Content Resources

Being a missionary is no easy task. So many hopeful candidates head for the field with dreams and plans, goals and identified targets. Yet a staggering number of medical mission workers end up with their dreams dashed, their plans gone awry. This breakout session addresses the unfortunate incidences of burnout and premature return from the place of ministry for both short-term and long-term medical missionaries. The world in which we live is increasingly complex. Issues of safety and security have become significant in many of the places where medical missionaries are needed most. Yet the pressures of the work, relationships, and other challenges continue to undermine the longevity, joy, and capacity to thrive for medical missionaries. We must examine what is going on and collaboratively seek wise responses to the challenges, for the sake of both the lost and the called. Medical missions remains one of the most impactful types of mission services, and perhaps one of the key opportunities into many communities that are otherwise closed or hostile to the gospel. Yet at best, many medical missionaries only try to survive in their work; at worst, others return home prematurely and burnt out. Thankfully, counseling, mentoring and support for medical missionaries is more available today than it used to be. However, what if there were ways to diminish the stress on the medical worker and equip them to flourish? Could making a few changes to recruitment, combining home and field efforts in appropriate placement, and intentionally designing supportive work environments make a difference? This session offers a compelling case study that reveals what works, what has not worked, and what else should be considered. This breakout session will benefit all medical professionals, including those preparing to go and those already serving in medical missions.  The words of Dr. Bogunjoko, the International Director for mission agency SIM will encourage, inspire, and equip anyone that is exploring the idea of Medical Missions.

Following are key priorities for healthcare in resource-poor areas, with actionable suggestions that address missional areas of: Growth in Christ Integration of Faith and Practice of Faith Building Teams that Include the Church Development of Local Leaders Preventive Practices: Hygiene/Handwashing In communicating the importance of hygiene—and specifically handwashing—during this crisis, develop a few solid biblical messages, e.g., about what is ‘clean’ and how this purity relates to hygiene. Engage believers and churches to ensure the right messaging. Build community, church, and staff teams to deliver the message. Select and mentor some youth and church leaders. Staff Education Concerning COVID-19 Emphasize Biblical hope, calling, and sacrifice, in the midst of uncertainty. Engage believers and churches to ensure the right messaging. Build a staff development team to be both scientific and pastoral. Mentor and empower staff leaders to educate and grow others. Triage and Open Air Measures Understand that Christ did not heal all. Determine care of patients by need, not by position or wealth. Engage healthcare staff with ethics of serving without enough resources. Build triage tents or shelters for healthcare, and build temporary places to do hospice-type care if needed. Develop local leaders by bringing together volunteers with building experts. Protection of Staff Conduct regular prayer and Bible study on relevant topics, such as caring for the Body of Christ and “one another” passages. Home supplies will be needed by staff to care for home needs when they are called to extra measures in serving in healthcare. Involve teams including the local church to meet need for supplies to protect staff, such as locally produced masks, face shields, waterproof aprons, etc. It is best if care of the local staff is seen as coming from local leaders (to decrease a sense of superiority and hierarchy). Avoidance of Nosocomial Spread Growth in Christ will be realized in caring for others (the concept of being a watchman). In integrating faith and practice, it will help to understand excellence as it pertains to our faith and works. Physical barriers, as well as personal protection are critical for teams. Encourage teambuilding with concepts such as “it is the responsibility of everyone” and “success in this is dependent upon accountability within the team.” It will be better if lessons are taught by local leaders rather than expats (they are better in contextualizing). Home-Based Care Help everyone understand that care is being part of the body of Christ. This is an opportunity to break down walls dividing health care and other ministries. Get churches involved in home-based care. Involve teams from churches for outreach, compassion ministries, and prayer coverage. In-home care offers another chance to develop local leaders in the community. Avoid Burnout of Staff (both Mission and Local) Where possible, hire extra people, carefully manage staff scheduling, sick days, and rest days. Consider local believers to fill the role of chaplains to the staff, and use imagination for other creative ideas. Together with the local church, build teams to consider creative approaches to developing and keeping margin in the midst of confusion. Church can be central to ministering to the staff, and can build hearts of compassion and service. Recognize the need to care for staff and colleagues in order to prolong service and health of the team. Lead by compassion. Shift to Essential Services Prayerfully consider “what is a just or righteous approach to “essential”?. Engage the community both as professionals, as well as religious leaders. Seek assistance of church leaders to differentiate essential vs. nonessential services by prioritizing the needs of the community served. Discern when nonessential services actually limit essential services. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

In my fifteen years in the telemedicine industry, this is certainly the most unique time I have encountered. By virtue of our client telemedicine consultations, we are quite literally seeing the public deal with the COVID-19 virus both physically and mentally. People are sick and wondering if they have the virus. People are scared and dealing with anxiety. From phone, to video, to online messaging we are daily working with individuals as they assess their own situation and ask our doctors and medical providers (eg: psychologists, pharmacists) to help them determine their right next steps. While there remain many questions about what is ‘next’ in this COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine is proving that it is a key tool in the fight. Let’s take a brief moment and lay some groundwork. The word ‘Telemedicine’ is a fairly new term for most of us. In short, telemedicine is the process of using digital technology (ex: phone, video, online messaging) to foster healthcare interactions that improve a patient’s health status. As we all can agree, the ‘phone’ sitting in your pocket right now has radically altered the way we do life...including the way we do healthcare. Can we, in good conscience, even call it a phone anymore? What was once only a ‘cell phone’ is now a shopping cart, credit card, bank account, calendar, encyclopedia, phone book, game system, flashlight, camera, and more. Consider, for a moment, that the phone in your pocket has more than one million times more memory and has 100,000 times the processing power1 of the Apollo 11 spacecraft computer that put humanity on the moon and brought them home. Within the last decade, this now ubiquitous device has also become a medical clinic and a new frontline defense against COVID-19. I want to give three examples (all names are pseudonyms) of people utilizing their everyday technology (phones, tablets, laptops) to access telemedicine services in direct relation to this pandemic: Asia – Stephanie and her husband are missionaries in Asia with their three adolescent children. They were impacted quickly as COVID-19 gained a foothold in Asia and began to spread regionally. Stephanie used her tablet to login to her telemedicine account and securely message back and forth with telemedicine physicians in America. This asynchronous interaction was an important convenience as it eliminated the time change issues involved with live communication. Over the course of a couple weeks, Stephanie and her husband were able to work with the telemedicine physicians to better understand the complexities of the situation and make the best decisions for their family. Washington – Alex lives in Washington state and has been monitoring the virus closely since it first arrived in the US. His location was one of the first areas in America to be impacted by COVID-19. As a precaution, Alex began working remotely from his home. He began feeling poorly and turned to his telemedicine service for help. He initiated a first available video consultation and within 30 minutes was having a real time video consultation through his laptop. Based on his symptoms, the physicians felt that Alex was experiencing a common cold. Since that initial consultation, Alex has stayed in touch via messaging and the physician team has helped him treat his symptoms, which continue to be assessed as a common cold. “As we watch COVID-19 unfold, telemedicine is rightfully getting a lot of attention. Regardless of your location, the technology in your pocket is now a lifeline to medical experts. The doctor has come to you.” New York – Vanessa works and lives in New York City. She rides the subway every day. She began feeling poorly and called the toll free number for a telephonic consultation while she was at work. Within 40 minutes she was on the phone with a physician. The physician used the most current COVID-19 triage protocols and determined that Vanessa may be infected. She was directed to immediately leave her place of work, find the closest place where she could be tested, and quarantine herself in her apartment until she had results. Vanessa tested positive and has been put under the care of a local physician while she manages her symptoms and recovers. As we watch COVID-19 unfold, telemedicine is rightfully getting a lot of attention. Regardless of your location, the technology in your pocket is now a lifeline to medical experts. The doctor has come to you. Consider these quick points of how telemedicine is uniquely positioned to fight against this pandemic: Patients are being efficiently triaged prior to accessing in-person medical facilities Healthy users are able to treat routine health issues and avoid COVID-19 exposure Rural and international patients have a medical provider access point Telemedicine physicians are staying productive by reducing their exposure Ongoing monitoring of quarantined patients is simplified by phone, video, and messaging During this historical pandemic, telemedicine is helping patients make better health decisions and more efficient use of healthcare resources. It is a valuable complement to the irreplaceable face-to-face relationship of a physician and patient. As the globe continues working together to combat COVID-19, let us be grateful for the ways technology is giving us help...but let’s be even more grateful for the men and women healthcare professionals putting it all on the line and tirelessly working on behalf of their patients. 1Graham Kendall. (2019, July 2nd) Your Mobile Phone vs. Apollo 11’s Guidance Computer. Retrieved from https://www.realclearscience.com/ articles/2019/07/02/your_mobile_phone_vs_apollo_11s_guidance_comput- er_111026.html Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

The coronavirus has disrupted all of our lives, but the population this disruption may be impacting the most are children and individuals with special needs. Children with disabilities rely heavily on routine to function successfully throughout their day. For many families, a season of quarantine is being met with extraordinary difficulties in behaviors and meltdowns as they try to understand why life suddenly looks so different. The season of coronavirus makes it both more challenging and more important than ever for therapists to care and remain a vital part of their patient’s lives. The challenges are real as many of the patients that we work with are medically fragile and the potential risk of exposure to this virus could be costly. Therapy is often based in a school or clinic setting and when school is closed, and the clinic holds risk of contamination, one of their greatest supports is often eliminated. Despite these challenges, the need for ingenuity and creativity to step into our patients’ lives and walk this road with them from distance is extremely important. Teletherapy: Teletherapy is the number one resource to keep treatment as consistent and safe as possible during COVID-19. Not only does it allow us to continue addressing therapy goals, but it carries some unique benefits that outpatient or school-based therapy often does not allow for. Teletherapy allows therapists who are accustomed to addressing goals outside the home, a window into the environment where they use it the most. It also provides an opportunity to equip parents to “become the hands of the therapist,” a huge benefit for carry over of home exercise programs and family buy in. Social Stories: Carol Gray, the creator of Social Stories, states, “Social Stories are a great tool to help us manage difficult or confusing situations. It’s a way to give information about those situations, including what is expected or what might happen, in a supportive and reassuring way.” Social Stories are an excellent tool to simply and effectively explain to children who have difficulty understanding why all school, appointments, and trips in public have suddenly ceased and why hand washing for 20 seconds and standing six feet distance from neighbors are new strictly enforced rules. Examples of social stories explaining the coronavirus can be found on carolgraysocialstories.com. Visual Schedules: As therapists, a significant way that we can help our families through the coronavirus is by helping them survive cabin fever. One of the greatest gifts you can give the families you work with is the gift of structure. Children with special needs often thrive on well communicated routines. In times of chaos and transition, it is vital to help give handles on their new normal. Help your clients design a routine that will work best for their family and provide the sensory and movement input the child needs to stay regulated throughout the day. Suggest the visual/picture schedule be posted where the child can see it and use it daily. The simple act of crossing things off a list, even if it’s just eating breakfast and getting changed, makes you feel productive and positive at the end of a day being locked inside. Home Exercise Programs: With a lot of time at home, parents will be looking for ideas to keep their kiddos occupied. This is the perfect time to reinforce the importance of home exercise programs. I often use the metaphor of getting abs: If your goal is to get abs and you go to the gym once a week, your success is unlikely. But if you complete a daily core workout, your likelihood of success is much higher. It’s the same with therapy. We will see the greatest success when parents are addressing the same goals every day at home that we are in our sessions. Make home exercise programs simple to complete, fun for the child, and effective for the greatest commitment. Checking In: Lastly, above all else, don’t forget the heart. Check in with your clients and caregivers on how they are doing. Take the time to listen. Help support them wherever you can. This crisis is deeply effecting many of our families emotionally, financially, and physically. Use your therapeutic use of self to walk the journey alongside them, letting them know they are not alone. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

As COVID-19 spreads throughout the earth, the unknown complexity on society poses new questions about its effect on long-term missions, particularly for those already on the field and those eager to go. Missionaries across the globe find themselves in self-quarantine, wishing they could enjoy the in-person fellowship of local believers or longing to do quarantine with more than their six kids under the age of 10. Mobilizers and field workers alike may feel that their labor has been taken from them by the virus for the foreseeable future. Thankfully, the church is not swayed by quarantine anxieties or pandemic fears. We have Jesus. “Take heart, I have overcome the world” rings in our ears. To help, long-term workers and wanna-be’s can put into practice the following six heart attitudes. Missions is all about intimacy with Jesus. Often our jobs distract us from “the one necessary thing (Luke 10:42)”—Jesus Himself. Don’t let the rat race of the virus-chase steal away this opportunity to refresh your personal relationship with your Best Friend and reflame your desire for oneness with Him (John 15:5; Ps. 27:4). Get up early or take turns watching the kids—somehow—plan hours a day to sit quietly with the Lord and wait on Him (Ps. 5:3; Ps. 37:7; Isaiah 40:31). As Martin Luther put it, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Remember that Jesus’s work in the cross and resurrection is finished, yet He’s still working! Hebrews teaches us that He “always lives to make intercession” for the church (Heb. 7:25). Do what the most skilled long-term missionary did—no matter if your plans are cancelled or you can’t leave your house—follow Jesus by interceding for those in your target people group by having them “constantly in [your] prayers night and day” (2 Tim. 1:3). Those on the field know best— long-term missions is primarily about interceding for those far from God and, then, secondarily about preaching the gospel. God in you is the best thing you bring. First Thessalonians 2:8 says: “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Your presence re-presents Jesus. They may have heard He is a Western god or only a prophet, but by becoming one of them (i.e., eating their food, living in their neighborhoods, experiencing the same illnesses) you present Him to them anew. This time as the All Sufficient when there is a lack of resources, as the Healer and Hope in the face of deadly sickness, and as the Joy-Giver and Comforter in any trial. This is why you became a missionary! Don’t be disillusioned—you’re still likely the only example they have of what turning to Jesus looks like, and leaning into your own neediness is the place where the Spirit’s supply shines bright. His kingdom is not a matter of talk, but of power (1 Cor. 4:20), a power to do miracles and an inner power of ceaseless gratitude and sacrificial love. Who knows what doors COVID-19 will open to unengaged hearts and the least reached regions when the people of God stay, remain, and abide in His love and with those suffering? Don’t be ashamed—preach! The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). Face mask on or off, we must share this news with our lives but also with our lips! The news of COVID-19 spreading has hit the ears of billions within weeks. Oh, that The Cure for the worst of all diseases would be known and feared in all of the earth! Perhaps governments that used to suppress the Gospel are too busy with virus-prevention and now is the open door we’ve been praying for! For example, some in the Chinese church are walking the streets with megaphones. Let’s be men and women who obey all of Jesus’s words, including Matthew 10:27—“What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops!” Deepen discipleship. Workers across the globe are using online formats to meet one-on-one with disciples and challenge them to personally go deeper into the Word, in a way that can multiply from them to others they know. Don’t forget that “Missions exist because worship doesn’t” (John Piper). Your family worshiping God in that place, even if you can’t leave your apartment or don’t see conversion in twenty years, glorifies God, who is “highly exalted” (Psalm 47:9). Sing songs of joy as you let your spirit soar with love for Him in a way that will impact the spiritual forces of evil overarching your region. In summary, 1 Peter 4:7 says “The end of all things is near; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded, so that you can pray.” COVID-19 is stealing away much in view of worldly opportunities. But there is a tool that can’t be taken, and that tool is prayer. As one practical application, if you would like to pray for 30 minutes a week over the phone with believers across the USA for unreached people groups to know Jesus, please email jesusinvasion@gmail.com. Or let us know and we can resource you to start your own phone prayer group. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Come for a hands-on session with ultrasound! We will be going over the basic principles, application via the eFAST exam (Focused Assessment with Ultrasound in Trauma), and hands on time with procedural models. We will also be providing IV, LP, and Central Line Models to practice on. All are welcome. This is a basic introduction to ultrasound.

Depending on which news source and which day, it may appear as if the world is ending. Amidst this crisis (or the next one), how do we respond internally to what is going on around us? What should be our response as those who follow Christ? As a medical professional, you know the facts. And although there is plenty of guidance out there on the handling of this pandemic, one area we wanted to walk though is what is this doing to our soul, how should we respond both internally and externally, and what role might Jesus be asking us to take. A verse that has been helpful to me during this time is Isaiah 41:13, “I am the Lord your God, who takes you by the right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” Everyone who has a relationship with Christ Jesus has a direct line to wisdom, strength, courage, and hope regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. We have put a few of our thoughts together below, but please know that if you go to Him, there is wisdom and direction for the days and weeks ahead specific to your situation (James 1:5). First, spend some time in listening prayer. Take a few moments each day in the quiet of your house or car to create opportunities to give your soul some rest. If you are like most of us, you go from moment to moment with hardly 15 minutes for lunch. The isolation required by the pandemic allows us to take a moment to pause... take advantage of it! Give yourself some room to pause, pray, and listen each day (even if it is just one minute in your car before you go into work or enter your home... just take some deep breaths and allow a quiet moment to align yourself to God). Ask for wisdom, understanding, and peace that surpasses understanding. Second, release this to God. There is a phrase popularized by John Eldredge lately where he simply prays, “Jesus, I give everyone and everything to you.” Repeat that a few times when you are feeling stressed or anxious. Practice benevolent detachment by releasing patients, tragedy, or strong emotions to Him. Consider Matthew 11:30 and ask how Jesus might lighten your burden during these stressful times. Third, consider your response... we are called to be light and salt to this world. There are neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, patients and community members who are completely freaked out and afraid during this time. Additionally, the necessary action of socially distancing ourselves will add to the fear, despair, and loneliness of those around us. Find practical ways to love and be light during this dark time. Consider even small actions, like texting neighbors, making a meal/ cookies for them, or just letting them know that you are thinking of them. Check in on neighbors, especially those that might be isolated. If you feel like taking additional steps, consider inviting them to dinner, board games, iced tea on the porch, etc. Even if you want to sit six feet apart on your back deck to minimize contact, any socialization will feel like light in this dark time. Be smart about your actions, but also recognize that this is an ideal time for Christ followers to help lighten other’s burdens, ease their fear, and help share the hope that we have... and last we checked, viruses don’t spread via phone calls or text messages, so even small steps can be meaningful. Wherever your heart may be these days, remember that we have someone who created us and formed us before we had taken our first breath. Perhaps, like the tribe of Issachar (I Chronicles 12:32), we can be a people who understand the time and can see the path ahead. Or perhaps like Esther, we can consider where we have been put into our jobs, neighborhood, church, community, and family for “just a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Most of all, during this time of isolation, know that you are never alone. Although the road before us is difficult, there is someone we can rely on for strength and understanding. Remember the promises of God, and, as appropriate, share that hope with others. Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Blessings on you as we journey together and lead others toward health in the weeks and months ahead. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of COVID-19. It’s the danger of exposure, isolation, social distancing, fear, and uncertainty. It’s easy to hunker down and feel there’s nothing we can do. That would be wrong. At times like this, the church—God’s people—shine brightest. They respond in crisis. The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word “crisis.” One brush stroke stands for danger. We see that everywhere. But the other stands for opportunity. Every crisis holds both. There is opportunity in the midst of danger. Though we can’t meet for worship, we can still be the church. According to the CDC, older adults are at highest risk in this pandemic. Nursing homes post “no visitor” signs. Those over 60 are told to stay home, get groceries during designated times if they go out at all, to stock up on medications. At the same time, they are lonely and afraid. Threat is real. We’ve never been through this. These days when nothing seems the same provides a chance to reach seniors we do and don’t know, to ease fear, to provide kind contact, to reassure them that they are not alone in the virus-battle. When one woman in Louisville created a database of seniors who might need help and willing volunteers, she found that what people most wanted was someone to check on them—a friendly voice. They had enough toilet paper and their pantries were stocked. Loneliness trumped need. This is the time to reach out, one person at a time, and live the Gospel from our homes. Here are a few ideas to support others as we navigate uncertain days: To connect with neighbors you don’t know by name, write a note introducing yourself to put in their mailbox or door. Explain that you would like to pray for them and help in any way possible during this crisis. Include your contact information. Make a list of those who respond. When you are going to the grocery store or drug store, offer to pick up something they may need. Add a fun item they might enjoy – a flower, ice cream, a balloon, hand lotion, a puzzle book. Think of creative ways to brighten long, lonely days. Two friends delivered daffodils and toilet paper to connect with older neighbors. They loved the flowers and laughed over the toilet paper. Quick porch visits six feet away opened doors to build lasting friendships. Make a list of those near and far away who would appreciate a phone call, text, note or Facetime visit. Technology makes connecting easier than ever before. Include your family in outreach. Everyone loves handmade cards and drawings from children. That’s a win for both age groups. Kids are busy; adults are happy. One 6-year-old made and delivered paint-stick crosses he made and painted for neighbors on his cul-de-sac. They now decorate the front of homes. Share a treat. Since shopping is limited, make a basket or bag of wrapped snacks such as cookies, crackers, tea, a puzzle book or magazine. Offer to do small chores – rake a flower bed, take out trash, fill birdfeeders, walk a dog. Though COVID-19 is serious, depression will not stop it. Laughter is a good antidote for fear. Create a “laughing basket” with jokes or funny sayings written on folded pieces of paper, an envelope of seeds for a fun plant that will bloom, a clown nose and Groucho glasses. Write or color a cheerful message on the sidewalk of a neighbor’s home. This can be fun for adults, children, and those who pass by. Ask a neighbor if they would enjoy a homemade meal. Package it to leave on their porch. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Working as a single in your home country is hard. It is as hard or harder working as a single overseas. God provides for the single just as He provides for a couple. Are you single? Are you satisfied? Or are you waiting? Living in 'the in between' is hard mentally and spiritually. There is hope in the journey!

The love and compassion of the Gospel is different from the sounds of fear and anxiety created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The love of Christ can be heard above the sounds of worry and gives hope that transcends our understanding of a worldly view. It can be as simple as a whisper of loving-kindness that drowns out the noise of despair, isolation, and hopelessness. The storm that we are facing has us reflecting on the uncertainty of the things we put our trust in—jobs, health, or financial position. How do we bring more to the Kingdom in such trying times when we can’t leave our homes? We are all on the biblical timeline as our heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11:38, and our mission has not changed. Our mission as the body of Christ is to be a ray of light that gives hope and calm in the storm, at home and globally. God is performing miracles every day through those around us if we could only see through the eyes of Christ. What is our global strategy to continue working on expanding the Kingdom of God in times like this? It seems to me that Jesus’s model of medical missions is apparent in his answer to John the Baptist when he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one. Jesus answered John’s question in Luke 7:22, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Christ clearly links compassion through health care to sharing the good news. The question then becomes, how the Global North continues to support the Global South when they are faced with severe persecution or a medical crisis like the pandemic of COVID-19 and allow them to still be the beautiful feet of Christ. Have we limited our brothers and sisters who live in these dark spiritual places with limited access to medical care by our approach to missions that creates dependency? Through divine appointments, Teach To Transform, and other like- minded organizations have been blessed by a mission to empower national leaders with necessary medical skills to open doors for the Gospel. Who better to evangelize than a national pastor or evangelist who knows the language, the culture, and can witness long after we leave, breaking the cycle of dependency on the Global North? Why teaching? During a large medical camp, I had a divine appointment with a mother who gently handed her baby to me that had died during the night from a respiratory illness. What could we have done so this mother would have recognized signs of respiratory distress sooner? We have seen this scenario repeated over and over, mothers and babies dying during childbirth, starving, and dehydration in refugee camps, and the list goes on. What is the answer? In trying to make sense of this, we saw hope by empowering indigenous believers with medical skills to show compassion and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through medical care. We have seen a glimpse of Heaven through training courageous national evangelists. Here comes Heaven, when we see Christ in the passion of Christians who travel six days on the Amazon River to get to our training. Here comes Heaven, when men and women travel days out of the Himalayan Mountains or Indian evangelists facing severe persecution come to be trained because of their passion for sharing the love of Christ. Here comes Heaven, When followers of Christ in Sub-Saharan Africa boldly face torture or death to love one another in the name of Christ. We have seen national evangelists trained in medical skills working throughout the world for the Kingdom despite our inability to go. Let’s not go quietly to heaven. Give the gift of your medical skills to empower nationals to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

Jesus warned us of what was to come when he said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But he did not stop there. He continued, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.” Jesus offers peace amidst the storm, peace when COVID-19 moves from an outbreak to an epidemic to a pandemic plaguing almost every continent. In the midst of our world turning upside down in the blink of an eye—school closures, travel bans, restaurants shutting down, stock markets crashing, and breaking news every hour arresting our attention—it is very easy to lose the perspective of the eternal and feel like life is spiraling out of control. And yet, we also see that when Christ was led to the cross it seemed, at first glance, that He was no longer in control and was at the mercy of men. Things looked hopeless when Pilate asked Jesus, ”Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” (John 19:10). How Christ responds to Pilate, though, gives us proper perspective into how we should conduct ourselves as believers when we feel powerless. He replies, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11). So, in light of Jesus’ response to Pilate, how do we maintain a sound mind amidst the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are a few suggestions: See life in light of God’s truth. Understand that although it may feel like things are out of our control, the truth is we were never in control. Power lies in the hands of a God who loved us enough to send His son to the cross. We can trust Him in our time of need! Pray and pray often. The Bible tells us to call upon the Lord in the day of trouble, and He will rescue us (Ps. 50:15). Prayer reorients our hearts from only thinking about ourselves and our circumstances to seeing ourselves and our circumstances in light of a good God, who never slumbers or sleeps (Ps. 121:4). Meditate on and read the Scriptures. The Word of God is our source of life and hope. How can we be comforted by the promises of God found in Psalm 91 unless we read his Word? Famed philosopher Immanuel Kant once said, “The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. A single line in the Bible has consoled me more than all the books I ever read besides.” Take a break from the news and social media. I am not suggesting that you ignore the news, but you need to take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to new stories. The constant barrage of negative news media can be jolting and upsetting to say the least. Read and focus on other things. Studies show that traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. Having a positive attitude is also in line with what Scripture tells us, namely that we should think on “...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. (Phil. 4:8). There is power in having a spirit of praise—it turns the eyes of mortal souls towards the everlasting God and gives broken hearts the strength to believe and hope. Stay connected. God has made us social beings. He instructs us not to neglect meeting together to encourage one another. Social distancing notwithstanding, our world today provides ample ways in which we can stay connected (e.g., Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and phone calls). Take advantage of these means to connect with those you love, including your church family. Go for a walk. Research has shown that experiencing nature has an abundance of health benefits. One study done at Stanford in 2015 showed that people who walked in nature experienced less anxiety, rumination, and negative effects. They also experienced more positive emotions. Remember you are not alone. Seek help if you need it. Talk to family, friends, pastors, and mental health providers. Especially in this season of Lent, it’s important to remember that Christ, though left to die a humiliating death on the cross, did not remain there. He conquered sin and the grave. That same Christ is the one who promised peace in the midst of pestilence. We can take heart because, yes, He has overcome the world. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here

I’ve recently been struck by the thought that all ministry can be summed up with one goal: to bring people to Jesus. During this time of uncertainty, it gives me great peace to know that I don’t need to have all of the answers or even have the capacity to carry another’s anxiety. I just want to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, encouraging others to have their gaze on Him as well. Through this unique time of ministry, there are two fundamental ways that we care for ourselves, modeling for others how to know God during a season in which our foundation seems to be shifting: Lament and hope. Americans are not accustomed to what it means to lament. We have trained ourselves to handle loss with distraction and shallow optimism. We brush off sadness with clichés like, “Things are bound to get better tomorrow. God is still in charge.” As the Scriptures show us, there is a time to sit in grief, to tear our proverbial robes, and to put ash on our heads in mourning. Ecclesiastes teaches us that it is wise to sit in the place of mourning because it causes us to ponder our eternal destiny. This is a season of lament, not distraction or false cheer. Give yourself permission to grieve what may have been lost and to accept the reality of hardship that may likely come. This is not the same as anxiety. Lament is the natural response to letting go of things that have given us assurance and comfort. Only as we grieve and receive comfort can we offer that comfort to those around us (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). As we deal with genuine sadness and loss, we need each other. Through this season, be creative in finding ways to share your fears and burdens with one another. Healthy lament is both individual and corporate. While lament is a constructive and God-given reaction to loss, the Bible also tells us that our grief will be different than the world’s—we must grieve with hope. Our reason for hope is not that the economy will quickly recover or that a vaccine for COVID -19 will soon be discovered, although we pray for those remedies. Our hope is entirely based on the eternal promises of our God. Many years ago, I heard something from Larry Crabb that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “I know that Jesus is all I need, but I don’t yet know Him well enough for Him to be all that I have.” Sitting comfortably in our churches a few months ago, our hope in Jesus may have meant little. As we face the possible stripping of earthly comfort and security, may the prospect of true fellowship of Jesus shine brighter and brighter. Everything we let go of leaves in its wake the capacity to grab onto a Treasure that disease and economic crashes cannot destroy. This is a time to radically pursue an intimate fellowship with God that is able to withstand great loss. Not surprisingly, we find that thanksgiving, worship, fasting, serving others, and meditation are all good for our mental and emotional health. These are rhythms that God created for us to practice in good times and to cling to in times of stress. Make the “spiritual disciplines” more than disciplines in your routine. Invite them to become conduits, ushering in the presence of the God of hope. Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! —Habakkuk 3:17-18. Download full ebook "A Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19" here