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Christians face the same challenge every day of their lives, namely, the challenge of living by faith. We perceive that challenge differently depending on our circumstances, but it is no more or less real regardless of what we face on any given day. These days, however, the challenge can be overwhelming. The current challenge is no further away than a quick swipe or touch on a phone. As COVID-19 sweeps the world, we are inundated with news of rising case numbers, death tolls, social and economic crises, lockdowns, sheltering in place, hoarding of food and supplies, and often conflicting and confusing predictions of worst case scenarios as well as less than comforting best-case scenarios. Early assurances from some government officials and a few news outlets that the virus is nowhere near as bad as some “experts” in the media make it sound, have all but evaporated. The Pollyanna hope that we’ll soon turn the corner and find that it was really nothing more, or even less, than seasonal flu is gone. Now we are all facing an uncertain future in both the long and short term. To say that COVID-19 and all its ripple effects is a “challenge” for every human being is an understatement, but for Christians there is a particular issue at stake, namely, whether we will be shaped and conformed by what we hear and see, or whether we will live, as we say we do, by faith. In times of uncertainty, tragedy, and loss, we often turn to one of the more well-known verses in the Bible for comfort, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28,ESV). The reasons we love this verse are easy to recognize. The Apostle Paul assures us that, no matter what, God is on our side, and even working for our good. Why is it, then, that such a profound and glorious verse sometimes brings (if we’re honest) cold comfort? For one, we often use that verse like a spiritual Band-Aid we offer one another, and to ourselves, in times of trials. Not of course, that we shouldn’t remind ourselves of it, but we do need to be thoughtful of its meaning and application. The big problem is what we think the word “know” means. Paul is not offering knowledge of a spiritual blueprint that will explain the behind the scenes work that God is doing in our lives. Neither is he saying that we will “know” how God is at work for our good like the way we know the latest COVID-19 case stats. That latter is knowing by “sight”—what we see, hear and experience. The knowing Paul speaks of is the knowing of faith. In other words, Paul is not saying that given enough time, we will see exactly what God was up to in our lives and one day say, “Now I see what God was doing!” Sometimes that happens, but not all the time. What he is saying is this: faith believes that God is who he says he is, has done all he says he has done in Christ, and is, therefore trustworthy. God can be trusted even when everything around us would line up as evidence against his promises. Faith in Christ is not the absence of doubt, fear, anxiety, or stress—it is believing in the face of doubt, fear, anxiety, and stress. Here’s why you, as a Christian, can believe that God is on your side and working for your ultimate good. Later on in Romans 8, Paul gives a long list of things in verses 38-39 that he says “will never separate us from the love of God in Christ.” The list needs to be read primarily as painting a holistic picture rather than trying to break down each part and find individual parallels: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All those things represent what we may see, hear, encounter, experience, sense, and perceive. Some are physical and some are spiritual in nature. All together they represent a vanguard of realities that would line up to attack and ultimately destroy our faith (not unlike the news lately). COVID-19, and all its related effects, fits into that list. Paul offers us the hope that regardless of what we see, we may know by faith that God really is on our side. He is at work always conforming “us to the image of his Son” (8:29). We can have assurance of that by faith because God has already given us the supreme gift in the ultimate sacrifice for us: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things” (8:31-32). That’s how God is at work for our good. That is the knowledge, the ultimate knowledge, of faith. Romans 8:28 is not for a spiritual burying our heads in the sand, or an offer of easy answers—faith is never easy—in our current difficult times. It is, rather, a biblical call to understand and react to COVID-19 specifically as Christians. Romans 8:28 does not magically wipe away concern and replace it with casual complacency, but offers the freedom of faith so that we can live as Christ in the world, witnesses to God in Christ in a world gripped with fear, doubt, and death. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Challenges for the church just keep coming in an onslaught that is fierce and seemingly unending. Now, the church faces a pandemic. Throughout time God has used catastrophic tragedies to bring people to himself. Every crisis is an opportunity to love people. Every church has shortcomings. Crisis exposes weakness and tests strength. How well the church has equipped members to be disciples who reach out is put in full view during crisis. There are key questions. How fast does the church respond to those in need? Do people feel inspired and empowered to act and respond in their own neighborhoods? Is the church actively looking for opportunities to serve the most vulnerable? Is the church willing to hang with these folks when the crisis is over? Will church outreach projects transition to development and lasting transformation? This COVID-19 crisis is unique in that it has forced the church to go online with worship services, prayer meetings, leader’s meetings, and Bible studies. This has been a huge win! A senior pastor of a church in Champaign, Illinois, has been hosting a weekly prayer gathering on Wednesdays at noon with attendance hovering around 100. The first week the crisis hit and church services were forced online, the noon prayer gathering, hosted online, had 3,000 participants. Online nights of prayer were not part of the program at Southeast Christian Church until COVID-19 made it impossible to meet. Now the church’s vision to be a praying church is taking a big step forward due to the crisis. During times of crisis, the Gospel can be demonstrated most beautifully. God gave us the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), the great commandment (Matt. 22:37) and the great concern (Matt. 25: 34-46) as the full Gospel. As the church responds as Jesus commands in Mark, the church becomes relevant to the community. During a crisis, the “least of these” among us suffer most. In the case of this crisis, it’s the elderly, the poor, single moms and their children that are hit first and hardest. Across the U.S., 45% of single moms live in poverty. Mark 25: 34-46 describes praying for the hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, and those in prison. This could be expanded to those are anxious, giving hope. A crisis can also expose a lack of unity within the body of Christ. For years, pastors have been praying that God will unite the body of Christ in cities across the country. Prayer can demolish strongholds that divide, such as racism, denominationalism, politics, poverty, affluence, and more. Every part of the body of Christ needs the other parts. Each part of the body has blind spots. As we submit to one another, blind spots are exposed and God is glorified. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of our thirty-second president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, famously said “A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water”. Mrs. Roosevelt was cleverly restating what we’ve learned from experience: the pressures of stress and danger reveal our true character. This truism applies to individual disciples of Jesus and also to the collective American church. Today’s hot water is an invisible virus that’s sickening and killing people. For a time it was a distant abstraction endangering the other side of the world, but now it’s striking our cities and states. At this writing, more than 100 Americans have died from COVID-19. Despite the implementation of quarantine and distancing strategies, many, many more will die. While most Americans are being asked to withdraw from settings where the virus might be transmitted, health care workers are actively engaging the people and places where the virus can attack. By caring for ill patients, we’re potentially exposing ourselves and our families to illness and even death. For many Western health care workers, especially those under forty, this is new, anxiety-provoking territory. I started medical school in 1986, just a few years after a Los Angles physician described a mysterious cluster of deaths from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, an infection that only affects patients with weakened immune systems. Reports of similar deaths grew more numerous across the country, especially among gay men, injection drug users, and those dependent on blood transfusions. For some time, there was not scientific consensus about how the infection could be spread. As late as 1984 The New York Times cited a study suggesting AIDS could be contracted by exposure to infected saliva, leaving many healthcare workers with fear and uncertainty surrounding HIV and AIDS. By 1985 the first HIV blood tests became commercially available, but it would be another decade before effective drug therapy changed HIV into a potentially manageable chronic disease. Nearly forty years since HIV’s emergence, over 700,000 Americans have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Many remain without effective anti-viral treatment and we’re still waiting for an effective HIV vaccine. Many Christians and churches allowed fear to dictate their response to the HIV crisis. There were notable exceptions, but most of the American church quietly distanced itself from the suffering and dying. Regrettably, there were even instances of Christian leaders making public pronouncements of condemnation over those who had contracted AIDS. This was a tragic missed opportunity with long-lasting consequences—akin to nineteenth century Christian support for slavery and twentieth century opposition to the Civil Rights Movement. Imagine if a different story could have been told. What if Christians and churches in the mid-1980s had mobilized people and resources to San Fransisco, New York, and other HIV hotspots, to care and advocate for the sick? What if more Christians had taken risks and shared the epidemic’s front lines with those holding moral and political convictions different from their own? What if our evangelical medical and missions organizations had convened summits that led to sustained meaningful efforts to slow the disease and care for the sick and dying? Would not God have been glorified? Would not the watching world have seen a glimpse of the justice and righteousness that characterize the Kingdom of Jesus? The Church and Christian healthcare workers have another chance. A dangerously deadly, virus, not yet fully known, is achieving global pandemic status. Unlike the rest of the world, Christian disciples have powerful advantages. Jesus Christ has freed us from the fear of death (Hebrews 4:15), allowing us to prudently face danger. We believe Jesus’ promise that every hair on our heads is numbered and that no sparrow falls to the ground apart from our heavenly Father’s will (Luke 12:7). If we or our family members suffer in our bodies—even if life is lost—we know that God will meet the needs of our families, for He has promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Knowing all that to be true, we can courageously step forward to serve the sick and dying. The water is hot and getting hotter. For the glory of God and the advancement of Jesus’ Kingdom, let’s individually and corporately rely on our risen Lord and the Holy Spirit to show the world how strong we are. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Can’t get a desperately needed lab test? Not enough healthcare staff? Running out of patient beds? Worried a respirator might not be available? As you work without adequate protective equipment, are you thinking that you’re putting your life at risk taking care of your patients? Overwhelming need and limited resources. Sounds like life as a medical missionary, but third world realities may come to the United States with COVID-19. Let me share some practical ethical guidelines I’ve taught to more than 500 new healthcare missionaries while I pray that you don’t have to apply them. Allocating limited resources raises the ethical issue of justice—how do you treat patients fairly? First, you always want to be as impartial as the situation allows. Second, do the best you can for the most people with the resources you have. Third, without enough time, personnel, supplies or equipment, at some point you will be forced to decide who gets and doesn’t get your limited resource. Let me give you a real life example. When I arrived on the mission field, our 135-bed hospital only had electricity 11 hours each day, because the price of fuel for our big generator consumed 25 percent of the hospital’s budget. At night we ran a small generator that could power one isolette and allow us to turn on the operating room lights. We had a high incidence of multiple gestations, one in 28 births, and we had lots of premature babies. You can put three preemies in one incubator, but what do you do when a fourth is born and there is no place for the baby? You hope one infant is doing well enough to be replaced, but if not, you take the one who has little chance of survival out and give it comfort care. This is an extreme example, but it makes my point. You are forced into using a utilitarian ethic decision-making process under these conditions: There are limited resources. There are no moral absolutes for or against an action. (You don’t give the baby with the poor prognosis a lethal injection. You still want this child to survive.) You know your moral duty but are not sure how to fulfill it. (Save lives. Heal the sick.) There is a conflict between two moral duties and both cannot be fulfilled. (I can’t save all four babies). You must prioritize duties. (If I put the latest preemie in the isolette it will probably make it. The one I removed is likely to die whether it is in the isolette or not.) When you are forced to employ a utilitarian ethic, you constantly reevaluate your allocation decisions based on changing circumstances. If the last baby put in the isolette is going downhill the next morning and the baby with comfort care is improving, I would reverse my decision. When you have limited resources, you can never be satisfied with that status. You have the moral obligation to be constantly working to get the resources you need so you won’t have to make a utilitarian decision, because you now have enough personnel, equipment and supplies. We solved the electricity problem by building a hydroelectric project on the 42-foot high waterfall below the hospital and got 24-hour cheap electricity. A large NICU followed at the hospital. These type of allocation dilemmas can be heartbreaking. If possible, seek a second opinion from your colleagues as you make your decision. Then explain your reasoning for what you are doing to other staff involved. When available, seek a clear policy from your ethics committee to guide you and all staff for the situations you are facing. Most of all, ask God for wisdom, insight, courage, and peace as you navigate through the storm. He understands. He has been there. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Exploring the Journey to Full-Time Missions: Agencies, Funding, Singles/Families, God’s Guidance

Having a mission trip cancelled can feel as if the rug is pulled out from beneath you. You have spent lots of time in prayer, talking to others about it, fundraising, training, and gearing up for the adventure ahead. What should you do if it is cancelled? While not an exhaustive list, here are some key things to keep in mind as you navigate the days and weeks ahead. 1. Assume the best – Have confidence that the organization and leaders for your trip are trying to make the best decision possible. This was not an easy decision for them and although you may have lots of questions, trust that they were looking at all the data and trying to make a wise decision for you and your other participants. 2. Get clarity on fundraising – If you have raised funds for the trip, there are governing tax rules that your organization must consider. Therefore, their options for what they do with the funds raised are usually limited. In most cases, you can apply the funds to a future trip. However, there may have already been expenses (e.g. tickets, pre-purchasing supplies, etc.). The situation can be complex, so get clarity from your leadership or organization on how they will handle any funds that are raised. 3. Have patience and be flexible – It is hard to sit and wait for updates. Typically, when situations arise, there are several trips that are impacted and dozens (if not hundreds) of participants. In many cases, like the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation will be fluid and changing on a daily/weekly basis. Leverage existing systems of communication to get regular updates, or jump in and ask if you can help the org/team in any way. 4. Pray – While the situation is developing, pray for peace and wisdom for you, for your team, for your team leaders, for the organization, and for the partners/people in the field. A decision to cancel a trip will have a ripple-like impact. In most cases, it might be merely an inconvenience or delay, but for some trips, the impact is greater. Pray for clarity on the decisions that need to be made in light of this cancellation and the lives that will be impacted. 5. Communicate – Once an official decision is made, communicate with your donors and those who are supporting you. They will want to hear from you directly, so provide them as much information as is practical (e.g. “the trip has been postponed and donations will be applied when I go in August” or “The trip has been postponed and due to the developing conditions, I will update you in a month with what our decision will be.”). “While the situation is developing, pray for peace and wisdom... for you, for your team leaders, for the organization, and for the partners/people in the field.” Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, recognize that having a trip cancelled is usually just a delay. If your heart is set on that country, that trip, or those people, it is likely you will be able to accomplish that, but it might be next year or several months down the road. Leverage this time to help prepare your heart for what God might be doing in you, in your team, or in your field partners, so you will be ready whenever your time to go finally arrives. Blessings on your journey, and remember — no matter how crazy things get, we serve someone who knows and is in control! Download Free ebook "COVID-19 Cancelled our Short Term Trip... Now What?"

Marriage, Family and Missions- Joys, Challenges and Pitfalls: Reflections from those who have walked the road before.

Occasionally we have guest contributors, and today we have an important article from Dr. Mark Topazian to share with you. We think you will find his suggestions for engaging in missions to be both practical and challenging. We hope you learn and grow from his long time experience! You’ve taken an important step into medical missions by becoming part of this community.  As we look forward to future service, we can all continue deeper into our calling by being intentional about being missional where God has placed us now.  Here are some ways to be missional today, and in the days ahead: Learn. We all study before we practice healthcare. The same holds true for cross-cultural missions!  There are many resources available, including missionary biographies, books like When Helping Hurts, and the Perspectives course.  Lean in to your faith. Missions is about who we belong to. I seek (and sometimes struggle) to know myself foremost as a child of God, and secondarily as a husband and father, healthcare professional, and American. Only as the goodness of the gospel defines me can I serve others. Align. Bring important elements of life into line with your calling.  Live simply, sacrifice lifestyle to minimize debt, invest in people who share your vision for missions, form or join a team that wants to serve in missions together. Love. Missionaries live out the love of Christ in their cross-cultural relationships.  I can do the same where God has planted me now, with the people around me of different beliefs, races, ethnicities, educational levels, and life experiences. My community contains people similar to those I may one day serve overseas. Share. Missions is proclamation. Every generation finds new ways to share their hope in Jesus with the people they love, with grace and authenticity.  How can I be part of that movement now? Integrate. Our faith matters in our professional lives.  Learn what the Bible has to say about health, illness and healing. How can we be missional where we study and work? Praying for and with our colleagues and patients is a good place to start. One way to approach this is to ask, “Would it help if I prayed with you?” Missions calls us against the grain of our culture’s norms and expectations. Thank God for his Spirit’s leading us along his path! I am excited to see how God leads me and you in the year to come.

Main Session

Guest Contributor, Ginger Cameron, PhD As the coronavirus spreads around the world many are faced with deciding whether they should move forward with planned vacations, furloughs, and mission trips. Making this decision can be difficult and should include a mix of both facts and faith. There is not a one size fits all answer, but with a balanced approach you can make an informed decision that is right for you and your team. Here are three simple steps to help you make your decision: 1) be informed about the virus 2) understand the area you are traveling into 3) spend time in prayer. Step 1: Be informed about the virus itself. Coronavirus is actually an umbrella name for multiple viruses, similar to how we use “the flu” to mean all strains of influenza. MERS and SARS are two forms of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are respiratory diseases, meaning they primarily impact the lungs. The one spreading right now is Covid-19 and it is spreading at a rate about twice as fast as the flu.  Covid-19 is spread through droplets released from a sick person when sneezing or coughing. It produces a fever (100.4 or higher) and also commonly causes a cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. In a few cases people report upset stomach or diarrhea. In serious cases (about 2-6% of cases) it can lead to acute respiratory syndrome, a serious condition impacting the lungs. People with underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. are at highest risk for developing significant complications from the disease as are those over the age of 60.  If you are in or traveling to an area with active coronavirus cases, you can help protect yourself and your team with some simple health hygiene. Wash your hands with warm water and soap (not hot water, not cold water – make sure it is warm). Wash for 20 seconds or more paying special attention to your knuckles, around your fingernails and between fingers where germs like to cling. Avoid touching your face, specifically your eyes, nose and mouth. Most germs enter our bodies through these areas, and we tend to touch our faces hundreds of times a day without even realizing it. Set up a system with your team to point out each time someone touches their face to help raise awareness among the group. You can even make a game or competition out of it. Cover coughs and sneezes with the bend of your elbow, not with your hands. If you develop a fever, isolate yourself and call the doctor for further instructions. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available for hand washing. Clean and sanitize surfaces that may have been exposed such as door handles, cell phones, counter tops, toilet handles etc. Step 2: Understand the Area you are traveling to. Finding the right resources to provide accurate and up-to-date information can be a challenge during an active outbreak. Two places you can find reliable information are World-o-meter for global numbers and the Center for Disease Control for numbers in the United States. Researching the coronavirus situation in the area you will be traveling can help you better understand the risks for that specific area. But beyond the numbers, consider the resources that will be available should someone on the team become ill. Some questions to ask would be: Will medical care be available if someone gets sick? Could we end up quarantined or unable to return home? Current quarantines are around 14 days. Is the country currently experiencing quarantine that would restrict your movement/activity while there? What is their current policy regarding managing cases? Will quality medical treatment be available if it becomes necessary? And don’t forget to ask how your travel will affect the local people living in that area. Will it be a burden to them because of the current situation? Do they have the capacity to take on the care of a sick person if that were to happen? Step 3: Spend time in prayer. Our God is an awesome God. He is the great physician and He is well aware of what is happening around the world. Spend considerable time in prayer and ask for His wisdom and guidance making the decision. In praying for the trip itself, be sure to pray specifically about the inclusion of those at high risk. Ask the members of your team to do the same, letting them know that each of them needs to make the decision that is right for them.  Recruit others to pray as well, then listen to His voice and His leading. When He has given you an answer, move forward in faith with boldness assured that you are in His will.   Dr. Ginger Cameron teaches graduate courses in the master’s of public health program at Purdue Global University, with a special emphasis on epidemiology. Cameron has served as a department chair, as well as assistant dean of students, programs, and assessment. She has also served as the dean of the School of Health Sciences at multiple institutions. Cameron's research has been published in a variety of journals and she has presented at national and regional conferences. She has been interviewed numerous times for her expertise in public health.

"A system of Fragmentation in Addiction" The current models of treatment were mainly developed in the 40's , 50's , 60s and for alcoholics. Todays user is much different and most likely poly substance. Holistic wrap around models are what's needed