Prescription for Renewal conference encourages medical professionals to service for Christ.
In Luke 16:10, Jesus made a profound statement to His disciples, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” When He calls His followers to action, the size or significance of the assignment shouldn’t be our main consideration. Obedience is what matters.
Dr. Richard Furman, a cofounder of World Medical Mission, exhorts attendees from God’s Word.
Drs. Lowell and Richard Furman were running a successful surgical practice in the small mountain town of Boone, North Carolina, when God presented an opportunity for them to serve in a mission hospital. The brothers had never entertained the thought of overseas work. Not only did they begin serving on short-term trips, but they encouraged other surgeons to do the same.
That was in the 1970s. Now 46 years later, with God’s guiding hand, Samaritan’s Purse has seen its World Medical Mission program impact the lives of countless hurting people in 187 partner hospitals in 70 nations. From that foundation, Samaritan’s Purse has expanded its medical capacity, opening up many more opportunities to serve others and to honor Christ.
Edward Graham, chief operating officer at Samaritan’s Purse, encouraged men and women to use their gifts for God’s glory and to invest in His kingdom work on earth.
The 32nd annual Prescription for Renewal offered a time to reflect and celebrate what God is doing through these unique programs, and to invite more Christian medical professionals to participate. Held Sept. 14-17 in Orlando, Florida, the conference drew more than 700 people, ranging from medical students in their 20s to retired missionary doctors in their 90s.
“The Esthers of Today”
“The intention we all share is to be Jesus in a world that is desperate for just a little bit of hope and a lot of help,” said Dr. Bill Rhodes, a general and plastic surgeon who has served for the past 25 years at Kapsowar Hospital in Kenya.
Longtime missionary physician Dr. Bill Rhodes encouraged attendees to help close the healthcare disparity around the world.
Rhodes noted the disparity in healthcare that continues to widen between the populations in Western nations and sub-Saharan Africa. He shared the heartbreaking story of a 3-year-old girl in Chad, where he had gone to do surgeries. Malaria had ravaged her body and she was in respiratory distress.
The doctor performed chest compressions to try to revive her, but the child did not take another breath. Her mother sat in the corner, wailing.
“She passed away at a young age without any chance to experience life and all that it has to offer,” Rhodes said. “We can just throw our hands up, or we can determine what we are able to do as brothers and sisters in Christ with the opportunities we have.”
The best hope we can give the next generation, concluded Rhodes, centers on bringing the unconditional love of Jesus and our medical expertise to overlooked corners of the world.
Attendees were asked to use their gifts in Jesus’ Name to help hurting people through medicine worldwide.
“We must respond. We are the Esthers of today,” he said, referring to the courageous Old Testament heroine who risked her life to help save the Jews from certain death. “We are here to make a difference. Together, with all of the skills and training we have, we can do this.”
That’s what the Furman brothers did when they followed God’s leading and became involved in medical missions. Those initial acts of faithfulness received God’s blessings and gave birth to a much wider scope of ministry and influence, as evidenced by the far-reaching impact of World Medical Mission, the Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART), and other Samaritan’s Purse medical programs.
“We are here to make a difference. Together, with all of the skills and training we have, we can do this.”
Staff shared updates on our recent work, including the ongoing multi-pronged response to the war in Ukraine and medical care provided to survivors of the February earthquake in Turkey.
Some of the conference attendees have served on multiple Samaritan’s Purse assignments, while others came to explore service opportunities for the first time. Event organizers were especially excited to welcome 80 nursing and medical students and medical residents.
Participants gained deeper insights into ministry outreach at the more than 50 academic lectures that were offered on Friday and Saturday for continuing education credits. A dozen non-credit “spiritual emphasis” sessions were also available.
What Makes Us Go?
Bible teachers Dr. David Bruce and Rev. Preston Parrish shared messages of encouragement and challenge, highlighting the urgency to share the Gospel as the primary mission of Samaritan’s Purse.
Bible teacher Dr. David Bruce encouraged attendees to “to extend the loving hand of Jesus in healing and caring and loving” while also sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bruce is currently the executive vice president of the Billy Graham Library.
Samaritan’s Purse Chief Operating Officer Edward Graham introduced Dr. Bruce, who was the executive assistant for Billy Graham for over 20 years. Bruce is currently the executive vice president of the Billy Graham Library and helped establish a permanent home for the revered evangelist’s letters and correspondence in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Dr. Bruce was the right hand to my grandfather for many, many years,” Graham said.
Leading a study of Colossians, Bruce discussed what we believe as followers of Christ and how that shapes our lives and decisions.
He pointed to Colossians 1:5-6—“Of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”
“It’s the Gospel that will carry you to a different country.”
“It’s the Gospel that will carry you to a different country. Yes, you’ve got your talents and abilities. But what is it that makes you go?” he asked the audience.
“It is the Gospel, because the Gospel ties it all together,” he continued. “We go to extend the loving hand of Jesus in healing and caring and loving. At the same time, we give them the Gospel. You can never separate the two.”
Rev. Preston Parrish is a former director of World Medical Mission who now oversees the chaplaincy program at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He noted the importance of the partnership between hospital chaplains and the doctors who serve in medical missions.
“Medical missions involve denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him to the ends of the earth,” said Preston Parrish, a key leader with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
World Medical Mission presently sends missionary doctors and medical supplies to more than 50 hospitals in 31 countries. Through the Samaritan’s Purse “Heart of a Chaplain” foundations course, about 90 chaplains at those hospitals are receiving additional training in sharing the Gospel and counseling patients.
Parrish presented a series of messages about Christ’s transfiguration that was witnessed by the disciples Peter, James, and John. Christ’s glory was shown to them at that moment, but when He revealed that His glory would involve suffering and sacrifice, the disciples did not understand. Today, we too as disciples of Christ are commanded to take up our cross.
“Following Christ means denying ourselves and taking up our cross. Medical missions involve denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him to the ends of the earth,” Parrish said. “The question is, will we do what He is asking us to do? This will put us at odds with a world that deifies self and seeks ease and pleasure.”
Salt and Light
Since 2016, Dr. Bob Spencer, a retired cardiologist, has served on 24 trips with Samaritan’s Purse, including short-term assignments at World Medical Mission partner hospitals, DART responses to COVID-19 outbreaks, and the war in Ukraine.
Dr. Bob Spencer, a veteran cardiologist and World Medical Mission physician, encouraged attendees to be sensitive to God’s calling. “It’s not by accident that you are here.”
“I was sitting where you are seven years ago, and I was wondering why God led me to PFR. It’s not by accident that you are here,” he told attendees.
“It’s not by accident that you are here.”
Spencer found renewed purpose when he began serving overseas, addressing the condition of people’s souls as well as their physical needs. He recalled a patient at a hospital in Togo. When Spencer examined him, the man was confined to a wheelchair and complained of a soft spot on his head. Pulling out three grocery sacks filled with medical records and pills that had been prescribed to him, the frustrated man explained that he had gone to multiple medical facilities and to faith healers, but no one had diagnosed his problem.
After performing a skull X-ray that confirmed his suspicions, Spencer asked the hospital chaplain to join him while he talked with the patient and members of his family. Spencer explained that the man had multiple myeloma and that his case was terminal. The chaplain visited with them, offering spiritual counsel and sharing the Gospel. During the next week, the doctors were able to strengthen the patient through medication and diet, and the chaplain spent time with him each day. Although Spencer could not cure the man’s disease, he was grateful that he introduced him to the Great Physician—the only One who could meet his deepest spiritual need for a Savior.
Edward Graham meets with a group of students attending the conference.
“I encourage you to take a spiritual history of your patients,” Spencer said. “There are hundreds of humanitarian organizations treating thousands of patients, and most of these organizations leave the patient just as spiritually dead as when they found them.”
In addition to sharing their faith, Spencer stressed to doctors the importance of sharing their medical knowledge with national staff in mission hospitals and at DART deployments. That’s also a long-term investment and helps to build strong and enduring relationships.
“What we can be sure about is that when God calls, He is going to equip us. I’m here to encourage you to be the salt and the light,” Spencer told the gathering. “Buckle your seat belt, because God is going to take you on some amazing adventures.”
“What we can be sure about is that when God calls, He is going to equip us. I’m here to encourage you to be the salt and the light.”
During the Saturday night session, Edward Graham asked who among the audience had never served with Samaritan’s Purse. Nearly half raised their hands.
He encouraged them to use their gifts for God’s glory and to invest in His kingdom work on earth.
“You’ve been given gifts. You may not be a Billy Graham, but you can share the love of Jesus Christ and save lives. The time is now,” he said.
If you’re a Christian medical professional, visit our World Medical Mission hub page to apply to serve. Also, there are a number of roles, both medical and non-medical, to play as part of our Disaster Assistance Response Team. Visit the DART hub page to learn more.
The 2024 Prescription for Renewal conference will be held Aug. 15-18 and will be returning to the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld hotel in Florida.
From left, Rev. Preston Parrish joins World Medical Mission cofounder Dr. Richard Furman and former directors Dr. Lance Plyler and Ed Morrow. The program sends more than 600 medical professionals each on short-term trips to overseas mission hospitals.
