The Changing Face of Missions

Ophthalmic Industry FellowshipASCRS – Boston, MA April 2010

Colossians 1:10

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God

James 1:22

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Do What?

Statistics

1988

World population 5.1 billion

Age 65 and up 320 million

Number of blind 37 million

Global cataract operations 5 million/yr

2008

World population 6.7 billion

Age 65 and up 500 million

Number of blind 45 million (2004)

Global cataract operations 15 million/yr

Statistics – global blindness

45 million blind (<3/60 in best eye)

37 million from eye disease

8 million from refractive error

17 million from cataract

Cataract Surgery Rate - CSRCountry CSR (Operations/million/year)

United States 5500

Western Europe and Japan 4000

India Was 1500 – now 3000

Russia 1500

Africa 300

China 280

Blindness

Physical Inability to see 20/400 in your best eye

Spiritual < 20/400 spiritual vision Inability to trust God and experience His

grace

Spiritual blindness

A refusal to acknowledge God as Lord and Creator, while at the same time choosing to foolishly trust in ourselves

Levels of spiritual blindness

Key Spiritual Formulas Jesus + Anything else = Spiritual Blindness Jesus + Nothing else = 20/20 spiritual vision

- James Gills, MD - Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

Medical and Spiritual Care

We need to study and prepare to deliver effective care in both these areas

There likely are “best practices” for delivering this combination of spiritual and medical help to those in need

Biblical mandates “of doing”

I John 3 18Dear children, let us not love with

words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

James 2 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is

not accompanied by action, is dead. James 4

17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Mission

What is mission? What is your mission? What is our mission? How are missions changing?

The changing face

Travel Ease Internet/Cell phones The standards US Christians aren’t leading Political environment

Mission – what I’ve learned

Mission is a privilege Mission is a responsibility Mission <> overseas Mission = getting out of bed in

morning We are all missionaries

Mission – the changing face

TRADITIONAL

Going Doing

NEW FACE

Going Teaching Connecting Supporting Long Term

Relationships

Practical issues with current short term models

Reinventing the wheel Go and Do mentality Duplication of services Difficult cases, less than ideal

conditions Difficulty finding information

On site On procedures On what is needed

Why MEN?

Duplication of wheel Skills not being utilized Information not known or easy to find Raise the bar for quality

WOMEN World Outreach Mission Eyes Network

Mission Eyes Network(our vision)

Connecting people to mission networking

Broadening the definition of mission Go/Do -> Support/Teach/Interchange

Supporting the process of mission Education of doctors Platform to communicate Finding docs for clinics and missions Engaging industry

Key Agendas

Advocate for mission agencies Resource for mission information Protocol for helping place volunteers Raise bar for quality Build community of mission minded

professionals Allow better communication and

networking

Mission Eyes Network

Eye

Fish

World

Mission Eyes Network

Industry involvement

TRADITIONAL NEEDS

Supplies Place/need People to help and go Organization of trip

NEW MODEL

Skills and skills transfer

Challenge to quality Connections to make

best use of skills available

Inspiration to Go & Support model

Your company

Define how your company wants to corporately support mission?

What is your niche – what is obvious, what is not?

What parameters? Who do you want to engage? Overt or Covert?

Industry involvement - #1

Commitment to skills transfer Techniques for mission settings New technologies International post graduate training

center Commitment to quality

Industry involvement -#2

Commitment to education Support COS Missions meeting Need dynamic speakers to draw

audience Residency education Sponsor international ophthalmology

fellowships

Industry involvement - #3

Corporate sponsorship of your employees How would they be involved?▪ Company sponsorship of a single

mission/employee/lifetime?▪ Sponsor 50% of mission trip▪ Give one week off extra with no sponsorship

Local missions involvement in your community

Your involvement - #4

Mission Think Tank Brainstorming group Email format Topics:▪ Missions▪ Prayer▪ Innovation

Industry involvement - #5

MEN Partners New section of Mission Eyes Network Specifically for corporate involvement Communicate how your company wants

to engage doctors involved in mission

How to post Email: partners@missioneyes.net

Industry involvement - #6

OIF = many companies MEN = many agencies Strategic partnership with MEN to:

Move the conversations Emphasize quality Inspire involvement Enable the process

Industry Involvement - #7

Personal Prayer How will you, your spouse, your kids be

involved? What is your local mission field? Where are your international field(s)? How will you lead your division,

company or challenge your bosses?

Summary – How to Help

1. Skills Transfer2. Education3. Your Employees4. Think tank5. MEN partner6. OIF/MEN leadership7. Personal involvement

James 3 17But the wisdom that comes from

heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

I Peter 4 10Each one should use whatever gift he

has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

2008

Helen Keller

“It’s a terrible thing to see and have no vision”