Content Resources

Nurses and other members of the healthcare team who serve on the mission field have the chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they care for the whole person. They have the opportunity to touch the untouchable, love the unloved, and be with people from a variety of backgrounds, in the same way that Jesus did. Serving others is sacred work, by showing compassion, grace, and humility with power from the Holy Spirit. People are sometimes on a search for their purpose, so this session will examine the ways nurses and other healthcare professionals can use their discipline, and all the gifts and talents the Lord gave them, to build relationships, serve others, and provide honor and dignity in a cross-cultural context. The importance of a solid spiritual foundation will be included, and culturally appropriate approaches to health promotion strategies will be explored. Some of the ways cultural values and beliefs influence healthcare practices will also be discussed. And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send Me” (Isaiah 6:8)

In this session we will look at several clinical tropical diseases seen in nationals and expatriate travelers. Real clinical cases and research studies will be described as unknowns. The challenge will be to recognize various travel related illnesses and making a diagnosis. We will explore cases of fever, skin rash, abdominal complaints, and some emerging tropical diseases around the world.

The Art of Ministering to Muslims by Telling Bible Stories

Jericho Road is a Christian federally qualified community health center in Buffalo , NY that provides care to marginalized and vulnerable populations , including many refugees from over 80 nations. Since 2009 Jericho Road has followed some of their refugee friends back home to their countries of origin and have helped them start and operate health centers that also serve the most vulnerable. Today Jericho Road operates health centers in Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nepal. Each of these health centers is led and operated by local folks from those countries. By empowering local leaders Jericho Road in Buffalo has been richly blessed and our ability to demonstrate the love of Jesus has been enhanced. This workshop will focus on the lessons we have learned along the way.

While recognizing the medical limitations in the developing world, one must also capitalize on the "assets" present there. "Specialists" are rare, unavailable, and/or too expensive for most of the poor, disabled people. "State-of-the-art", while the aspiration of the west, is usually unavailable in the developing world. How do we capitalize on the assets and provide a reasonable alternative for the numerous disabled of the developing world? Some African countries have modified their medical approach and have found their solutions in alternative medical practitioners with less training and credentials but sufficient skills and judgment to reasonably meet the needs of many of the disabled. Some of these objectives were achieved in a mission hospital in Africa not because it was the first choice, but it was seemingly the only choice. Now, at that facility, a higher level of care has been achieved. However, can such a model be replicated in other settings in Africa?

Today opportunities abound to teach healthcare professionals and students in all parts of the world. Medical missions hospitals are increasingly focused on providing advanced training for local professionals. Short term teams can often meet requests for specialized training in particular skills and topics. Speaking or teaching cross-culturally requires the speaker to consider how to effectively communicate their topic to those from a different language and culture. This session gives practical advice on preparing the session and working with translators and interpreters.

Diagnostic uncertainty can add significantly to the stresses associated with caring for patients in resource-limited circumstances. With ultrasound technology advancing rapidly, it has become more portable and accessible by many in the field. We will discuss the potential uses of ultrasound in helping identify causes of hypoxemia or shock and discuss the ability to image organ systems that you may not have considered. Hopefully, this session will provide a glimpse into ultrasound imaging capabilities to help improve your diagnostic certainty both here and abroad.

This session will review the most common medical considerations you should be aware of before traveling on a short-term medical mission trip. I will review common malaria prophylaxis medications, immunizations, treatment of traveler’s diarrhea as well as other tips and tricks to know. This session is ideal for those with minimal international travel experience.

Can short-term health care teams play a key role in indigenous Gospel movements? Come hear the incredible story of God’s indigenous-led movement in a corner of Asia and the important role that short-term teams played in its advancement. Join in a discussion of the dynamics of an effective short-term partnership that bolsters indigenous work. Understand the key aspects of an “opening doors” access strategy using mobile health and dental clinics. Identify advantages and pitfalls of short-term indigenous partnerships, key contributions of short-term health care workers, and the central role of prayer and encouragement in God’s kingdom work. Christ-centered health care teams can play a strategic role in promoting sustainable indigenous ministry and Gospel advancement.

The COVID 19 pandemic has many similarities to the early days of HIV/AIDS in Uganda when I worked with the National Control Program for AIDS while advising the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau. Communication resource, scientific advances, technology, and knowledge have all advanced. This session will compare the two pandemics and present some observations and lessons learned, both professionally and spiritually, that might be applicable to this generation of healthcare professionals as they navigate a worldwide pandemic.

Historically, the vast majority of physicians who provide pediatric care on the mission field and other resource poor settings are not pediatricians. They are brave and innovative physicians who made the determination to make a difference, drawing on available resources. Every physician on the mission field wants to be equipped to deliver quality care that is Christ-centered, patient-focused, evidence based, and culturally sensitive. Recognizing that the leading causes of death in children worldwide are mostly preventable through basic public health interventions, the mission-minded physician is presented with the perfect intersection between clinical medicine and public health practice. In this session your confidence in treating pediatric illnesses and emergencies will be enhanced as you gain a better understanding of evidence-based protocols, using clinical cases drawn from Dr Ojuola’s many years of experience providing pediatric care in various resource-poor settings.

Exploring how the story line of the Bible is the theology of missions and how we take our part in that story. We all have a story--like a testimony, for instance--but how often do we think of how our personal stories are connected to the story of God's work in the world? In this session we will take a look at how the story of missions unfolds throughout the Bible and learn how each of can learn to internalize, communicate, and actively participate in that story. In other words, how to build and live out a Biblical Theology of Missions.