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.
In April 2017 an AIM team, led by Steve & Sharon Entwistle had to leave Zemio, the Central African Republic. But since August 2017, a small team of AIM personnel has returned monthly to offer support to our African colleagues. In November, a medical team offered practical care.
Last summer Sarah Oliver had the privilege of taking part in the Mediquest team to East Africa. She shares more about the joys and challenges she saw in various hospitals.
Mari Jenkins, a physiotherapist, explains why she chose to do a short term mission trip to Kapsowar, Kenya and what she learnt whilst she was there.
Kay lives and works in a remote village on an Indian Ocean Island, seeking to share the gospel through her healthcare work.
Read about the Aids Awareness Programme of the Communauté Evangélique au Centre de l’Afrique (CECA) church in Adi, DR Congo.
Recently, Céline Pham served for two and half months in Chad. Using her nursing skills, Céline visited a number of AIM locations across the country. Here she shares her reflections.
