Long Term Missions

Dr. David Stevens

CEO, Christian Medical & Dental Associations

“Here is the question, ‘Are you willing to go all-in?’” 

I heard that question as a senior in high school when I was asking the Lord for suggestions on what He wanted me to do with my life. I wanted some options to consider, and I planned to analyze each one based on my interests, skills and experiences. I would consider God’s options to see which one would bring me fulfillment and happiness, plus I wouldn’t mind some power, prestige and financial independence thrown into the mix. 

Yet, God didn’t offer me choices. He wanted me to go “all in.” He asked me to sign a blank check, to commit to Him to do anything, anytime and anywhere He asked me to do, not on my approval, but out of obedience before I even knew what that was.  

A lifetime of experience taught me how signing that blank check is the key decision you have to make if you’re going to serve God through long-term missions and leave country, family and home. You have to launch out in faith. 

It’s a bit scary, isn’t it? But having personally made that decision, let me tell you a fact. Going “all in” is where real fulfillment and happiness are found. Think about it. When you fulfill the Great Commission to “go into all the world and preach the gospel,” God not only calls you but also goes with you on your journey. He empowers and enables you to do what He asked you to do. 

As a bonus, He changes you as you depend on Him by faith. He works through you to bring true wholeness in thousands of peoples’ lives in the country where you serve, as well as in your home country because you inspire friends family and colleagues to follow Christ. 

As you explore this website, the best one in the world on medical missions, you will learn a great deal, but head knowledge is not enough. Stop and examine yourself to see if you are “all in” or just exploring the options. Make that commitment and share what you have done with friends or family. Then stop, take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to move in your heart and your mind through the information you will gather. 

As the Spirit moves you, begin acting on it now. Attend a medical missions conference. Read books and articles about healthcare missionaries and their work for Christ. Go on a short-term mission trip to an area of the world God is placing on your heart. Support a healthcare missionary and have regular contact with that person. 

It is an incredible adventure to be part of God’s work by following His plan for your life. The first step of that journey is key: go “all in.”

Sincerely, 

Dave

Directory of Sending Agencies

MedicalMissions.com is excited to have partnered with some of the world's leading sending agencies, specifically those engaged in healthcare missions.  Below is a list of many of these sending agencies who can help you take that next step.  One quick tip... we like to think of finding your perfect sending agency match like dating.  We recommend you "date" as many of these organizations as needed until you find that match that best suits your interests and calling.  

Note: The following organizations are partners of the GMHC.  This list will only reflect GMHC partner organizations who offer long term opportunities.

Christian Health Service Corps

Christian Health Service Corps is the only mission organization that specializes in sending, supporting and caring for healthcare professionals as long-term career missionaries.  Each day, we bring compassionate, life-saving health services to thousands of families in communities across the world.  CHSC understands that serving as a medical missionary has an additional, and very different set challenges that require a different process for preparation, and field support.

CURE International

The children we serve have conditions like clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft lips, untreated burns, and hydrocephalus. Without treatment, they will have little hope for a future. Many will die from their condition.

That’s why CURE exists. We’re a non-profit organization that operates charitable hospitals and programs in 26 countries worldwide where patients experience the life-changing message of God’s love for them, receiving surgical treatment regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity.

Equip International

Equip International's hands-on programs for community development present skills which can be used by the missionary as well as taught to the people whom they serve.   Programs such as Missionary Medicine Intensive (MMI) and Missionary Medicine for Physicians (MMP) present appropriate medical skills that can be used in short-term or long-term ministries where the missionary may be the only medical help available or where the physician has no lab to help him diagnose properly.   

Frontiers

With love and respect, inviting all Muslim peoples to follow Jesus.

Frontiers is a 501(c)(3) organization that trains and sends teams of field workers to the Muslim world. We equip workers to use the skills God has given them to help bring physical and spiritual healing to Muslim communities. Our vision is to inspire transformational movements to Jesus Christ among those with the least access to the Gospel, with a special focus on regions with the largest concentrations of Muslims. Our teams serve throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

imb

Limitless. That’s a word we’ve used recently at IMB to describe our vision for partnering with Southern Baptist churches and other Great Commission Christians. We want to vastly expand our missions efforts for the spread of the gospel to every people group on the planet, forging a dynamic network of pathways connecting churches and individuals directly to IMB missionary teams around the world.

InterserveUSA

Interserve began in 1852 in South Asia to care for the poor and marginalized so they could encounter Jesus and experience the life that He wanted for them. God has kept our founder’s vision alive all these years. Jesus Christ shapes how we see our place in a broken and suffering world. We see broken relationships, dashed expectations, lying, jealousy, manipulation, blame, shame, misogyny, and murder. This brokenness and suffering pains the heart of Jesus and the Father. Many have never had the opportunity to know that their lives can be different. Jesus has asked us to go and work alongside them so that they may have the opportunity to hear about Him and ascend, not only out of the abyss of poverty and oppression but also into His holy and transforming presence. Jesus inspires and directs us. We are willing to follow wherever He leads, often into hard areas. He gives us the grace to go and do what needs to be done in these areas.

Operation Mobilization

For over 50 years, Operation Mobilization (OM) has been bringing the message of hope through Jesus Christ to men, women, and children around the world. Though we have over 6,800 volunteers and staff serving with OM in 118 nations, we have one thing in common — we love Jesus and we want others to have the opportunity to hear about Him. We are a collective of 6,800 people who don’t fit a mold, who don’t sit still, and who love the adventure of serving Jesus. We live in the remote corners and the city-centers. We feed the hungry and heal the sick. We are Missionaries.

OMF

OMF International worldwide unites around a common call and passion. God has given us a heart for Asia and a desire to bring his hope to billions. It is our heart’s cry to partner with the global church to see individual lives and whole communities redeemed through Jesus. Our vision is to plant churches and nurture in ways that equip the believers to grow God’s kingdom among those around them. There are many ways and opportunities to serve, build relationships, evangelize and disciple. How might God use you? Join your story with ours!

Pioneers

At Pioneers, we want to come alongside you to help get you where God is leading you to go. Out of our passion for God, we desire to see indigenous churches planting other churches among least-reached peoples. This happens in a wide variety of ways through all kinds of people with different gifts and skills. We have a team-centered philosophy for ministry and value the spirit of innovation and flexibility. Talk to us today to learn more about short-term, mid-term and long-term opportunities! Pioneers has over 2,800 missionaries who serve on teams all over the world. Many Pioneers teams serve community health needs as they share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since Pioneers believes that God specifically equips each of us for a special role in his mission to reach the nations, Pioneers is excited to find or create placements for medical personnel in which their medical skills and their passion for the unreached can meet for the glory of God.

Samaritan's Purse

World Medical Mission believes in treating the whole person. Our two-fold purpose is to minister to the physical needs of the sick and suffering while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

As the medical arm of Samaritan's Purse, we place volunteer Christian physicians, dentists, and other medical personnel in mission hospitals and clinics around the world. We also staff a biomedical department and warehouse that provides critically needed medical equipment and supplies to medical mission facilities.

SIM

SIM is an international mission organization with more than 4,000 workers serving in more than 70 countries. SIM members serve God among many diverse people groups in every continent.

SIM workers are international themselves, representing about 70 nationalities. They serve in a wide variety of career fields. SIM is looking for people who love Jesus and who are willing to use their skills on one of our ministry teams worldwide.

Serge

Serge means “joining together rough edges to form a smooth seam.” We see God weaving together the ragged parts of our lives with His goodness, making the tattered beautiful. This is the power of the gospel at work in and through us, transforming our weakness and the world’s brokenness—God’s grace at the fray.

Core to Serge is the belief that we need the gospel as much as anyone else. So as we seek to make the gospel known to others, we desire for this same grace to continually renew our lives.

World Gospel Mission

Our desire is to connect your passion for medical missions with God's heart for the world. We want to help you find your fit.

World Gospel Mission believes your unique calling and skill set have a vital role in God's redemptive plan for the world. Let us come alongside you on your missions journey and help you discover your role, connecting your passion with God's heart for the world. 

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by John Crospey

Moving and Raising a Family Overseas

Staying Alive – Finding peace in the chaos of missional living

by Geogy and Jessie Thomas

Selecting an Agency

Panel Discussion

Healthy Missionary Marriages

Thriving as a Single in Healthcare Missions

by Rhonda Pruitt