Medical Missions describe teams of people who have as their mission to help others while utilizing their medical and dental skills and resources. They are motivated by helping to address the medical needs of the poor in the world. The locations they travel to may be in their local communities or abroad in foreign countries. Many non-profit organizations exist today with this primary purpose. Cumulatively, these non-profit organizations are doing a tremendous amount of good in our local communities and in the world around us.
The logistics of how medical missions are conducted varies widely, just as physicians and dentists practice in their home clinic settings vary. Medical missions in underdeveloped countries can be even more diverse as medical care can occur at locations wherever the people are. For example, community clinics may occur out on a basketball court, under a tree, or on sidewalks.
Christian medical missions such as AIM are very much the same as this description above of medical missions. In addition, the foundation of Christian medical missions is grounded in its team members having a personal relationship with Christ. All that we are and all that we have is by the grace of God. We desire to give to others as we have freely received from Christ. It’s not about us or what we’ve done on the mission field. Ultimately, it’s all about Christ, who He is, and what He has done.
We give the gift of medicine, but also share the gifts of love, peace, grace, and eternal hope. The desire of Christian medical missions is to meet each individual and their suffering with a concern for their whole being, as Christ Himself did. We hope and pray for physical and eternal healing!
Serving on a Christian medical mission is truly a privilege. What an honor it is to serve alongside other medical and dental professionals and to use the skills we have been blessed with to love others through Christ! I cannot think of a more exciting endeavor than to make, not just a lifetime of a difference, but an ETERNAL difference! All for Christ!