More than 200 Christian doctors, dentists, and medical professionals from as far away as Australia gathered at the Billy Graham Training Center (The Cove) last weekend for the 22nd annual Prescription for Renewal conference and Missionary Medicine Seminar.

Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham welcomed the participants and quickly put the purpose of medical missions into perspective.

“There’s a lot of good work in the world, and we want to do good work, but if we don’t take the Gospel with our good work, it’s all in vain,” he said. “This is what we are all about at Samaritan’s Purse and World Medical Mission—taking this Gospel message to the ends of the earth.”

Many of the physicians had served in remote hospitals overseas on multiple short-term assignments. For others, Prescription for Renewal provided an opportunity to explore the world of medical missions for the first time.

Dr. Graham Wetzig, a general surgeon from Rockhampton, Australia, received the 2011 “In The Footsteps of the Great Physician” award. The annual award is given to a physician in recognition of selfless Christian service overseas. Dr. Wetzig and his wife, Elaine, have served in Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Kenya.

“You’re not just operating, but sharing the love of Jesus with the people,” Dr. Wetzig said, explaining the role of a medical missionary. “I pray before every operation. I make a point of doing that. In Nepal, the young Nepali doctors won’t even start an operation unless I’ve prayed.”

Dr. Wetzig also helps train national physicians, and he and his wife provide encouragement and pastoral care to resident missionaries.

“We go as becoming part of the community of missionaries, part of the hospital, and part of the larger community as well,” Dr. Wetzig said.

For Tim and Jason Fader, missionary medicine runs in the family. With the help of World Medical Mission, Tim Fader took his family on a short-term mission trip to Kijabe Hospital in Kenya in 1984. Three years later, the Faders returned to Kijabe and Tim began serving as a full-time medical missionary.

Jason Fader grew up in Kenya and followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a physician and then serving at neighboring Tenwek Hospital for two years through World Medical Mission’s Post Residency Program. The Post-Residency Program helps prepare young doctors and their families for full-time missionary service by supporting them for their first two years on the mission field.

“In college, I began to see how medicine and the church, or medicine and preaching and discipleship, can all fit together,” Jason said. “With the Gospel, we need to preach, but we also need to heal, and Jesus did both. If one of those is missing, I don’t think we’re being true to the Gospel. That’s what Jesus showed.”

Dr. Jason Fader and four other Post-Resident Program physicians are preparing to serve as full-time medical missionaries at Kibuye Hospital in Burundi, beginning in 2013.

Dr. Chuck Miller, a “retired” pediatrician from Delaware, has traveled overseas 26 times since 2001, providing life-saving medical care for thousands of people. Still going strong at 81, he encouraged every physician at Prescription for Renewal to become involved in medical missions.

“Giving care to those who have none is the most rewarding thing I have ever done,” Dr. Miller said. “The biggest thrill is taking the Good News to someone who has never heard it and seeing a soul saved by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. How can it not be the best way to spend your life?”

Pastors Skip Heitzig and Will Graham were featured speakers at this year’s event. Music was provided by Dennis Agajanian, and John and Anne Barbour.

Using the sporting metaphors found in Philippians, chapter 3, Pastor Heitzig challenged physicians to use their talents to help the sick in developing nations.

“What we hope you’ll get out of Prescription for Renewal this year is the call from God saying, ‘Get off the bench, get out of the bleachers, hit the track, and give it all that you’ve got,’” he said. “You can still finish well.”

Samaritan's Purse , United States , World Medical Mission , The Call of the Great Physician