Content Resources

Every person has a worldview, a deep sense of what is real and how the world works. What we believe and value and what we do and say are shaped by our worldviews. All cross-cultural ministry brings us into different worldviews in missions. Our approaches to healthcare ministries whether in our home country or another are liberated and limited by (1) our own worldviews (2) our awareness of our worldviews and how they are formed and transformed and (3) our capacity to recognize and work with the worldviews of the people to whom God sends us. By the end of this session, we will have grown in all 3 of those areas. We will leave with resources for continuing growth. This participatory session will include learning from person reflection, discussion of Biblical stories, and the wisdom of other participants.

Although ill defined and legally outlawed, the caste system of India is too deeply rooted to not have continued influence in daily life. The needs of the poor are vast. Homelessness and addiction are just two of the major plagues of the poor of India. However, there is hope. Sewa Ashram is a community that translates to “Serving Community,” and is a place where the love and hope found in Christ is shared with those who would know no hope or love otherwise. A crucial component of this is staff, volunteers, and long-term patients showing love towards one another in the name of Christ by serving and respecting one another. This attitude is displayed for and trickled down to the patients. The patient population is comprised of men who are destitute and have various acute and chronic health problems like tuberculosis, liver disease, traumatic wounds, or paralysis. Medical needs are met as best as possible given the resources available. Moreover, spiritual and emotional needs are addressed. Prayer meetings, one on one discipleship, and life groups are just a few examples of how these needs are met. It is amazing to see God work when a person is told and showed that they are of value and treated as a fellow image bearer of God.

This document contains the Community Transformation Training that I give overseas to missionaries and to nationals. It teaches the basics of church planting strategies for restricted access countries.

I hope to share both from a Biblical, Missiological, Geo-Political standpoint how health care professionals can be part of a mass movement of Jesus followers to the unreached. Where they can live out who God has created them to be as a passionate and highly qualified medical professional where God is not worshipped. This is not about going to work in Christian hospitals, rather the health care institutions in countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman, Dubai where American HCP's are sought after, paid well and if serving with excellence will have opportunities to reflect the glory and goodness of God in these closed environments.

Spiritual formation is a way of describing the life-long journey of becoming who God created us to be. That’s the essence of being a “disciple” or learner. Our experience in healthcare ministry continues to "form" in us the ability to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves.In this break out, we will collaboratively identify characteristics of a person who is “prepared” for healthcare ministry, and practices that help us cooperate with God’s efforts to form us for that work.

The "missionary-call" can be a source of high anxiety and soul-searching for those who think God is leading them to the mission field. But what do we mean, and more importantly, what does the Bible really have to say about the call to missions? And what do we think of when we use the word "missionary"? Does our view match what we find in the Bible? In this session we will explore some of the misconceptions of what it means to be "called to missions," and take a look at how the Bible has more to say about God's guidance rather than the traditional idea of a "call." Hopefully we can set aside some of the anxiety and focus on how God has given us the opportunity to spread the news of his grace in Christ according to the various gifts he has given to each of us.

Participants will learn about the unique roles of women in missions and how to overcome the challenges which women encounter. Suggestions for preparation for missions service as a woman will be presented.

The Ten Questions Everyone Asks About Career Missions: How do I pick a mission agency? How do I know I'm "called?" What about raising children overseas? How can I avoid burnout? These and other questions are answered in this popular talk illustrated with real and sometimes humorous real life stories.

This session will share answers on how to select a missions agency. Each person who attends will receive a 3 x 5 card when they enter the room. The moderator John McVay will group and select questions, direct them to appropriate panelists, and receive questions from the floor. Probable topics discussed from questions expected are: agency focus, doctrine, finances, services, leadership, locations, compatibility.

Should you do a domestic or international rotation while in training? When? Where? How do you make it happen? All are questions mission-minded healthcare professionals ask as they explore opportunities to serve during training. Join us as we discuss domestic and international locations, best practices and steps you can take in selecting an opportunity that fits your goals, timeframe, skills, and budget.

This document is for students desiring to prepare for or persevere through medical school, that they would be spiritually ready for their marathon in a way frees them for Christ's mission today and decades from now.

Surviving Culture Shock addresses the stresses that everyone feels when crossing cultural boundaries for short or long term. The ethnocentrism that is true of every culture results in unfair judgment of other cultures and impedes effective interaction. We will explore this dynamic and how to minimize it. We also explain the three stages of the culture shock cycle– tourist, rejection, and adaptation, their natural progression, how to recognize each stage, and the best way forward to a culturally appropriate healthy balance. We also address the inevitable reality of reverse culture shock that often hits unexpectedly upon returning “home” to one’s culture of origin.