A new era in Roman healthcare
We take for granted that compassion is a natural response to the suffering of those who are ill. But compassion was not well-developed as a virtue in Roman culture. Rome had not developed a culture of compassion; “mercy was discouraged, as it only helped those too weak to contribute to…
Not the way it’s supposed to be
“The veins of sin interlace with most of the rest of what’s wrong with our lives — through birth disorders, disease, accident and nuisance. Thousands of Third World children die daily from largely preventable diseases: out of laziness or complacency, certain grownups fail to prevent them. Thousands of First World…
Seeking the welfare of your captors
God removed His people from Jerusalem because of their sin, yet He wants them to seek the welfare of their captors, the fierce Babylonians. “Welfare” in the Lord’s command is the translation of the Hebrew word, “shalom.” Rather than retaliate in anger, or put their hopes on a swift return…
Due credit to missionaries – from the Lancet Global Health Blog
An overlooked WWI legacy: maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa — from the Lancet Global Health Blog, November 2014 While medical missions provided 25-50% of maternal and child health care in sub-Saharan Africa throughout most of the 20th century, their legacy is often overlooked. Often incorporating local knowledge and culture,…
Navigating a path to sustainable Chinese medical mission participation
Take a look at some the challenges that Chinese Christian doctors could face as they consider God’s call to missions. And this article doesn’t even begin to address the cross-cultural issues of Eastern and Western medical worldviews! As you consider these hurdles, let’s not think ‘it can’t be done!’ Rather,…
Finding meaning as a Christian in mission
Kathryn Butler is a trauma and critical care surgeon who recently left clinical practice to homeschool her children. She teaches at Harvard Medical School, and has contributed to the literature on surgical critical care and medical education. She and her family live in the woods north of Boston. This is…
The Cape Town Commitment of faith and call to action – – the mission of God
Here is a rich description of the mission which God calls us to as believers, expressed in the words of the Lausanne commitment at Cape Town, South Africa This is section 10 of that commitment word for word. It is an exciting and joyous mission. How are you involved? We…
Sustainability
There is much good talk and fine-sounding theory about sustainability and sustainable development these days. When I first went to Ethiopia and did community health, I thought that my work should continue beyond my time, without outside financial input. It was a noble-sounding idea; I didn’t want to create financial…