China's cities will hold 1 billion people by 2030, and have lately seen migration of unprecedented proportions. Serving in one of China's first or second tier cities, with populations of 10-20 million, you will be in a place that is home to massive communities of people from all parts of China, but also mixing pots of all levels of society - from the mega-rich to the devastatingly poor. The result: chaotic, traffic-filled, polluted cities, that are filled with people who need to, and long to, know that they have been created and have value. With this longing, these cities of the urban billion become home to people who are very open to the gospel, and want to know what it is that fills Jesus-followers with such certain hope.
The poor and marginalized have medical needs, just like anyone else, and yet their ability to access medical services in the big cities of China is greatly limited. Some are ostracized for the stigma associated with certain medical conditions, others cannot afford medical services. Serving as a doctor, counselor, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, and just showing care to them as people, is a great way to demonstrate the love of Christ, both to them, and to the people of these big cities.
You may be volunteering your time as a short-term visitor to Urban China, but you may even consider serving longer-term. Serving in this way may not look like your regular medical job, you may be working through a local project whilst you work in another kind of job in order to be able to live in Urban China.
You will be working in conjunction with a local team.
Depending on the particular ministry, responsibilities will vary, but may include:
- Help educate and train local communities about medical issues
- Help equip and train local team members with a basic level of medical knowledge
- Help local groups of believers think through how to reach out to those with medical needs that have 'stigma' attached to them
- Provide consultation for local medical professionals in your area of expertise
- Provide non-medical support to people affected by specific conditions
- Encourage and support the local team, fellowship and pray regularly with them
- Medical expertise
- A heart to use your medical expertise to serve others?br>
Useful qualities for this placement:
- Ability to be flexible
- Ability to build meaningful relationships with others
- Willingness to take initiative in making new friends
- Ability to speak local language is not strictly necessary, but could be useful
*Australian citizens and/or residents only