Today I interviewed Josie Gabdon, an IMB medical strategist in Asia. She shared with me about an important Global Medical Alliance meeting scheduled for July 8-11 at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA. It is important to note that April 1 is the deadline for the discounted rate.
This is a medical gathering of international allied health professionals who minister in international communities around the world. Most are connected to the International Mission Board. Many of these health professional provide entry opportunities for the Gospel in places that church planters cannot enter. Josie shared that indigenous communities around the world view health care providers as people who care about them. Too often church planters are viewed as people who come only to convert them from Hinduism, Buddhism or Islam. Whether they are veterinarians or pharmacists or therapists, medical professionals gain easy entry into countries, cities, and villages whose doors are otherwise closed.
Josie explained that water and hygiene are two of the biggest problems around the world. Both of these problems can be addressed through preventive measures that churches and missionaries can be involved in. By addressing water and hygiene needs, we can communicate Christ clearly as we provide care.
Jesus said, Go, Heal the Sick and Tell the people that the kingdom of God is at hand. That is precisely what we do as health professionals overseas. We are instruments of physical healing and we are able to announce spiritual healing in that the Kingdom has already come through Jesus. When a person’s physical needs go unmet, they struggle to hear the message of Christ’s spiritual healing.
So Josie, what is unique about this Global Medical Alliance meeting?
Perhaps the timing is what is particularly unique. In the past there has been a perception that the International Mission Board does not do health work. Word spread that we only do church planting. At the same time there has been a shift toward targeted and highly strategic partnerships that get us as health workers more directly to church planting.
I think one of the turning points for us is the book Preach and Heal by Charles Fielding. Dr. Fielding is a medical doctor/ church planter who has articulated a revolution in the IMB’s medical strategy, particularly in some highly restricted parts of the world. Dr. Rankin was deeply moved by Dr. Fielding’s book and as a result, the president of the IMB is encouraging a renewed emphasis on a Preach and Heal type of strategy around the world. This is a new day in medical missions for the International Mission Board.
Josie, why is this meeting so important?
This is important because medical personnel from around the world will come together to share strategies, training and opportunities for global ministry. There will be workers from urban and rural settings, mud clinics and urban hospitals, community developers and veterinarians. All will be gathered to share ways that local churches and individuals can get involved around the world.
At the IMB there is a new emphasis on the eternal impact of medical missions. On traditional medical mission trips, doctors have focused on how many people were treated and how many teeth were pulled, even how many times we shared some form of the gospel through a translator. Too ofter we have been left with the question, “What did we really accomplish?” What we will be sharing during this meeting is lessons we have learned about how to take our concern for health and caring for the whole person and sharing Christ more effectively as healers contributing to church planting. By working strategically we are seeing churches started as people hear the Gospel and having their physical needs addressed.
Who should come to the meeting.
Any health professionals. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, public health workers, even pastors and mission pastors who have medical personnel in their churches. In addition medical/dental students, pharmacists, veterinarians, lab technicians, and more. Anyone who would like to be used of God internationally.
What will happen at the meeting?
There will be round table group discussions for people with particular expertise. Much of the time will include large group gatherings with speakers, training sessions, panel discussions, and cross-pollination from different fields of expertise. There will be specific training related to the ABC’s of Health Strategy. Regardless of where God may be leading you to work, this meeting is for you.
Sign up today or tomorrow in order to save significantly.
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