Congregations in healing opportunities and challenges - a framework for understanding - hcf conference 2002 vellore

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

CONGREGATIONS IN HEALTHCARE

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES:

A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING

“Bringing Back the Ark” : A Celebration of Biblical Health Care

Feb 25th to March 2nd, 2002; Vellore

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

CONGREGATIONS IN HEALTHCARE

DEFINITIONS:

CONGREGATIONS:

Congregations are groups that worship together

HEALTH:

Health is not just preventive - curative health

It includes development

Also, it goes beyond the physical

It refers to the broader concept of healing

CONGREGATIONS IN HEALING

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

Those in Need

The Congregation

For Whom ?By Whom ?

Those in NeedThe Interface

How

?

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

Those in Need

Poor

Marginalised

Tribals / nomads

Sick

HIV/AIDS

Terminally ill

Street Children

Those in Prison

For Whom ?

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

The Congregation Those in NeedThe Interface

Provides opportunity to

• care for the whole person

• include a concern for the community

• demonstrate the love of Christ

• offer the healing power and wisdom of the Great Physician towards solving the problems of those in need

Provides

• prevention

• affordable health,

• information

• development and

• empowerment of

those in need

Tools of Intervention

How

?

By Whom ?

For Whom ?

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

Luke 7: 36 – 50 :

The woman who bathed Jesus’ feet with tears, in the Pharisee’s house

John 8: 1-11 :

The woman caught in adultery

Disciples

TOOLS OF INTERVENTION

Moses

Gideon

Nehemiah

Luke 10: 30 – 36:

Good Samaritan: what was Christian about him ?

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TOOLS OF INTERVENTION

SELECTED BY GOD

Looked down upon by others

Did not have the ‘best’ abilities

Knew their shortcomings

Aware of their unworthiness

Scared

Had faith, a personal relationship with God

Remained true to the vision they had

Qs: DO THESE CHARACTERISTICS ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED ?

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

If our congregations are to be the new tools of intervention,

it is necessary for these congregations to EXPERIENCE the healing and transformational process;

ONLY THEN can others receive healing through them

God’s tools of intervention worked on people in need.

They transformed others

to the extent that they were transformed

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

The Congregation Those in NeedThe Interface

Active congregations

Providing excellent service

Bringing Christ’s love to others

Being transformed as they become involved

Target for intervention

Congregations in healing, Feb 2002

The Congregation Those in NeedThe Interface

Active congregations

Providing excellent service

Bringing Christ’s love to others

Being transformed as they become involved

Target for intervention

How we intervene depends on our understanding of what is important

Plan and develop the processes that need to be in place

Choose very carefully the structures that would support these processes