Plenary Speakers
Dr. Tony Campolo
Pastor, author,
sociologist
and activist
Dr. Nicholas Comninellis
Founder of INMED
Toni Dolfo-Smith
Director, Living Waters Canada
Luncheon Speaker
Dr. Jean Chamberlain
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology at McMaster University,
and Founder of Save the Mothers
Plenaries “Take My Healing to the Nations—Christ's Commission.”
by Dr. Tony Campolo
Christ instructed his followers to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and release those who are oppressed (Matt. 10:8, Luke 9:2), and in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:20, He challenged the apostles to teach all future followers (us) to “obey everything that I have commanded.” How are we, as today's health workers, to be impacted by these words?
“To the Nations—Becoming a Global Practitioner.”
by Dr. Nicholas Comninellis
Medical missions has been part of the modern missionary movement from the beginning. This session will challenge you to consider a short-term medical mission experience and equip you to begin to think globally in terms of the determinants of health, and how we can make a difference as Christ's followers.
“The Mental Health Challenge—Soul Care in Your Practice.”
by Toni Dolfo-Smith
Western nations are facing a mental health crisis with rising rates of depression, marital breakdown and dysfunctional families. How do we, as Christian health workers, join with pastors and counsellors to make a difference? We will examine ways to incorporate biblical soul care into our clinical practices and church discipleship programs.
"Living Worthy of Your Calling.”
by Dr. Tony Campolo
Paul challenges us, in Ephesians 4:1, to “live a life worthy of our calling.” In Romans 11:29 he says our “gifts and His call are irrevocable.” Healthcare, in the name of Christ, with the compassion of Christ, and with the excellence that Christ requires of his followers, is a “calling” as certain as a pastor's calling. This session will challenge you to live your life worthy of your calling.
Luncheon Presentation
"Caring is about more than treatment."
by Dr. Jean Chamberlain
We need a multi-disciplinary approach if we are to make a real difference. Health is more than just the absence of disease. It is based on the wholeness of the person. We'll explore how a multidisciplinary approach to issues of health can have a more effective and sustainable impact on improving the health and well-being of our patients and community.
Workshop Themes
| * Preparing for Effective Overseas Missions |
Workshops in this theme deal with the practical aspects of participating in a mission team.
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| * Learning for Change |
Workshops in this theme deal with technical or philosophic subjects that suggest how we can be more effective agents of change.
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| * Working Closer to Home |
| Workshops in this theme deal with how we can make a difference in inner city ministry. |
Workshop 1
A. “Cross-cultural Ministry—What do I need to know about cultural sensitivity?”
by Rev. Philip Leung of Chinese International Missions (CIM Canada): Presented in the context of STM ministry.
Cultural sensitivity is important for people engaging in cross-cultural ministry. How you relate to people will determine the effectiveness of your ministry. We will cover topics such as language, culture shock, the concepts of—right and wrong, possession, time, events, differences and trust.
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B. “Healing for the Nations—Casting the vision.”
by Dr. Pierre Plourde:
How do we challenge our church and community to share in our vision for biblical healthcare for the needy around the world? How can we mobilize resources for missions? |
C. “Becoming a Hippocratic Practitioner.”
by Dr. John Patrick:
The Hippocratic Oath has historically promoted: 1) the need for doctors to understand medicine in terms of transcendence, being a moral activity upholding the sanctity of life; 2) the need for the physician's conscience rights to be upheld. You will be challenged to revisit and protect these tenets.
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D. “From Short-term Missions to Long-term Impact”
by Michael Wills and Anna Dunets, P.Eng.:
Despite all the benefits of short-term missions, they can’t always address the causes of ill health. How can we deepen our engagement for long-term impact? Water, sanitation, health, food security as well as microfinance will all be touched on in the context of community development. |
E. “Every Patient Needs Spiritual Care–The spiritual care practitioner as part of the healthcare team.”
by Rev. John Visser and Valerie Peters, Director of Discipleship, Maranatha Church: How can we effectively integrate pastoral care into our healthcare team?
We'll discuss the right environment for healing to occur, the connection between mind, body and spirit; and the need to provide spiritual care to those who are physically sick. |
F. “Addictions—What is the Christian Response?”
by David Stoesz, Teen Challenge:
Helping or hurting the substance abuser: developing a God-given strategy
to assist substance abusers to deal with their past and to reach towards their recovery. |
Workshop 2
G. “Disaster! I Want To Help.”
by Brenda Porter of MTI:
We often feel we want to help when disasters like a tsunami or an earthquake strike. Through this workshop you will assess the characteristics of a disaster response volunteer, discover if relief work is for you, and explore the implications of working in a foreign culture. |
H. “Fighting the Diseases of Poverty.”
by Dr. Nicholas Comninellis of INMED (Institute for International Medicine):
Poverty and health are intimately associated. Three interventions are especially effective—1) economic development (income increases health status); 2) stance against military conflict (in embattled nations, 90% of deaths are from hunger and infectious diseases; 3) provision of safe drinking water and malaria mosquito nets. |
I. “Taking your Faith to Work—Integrating a living faith into clinical practice.”
by Dr. Hendrik Visser:
What are the practical ways that I can begin to integrate my faith and values into my healthcare practice
and to improve my skills at practising whole-person medicine that addresses patients' bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs? |
J. “Transformational Development through Community Health Evangelism.” by Bibiana Pintos of Community Health Evangelism:
CHE integrates evangelism and discipleship with community-based development. Its strategy has the following core values: development instead of relief, integration of spiritual and physical ministries, multiplication, community ownership, participatory learning and cultural adaptation. |
J.2. International Women's Health
by Dr. Jean Chamberlain, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at McMaster University, and Founder of Save the Mothers. Why are so many women dying when we know how to prevent it? What can we do to make a difference?
We'll examine the global efforts to improve maternal (and newborn health), and be challenged in our role as Christian health workers to care and speak for those with no voice. |
K. “The Church and the Health System—Working Together.”
by Heather Hetherington, R.N.:
What are practical ways for the local church to minister to the sick? A parish nurse will explore the possibilities. |
Workshop 3
N. “I Can't Afford to Serve. Is there help?”
by Dr. Sherif Hanna, Chief of Oncology, Sunnybrook Hospital:
CanMedSend is there to help young practitioners sensing a call to missions. This workshop will help you plan your finances for service. |
O. "Fully Alive—One nurse’s testimony in short-term missions.”
by Kim Lee, R.N.: It is important to have the right response to God, having a “Yes Cry”—a willing and obedient heart. We will examine needs versus wants, putting things in perspective, removing our limits, and coming out of our comfort zone. |
P. “Malnutrition—Barrier to health in the developing world.”
by Dr. John Patrick: Malnutrition is still a significant barrier to health in many developing countries. What can we do? |
Q. “Hope for the 'Broken-hearted'—How Living Waters could help your practice and your church.”
by Toni Dolfo-Smith:
Living Waters is a discipleship program for those who need healing of their emotional, sexual and relational problems. |
R. “Bringing Health to the Inner City.”
by Keren Elumir, R.N. of Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto:
With humble beginnings, a nurse reaches out to meet the health needs of the inner city. Her story will inspire you for your city. |
Our mission is to heal, teach, and serve,
those in need, in a Christ-like manner.
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