Responding to human need in a way that supports human dignity, and avoids paternalism is the foundation of learning to help without hurting. Founded on this understanding, the International Code of Conduct, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, are the most internationally recognized sets of common principles and universal minimum standards in humanitarian response. This workshop overviews these important standards in the context of short-term missions as well as UN coordinated refugee and disaster response.
Medical missions are always under resourced and Doctors and nurses struggle to cope with the enormous need with limited resources.
This presentation looks at generating creativity to fuel innovation as a possible Christian response to this problem.
If medical mission work is important and if God has called us and if we do not seem to have obvious resources then what God is saying is “Get creative”.
Christians historically have been very stilted on their teaching and understanding of sexuality. As people encounter more distortions of God's gift of sexuality, it is critical that we have a practical theology of sexuality. In this workshop, Dr. Juli Slattery will teach the framework for sexuality discipleship - a comprehensive worldview of biblical sexuality.
This session will briefly touch on a more wholistic definition of poverty.
We will explore when relief versus development is an appropriate response.
We will understand the difference between relief/project oriented missions and developmental/transformational missions and the possible outcomes of each.
We will discuss how one particular developmental strategy, CHE (Community Health Evangelism) has resulted in lasting, significant transformation of communities throughout the world.
We will explore the challenges of transitioning from short-term missions that focus on relief/projects to developmental/transformational missions and offer suggestions for how such a transition has been managed by some churches that historically conducted short-term missions but which have experienced success in shifting from relief-based missions to development-based missions.
Where you choose to serve in healthcare missions will depend on your preparedness, your call, and your goals. This workshop will help you determine how to identify service opportunities that are most likely to match up with your call and your goals. You will be given a variety of tools to use to prepare for service, and to improve your preparedness as you serve.
by Greg Seager
