Podcast

Some mission experts estimate that up to 90% of young people who consider missions cease to pursue it because of various fears and obstacles, including the fear of fundraising. Some workers view fundraising as a rite of passage or as an obstacle to overcome. Others understand God’s purposes to include each follower of Jesus in His worldwide kingdom work through going, serving, sending, praying, encouraging, and giving.

This session will share answers on how to select a mission agency. Each person who attends will receive a 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.

We left the United States for the field long-term with our four kids when they were 2, 4, 6, and 8. Many thought we were insane to take children to live in the impoverished context in the Sahel of Africa where we serve: it’s incredibly hot, disease-ridden, and everything is unpredictable. There are assault rifles everywhere, Islam and the occult seem to be in control, and every local personally knows children and young adults who have died. Now 6 years later, we have learned very important concepts for parenting, planning, and persevering in such a place that we want to share with any families who are considering missions, heading to the field, or already on the field. Come join us!

Management of Common Surgical Conditions in Africa and the Middle East

As Christian healthcare professionals, many of us will consider the option of using our training overseas to serve underprivileged populations. Even if we are willing to go, there are many barriers we face that may seem insurmountable and discourage us from pursuing this type of mission work, especially when we are just starting out in our profession. For professionals in allied health, there are even fewer resources and opportunities available to us than what medical professionals have. In this presentation, we will explore modern-day concerns for entering the medical mission field, opportunities available to allied healthcare professionals, and what an overseas therapy practice can look like: all filtered through the lens of an occupational therapist's recent, real-life experiences serving abroad.