Medical Missions Resources

MORE TRAVEL/HEALTH ADVICE - Travel health is more than shots. Health Canada reports that only 4% of the problems actually experienced by travelers would have been prevented by shots. And yet 90% of the problems could have been prevented. This is why Travel Medicine has become a medical specialty. You can find a list of travel clinics around the world at the web site of the International Society of Travel Medicine

http://www.istm.org . For more information, you can contact Dale at <travdoc@travdoc.com> .

An organization in the U.K. has put together a web site giving doctors and patients in remote areas a place to turn when they need medical advice. The folks at http://www.teleserve.org will direct your question to an appropriate specialist in either the U.K or the U.S. Consultation is free to remote physicians. For direct patient consultation there is sometimes a nominal fee. If you are unable to access the Web, a contact in the U.K. is <john@teleserve.org> and in the U.S. is <travdoc@travdoc.com> .

Mexican Medical Ministries will offer a cross-cultural immersion training experience called "Missionary in Training" (M.I.T.). This program is for leaders of short mission trips or those that are considering long-term service in a Spanish based country. Some of the training sessions will cover the following: "Using Health Fairs with the Local Church"; "What does it take to make it to the Mission field?" "Discovering and fulfilling the Call of God" "Using Mime on short term mission trips" "Learning Ballooning" The M.I.T. will take place in Baja, Mexico. The dates for the next M.I.T. will be June 4 - 11, 2003. For more information: 619-420-9750 or caravans@mexicanmedical.com or for information on Mexican Medical Ministries:

http://www.mexicanmedical.com.

CCIH: http://www.ccih.org/

Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH), a group of Christian international health professionals, share a common faith and goal to meet serious health needs worldwide. Activities involve an annual retreat, conferences, workshops, publications, a Web site ministry and more. Ray Martin, Executive Director, told ASSIST News Service, "The power of our faith, the hope that we can bring, and the organization of a caring community at the local level are powerful contributions churches can make." Read online the current issue of "The CCIH Forum" that addresses "Refugees and Displaced Persons--People in Broken Places." Access the full ASSIST News story and interview online to learn why Christians should become involved, the barriers faced by those who do, and how Christians can help in this crisis ministry.

ASSIST News Service (full story):
http://www.assist-ministries.com/Stories/s02070083.htm

http://www.medicalmissions.com
Julie Snipp
jsnipp@secc.org

Here's an opportunity to combine medical experience, academic credit, financial sponsorship, and adventure travel for health professions undergrads from any country. This is not just "shadowing" a doctor or dentist but truly a chance to be part of the team. Openings in Central America, Mexico, and Tanzania. For more information , go to http://www.servir.org/premeds.html. Contact missions@intcomm.net.

The Mexican Medical Ministries will offer a cross-cultural immersion training experience called "Missionary in Training" (M.I.T.). This program is for leaders of short mission trips or those that are considering long-term service in a Spanish based country. Some of the training sessions will cover the following: "Using Health Fairs with the Local Church"; "What does it take to make it to the Mission field?" "Discovering and fulfilling the Call of God"; "Evangelism tips for short term groups". The M.I.T. will take place in Baja, Mexico. The dates for the next M.I.T. will be June 4 - 11, 2003. For more information: 619-420-9750 or caravans@mexicanmedical.com or for information on Mexican Medical Ministries: http://www.mexicanmedical.com.

We turn next to Honduras, where International Aid is doing its part to conquer blindness. "World Sight Day" is Thursday, October 10th. International Aid's Judith Zelaya says their work helps the sightless in more ways than one. "Through our partnership with International Aid, we were able to open an eye clinic in the main city of Honduras. There is a big need for eye clinics in Honduras. In a year, we have been able to see over four-thousand patients, and we have done more than two-hundred surgeries." Zelaya says their work also opens the door for evangelism. She shares a personal story. "This guy came to the clinic and I asked him if he knew the Lord. He didn't know anything about the Lord, and I explained the plan of salvation, and he was very excited to accept the Lord. Two weeks after that, he got killed by a gang member in the streets. I was so happy that he had accepted the Lord; that was his last opportunity."

www.mercyships.org/

Mercy Ships (MS), the maritime ministry founded by Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to take free medical aid to needy countries, is redefining MS as a "collaborative ministry" to recognize its separate structure. MS has 2 hospital ships with a third being readied and plans to add more to the fleet in the next few years. Ship staff have completed 8,000 palate, eye and facial surgeries, 10,000 dental treatments and 250 construction and agricultural projects. YWAM continues to operate a smaller seagoing ministry, Marine Reach, which takes medical teams and supplies throughout the South Pacific.

-- Learn a great skill in which you can demonstrate the love of Christ in a practical way. Dental decay and gingivitis are the most common diseases in the world. Millions suffer needlessly. In just seven intense days, Dentistry For Missions can train and equip you to bring greatly needed dental care to your community. Cost: $975 (Includes lodging, books, $300 kit). Courses offered monthly in Texas, USA.

http://www.dentistryformissions.com
dentistryformissions@worldnet.att.net
dentistryformissions@att.net

Thanks to Tina, who passed along a great resource for Medical Missions. Dr. Dan Fountain, one of the leading voices in medical missions, is involved with King College and providing some great courses. In January he is offering one on Short Term Medical Missions. Check out this link: www.king.edu/academics/PSCM/cghc/workshops.htm

Now, medical professionals and other students will have the opportunity to attend one to four week workshops organized by King College and conducted by the top experts in the field of global and community health care.

Project Compassion announces its 2003 trip schedule. Project Compassion has provided short-term medical missions trips for over 10 years. By partnering with missionaries, local churches, and health officials, Project Compassion conducts evangelical medical clinics throughout the world. Several churches have been planted as a direct result of these outreaches. Medical skills or not, you can be a part of evangelism with a short- term medical team. Check out http://www.ProjectCompassion.org for trip locations and details. You can also e- mail info@ProjectCompassion.org.

http://www.williamtclosemd.com

Dr Bill Close is an American doctor who worked as a medical missionary in the Congo for 16 years during the first Ebola outbreak. Since returning to live in the United States in 1976 Bill has written a number of books relating to his experiences (Ebola, through the eyes of the People -; A Doctor's Life; and Subversion of Trust.) He has also set up a web site (see above) that provides background to his life, work and books and also serves as a resource to medical mission resources on the web: Ebola Resources (17 links), Foreign Medical Mission Sites (26 links), Health Sites and Medical Directories (76 links). If you have an interest in medical missions then you have to check out this list of resources.

In Kenya the message of behavioral change to stop the spread of AIDS rampage has yet to sink in. There are reports that the people think HIV/AIDS does not exist and that a curse is actually responsible for people's deaths. It is that mindset that Medical Ambassadors International (MAI) is determined to change. MAI's Darla Calhoun runs a program for street children, often the youngest victims of the crisis. "The changes are coming from the inside out," she says. "They do have hope for their future, and they're seeing that they are worthy of receiving love. We're just hoping that maybe, as these boys grow up, they'll help change the course of things by being leaders, both spiritually and maybe even professionally." Calhoun adds that there are many other needs. "I just learned that Kenya has the world's highest number of AIDS orphans. As Christians we need to pray for these children and that more workers will come and recognize this as one of No. 1 compassionate needs in ministry today." (Mission Network News)

If your mission needs dental equipment and supplies, here's an inside track! Chris Malott, the Logistics Director for Accu Bite Dental Supply, has many supply and equipment items that can be either donated or sold at or below wholesale cost (items that are scratched or dented). He can even pay freight costs within the USA. Give him a call at 1-517-655-5000 x333, or email cmalott@accubite.com

Submitted by Rod, Mission Finder www.missionfinder.org

Medical Ambassadors International (MAI) is reporting encouraging news about the growth of the church in Cuba. However, MAI's John McWilliam says the U.S. embargo is making it difficult for pastors to get needed ministry materials. "They don't have many resources, so they have to make do with the resources they have." MAI is sending training teams to work in the area of community health evangelism." McWilliam asks believers for their support as Cuban believers typically earn just $7 to $10 a month. "We'll be able to support workers in Cuba at a very reduced rate," he says. "This will allow us to start a lot more community health evangelism teams." (Mission Network News, April 12, 2001)

Christian and Missionary Alliance reports that within the last year, more than 30,000 patients received treatment at the Bongolo Evangelical Hospital in Gabon. Of these, the CMA church evangelism team says they've seen 970 first-time decisions in for Christ. From these new believers, 240 of them have taken follow-up courses to help establish them in their faith. Continue to pray for these new Christians as they get connected with local churches in their areas.

www.christiansinaction.org

Philippines
A medical missions project was the tool used to see hundreds come to Christ in the Philippines. Christians In Action just returned from Negros Island where 90 doctors, dentists, nurses, and support personnel partnered with the local church to treat the needy. Christians In Action's Doug Sutherland says, "We actually had the privilege of treating around 8,000 people. With each one of those people that we treated we had an opportunity to share the gospel. And, as a result of that, about 4,700 people made professions of faith in Jesus Christ." Sutherland says local Christians are getting involved in the lives of these new believers. "Pastors have made commitments with us to do extensive follow up with each one of the people who responded to the gospel. And, so they are working with these people on an individual basis to attempt to integrate them into the local church." (Mission Network News, May 18, 2001)

Church, Va. (in D.C. area)
info@crosslinkinternational.net
http://www.crosslinkinternational.net

Our mission is to change the world one life at a time by equipping mission volunteers, medical mission teams and medical missionaries as they witness to the love of Jesus Christ.

CrossLink International is a non-profit 501(c) (3), non-denominational organization providing free humanitarian aid in the form of medicines, medical supplies, equipment and eyeglasses to persons in need through free clinics (abroad or locally), mission hospitals, medical mission teams, Christian ministries and other humanitarian aid organizations around the world.

CrossLink locates medical supply companies, pharmaceutical firms, hospitals, private and group medical practices with surplus medical resources they are willing to donate and then provides for the acquisition and inventory of these materials. We then match them with the needs of the ill and hurting around the world and send them through churches, missionaries, medical mission teams, denominational groups and other humanitarian aid organizations.

A new service that provides important regional health information and even professional consultations to volunteers working in developing countries. www.TeleServe.org

Are you interested in establishing a Community-Based Health Care Program which integrates the physical and the spiritual? Medical Ambassadors International's Training of Trainers (TOT) introduces people to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). This strategy teaches concepts, gives vision and practical How To's for implementing and managing CHE in your ministry.

Training dates for USA: September 17-22, 2002. Additional information can be found at http://www.med-amb.org/What_We%20_Do_TOT.htm OR Helen@med amb.org.

Project MedSend helps young doctors become medical missionaries by assuming the monthly payments of educational loans. Affiliated with the Christian Medical and Dental Society, Project MedSend has helped 84 doctors take up missionary ministries since its inception. For information, visit http://www.medsend.org .

http://www.gospelcom.net/ifc/mail/view/65/list.html

MedMissions.org provides short-term mission outreaches in the fields of medicine, optometry and dentistry to third-world needy countries. View a calendar of international mission trips; organizational information on medical, dental, and optometry missions trips; and information on inexpensive medicines, dental tools, eyeglasses, Christian literature, and group airline tickets. Access helpful listings on travel, health, medical organizations and language schools.

A health program is assisting an evangelical mission agency in sharing Christ in countries closed to the gospel. Terry Dalrimple of Medical Ambassadors International says Community Health Evangelism is a program the organization is using in 42 countries. "It's a strategy of bringing God's love and truth to poor and unreached people around the world," he says. "It's a health education program that teaches people how they can be healthy physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. It's also an evangelistic program that ministers to the needs of people by introducing them to Jesus Christ." Dalrimple says response has been excellent. Since 1989, 170,000 people have come to Christ through the program. (Mission Network News)

http://www.med-amb.org

I am always blessed by instances where CMDNet is used to help link people together. CMDNet featured a news story about Medical Ambassadors International (web site above). One or two people contacted them asking for more information. Among those was Glen Melo of Open Eyes Mission in the Philippines. Here's what Glen had to say, "Open Eyes Mission is an indigenous church planting mission agency, founded in January 1998. We are currently planting Catholic-background community and house churches in Cagayan De Oro, a strategic gateway city to the five most unreached Muslim provinces here in our region. Our vision is to build a movement of prayer partners, humanitarian workers and church planters who will, as a strategic team, open closed doors, evangelize and multiply new churches among Muslim people groups from Mindanao to the Middle East. We learned about Medical Ambassadors International through CMD Net and want to partner with them. Please send us their e-mail address." That is encouraging.

http://www.medicalmissions.com

Call 1-502-253-8069 if you have questions the website can't answer.

http://www.justfordoctors.org

We believe as Christian medical doctors provide free research for other doctors who lack access to research, it will break down North American stereotypes and build bridges of confidence and appreciation."

P.O. Box 3382
Crofton, MD 21114

Tel: (301) 261-3211
Fax: (410) 721-4647

P O Box 7500
Bristol, TN 37621
423-844-1000

http://www.cmds.org/
main@cmdahome.org

On their web site you may find the information below.

The Christian Medical & Dental Associations deliver this and other important information to you concerning the member services and ministries of CMDA, Global Health Outreach, our short-term medical mission teams and community-based ministries located across the US.

Are you interested in information on many topics in medicine and medical ethics presented from a Christian perspective? Would you like to browse an on-line bookstore that contains the professional and patient information resources used by many Christian physicians?

How to find a Christian doctor or dentist: If you are a consumer searching for a Christian physician or dentist in your area, use the consumer search located in our Membership section to find a CMDA member in the specialty you desire.