SUMMARY FOR THE CONFERENCE THEME: MEDICINE - A MINISTRY

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15 KJV)

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country (Mathew 21:33 KJV)

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13 KJV)

The World over, medicine is a celebrated profession. This comes from a special fact that we deal with lives, which also accounts for the special prestige accorded to the profession. The prestige to the profession however, is gradually declining because there is a shift in the main focus that made the profession reach the pinnacle it attained. A close look will show that in those foundational years of medicine, the Patient was the most important person in the hospital setting; as such, health workers gave their best to these ‘important’ persons even more than themselves. They never had the spot light and focus on themselves, but they focused on working on and for the patient and gave their best to their work. Their results were clearly evident. They lived within much boundaries of contentment and were committed and dedicated to their work; some saw their work as actually points to offer service to humanity and nothing short of that. They saw themselves as integrated Christians, and saw medicine as ministry. If all they did in life was to fulfil the vision they were given, they had done enough. After all, every acquisition, accomplishment and position will end here on earth.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Mat 25:37-40 KJV)

Unfortunately, it is evident that our vineyard or garden is filled with weeds while we celebrate being busy with several things: academic work, examinations, social, church, and several private interests. Indeed any integrated Christian would see medicine as a ministry, where he has been given a pulpit or other platform to draw men to eternal life including people of different ethnicities, the poor, the rich, the healthy and sick, and all kinds of people that come to the garden (health sector) that he has been primarily commissioned to tend and watch over.

Often, we complain about everyone else’s contribution to the rot in the health sector, but spare ourselves, because we believe we are doing God’s work, especially in our churches. While such service is critical and ought to be done by us, it seems the devil will only be smiling at us if we make Samaria a beauty, while our own Jerusalem is filled with weeds. Little wonder he keeps us from doing anything deliberate about our own Jerusalem in a collective way. Little wonder we prefer individualism. At times, it appears as if we will have a chance later in life to actually carry out the vision, for example, after we have retired.

It also appears very strange that after receiving training in being a medical doctor and the vision of caring for the whole man, which to a large extent reminds us of the reason why our lifetime has been given to us, something makes us abandon that vision at the time that we become certified to start its implementation. That ‘something’ is unlikely to be the Lord because He never wastes his investments!

Something strange also seems to keep us from seeing value in coming together to pray, to plan and to support each other. This is despite the realisation that we spend most of our time in the health sector: yet we seem to have so little interest in seeking to come together to make decisions that will take the harvest coming through the health sector. At times, when we do come together as students or doctors, some meetings and interactions among us around the nation appear to be reduced to the concerts of this world, and sometimes, one can smell Babylon. In some cases, many of us and our events no longer seem different from the world. Terrifying! For danger it is carrying hearts of flesh to mission grounds.

The main reason we are Christian medics, is not to earn a living or to survive, that is, if we have the mind of Christ.  When God decided to make us medics, he had several expectations attached with it. He saw us as agents of Change. He saw us as channels through which many would enter the kingdom. He didn’t see us struggling for power, position, prestige, quarrelling everywhere and always trying to make a point. In recent times, things have changed and are rather deteriorating. Apart from the glaring fact that focus has shifted, there is such an unusual and unhealthy concentration on the personality and the rights of the Doctor, rather than on service. The reason for the health sector’s existence now seems to be the Doctor, rather than the patient. This has also shaped the thinking of an average Doctor, changed his identity and image with an increasing measure of the picture being marred. This explains the lack of satisfaction, low zeal, passion, commitment and the poor response to the needs of patients and reverence for the vulnerable. Though trained to save lives, many a doctor no longer have this clear picture as their philosophy of life, nor in their practice. How long will this go on?

Hosea 6: 1-3... Come and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us’ he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us, in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; hi going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as  the latter  and the former rain unto the earth.

In this conference, we seek to, under God, make a rediscovery of our calling and ministry and retrace our steps back to the fundamentals that differentiates a Christian doctor and student as stewards of a profession that handles the sacredness and sanctity of the human life. In doing this, we will be pointing everyone to God’s Pattern Son; The Lord Jesus Christ who is also the Great Physician. We see from Scriptures consistently, how he had compassion when he saw people who were harassed, troubled, in distress and also how he treated the sick with such love and compassion. With this understanding, may we cry unto the potter, to mould us afresh, and may we be willing to make the commitment to pattern our lives after his Life in complete obedience. Until this is done, we may not see change.

For CMDA...students and doctors, you can share your experience in reaching patient for God.