You are more than a Doctor

You are more than a Doctor! 

 

Have you ever thought that you are already in a mission field? When hundreds of people come daily to your hospital and are in contact with you or stay around, you need not wait for a Sunday evening outreach or wait for a missionary or wait till God calls you for “full-time ministry” to go and share the gospel with them. You are the most appropriate person to reach the people around you (the people of your own calibre, profession and the needy people who come for treatment). In short, you are a “missionary” (who shares the gospel with others). The hospital and the place where you stay and work are your mission fields. “Christian Doctors” like you can also contribute a lot in fulfilling the command “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL CREATION” (Mk: 16:15 NIV). We call them “Tentmakers”. You too can become a tentmaker by spreading the gospel to the people around you.

 

One Step Beyond:

 

The world is rolling on and advancing.  Here is a chance for you to think beyond and act for the kingdom of God. Why should you be a witness in the same hospital where there is another person who shares the Gospel? Why should you be in the same geographical area where somebody else shows the love of Christ? You can take it as a challenge to go (get a transfer, find a new job, ...) to an unevangelised place or country as a “Medical Professional” with the single motive of spreading the aroma of Christ in that place or country. Many hospitals, places and countries, which are closed to the gospel, are open for doctors. You can use your professional skills to gain access to a place for the purpose of communicating Christ through your life and witness.

 

“Tentmakers are disciples of Jesus Christ, called by God and commissioned by God's people to make disciples and build His church, who use their professional skills to facilitate their ministry”

 

TAKE A STEP BEYOND FOR CHRIST

 

Mission Fields at Your Reach:

 

Ø       Doctors, Nurses and Para-Medical professionals of your Hospital.

Ø       Patients.

Ø       People of the Medical Profession from other Hospitals.

Ø       People in closed countries.

Ø       People living around you.

 

What Can You Do?

 

Ø       Consider yourself as a missionary and show the love of Christ in words and action.

Ø       Build good relationships with your colleagues, patients and neighbours and spend quality time with them.

Ø       Make use of every opportunity to share the gospel in a meaningful way.

Ø       Start an evangelistic Bible study with the people who are open to the gospel. This can be changed to discipleship Bible study later.

Ø       Connect new contacts to any good local Church.

Ø       If no churches are there, start a worship group and contact missions for help.

Ø       Use the remaining time in helping the local churches / missionaries / ministries.

Ø       Motivate / encourage others in becoming a tentmaker.

 

Where to Start?

Ø       First seek God’s will to find where He wants you to go.

Ø       Collect information about that place and start praying.

Ø       Look for new job openings / get a transfer to that place.

Ø       If possible, equip yourself in a specialized area such as General medicine, Pediatrics, and Gynaecology.

Ø       Prepare yourself for this new task.

·   Start learning the language.

·   Build relationships with local people and colleagues.

·   Learn to share the gospel in practical, creative and effective ways.

·   Lead Prayer Groups or Bible studies.

·   Spend quality personal time with God.

·   Develop good personal character.

·   Gain basic, biblical and mission knowledge.

·   Gain / develop talents e.g. to play a musical instrument.

 

Ø       Find a good support system (e.g. a church / mission / prayer group). This is needed very much for your prayer support, pastoral care and, if necessary, financial support. This will also be helpful in your accountability.

 

Dare to Be Different:

 

You are to be prepared to be different from other doctors.  Since a Tentmaker’s challenge is to go to a new place with a mission -- to make disciples and help build His kingdom, you may be open for the following:

Ø       Ready to take up a new job or to work in an unreached place.

Ø       Be willing to take up a low profile job.

Ø       Avoid taking overtime responsibilities that will take away your precious time and strength, which can be invested in God’s kingdom.

Ø       Don’t compare yourself with a person who is going to a new place / abroad.

Ø       Go to a place for ministry and work for your living. Don’t go to a place for job and do ministry whenever time permits.

 

An example:

 

            Dr. Sukumar (name changed), a new believer, is a post-graduate in Surgery. He committed his life to be a missionary doctor in North India. He got a job as a medical officer in a mission hospital. He spends time with his fellow doctors and patients and spreads the love of Christ among them. He joins with another believing doctor of the same hospital and goes for outreach programmes during the weekends.  He has moved to a backward area with a vision to help the people there physically and spiritually.

 

Wait a minute….

 

Do you have a specific call for “full-time ministry”? If YES, “Tentmakers” ministry is not for you.  If NO, dare to be different by becoming a “Tentmaker”.

 

For more information:

Log onto http://imaindia.org to view job opportunities

 

India Missions Association

Post Box 36, 1-300/118, Arul Colony,

ECIL Post, Hyderabad 500 062, AP - India.

( (91) 040 - 27134530 / 5

E-Mail: tentmakers@imaindia.org

 

 

Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India

3B, Rainbow Vikas, Old No: 5 (New No:9)

Varadharajulu Street, Egmore,

Chennai 600  008.

E-Mail: emfi@vsnl.com

 

 

Interserve (INDIA)

2/22 Annapurna, New Era Society

Marketyard, Pune 411037

( (91) 020 - 4274849 / 4272768

E-Mail: isvindia@vsnl.com