger journey of obedience and service, not act as an end goal. Leave skills behind. When possible, train others and strengthen systems so the work continues after you leave. Certain skills take years to develop, but many meaningful skills can be taught, modeled, and handed off. This mindset fits well within the larger story of healthcare missions across time. Mission trips should leave the visited better off long-term.    How Mission Trips Help Long-Term Teams It is easy to measure a trip by what the short-term team experiences. A better question asks what the long-term team and local leaders need. When a church, school, or clinic carries heavy responsibilities year-round, a well-planned team can provide targeted reinforcement. That might mean clinical coverage that allows someone to rest, training that strengthens a local program, or strategic help that addresses a bottleneck. Long-term missionaries also carry pressures many supporters never see. Some of those pressures include isolation, limited resources, and ongoing spiritual weight. Practical partnership can relieve real strain. Done well, short-term involvement becomes one expression of the body of Christ sharing burdens. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).   What Makes Short-Term Engagement Healthy and Sustainable The core issue is not whether a plane ticket is bought. The core issue is whether the visit strengthens what God is already doing through local believers and long-term teams. That means planning with humility, listening before acting, and aligning work with local goals. It also means choosing service that fits the context. Sometimes the most loving contribution is not a dramatic intervention but steady support that builds trust. Short-term trips also help people discern next steps, like becoming a medical missionary. For others, it clarifies that their best role is as a sender, advocate, fundraiser, prayer partner, or recruiter. Either outcome can be faithful.    But What About the Time? Time may be the greatest commodity today, and it is not something anyone can manufacture. Still, the Lord often meets people right inside the limits they feel most sharply. Short-term engagement can take many forms. Some trips last a weekend. Others last one to two weeks. Some clinical rotations and specialized assignments last several weeks or longer. Length alone does not decide impact. Focus, humility, and alignment do. If the schedule feels tight, consider a few ways to leverage time for the Kingdom: Combine missions with rhythms already in place. Vacation, sabbatical, or a clinical rotation overseas can become an opportunity for meaningful service. Families can sometimes participate in ways that fit their season. Use stepping stones. If international travel feels like a big leap right now, that can be a reasonable season. Support a long-term team, join training, or commit to prayer and advocacy while discerning what comes next. Choose creativity over resignation. Look at the calendar and consider what might be possible with prayerful planning, shared responsibility, and honest conversations. Here is a simple impact statement worth keeping in view: how mission trips help becomes clearest when the trip strengthens local leadership, supports long-term workers, and forms the participant into a steadier servant.   Next Steps for Making Short-Term Mission Trips Effective A short-term trip can be a start, a reset, or a renewed commitment to long-term partnership. It can also be a way to learn and grow without trying to do everything at once. If the desire is to explore real opportunities and find options that fit a particular skill set, schedule, and season of life, take a look at short-term missions opportunities and consider what kind of consistent commitment might be possible.   Related Questions   Do mission trips actually help people? Yes, when trips are designed around local leadership and long-term goals, they bring practical support and lasting encouragement.   How do mission trips change you? They often reshape priorities by building humility, gratitude, and a clearer view of God’s work beyond familiar settings.   What can you learn from a mission trip? A well-planned trip teaches cultural awareness, teamwork, and how to serve without taking control.   How long do mission trips usually last? Most short-term trips range from a few days to two weeks, though some clinical rotations and assignments last longer.  

We have another guest blog post today. We're going to be hearing from a missionary that serves with YWAM, and is also a presenter at this year's GMHC. We hope that this experienced missionary's words can give you hope, freedom, and excitement for all that the Lord wants to do with your life. Enjoy!   Amy was excited to be moving into a Central Asian country. Her dream of becoming a missionary was about to be fulfilled. She and her husband Sam (names changed) had prayed and prepared for two years to make this move. This was the first assignment for this young couple. At first, it felt exciting. Everything was new and a bit confusing, but this is where the Lord had sent them. After a few months the novelty wore off, and the reality of how difficult it was to fit into a new culture, master a new language, make new friends, and “do ministry” began to settle in. Amy felt increasingly isolated, fearful, hopeless, worthless (not her personality). She began to lose her joy. Everything was hard. Unknowingly, Amy was coming under “the spirits of the land,” those dark powers that ruled that region, blinded its inhabitants to the truth, and held people in thrall to the kingdom of darkness. Those powers identified them as a threat, and focused on Amy as the strategic target. While Sam seemed to do quite well adapting, he was at a loss to help his wife who was increasingly depressed and homesick. They stuck it out for close to two years, but in the end left on at least an extended, or perhaps, permanent leave. I was called in to assess and consult with this couple and try to figure out what happened to a once vibrant woman who was certain God called her to live among and minister to His lost sheep. As I began to listen to their experiences, I could discern the clear marks of people who were ill-prepared to deal with the reality of spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is the advance of the Kingdom of God throughout the earth so that God is glorified and people are set free. It is necessary because there is an enemy kingdom which has stolen what belongs to God, and the Lord wants it all back, but has chosen to do it through redeemed children who carry His Image and authority. It is helpful to divide spiritual warfare into three main levels: 1) ground level, which also includes the personal; 2) occult level, which deals with witchcraft, Satanism, etc.; and 3) strategic level, which deals with the principalities and powers that rule over cities and regions. It is important to discern what level of warfare you are dealing with. For brevity, I will skip the last two, more advanced levels and only comment on the first and most prevalent- the ground level. The ground level, which involve ordinary demons, is common to the believer’s experience. People are afflicted by these daily, in ways that appear to be natural but is spiritual in origin. The enemy blinds people from seeing the truth (2Cor. 4:4) and fetters them to his kingdom. Christians who struggle with their desires, have habitual sin, etc. are also being opposed by these forces. The good news is that Jesus has given His own authority over them! “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Mt. 10:7-8). These are the marching orders of the Kingdom of God, and He is faithful to back up what we are obedient to declare and do in faith. For many believers, who have no awareness of the enemy’s reality nor his tactics, it is often difficult to get free from their bondages, let alone deliver others from theirs. Of course, the enemy does his best work in darkness! Yet I’ve seen many delivered from his snares as they understand who God is, how He works, and identify the enemy’s schemes (2Cor. 2:11). Jesus truly has power to set us free (Jn 8:36) into life abundant (Jn. 10:10). As I went deeper into Amy’s story, it was clear the enemy had planted land mines in her past that wounded her and reactivated fear in her life. The Islamic culture she lived in subjugated women, made them subservient to men, and gave them scant worth nor honor. Without realizing the spiritual dynamics she was immersed in daily, she began to take on these characteristics, and Sam, to a lesser degree, began to regard her more like husbands in that region regarded their wives. Once the light of Truth was shone into their story, they began to realize they were blindsided by not being prepared and armored up (2Cor. 10:4-5; Eph. 6:10-18). The wounds she carried from past traumas served as a breeding ground for the enemy’s activity (as in the natural, demons are attracted to wounds as vermin are attracted to garbage and decay). The way to deal with the past is not through vengeance nor justice, but forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit tenderly healed many traumatic wounds hidden in her soul. We displaced lies and deceptions she had come to believe with Truth, and she pledged her covenant loyalty to God to be faithful to believe His Word (both Logos and Rhema) rather than the enemy’s. She learned how to identify the schemes of darkness and how to come in the opposite spirit (as Jesus did), acting according to her Father’s will and ways rather than reacting to the bait of the enemy. When we were finally done, she shone with a joy she’d not had for well over a year. They were going to return, and there would be a rematch! They stayed a while longer and learned more about how good and great their God was. They returned and it was like night and day! They had learned to conquer through Him who conquered all!

Already, vaccines prevent millions of premature deaths and avoid bothersome days of sickness each year. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines have again risen to the level of headlines, conspiracy theories, and active research. During this session, we will discuss the mechanisms and means of appropriately vaccinating patients, review ethical and social concerns about vaccines, identify sources of appropriate vaccination information and administration for international travelers, and provide updated information about the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

In a suffering world reeling from global pandemics and health disparities, it is high time to think theologically about the devastating experience of disease, and to address our God-inspired responsibility to understand its origins and engage in its management. In a fragmented world, we need a unifying and integrated perspective on people in communities embedded in a fractured ecology. In an academic world blind to the spiritual world and imbalanced toward technical solutions, the global church must articulate a contemporary metanarrative that is moral, practical, and deeply transformational. All Creation Groans brings together multiple perspectives for a compelling global-health approach to the pathologies of the world as a part of the missio Dei. The authors paint a unifying perspective on God's healing intentions in creation, redemption, and consummation, and the opposing nature-corrupting effects of the rebellion of created moral agents. It is a fresh call for the global church to engage in aligning with God's healing action for eternally sustainable global health.  

Some mission experts estimate that up to 90% of young people who consider missions cease to pursue it because of various fears and obstacles, including the fear of fundraising. This session will help participants: 1. Identify various obstacles and fears relating to fundraising 2. Consider ways that God can help us overcome these barriers 3. Become aware of best resources and training materials used to help missionaries build and maintain a full and engaged prayer and financial support team 4. Know what questions to ask about support raising with possible mission agencies when evaluating where and how God will have you serve

This session focuses on women in mission and will highlight the role of women in missions, challenges faced, and some practical ways to overcome those challenges.