Evangelism 6, Love Them, An example from medical missions
As we have seen and discussed, evangelism can be naturally and productively attached to mission outreach that serves the physical needs of people in communities. This is true in foreign mission work, but also for outreach close to home.
Regardless of the form of outreach, love is a most important ingredient. Here are example process steps from a medical mission campaign. The point of this brief outline of steps is to show how "love" is a component in each and every step of the way.
A typical day on a medical mission might look like this:
Arrival -- each day as you arrive, it is usual to be met by people eagerly waiting for the clinic to start. Your smiles and greetings to those who have come are the first chance to radiate the warmth, love, and approachability of Christ. People who are waiting may be hesitant, not knowing exactly what awaits their family in the day's visit. The love of Christ seen on the faces of the team set the stage for their experience in the medical campaign process.
Registration -- patient registration provides both logistic and health information that will be critical to the doctors or dentists. This is your opportunity to help the patient feel comfortable. The smiles, handshakes, and warmth of those who are registering patients are powerful to reflect the welcoming love of Jesus. This first interaction may very well be creating the comfort and confidence to open their lives to the evangelists they will meet this day.
Routing -- based on the registration interview, decisions are made about which medical and/or dental waiting areas the patients will be routed to. The people that guide them to different areas and steps in the day's process have still more opportunities to help them feel comfortable and cared for along the way. Non-verbal language is particularly important as people are guided and directed. A helpful and servant tone of voice and body language is desired, not a strong directive approach.
Doctors & dentists -- individual care is given in a professional and loving interaction that focuses on the patients' well being.
Lab exams -- Throughout all medical or dental processes, people are treated with respect and love as Christ modeled for us when he served the physical needs of people.
Pharmacy -- pharmacy workers prepare the medications and information about how each medication is to be taken. Those working on this vital task sometimes feel like they are behind the scenes and thus not making an impression of patient and family. This is not true. Patients will see that a team is working hard to fulfill what is needed in service to their family. It makes and important impression. In addition, those who work in this area should be encouraged to mingle with patients in the waiting areas from time-to-time, to play with children when possible, all with the mission of sharing loving attention on those who have come.
Evangelism and prayer -- this is a supremely important part of the entire process.
The opportunity to pray and share the Gospel is often most convenient while the family is waiting, for example as the pharmacy is preparing their medications.
Dispensing of medications -- this is a critical step of the medical process. The people that dispense the medications to family members must communicate clearly in order to help the patient (or parent of the patient) understand completely the instructions for how and when each medicine is to be taken. As this information is communicated to each patient, it can be done with warmth and loving concern for the patient and the patient's family's well being, showing the love of Christ as the person nears the end of their experience in the medical campaign.
This has been a simple illustration of a process. My hope is that you see how natural and authentic love and caring along each step is important. When we do this well, it is amazing what God can work in people's hearts.
Blessings and thanks,
Larry
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