Global Medical Health Conference

Discussing a new teaching tool

This past week Evan and I attended the Global Medical Health Conference in Louisville, Kentucky for the 4th time.  This missions conference has proven to be a place where God has both blessed us and opened doors for us.  It was encouraging to be there once again.

Three years ago, Evan and I attended the GMHC with the hopes of confirming the direction we felt God had given us for missions.  We felt called to teach and equip indigenous believers with medical skills as a tool for sharing Jesus.  At the time we weren't sure if "everyone was doing that" or if it was a crazy idea.  What we learned was the idea of empowering national churches with medical skills was an emerging, but radical concept.  Few people at the conference were saying it was possible, but there were early indications that this was the future direction of medical missions.  It was at this first conference that we met Steve Saint.  We didn't realize at the time that God would direct us to join Itec, but He did use Steve to confirm to us that we were on the right path.  It was at the next year's conference that God began directing us to a partnership with Itec.

 

This year we noticed a marked shift in attitude towards training and equipping nationals with medical and dental skills as door openers for sharing the gospel.  The trend now is towards "transformational empowerment".  This means equipping indigenous churches so they can play a meaningful role in the Great Commission.  It is exciting to see this shift in attitude.

One highlight during our time at the conference was meeting a young, future missionary nurse named Hope.  She introduced herself to me after one of Steve's talks.  Hope feels called to be a missionary nurse and I have no doubt God is going to use her life in amazing ways.  I was struck by her obvious love for the Lord and her enthusiasm.  She has promised to send me a photo and email when she is on the field in a few years.  What an inspiration to meet a young person with such passion and focus!!