5 Nurse Mission Trips - Minister to Those in Need

What is missionary work?  That’s a fair question, especially if you believe God may be pointing you in that direction. While it’s great for you to consider a life of missionary service, you need to know what you’re getting into—and what your options might be. To start uncovering an answer to any question, it can be helpful to go back to the basics. And for the question What is missionary work?, the basics are found in the Gospels and in the book of Acts.   The History of Missionary Work During His time on earth, Jesus gathered a group of followers for a three-year intensive in ministry education. That education included opportunities to take the message of His kingdom to surrounding cities (Mark 6:7-13). Those early efforts had positive results, even if His disciples were often a step or two behind what Jesus was trying to teach them. Then, just before He went back to heaven, Jesus provided the marching orders for His people until He returned. Their job was to make other disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) and to take the gospel to ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Over time, early believers like Philip (Acts 8:26-40) and Peter (Acts 10) stepped outside their comfort zones and shared the gospel with folks who might have been considered outsiders. Christian missionary work took a huge step forward when the church at Antioch felt the Holy Spirit leading them to commission Saul (later known as Paul) and Barnabas to extend the reach of the gospel across the Roman Empire (Acts 13:2-3). In fact, the rest of Acts narrates Paul’s missionary journeys as he literally took the message of Jesus to Rome, the boundary of the civilized world at the time.   Mission Work Today For Paul and those early Christians, the question of What is missionary work. Involved some serious thought and prayer. The leaders in Antioch even spent time fasting before they were sure they’d heard the Spirit correctly. They took missionary work seriously—and so should we. Today, missionary work might look different than in the first century. But we can still identify some common denominators to help us understand and embrace what missionary work is. Here are five basic elements you can think through as you consider the question What is missionary work? means to your life.   Learn more about Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.   Missionary work involves sharing the gospel. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it really is important to understand. You cannot know what missionary work is all about apart from the gospel: the good news that Jesus lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again to offer eternal life in Him. A lot of humanitarian organizations do some great things at home and abroad; but unless their primary goal is to share the gospel, they’re not really doing missionary work.    Missionary work can be domestic or international. You might naturally think of a believer who travels to another country to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And, in a sense, you’d be right. A lot of Christian missions do focus on international work.  But you don’t always need a passport to do missionary work. Many missionaries minister right here at home. God knows that the needs in our nation are just as powerful as the struggles of individuals across an ocean. So, in His grace, He also calls missionaries to work for Him in domestic contexts.   Missionary work can be a career or a short-term endeavor. Just like location, missionary work can also vary in duration. Some believers find their answer to missionary work in moving their families overseas.  While they may serve as a pastor, doctor, or teacher, they truly are career missionaries. On the other hand, other believers find great joy in taking regular short-term mission trips. They serve for weeks or maybe months instead of years. They may travel to same region on every trip or visit many nations over time. Whatever the specifics of their experiences, God uses these short-term missionaries to make a big difference for His kingdom.   Missionary work can involve traditional ministry or marketplace ministry. When Paul went from one town to the next, he had a plan. He shared Jesus in the Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath and shared Jesus is public spaces during the week (Acts 17:16-18). Along the way, he preached and planted churches all over the Empire. That’s traditional missions work—believers preach, lead Bible studies, plant churches, and do personal evangelism where God plants them. It’s a tried and true method that God continues to bless today. But other missionaries minister in the “marketplace.” They aren’t necessarily preachers or church planters. They serve as teachers, medical professionals, pilots, relief workers, business leaders, or in any number of “secular” jobs. They use their skills in a particular career field to build relationships and earn a hearing for the gospel.   Missionary work can be in the field or in support. You probably understand how being in the field could teach all you need to know about missionary work. But you may not realize that behind every missionary—whether domestic or international, career or short-term, traditional or marketplace—stands a support system that breathes life into their work. It could be a prayer network back home, partners from a mission sending agency, or a list of financial backers; but those individuals working behind the scenes are doing missionary work that is just as critical as what the actual missionary does on the field.   Something to Think About in Missions Of course, these five elements are just the beginning of your quest to figure out what missionary work could look like in your life. You also need to spend time in prayer, asking God to give you wisdom and direction. And you need to make sure you have these three issues settled: 1. You must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You cannot lead people down a path you have never walked yourself. 2. You need a clear calling from God. This includes an internal sense that God is setting you apart for missions, along with the external affirmation of leaders you trust and the church you attend. 3. You need a plan for training and education. Christian universities, sending organizations, and missions programs can help you in this area; but you need to do all you can to prepare for what God has for you. Missionaries are disciples who lead others to become disciples. They are called by God to fulfill the Great Commission in a unique way. And if God is calling you to move in that direction, He will equip and empower you to make it happen. You might not have all the answers right now. But, in time, He will let you know how the question What is missionary work? finds its resolution in your life.

If you’re thinking about a career in medical missions, taking a medical missions trip as part of your professional and spiritual journey makes a lot of sense. You can never underestimate the benefits of a medical mission trip. It’s a great step toward fulfilling God’s call on your life. As you think about the benefits of a medical missions trip, it would help to get a solid handle on what that actually entails. Different people might have different ideas about what medical missions is all about, so doing a little reading and research to establish your own expectations can be valuable.   Understanding Medical Missions In general, medical missions connect healthcare professionals with people who need their unique skills. And the door is wide open to a variety of medical professionals. While we often think about medical doctors and nurses, medical missions work also includes the skills of physical therapists, dentists, optometrists, mental health experts, educators,  physician’s assistants and many more. The opportunities are so broad because the needs are so great. That’s one reason medical mission trips are so important. You get to be a part of something bigger than yourself while fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus found in Matthew 28:18-20. Below are ten benefits of medical mission trips. Each one will give you a great reason to explore missions and discover ways to touch the lives of individuals as you minister to their deepest needs.   10 Benefits of Medical Mission Trips Medical missionaries reach people at their weakest points. They provide care in ways other missionaries simply can’t, and that makes their lives and their ministries incredibly fulfilling. But while medical missions meet deep physical and spiritual needs, they also provide benefits for the ones doing the work. And, as you take part in a medical mission trip, you can experience those benefits in the following ways:   You’ll gain experience in the field. Whether you’re a pre-med undergraduate or a seasoned medical professional, medical mission trips, offer a taste of what medical missions are all about. Nothing can replace the experience you will get working in clinics or in local hospitals. You will get an honest view of both the blessings of the work and the sacrifices it requires. When it comes to firsthand experience, nothing else compares.   You’ll be ministering to others. In a sense, you’ll get the benefit of ministering to two different groups of people. First, you’ll help the medical professionals on site. The needs are so great that an extra pair of hands willing to do even the smallest tasks can make a huge difference. Of course, you’ll also get to help the local people who need physical and spiritual healing. In terms of being Jesus’s hands and feet in a tangible way, you can’t diminish the impact medical missions have.   You’ll gain a better understanding of the state of global health care. You can read about needs and healthcare gaps around the world. You can even talk to medical missionaries who are working to bridge those gaps. But nothing helps you understand the current state of global health care better than seeing it for yourself. Even more important, medical mission trips allow you to be part of the solution instead of just being a student who studies the problem.   You’ll experience other cultures. Admittedly, the idea of world travel and seeing exotic places can fuel false motives for some. But if God has pointed your heart toward medical missions, getting the chance to leave your comfort zone and see the world through the eyes of Jesus is invaluable. Instead of fostering first-world arrogance, these experiences produce humility and flexibility. It teaches you to grow where you are planted, which will be a necessary character quality as you move forward with God’s plans.   You’ll sharpen the focus of your calling. While you believe God has called you to medical missions, you may not be sure exactly what you should do or where you should do it. One of the benefits of medical mission trips is the exposure you gain to various opportunities and how they might fit into God’s call for your life. And, as you gain a clearer vision of His plans, you will get a better handle on what you need to do to prepare for your next steps. But that all starts with being part of a medical mission trip.   You’ll build relationships and networks. One of the cool things about God is that He often moves people into our lives with an eye toward the future. The relationships you are building now can make a huge difference in where you end up in the years to come. A core benefit of medical mission trips is that you build relationships with a strong network of supporters and encouragers. You also may get the chance to connect with mentors who have the perfect mix of experience and insight and can make your path toward missions smoother.   You’ll improve your skills and training. It’s been said that practice makes perfect. And while a medical missions setting may not always easy, it does provide a perfect place to hone the skills you need to be at your best in the future. Students get the chance to learn new things, and professionals gain the knowledge they can transfer to their domestic practices. In both cases, medical mission team members get better at what they do for God’s glory.   You’ll prepare for what’s next. Of course, you don’t want to approach a medical missions trip simply as something to add to your resume. However, you also shouldn’t discount the impact these experiences can have on things like applications to medical schools or future career positions. This kind of real-life experience is a practical benefit of these kinds of trips that go hand-in-hand with the ministry you get to do.   You’ll get experience with sending organizations. Like other missionaries, many medical missionaries are associated with a sending agency. Working through the process of applying for and participating in a medical missions trip can be your first exposure to the task of researching agencies and finding the right fit for you. Even if you don’t stick with the same agency later in your career, this experience will help you identify what to look for—and what to avoid—when you are ready to embrace your own medical missions adventure.    You’ll see your life transformed. Without a doubt, you can make a tremendous difference in the kingdom of God through a medical mission trip. Even short-term opportunities give you the chance to touch people in ways you could never have if you had stayed home. But one of the greatest benefits of a medical mission trip is the way God can use it to change your life. It’s hard to invest in the lives of others without dying to yourself and becoming a little more like Jesus. And that’s a benefit that resonates into eternity.     Take the Next Step, Become a Medical Missionary Of course, there’s a catch to all of this: you really can’t experience the benefits of medical mission trips unless you go on one for yourself. If you’ve never gone on a trip, now is the perfect time to start planning to take this step of faith. Even if you’ve gone on trips in the past, God may be calling you to travel again. Remember, you don’t have to wait to change the world for God’s kingdom. You can do it right now. So, take some time to pray about what God wants you to do and look for opportunities He might provide. The benefits can change your life—and the lives of so many others. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.