The Challenge of the Christian Healthcare Worker in the III Millennium

Those that turn the habitable world upside down have come here too…

And these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying another is king, namely Jesus

Acts 17: 6b, 7b Literal translation

Restore the link between

Healthcare and Body of Christ

Disciples learn from Jesus Christ

• Ministry to the sick essential in church growth / planting

•Healthcare staff•Volunteer chaplains•Healing services•Hospices•Community nursing•Home nursing•Outreach clinics•Church clinics•Sick children

• Integral / wholistic mission includes healthcare ministry

• Healthcare is area of ministry

Christians turn the world upside down!

• Why? Christ’s Great Love for the sick, John 3:16– He really loves them– He still loves them– He is determined to show this love (reg of weg)– He needs us to demonstrate that love

• Healthcare professionals• Chaplains / volunteer chaplains

• How? Christ’s Great Commission, Matt 28:18-20– To be continued

The Great Commission, Matthew 28: 18-20

• A Commission for Global Change / Transformation• Christians: change agents of God (Salt and light)• Transformation through relational networks (love

God and love your neighbor as yourself)• Covers all areas of life (all authority heaven/earth)• Signs of the Kingdom signaling Christ’s victory on

the Cross, also in the health field = our responsibility work is ministry

• Not heaven on earth / no Utopia / no triumphalism / no mere horizontal activism

Seven Characteristics of Christ’s Commission

1. Authoritative – exousia = glory+dignity+enabling

2. Mobilizing – poreuthentes = having gone / as you go

3. Discipling - mathiteusate = multiply leaders

4. Incorporating – baptism: presupposes witnessing and intercession

5. Cross-cultural - panta ta ethni: tribe, people, nation

6. Educative – didaskō – all things… re-think the fundamentals of healthcare

7. Encouraging – I am with you all the days…

Rethinking the basics of healthcare

GodGod

Human beingHuman being

Ethics/Values/NormsEthics/Values/Norms

Truth/Science/ResearchTruth/Science/Research

Health/Disease/DeathHealth/Disease/Death

Vision of healthcareVision of healthcare

Healthcare practiceHealthcare practice

A national healthcare system

Levels

Elements

Macro(national / global)

Meso(institutional)

Micro(interpersonal)

Policy

Technology

Structure

Finance

People

Strategy for transformation

1. Study healthcare from a Kingdom perspective1. Macro / meso / micro

2. Spiritual history

3. Strengths / weaknesses / opportunities / threats

2. Put your findings in writing and pray through it

3. Q: What changes does God want to bring through me / us / our networking partners?

4. Obey the Lord’s guidance

In which areas can HCF help transform the healthcare systems of the Americas?

Levels

Elements

Macro(national / global)

Meso(institutional)

Micro(interpersonal)

Policy X X

Technology X

Structure X

Finance X

People X X

Where does our Lord want us to start?

Appointed

authority

What can we do about ourselves? (Micro level)

• Grow to become the best leaders we can be for the glory of God and the blessing of our tribe / people / nation

• What are your strengths and weaknesses and what does the Lord want to do with them?

• Lord, how do You want me to influence people, policy, technology, structures and finances at a micro level?

Common problems of the Christian care-giver

• Dualism: sacred-secular split

• Pluralism: non-integrated compartments

• Individualism: lone ranger ministries

• Intellectualism: emotionally underdeveloped

• Professional helper: neglect own psyche

• Therapon = priest: religion underdeveloped

How deal with common problems?

• Integrated life under the Lordship of Jesus– Heart / family / church / profession / society– Prayer, witnessing, discipleship– Restoring link local church - healthcare

• Personal growth and development– Relationship with Jesus strong and healthy– Follow example of Jesus in relationships

• Family / friends / church / profession / society

• Professional growth and development– Purposeful interaction other Christians in healthcare

How should ACSA influence your healthcare system at macro, meso and micro levels?

• Discuss with one or two other persons

• Pray about it

• Write your impressions down on a sheet of paper

• Hand in to Chrystabel so that she can work with it together with you in the future