Support Ministry Medical Ministries Though The Christian and Missionary Alliance is primarily a church-planting mission, there are significant ministries that occur in the medical field. 1. CAREER MISSIONARY MEDICAL DOCTORS are ministering in Africa and Asia. While their primary calling is to benefit the evangelistic work of the church through their ministry, they are involved in a full range of medical care and are doing a marvelous work. We have two hospitals. However, the one in Zaire is now operated by national doctors and staff. At this time the medical ministry has its major focus on public health and preventive medicine. In Bongolo, Gabon, three missionary doctors, along with their staff, carry on a full medical program as well as a nurses training school. Between the two hospitals, they minister to about 30,000 patients a year. There is also a new hospital opening in Koutiala, Mali. 2. CAREER MISSIONARY NURSES work in Africa and Asia. In addition to the nurses at our hospital in Gabon, other nurses provide services at clinics, outreach centers, and have itinerant ministries with good results. Though they work with physical needs and offer medical help, their primary calling is to contribute to church planting. 3. CAMA SERVICES MEDICAL MINISTRY TEAMS are involved in preventive and curative health care, and emergency relief. Doctors, nurses, midwives, and medical administrators are occasionally needed. Currently in 2004 Cambodia has an AIDS outreach center, a Riverboat Ministry, Poipet Referral Hospital, and CHE (Community Health Evangelism). Guinea has the New Hope Clinic (Dental and Maternity.) 4. IFAP (International Fellowship of Alliance Professionals) is the tentmaking arm of the C&MA. As motivated and led by God, lay professionals (medical and other professions) seek secular employment overseas with the specific purpose of being an effective witness. Strategically they usually serve in countries with restricted access for regular missionaries. IFAP assists these professionals first through essential screening to ascertain their physical, cultural, and spiritual readines, and the IFAP applicant is responsible for securing employment with an organization or a company in the country of their service. This needs to be done before applying to IFAP. Presently IFAP professionals live and work in Turkey, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, West Papua, Thailand, Hong Kong, North Africa, Haiti, Honduras. 5. SHORT-TERM is great option for those who desire to serve medically for short periods of time. The Short Term Missions Office personalizes each trip to match the skills and background of an individual or team with needs at C&MA sites. Beyond participating on a general team trip or a personalized trip that is offered; those in the medical field can join the Specialist Database. This database is a resource made up of people who have specialized schooling (doctor, nurse, EMT, etc.). As our office is alerted of immediate needs from our missionaries, those in the database are contacted and offered the opportunity. Lastly, the MPSE (Medical Professional Skills Enhancement) Program is a short term opportunity for U.S. Registered Nurses to teach Balkan nurses specific modules of nursing. There are all intermediate to advanced levels of instruction to choose from in this program. The short-term participant decides which module to teach and a date is agreed upon that the field can use that module in the program. 6. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL MISSIONS PREPARATION FOR DOCTORS: Pre-med and medical school studies at the university of your choice. Optional fourth year of medical school - externship at Bongolo. Evangelical Hospital in Gabon, Africa. Internship.
At least one year of Bible and theological study.
Active involvement in the ministry of a local Alliance church.
At least two years of professional practice. PREPARATION FOR NURSES: THREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE AS FOLLOWS: Option One Obtain a four year nursing degree (B.S.) from the school of your choice.
Complete 30 semester hours of Bible and theology, 15 semester hours in ministry and missions courses. Degrees can be earned at Alliance Theological Seminary or Canadian Theological Seminary.
Serve at least one year of practical nursing experience, and at least one year of full-time, church-related ministry (or two years of part-time ministry). Note: This can be combined meeting both requirements at the same time. (A person can work in a hospital as a nurse, while at the same time serving in a church with specific responsibilities.) Option Two Take the Missionary Nursing program at Crown College or Toccoa Falls College or the Pre-Nursing program at Nyack College. These are two-year study programs primarily in Bible, missions, and general studies. After this you must transfer to a college or university which offers a major in professional nursing.
At least one year of practical nursing experience, and at least one year of full- time, church-related ministry (or two years of part-time ministry). Note: This can be combined meeting both requirements at the same time. (A person can work in a hospital as a nurse, while at the same time serving in a church with specific responsibilities.) Option Three Attend a Christian college which offers a nursing program in conjunction with a hospital. After completion of the nursing program, you would need to study at least one year at an Alliance college or seminary.
At least one year of practical nursing experience, and at least one year of full-time, church-related ministry (or two years of part-time ministry). Note: This can be combined meeting both requirements at the same time. (A person can work in a hospital as a nurse, while at the same time serving in a church with specific responsibilities.)