The Impact of Compassion: Transforming Lives Through Dental Missions
My new dental colleagues and I quickly realized that when patients agree to lie down in a dental chair, they are expressing vulnerability and trust. This trust goes beyond physical care, it opens the door to spiritual conversations.
Jesus often used physical healing to demonstrate His love, and as healthcare providers, we have the opportunity to meet people in their greatest hour of need. If people trust you with their physical needs, they will often trust you with their spiritual needs as well.
Compassion as a Transformative Tool
Compassion, gentleness, and empathy became core values as we trained our new colleagues. In many cultures, education can be harsh, with teachers and trainers punishing students for incorrect answers. But as representatives of Christ, we knew our approach had to be different.
We modeled how Jesus taught His disciples, with kindness and patience. This approach was transformative. Many trainees were amazed, saying, “I was treated differently than I’ve ever been treated before.”
This kindness not only impacted the trainees but also gave them a model for treating their own patients with compassion, many of whom had never experienced such care or heard about Jesus. As local healthcare providers demonstrated the love of God in action, patients also opened their hearts to Christ.
A Testimony of Excellence and Faith
The impact of our compassionate approach quickly became evident.
During the first year after the initial training, the Ghanaian Ministry of Health visited the clinic. They surveyed the community and found overwhelmingly positive feedback. The mayor of a nearby town, along with his entourage, praised the quality of care.
The Ministry of Health inspected the facilities, reviewed the sterilization procedures, and examined the quality of instruments used. They were so impressed that they encouraged the team to continue their work, a remarkable endorsement that further solidified the credibility of these Christian healthcare providers.
Empowering National Leaders to Lead
Since then, I haven’t treated patients on missions trips. Instead, I focus entirely on training national believers. Leaders like those in Ghana, who have learned basic dentistry, are now respected as doctors in their communities and treated with great honor.
Even in heavily Muslim or Hindu cultures, these Christian leaders are highly valued for their excellent skills. Their work not only meets a critical physical need but also opens doors for the gospel in ways that an outside missionary never could.
Initially, I was shocked when Steve Saint challenged me to teach local leaders dentistry. But I now realize that it is far better to equip and empower others than to simply do the work ourselves for a week at a time. True transformation happens when we invest in local believers, equipping them to serve their own people and share Christ’s love in the process.
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Blessings,
Florence Muindi & Charlie Vittitow