We long to see healthcare professionals practising, modelling and mentoring competent, compassionate medicine, but doing so in places where they will influence unreached people groups for Christ.
For many years healthcare professionals wishing to be involved in cross-cultural mission in Africa have been encouraged to partner with church health care providers. However, the church/mission hospital paradigm is less applicable these days and alternative models are increasingly appropriate. This might involve partnerships with governments or other NGOs, basic community health work or a variety of creative alternatives. The need for this kind of health ministry is everywhere – we don’t aspire, however, to trying to meet that need anywhere, but more strategically among unreached people (directly or indirectly).
Often it’s more appropriate to go to a place, live there and figure out, in conjunction with the local community, how to be involved after one arrives. The idea that you can take a pre-determined programme or plan and simply implement it may exist in the popular Western mindset (all these needy people need the help that we can offer), but we aspire to more than simply doing things for people and communities.
Jean-Philippe is an Assistant Professor in France. For years he dreamed of being a missionary doctor but God called him to work in a secular French university hospital. His desire to get involved with mission didn’t end though. He kept asking God, ‘What can I do?’
Ann has been a missionary for 33 years. She explains how God has led her, over the years, to where she is now.
Eddie and Rachel Andersen work in northern Kenya. They share a little about their story and how they came to be working among the Gabbra.
Do you want to explore what mission using your medical skills in a creative access context might look like?
Could you use your medical skills to serve at the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara and share the gospel with unreached people?
Could you use your nursing skills to serve at the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara and share the gospel with unreached people?
