Individual Preparation Medical Ministry

Here are some things you can be doing to prepare you for medical ministry:

  • Exercise regularly and maintain a lower fat diet. You need to be prepared to walk and spend hours on your feet and possibly outdoors, depending on your location. This will be a physically intense project.
  • Learn about the medical situation and medical techniques in developing Third World countries where diseases such as hepatitis, malaria, and cholera are endemic.
  • Try and find a medical professional in your area that has worked in an overseas setting. Meet with them and ask them to share any wisdom or insights.
  • Read a good book on Prayer Walking like: Prayer Walking: Praying on Site with Insight by Hawthorn and Kendrick or Walking the Talk by Dan Crawford and Calvin Miller. Or if there is prayer walking training or a prayer walk in your area, you can choose to participate in that instead.
  • Read up on the predominant religion in your area. You need to have a basic understanding of what they believe.
  • A good book that will help you understand other cultures is Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier.
  • A good book about Medical Ministry is Where There is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook, by David Werner with Jane Maxwell and Carol Thuman.
  • Develop relationships with International students on your campus. Become a conversation partner with an International student and meet with him/her weekly. Join the International club on campus.
  • Pray for opportunities to share your faith through friendships/relationships made this summer.
  • Work on your testimony, practice communicating with International students on your campus, who use English as their second language. Develop a clear presentation of the Gospel. Avoid church words and phrases. Instead, think about what an International student will understand. For instance, if you use the phrase “walking the aisle”—that means nothing in other cultures or people who have never been to church, except going from one part of the building to another!
  • Begin collecting small gifts that you can give away. Anything with something USA or TN on it is good. Examples: key chains, bookmarks, stickers, pens, pencils and postcards. Local businesses may donate these. Your church or BCM may want to help you collect these items. Also, take pictures of your family, friends, school, etc. to use as conversation starters.
  • Work on your scripture memorization.
  • Find ways to involve your home and local church. By asking them to:

Help collect small gifts for you to give away or basic medical supplies

Pray for you and your people group

Conduct a Prayer Walk at your church

  • Visit these websites to find out about your state or country and people group:

http://www.joshuaproject.net/index.php

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.infoplease.com/states.html

http://www.peoplegroups.info/