Content Resources

For the last 18 years, as the relationship has deepened between Southeast Christian Church and Life in Abundance, an African organization, much has been learned about how to minister cross-culturally together. As these 2 organizations serve alongside one another, exponential kingdom impact has happened by engaging the skills that both entities possess in a complementary way. As we look at the issue of dependency around the world, this is a refreshing model to consider as a solution to this struggle in missions.

The Next Generation of students, just like each generation before it, is different and is engaging the world in a new way. In order to effectively attract and retain these students, the church will have to adjust as well. Students no longer want to be a part of a church where they sit, listen and give an offering each week—students of this generation want to know where their money is going and to be a part of the movement. They want to engage in the mission of God in a tangible and real way. Because the entire world is available to them more than ever before, they want to be involved both locally and globally.

Effective short-term healthcare missions requires actions that facilitate long-term change in the local setting - in healthcare services, in combating poverty, and in addressing spiritual needs. Unprepared short-term teams often do more damage than good. This presentation will provide strategies and tactics to properly prepare a short-term healthcare team and to build a relationship with a national partner that improves national conditions over the long-term with short-term teams.

Much has been said in recent years about relief vs. development in global health missions, and missions in general. We know that it is often harmful to engage in relief when what is needed is development. Yet, the vast majority of global health missions are relief oriented with little understanding of development processes. This session will review participatory approaches for community engagement that facilitate community response to their own problems. We will review key concepts such as: community ownership, community participation ladder, stakeholder analysis, and building cross cultural partnerships that escape the trap of paternalism and dependency. These principles apply broadly to both short and long-term global health missions.

Discipling that yields 3rd & 4th generation followers of Jesus more rapidly is not a program, but is fueled by the life-giving pattern from the scriptures. Discover the essentials of the simple & reproducible Kingdom pattern that will lead to effectiveness in making disciples that make disciples that make disciples. You’ll learn from case studies of those doing it how to get started in multiplying multipliers & pleasing our King.

Faith-based medical ministries have substantial opportunities to conduct biomedical research that positively impacts the communities they serve. In addition, biomedical research can help mission organizations achieve their strategic goals. In this session missional, ethical, and practical aspects of research in faith-based, developing-world settings will be discussed.

GMHC 2015 Saturday morning plenary session

GMHC 2015 Friday night plenary session

GMHC 2015 Friday Morning plenary session

Philippians 1:29

We go to medical missions cross culturally with some expectations to partner with churches, mission agencies and local humanitarian agencies. Partnership is often seen in light of synergistic and supporting relationships for the purpose of the gospel and the Kingdom of God. How does the local governing systems and officials view our presence as health and development related services? What expectations do they have of us as their partners in serving the health needs of the community? What kind of theology of relationships do we have with these entities that may serve or complicate the purposes of the mission that we are called to? What opportunities or hindrances do governing structures post to medical missions? Come bring your questions or comments and participate in the discussions that will be facilitated by two doctors with combined several decades of experience struggling through contexts in East Asia and Africa.

Many of us are returning from a variety of summer adventures where we were able to serve another group of people somewhere in the world.  Stories become amazing ways for us to share with each other what we’ve learned and what the Lord is teaching us.  Stories also allow us to share our personal experiences and to explore the opportunities that are available in the world of medical missions.   We invite you to share your story about your summer and how you may have engaged in domestic or international missions… short term or long term.  You may never know the encouragement someone will receive in reading your story.