Content Resources

At Life in Abundance we believe that investment in the local church is both an effective and transformative tool for sustainable community development, sustainable community health, and sustainable social and spiritual change. There are stories, there is a model and there is movement taking place across the global south and I look forward to sharing this with you.

This session will describe unique needs of Millennial missionaries in the current culture. We will discuss how building relationships with God, self and others will aid in longevity on the field, contentment, struggling well, lamenting suffering and balancing stresses with supports.

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants can be a vital part of the mission team. We will use this session to discuss how APPs can be utilized on the field, how to prepare for missions, what to expect from your first trip, and so much more. Please join us!

A case-based, interactive review of how to diagnose and manage febrile patients in tropical settings https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_douglascollins_approachtofever https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_douglas_collins_approachtofever_handout_

The missional landscape has changed. The recent global events, the shifting distribution of Christians, and the realities of what God is allowing; are presenting a whole new missional landscape. What then are the new structures, approaches, and strategies that are proving effective for missions in our days? This will be shared with a special emphasis on the emerging role of medical missions and the strategy for partnerships. https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_florencemuindi_ourcurrentmission

Hear healthcare missionaries share their journeys. In the first hour hear a panel of two docs and two nurses answer your questions as well as: How do I find God’s guidance in the journey? Why and How do I connect with a mentor, agency, team, and/or training? What about student loans, and raising financial support? What if my spouse or family are not supportive of me doing missions? The second hour will be small discussion group with a missionary coach and others like you in your current stage: Exploring whether or not to consider full-time missions Heading towards full-time missions Single or married Here are some comments from a previous GMHC: “My group leader was great and answered a lot of the questions that I had.” “My leader did a great job being open and honest about her experiences.”

For those in training and recently finished, we will learn how to maximize this season. We’ll spend the first half tackling topics like original motivation, long-haul stamina, pearls and pitfalls of living in community, debt, vision for one’s next step to the nations, and helping the needy now tensioned with investing in education to help others later. We pray this will infuse you with the hope of Christ and give you eyes to see this refining, exciting time as He does. https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_redican_heidenreich_thomas_thetrainingyears For the second hour, we’ll divide into small discussion groups with those from your same stage of the journey (i.e., recent grads, residents, M1, M2, M3, M4, pre-med, PA, NP, RN, pharmacy, dental, PT/OT/ST, spouses). With facilitators who have gone through it before, we’ll dive into the individualized questions you have and brainstorm how God might sustain you now and lead you in the upcoming season.

We are all called to live missionally. It is the Lord's plan for all peoples to know of His glory. As nurses, we may have access to those who have never heard the Gospel. We can get behind closed doors working within communities, establish trust, pray with patients, and provide wholistic care. Nurses care for the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of people. We can use the discipline of nursing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We can show honor, respect, caring, and compassion to everyone the Lord brings into our path, no matter where we are serving Him. As believers, we can make disciples. Healthy, authentic disciples make healthy churches. The church is not a place, or an event, it is the people. We as nurses have extra tools in our toolbox to pray, teach, encourage, advance the Gospel, and give glory to the Lord. https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_rebeccameyer_roleofnursesinmissions

Many mission healthcare programs have been started by expatriates with little or no input from national partners. These programs are often supported by external funds which is one of the reasons that control is still in the hands of expatriates. Transitioning from expatriate to national leadership is increasingly important as nationalism affects national policies. This may take the form of denying visas to healthcare personnel, leaving programs dependent on national leadership and staffing. For programs to continue, it is imperative that nationals be prepared to take responsibility for administrating and continuing clinical and educational programs. This workshop will present examples from missionaries who have made this transition, are presently experiencing the transition, or are making plans to transition to national leadership. We will discuss how transitions have been successful, some of the pitfalls of making the transition without adequate preparation and potential steps to move forward in making this transition. https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_jamessmith_transitioningfromexpatriate_

The missional landscape has changed. The recent global events, the shifting distribution of Christians, and the realities of what God is allowing; are presenting a whole new missional landscape. What then are the new structures, approaches, and strategies that are proving effective for missions in our days? This will be shared with a special emphasis on the emerging role of medical missions and the strategy for partnerships.

If you’re thinking about a career in Christian medical missions, taking a medical missions trip as part of your professional and spiritual journey makes a lot of sense. Christian medical missions is the practice of using healthcare skills to meet physical needs while advancing the gospel through compassionate service. The purpose of medical mission trips is not simply exposure or travel—it is to provide meaningful care in underserved communities while participating in God’s global work.   Key Takeaways Christian medical missions connect a wide range of healthcare professionals with underserved communities to address urgent physical needs while advancing gospel-centered ministry. The purpose of medical mission trips goes beyond short-term service, aiming to strengthen local churches and support sustainable healthcare efforts. Short-term mission trips provide real-world exposure that helps clarify calling, confirm long-term direction, and integrate faith with professional practice. Participating in Christian medical missions deepens understanding of global health disparities, builds cultural competence, and strengthens strategic ministry relationships. Serving on a medical mission trip fosters lasting personal growth by refining endurance, adaptability, and dependence on God through cross-cultural service.   Understanding Christian Medical Missions At its core, Christian medical missions connect healthcare professionals with communities that lack adequate access to care. While doctors and nurses are often highlighted, the field also includes dentists, physical therapists, optometrists, mental health professionals, physician assistants, and educators. The scope is broad because the need is significant. When you understand the deeper purpose of medical mission trips, you begin to see that these trips are not isolated service projects. They are strategic opportunities to strengthen local ministries, support healthcare gaps, and reflect Christ through professional excellence.   10 Reasons to Go on a Christian Medical Mission Trip   1. You Need Real-World Exposure Before Long-Term Commitment If you believe God may be calling you into Christian medical missions, a short-term trip allows you to test that calling in a real environment. It clarifies expectations and helps you evaluate whether long-term service is right for you.   2. You Want to Serve Where Needs Are Urgent The purpose of medical mission trips includes stepping into places where medical systems are stretched thin or nonexistent. You serve patients who may not otherwise receive treatment, and that urgency sharpens your focus.   3. You Want to Integrate Faith and Profession In Christian medical missions, your clinical training and spiritual convictions work together. You are not separating your profession from your faith; you are practicing both in the same space.   4. You Want a Clearer Understanding of Global Health Disparities Reading statistics is one thing. Seeing limited access to care firsthand changes how you think about medicine. Participating in Christian medical missions moves you from theory to engagement.   5. You Want to Grow in Cultural Competence Serving cross-culturally challenges assumptions and builds humility. Preparing wisely is essential so that you approach service thoughtfully.   6. You Want to Clarify Your Next Steps Sometimes calling becomes clearer in motion. Exposure to different models of Christian medical missions can help you determine whether further preparation is needed, including formal medical missionary training.   7. You Want to Strengthen the Local Church’s Work The purpose of medical mission trips includes supporting local believers who continue ministry long after teams leave. By going on a medical mission trip, you can be a part of what God is already doing and serve alongside local believers.   8. You Want to Build Strategic Relationships Many who serve in Christian medical missions build long-term connections with mentors, leaders, and organizations. Those relationships often shape future ministry decisions.   9. You Want to Understand Sending Organizations If long-term service is on your radar, learning how mission sending agencies operate is critical. Participating in a mission trip can give you a good idea of how organizations support missionaries and structure field work.   10. You Want Personal Growth That Lasts The purpose of medical mission trips is not only outward service but inward formation. Serving in unfamiliar settings refines endurance, adaptability, and dependence on God in ways comfort rarely does.   Take the Next Step The only way to fully understand Christian medical missions is to participate. If you sense even a small nudge toward serving, begin preparing now. Pray, seek counsel, and explore opportunities. A good way to start is by finding a domestic mission opportunity that will allow you to get your feet wet in your own backyard.    Related Questions   Are mission trips paid for by the church? Some churches financially support members participating in Christian medical missions, but many individuals also raise personal support to cover trip expenses.   What does God say about mission trips? Jesus calls believers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20).   How do you know if God is calling you to missions? A calling to Christian medical missions is often confirmed through prayer, wise counsel, opportunity, and a persistent desire to serve specific needs.   What does a medical missionary do? A medical missionary provides clinical care while advancing the gospel, reflecting the central purpose of medical mission trips through compassionate service.

Believers preparing for a career in missions have boxes to check. They need a calling from God and a passion for the world. They need a supportive network of friends and family, not to mention a financial plan for making ends meet on the field. But there's another important thing to consider: missionary agencies. Deciding whether mission sending organizations are right for you, and how to pick one, represents a huge piece of the puzzle for anyone learning how to become a missionary.   Key Takeaways Mission sending organizations provide spiritual, logistical, financial, and relational support both before and during overseas service. Missionary agencies evaluate candidates through training, formation, and personal evaluation to ensure missionaries are prepared for cross-cultural ministry. Once approved, mission sending organizations can assist with job placement, travel logistics, insurance, fundraising guidance, and financial management. Theological alignment, ministry philosophy, member care, training quality, and organizational reputation all matter when selecting a missionary agency. Speaking directly with those who have served with an agency offers practical insight that research alone cannot provide.   What Missionary Agencies Do In general, missionary agencies serve as your lifeline as a missionary serving in another country. These mission sending organizations serve as a touchpoint for life back home, along with providing the support you need on the ground. They provide connection instead of isolation and offer the kind of support that no one else can. One of the primary jobs of missionary agencies is to determine if you're ready to take the field. Through cultural and language training, spiritual formation exercises, and personal evaluations, these mission sending organizations can open the door to the greatest experience of your life. But they can also save you from making a drastic mistake if you're not prepared for an overseas assignment. Assuming you are ready to go, missionary agencies can help you search for full-time missionary jobs to identify and connect you with opportunities. In addition, these mission sending organizations can offer important logistical support, like travel arrangements, insurance, and visas. Many agencies also manage your finances. They can teach you how to raise support and help you understand what missionaries actually earn so you can steward what comes into your account wisely. Perhaps more than anything, missionary agencies offer accountability. Whether it's ministry, relationships, finances, or spiritual health, the best mission sending organizations watch out for their people's well-being and intervene during times of crisis. "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...'" (Matthew 28:18-19).   What Makes an Effective Missionary Agency Beyond placement and logistics, strong missionary agencies provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable mission work. This includes logistical coordination, volunteer training, resource procurement, and on-ground partnerships with local churches and healthcare facilities. Lasting partnerships ensure that the impact of mission work endures beyond any single trip. The best mission sending organizations also prioritize holistic care, addressing the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of both missionaries and those they serve. Through healthcare and compassionate presence, volunteers live out the gospel in real, tangible ways.   What to Look for in a Mission-Sending Organization There's no law that says you have to partner with missionary agencies. Many missionaries work with a church or a parachurch organization. But if you choose to partner with one, you'll need to evaluate your options carefully.   1. Theological Fit If a sending agency's theology does not align with your key beliefs, move on. Leaning into your denomination's agency is one way to resolve this, but whatever route you take, make sure you agree on non-negotiable theological issues.   2. Philosophical Fit You need to make sure your vision for missions aligns with the mission sending organization's vision, including methodology and sustainability.    3. Care Plan It's not selfish to expect missionary agencies to have your back. Be comfortable with a group's plan for meeting your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs once you arrive. Make sure you're also aligned on financial matters, including travel costs and salary where applicable.   4. Training Quality The best missionary agencies work hard to prepare their missionaries for what's coming on the field. That includes cultural and language training, spiritual guidance, and basic life skills. Prioritize mission sending organizations that will set you up for success.   5. Reputation Most missionary agencies are sincere, but sketchy operators do exist. Look at how long the organization has been sponsoring missionaries and how effective their work has been. Check their financial integrity through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which provides accreditation for financially accountable Christian organizations.   Find a Missionary with Experience The number of missionary agencies continues to grow, which means you have options and will need to be intentional in your research. Don't rely solely on internet searches. Talk to actual missionaries who are on the field or have served overseas. Their stories and wisdom can inspire you and help you know what to expect. Once you have a missionary agency in mind, a good next step is going on a short-term mission trip through them to experience what they do and how they do it before making a longer commitment.   Related Questions   How much does a missionary get paid? Missionary pay varies widely, but many are supported through fundraising, and others receive a modest stipend that covers basic living expenses rather than a traditional salary.   Do you need a license to be a missionary? You do not need a general license to be a missionary, though certain roles, such as medical or counseling work, may require professional credentials.   How many hours a week do missionaries work? Most missionaries work full-time hours, often exceeding forty hours per week as ministry and daily life responsibilities overlap.   Do missionaries pay income tax? In many cases, missionaries are responsible for paying income tax, though specific obligations depend on citizenship, income structure, and tax laws.