Rural healthcare is hard to describe. Appalachian healthcare is even harder. There are so many "perks" of living in a small town. For one, it is beautiful. The chance to minister to people in an area where you are surrounded by greenery is a blessing. But the poverty, the drug abuse, the teen pregnancies... it is depressing. When there is no development, no jobs, no opportunities and no public transportation, it is easy to feel isolated.
God calls us to take care of His people. His people are everywhere! Yet, ministering in rural areas feels almost... inferior. At least when it comes to missions. Because the work does not seem urgent as compared to overseas, the prayer is not pouring in. The workers that are seeking to use their medical skills do not even know we exist.
When we were first called to serve in Appalachia sixteen years ago, we too thought this would be a temporary stay before going overseas. Yet the needs here are real. Discipleship is necessary and often unheard of, though there is a church on every corner. The transformative power of the gospel is desperately missing. Medicine is one of the best ways to be present in people's lives so that we can be light in this dark area.
So this is our story. God brought us here and interrupted our plans to go overseas. The fruit has been encouraging when we see staff and patients make steps for spiritual growth. The work is hard and lonely. But we know that in this season, we are supposed to be obedient to stay here. But we also know he could call us out to another hard place. But for now, we will pray for Jesus to soften hearts and bring His kingdom here. #ruralmedicine
PLEASE PRAY:
1. Harvest is plenty, please God, send workers!
2. Intercessors, please God, stir up people to pray for rural areas
3. Disciples, please God, make fishers of men in the rural areas!
God calls us to take care of His people. His people are everywhere! Yet, ministering in rural areas feels almost... inferior. At least when it comes to missions. Because the work does not seem urgent as compared to overseas, the prayer is not pouring in. The workers that are seeking to use their medical skills do not even know we exist.
When we were first called to serve in Appalachia sixteen years ago, we too thought this would be a temporary stay before going overseas. Yet the needs here are real. Discipleship is necessary and often unheard of, though there is a church on every corner. The transformative power of the gospel is desperately missing. Medicine is one of the best ways to be present in people's lives so that we can be light in this dark area.
So this is our story. God brought us here and interrupted our plans to go overseas. The fruit has been encouraging when we see staff and patients make steps for spiritual growth. The work is hard and lonely. But we know that in this season, we are supposed to be obedient to stay here. But we also know he could call us out to another hard place. But for now, we will pray for Jesus to soften hearts and bring His kingdom here. #ruralmedicine
PLEASE PRAY:
1. Harvest is plenty, please God, send workers!
2. Intercessors, please God, stir up people to pray for rural areas
3. Disciples, please God, make fishers of men in the rural areas!
