A discussion of the Core Missionary Task and how healthcare ministries integrate with the various components and help increase the effectiveness of church planting efforts.

Speaker(s): Tom Hicks

Spiritual care of our patients is critical for effective health care! After exploring the evidence for taking a spiritual history as well as for key interventions including prayer and spiritual community, we will describe approaches to integrate spiritual care into medical care while maintaining patient autonomy. This session will blend a review of the evidence with practical take-homes, drawing from overseas and domestic experience, to help us be more effective in our spiritual care of patients.

Speaker(s): Douglas Collins

Although public awareness has increased in the last few years, there remains a general lack of knowledge regarding the extent that trafficking in persons pervades our modern world.

Speaker(s): Sharmayne Brooks

A resident, 2 doctors, a physician assistant and student minister share ways they live out the gospel through healthcare among those experiencing poverty. If Jesus came to earth today as a healthcare provider, how would he care for patients, staff and the community? Though the world defines success by our bank account and possessions, living for Jesus looks different and requires sacrifice that westerns find difficult to pursue.

Speaker(s): Jessie Thomas; Esther Kim; Natalie Bigelow; Anna John; Lisa Werner

Despite great progress in eliminating malaria in the country, cases of malaria remain high in certain areas of Uganda. Understanding the epidemiology of cases and control is a vital component to a successful malaria mitigation project. Using a cloud-based electronic medical record we have created a pilot project to document and track malaria cases in a central Uganda health center. This type of technology can be utilized in other rural health centers to track malaria and other diseases.

Speaker(s): Deborah Rodriguez

With around five years of experience working among refugees and IDPs, we will talk about some joys or opportunities there are working in a refugee camp setting, but also talk about realistic expectations and barriers that can be experienced. I'll share some background and my story of starting projects and trying to start ways to form groups for people to hear the Good News.

Speaker(s): Emelia 

Does brushing your teeth regularly decrease Type II diabetes? We'll discuss that question and many others as we explore connections between oral and systemic health. Because we are so used to the American dichotomy between Medicine and Dentistry, people are often surprised to see and hear how mouth health affects body health. This lecture will seek to remedy that by examining how important a role oral health plays in the lives of our patients who are dealing with a myriad of other disease states. We'll show how having dental care available on a missions team can play a synergistic role in combating various diseases. In addition, we will show ways that dentistry can have a strategic impact towards meeting spiritual needs during short-term or long-term missions.

Speaker(s): Ryan Bowles

In a world that loves a “rags to riches” story, Jesus calls us into his upside-down kingdom where success is not always apparent. Dan* and Hope* have served for over a decade in medically underserved areas of the United States, and most recently, in an unreached, unengaged people group in the Horn of Africa. Drawing from biblical insights and real-world experiences, we will delve into the idea that failure is not merely a disruption but a transformative process integral to our mission.

Speaker(s): Dan Fielding; Hope Fielding

Infectious diseases have been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout history. Today, however, the burden of infectious diseases is diminishing while the mobility from chronic, non-infectious diseases is growing dramatically. Low-resource nations are particularly ill-equipped to manage diabetes, hypertension, chronic lung, and chronic heart diseases. This session illuminates the power of lifestyle improvements, continuity of primary care, and provision of life-saving medications.

Speaker(s): Nicholas Comninellis MD, MPH, DIMPH

This session will cover a Biblical anchoring for spiritual oppression, the enemy's methods and goals, and tools for resisting the enemy.

Speaker(s): Dr. Mark W Anderson