News at ABWE
Another Kind of Treasure Seekers
The annual ABWE Medical Missions Interface, June 16–18, 2006, challenged participants to use their professional knowledge and skills for seeking eternal “treasure” through career and short-term healthcare ministries around the ABWE world. Unlike a current popular television program where teams travel the world seeing material treasure by following clues, these healthcare professionals and students were urged to lay up treasure in heaven by reaching out to needy peoples in our shrinking world ‘village’ through healthcare evangelism.
Harold Adolph, MD, gave the keynote challenge to approximately 70 attendees. Dr. Adolph, who served in three Ethiopian hospitals over 30 years, performing more than 25,000 operations, spoke of “The Work of Faith by God.” He challenged medical professionals to hear and obey the voice of God for career medical missions and to keep on moving forward in the face of every opposition.
Multiple workshop sessions introduced participants to international healthcare ministries through which ABWE is using hospitals, fixed and itinerant clinics, community health evangelism, and a ministry to the disabled as tools for evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and fostering missions’ movements.
Throughout the weekend, current and potential missionaries interacted during break and meal times. Experienced missionaries answered questions and related stories of how God works through healthcare evangelism. Small groups met to discuss topics related to either their particular professions or a targeted subject.
Friday was dedicated to continuing professional education centered on healthcare in the tropics and developing countries. Sessions dealt with updates in infectious diseases, adult and pediatric gynecological problems, chest surgery, TB, and jungle orthopedics. Grand rounds with presentations of real cases from various mission hospitals were a highlight of the day.
Participants included physicians in several specialties, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, hospital administrators, medical technologists, and students in the healthcare professions.
If you would like to read more about ABWE healthcare ministries, please see www.abwe.org/serve/ministry_focus/healthcare.asp
For the latest information on opportunities for short-term or career opportunities please visit www.healthcareministries.abwe.org.