A Model for Medical and Dental Missions

Introduction

This article presents a practical model or method for dental and medical evangelism in foreign countries used most effectively to help establish and grow local churches. Of course, it is ultimately God who works in people’s lives to draw them to saving faith in Jesus Christ (John 6:44). No evangelistic formula or technique will save anyone. But God expects us to be wise, prepared, faithful servants when we take the gospel to another country.

The model for effectively using field teams of health professionals discussed below is a proven way to help fulfill our part of the Great Commission as we look to God to work a miracle in people’s hearts to draw them to salvation. Ideally, a missionary or national local church hosting a field team should be involved in all parts of the model. Where it cannot, the field team can fill in some of the gaps. But the best path to success is when national pastors and local church believers actively participate in each step of the process.

1. Health care professionals and portable equipment

A dental and medical field clinic functions as a “magnet” that attracts people in towns and villages to receive free and compassionate health care (Matt. 14:14, 15:30). Team dentists, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dental hygienists, and other health professionals selflessly serve God for a week or two under sometimes austere conditions. If there are believers in national local churches who have health care skills they can always contribute to the field team. In fact, many times a dental or medical clinic will catalyze national dentists or physicians to start their own ministry to people in their area as part of their local church’s evangelism program.

The portable equipment and medicines brought by the team are also an important part of field evangelism. This equipment is expensive but rugged and is used all over the world. Medical supplies treat the most likely health problems encountered. The self-contained team of people, equipment and medicines forms the part of the model that is likely not available locally and is thus unique to dental and medical field evangelism.

2. Local leadership and planning

Since the purpose of dental and medical field evangelism is to be “co-laborers” (1 Cor. 3:9) in church planting, this implies that team members are not the primary ones doing missionary evangelism or church planting. Host missionaries or national church pastors must provide the spiritual leadership for preaching the Word of God in their area (Rom. 10:13-15). (Certainly, God can work in spite of our shortcomings, but if leaders do not have zeal to see souls come to Christ then a dental and medical clinic is not an instant solution for evangelism.)

Every culture, region, and local situation will be different, but it is up to the local leaders to formulate an evangelism and outreach plan for their area. Zeal for souls without a wise plan for reaching them is sure to be wasted effort and ultimately end in frustration. Dental and medical field teams work best when they fit into a plan for evangelism and outreach tailored for a specific location or situation.

3. Involvement, prayer, and organization

All members of the local church are called to use their gifts to edify the body of Christ internally and increase that body by reaching others for Christ (1 Cor. 12:4-7, Eph. 4:16, 1 Pet. 4:10). An occasional misconception about dental and medical field evangelism is that a team from the United States will do all the Bible teaching and witnessing while local believers watch from the sidelines. Some short-term mission trips may bring groups that conduct entire evangelism campaigns with varying degrees of success. My fifteen years of experience with dental and medical field evangelism indicates that local believers are much better equipped to witness for Jesus Christ because they know the language and culture, and often the individual patients themselves. They continue witnessing for Christ in word and deed long after the team leaves (1 Cor. 3:6-8).

Prayer is a key ingredient of local church involvement in dental and medical field evangelism (Rom. 15:30, Col. 4:3, 1 Thess. 5:25). Each field team (and its supporting churches) should prepare by praying for God to work in and through the team members. Team prayer is essential—asking God to make hearts receptive to the Good News of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Host churches should begin praying corporately for a harvest of souls during dental and medical clinics.

The next step after individual involvement has taken place is organizing the workers in the local churches. The host missionary or pastor knows his people best and must organize them in advance and not “wing it” upon the team’s arrival. People in a neighborhood or village need to be aware in advance of the locations, dates and times of upcoming clinics. One or more people must register each patient and guide him or her through the clinic process. Translators must work with team members if English is not the spoken language. Most importantly, men and women must be eager to share the gospel one-on-one with each person who comes to the clinic. Others may conduct group Bible presentations for adults and children. There is always plenty of work for local believers as they become part of evangelism activities.

4. Active participation

All the planning and organizing will only produce fruit if believers faithfully complete their tasks. It is unfortunate when a team arrives at a location of ministry to find few local believers ready to serve on the day of the clinic. Many small excuses seem to sprout at the last minute that draw people away from service.

God wants every believer to be a faithful steward of what ultimately belongs to the Lord. The men and women who serve on field teams sacrifice their time and resources to minister in other countries. As “fellowhelpers to the truth” (KJV, 3 John 8b) they join with faithful local believers to help plant and grow local churches. What a blessing it is to work with those who jump at a chance to share the gospel with someone or readily step in to set up a tarp shelter, cook a meal, or clean instruments. We rejoice together when we see a Bible student witness to a group of waiting men, a young girl explain God’s plan of salvation to young children, or two women in the shade of a tree praying together as one trusts Christ as Savior.

5. Faithful follow-up

As with any intense group activity, it is what happens after the excitement has worn off that is the true test of its effectiveness. We encourage missionaries and church leaders to have a follow-up evangelism plan. An uncomplicated plan will produce the full benefit of a dental and medical evangelism clinic. If the church has been motivated and organized for the evangelistic clinic, then they must be prepared likewise for the follow-up.

Patient registration information will guide church workers when they visit later. Each person must be visited within days after the clinic to reinforce the gospel message and to begin discipling those who made professions of faith. Some may view this as a small detail of evangelism but it is critical (Luke 16:10). Contact with one individual who has experienced the physical compassion of a health care worker and the caring concern of a believing neighbor can be an opportunity to reach an entire household for Christ. The need for, and the benefits of, prompt follow-up after a dental and medical evangelism field clinic cannot be overemphasized.

Conclusion

No method or formula for evangelism can guarantee success. However, practical experience in dental and medical evangelism shows that field teams are most effective when they follow principles of diligent preparation and faithful follow-up in partnership with missionaries or local church leaders. When the word of the gospel is backed up by tender care, loving compassion, and a godly testimony, God’s power has free course to change lives as He intends (1 Thess. 1:5). This model is a practical plan for any missionary or national pastor considering a program of dental or medical field evangelism to reach the lost with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Michael Vetter is the Latin American Field Representative with Grace Dental and Medical Missions (GDMMissions). He lives in Salem, New Hampshire with his wife Mary and they attend Salem Bible Church where he teaches Adult Sunday School. Mr. Vetter grew up in the Caribbean, earned two engineering degrees (one from MIT), and is retired after 38 years in the Air Force and the defense industry.