MD538: Medical Missions  & Community Health Evangelism (4 units)

David Hikon Chon, M.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Medical Mission
C. Douglas McConnell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Leadership and Dean
Peter Yorgin, M.D., Visiting Associate Professor of Medical Mission
Summer 2004  Pasadena

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the practice, history, and missiology of medical missions with a particular focus on strategies of community health evangelism.  The teaching team will provide both theoretical and practical models for those who are interested in short and long-term medical missions.  The vital role medical missions plays in the establishment of Christian witness among the poor and marginalized will be examined. The course is designed to provide a basic holistic integration of healthcare and mission. 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Acquire the basic tools for understanding the biblical, theological, and missiological of medical missions.
• Develop awareness of a Christian response informed by an understanding of the problems and best practices of contemporary healthcare.
• Knowledge and skills to implement an appropriate strategy for healthcare including community health evangelism.

 

COURSE FORMAT:

This is a four-day intensive course August 16th-19th, followed by the two-day Calling the Church to a Healing Ministry Conference August 20th-21st.  Participation in the conference is a requirement for credit enrolment in the class.

 

REQUIRED READING:

Bradshaw, B.  Bridging The Gap.  Monrovia, 1993.
Ewert, D.  A New Agenda for Medical Mission.  MAP International.
Fountain, D.  Health, Bible and the Church.  Billy Graham Center.
Rowland, S.  Multiplying Light & Truth through Community Health Evangelism.  GLS Publishing, India, 2001.
Werner, D.  Where There Is No Doctor.  Palo Alto, CA:  Hesperian Foundation, 1990.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Chon, H.  Health in Mission.  New York: Vantage Press, 1997.
Lancaster, T.  Setting Up Community Health Programmes.  NY: Macmillan, 1988.
McElroy & Townsend.  Medical Anthropology.  Boulder:  Westview Press, 1996.
Rowland, S.  Training Materials & Lesson Plans for Community Health Evangelists.  Modesto:  Medical Ambassadors International, 1999.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Required reading plus additional reading for a total of 1,300 pages.  Submit an annotated bibliography.
2. A case study of a specific healthcare and mission project from seminars from the Conference identifying the principles from the perspective of best practices (800 words).
3. A research paper (3,000-4,000 words) covering an aspect of medical missions with reference to the relevant aspects of community health evangelism and its strategic significance.

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.

 

Last Date Edited:  May 11, 2004