Domestic Medical Missions

Samaritan's Purse - World Medical Mission

"...these are people who are made in God's image, and they need our help."

-This quote describes the philosophy of World Medical Mission of the Samaritan's Purse Organization. Their mission is as follows:

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.



World Medical Mission from Samaritan's Purse on Vimeo.

Philosophy of Missions

What is “medical missions”? Why do we do what we do? Has it become some convoluted “religious” methodology to gain favor in the eyes of others, or is it an attempt to appease guilty consciences?

Let’s take a closer look at this vital concept. The philosophy of medical missions, in large, evolves from the desire to give humanitarian relief to those in need. For most “Christians”, this involves the dichotomy of the biblical evangelism model combined.

No medicine, treatment, education, or any other thing can fill the void in our lives – each of us needs to be in touch with God personally. A personal relationship with Christ is the hope of eternal life and is the source of our greatest possible joy and strength here on earth.

However, our hearts are broken not just for the cause of Christ, but for the physical needs of the poor and needy.

The access to quality care in developing countries is far inferior to what even the most underprivileged children can access in the United States. Due to lack of education, financial resources and adequate medical services, these people suffer, often, needlessly.

Medical mission organizations purpose to fulfill the Great Commission by showing the love of God worldwide to all who are in sick, dying and LOST – while providing the ­opportunity for medical professionals, laypersons, and teens to serve God through short-term and long-term missions.

Why Do Medical Missions?

The Institute for International Medicine is a non-profit educational organization that equips medical professionals and students to serve in underserved & cross-cultural contexts. This mission is fulfilled through training courses, events, and international service-learning opportunities. Its mantra of "equipping healthcare professionals to serve the forgotten" is a vivid expression of the heart behind medical missions.


The video below is a compilation of several medical professionals expressing their reasons and motivations for being involved:


Why Do Medical Missions? from INMED - Institute for Int'l Med on Vimeo.

Medical Missions in the Philippines

Ever since I have known him, Dr. Othello Caturan has greatly inspired me and through his own example has encouraged me to pursue medical missions. God has done a great work in and through him in the capacities of both a physician and shepherd...

After earning a medical doctor degree in the Philippines, he was called into full-time ministry. A church-planter currently serving as a pastor in Middletown, NY, Dr. Caturan also regularly takes medical mission trips to his home country. Here we see pictures from two of his trips:

Kayla Anne Puterbaugh

"...I made it about 5 months without getting really sick. Then one night it hit me hard!!! I either ate something bad, got a parasite, or picked up a bug. I don't know, but whatever it was, it was NOT FUN! I was sick to my stomach all night and some of the next day... Lets just say I lost over 5 lbs. that night. Not the best weight-loss method..."

Meet Kayla Anne Puterbaugh... The Kansas native recounts, above, a difficult experience encountered on one of the mission trips she has taken. A college student currently working as a supermarket cashier, Kayla has undergone certain life experiences that most students cannot claim. Let's take a closer look:

Background: "Ever since high school I've been really interested in missions. My senior year of high school I really thought about going to Uganda after graduating but that didn't work out. Then in 2010, my freshman year of College, I was able to go to a medical mission trip to Uganda. The following summer, I went back to help the Applegates with their children, as well as helping in orphanages under G.R.A.C.E. Project."

-Unsure of future plans, this 20-year-old daughter of a police chief is actively seeking God's will for her life. 

Q: Ok, so medical missions - what first interested you?

A: "To be honest, it wasn't really the medical mission trip that interested me, it was going to Uganda. I actually thought I had zero chance of going..."

-Ms. Puterbaugh's current international travel experience includes trips to Uganda and Mexico. 

-When asked about any past medical training, she divulged that she was only CPR certified - a step taken to be better equipped at working in the church nursery. 

Q: Tell me about your medical missions experiences.

A: "Well, seeing that I am not trained in the medical field, I did registration. Through a translator I would ask for the patients' basic information and top symptoms."

-Kayla had the opportunity to take two trips to different locations in Uganda, the first of which was a 10-day medical trip with Operation Renewed Hope. This trip focused on running several days of free clinics that offered medical, dental and vision care from a team of doctors, physician assistants, nurses as well as students and other volunteers. 

-"Looking from the perspective of the medical side, I saw more of the commercialized view of Africa. You know the not very clean, sad, sick children and adults. Some of them were very happy, but most of the people we saw were physically ill with some even dying," recalls Kayla about the first trip she took.

Q: How was the second trip different?

A: "When I went the second time, I was helping at an orphanage. The kids there were very happy. Don't get me wrong, they were sad sometimes, but don't we all get that way? 

I was able to see how the people lived, experience their culture and also I was able to make some friends. You know, they are just like you and me, but living without many of the conveniences we have here in America. 

Going two times and doing two totally different things gave me a huge view on how life is there."

-When asked how the trips impacted her the most, Kayla described the impoverished condition of many she encountered, but yet the willingness of these people to give and serve others. "It makes stop and think how much I have and how selfish I am... I would say the greatest lesson learned was that I can't do anything on my own strength - I have to rely on God."

Q: First time to Africa huh? What was the coolest part?

A: "The coolest part was probably riding dirt bikes around for transportation. The safari was pretty cool, too!"

-Responding to a question about possibly returning to Uganda, Ms. Puterbaugh noted that she would enjoy going back and seeing the friends she made in her time there, but she would also consider traveling to a different destination. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a trip, but is unsure?

A: "I think the best thing someone could do when considering a trip would be to pray about it. I know that prayer is sometimes the default answer for everything. But, if God wants you there, He'll provide the money and give you peace about it. Also, I would seek advice from people you respect (parents, pastor, youth pastor, etc)."

Below we see a photo compilation by Maranatha Baptist Bible College student Hannah Edwards of the two trips taken by the college with ORH in 2010, the latter of which Kayla was on:

Uganda, Africa (March and May 2010) from Hannah Edwards on Vimeo.

NEEDED: "Laborers"

"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." -Matthew 9:37-38

Facts: The Central Intelligence Agency has posted statistics in its "World FactBook" page... On a list of 222 nations, the US ranks 176th for infant mortality rates (an estimated 6.06 deaths of 1,000 live births). The top 48 countries on the list all have rates of fifty and above, the highest of which being Angola with a staggering 175.90 deaths.

The same source shows the life expectency rates. Unsurprisingly, the nations that dominate the charts for infant mortality can be found on the lower spectrum of life expectancies, with 79 nations having an average expectancy of below 70 years. The map below shows the estimated life expectancy for 2011:

The majority of the nations on this ranking are what most would classify as "third-world countries" - areas commonly marked with poverty, violence, and poor health.

-Common issues include:

• High percentages of deaths of children under 1 year due to infectious-contagious diseases (most could be prevented or treated)
• Many children born without medical supervision which increases infant mortality and maternal death rates
• Severe malnutrition rate of children under 5 years
• Poor sanitary conditions (insufficient or no sewage/running water)
• Non-potable drinking water
• Low annual income
• High percentage of basic nutritional needs being unmet

Clearly there is a problem.  Is there even a feasible solution? I assert that one such option is able individuals from more stable nations taking time out of their lives to GO and help those that desperately need it.

There are numerous organizations that sponsor/host medical missions trips internationally. These groups take trained medical professionals, drugs, medical equipment and VOLUNTEERS to remote areas around the globe, running free clinics and treating thousands of patients annually.

I firmly believe that an increased participation in medical missions around the world can make a significant impact... but it all starts with you and with me. What can we do? Follow this blog to keep posted on the numerous opportunities that are available for those who will go...

Mark Steines, co-host of Fox’s Entertainment Tonight, went on Lighthouse Medical Mission's 2008 medical trip to Sierra Leone, a country that was devastated by the Blood Diamond Civil Wars. We see the highlights of his experience - the difference that was made on countless lives, as well as the impact made on each of the volunteers:

Mark Steines from WTA on Vimeo.

Are YOU a willing laborer??