In late May hundreds of people converged in Nashville to seek God on ways to impact the future of healthcare at the Christian Community Health Fellowship Conference (CCHF). Nurses Christian Fellowship staff members Renee Lick and Skip McDonald interacted with attendees, including dozens of students from healthcare professions such as dentistry, medicine and nursing. Two of the students they met are starting a new NCF group in Alabama.
As their website explains, CCHF is working to help people without basic health care by focusing on three areas:
- Creating a support network of like-hearted Christian health professionals,
- Reaching out to students with a call to practice true religion in their vocations, and
- Providing technical support to providers and administrators who are resolved to do something great for the poor in the name of Christ.
Renee led a session titled “Justice and Mercy in Healthcare” with Micah 6:8 as a foundation: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” She asked CCHF Conference participants to trace their feet on paper and label one “justice” and the other “mercy” as a visual reminder.
In small groups, they discussed ways to work towards justice and mercy in their schools and healthcare settings. Ideas included:
- Love mercy: pray for eyes to see your patient’s perspective and life circumstances; make eye contact with every patient when you enter the room.
- Act justly: raise awareness in your community about conditions that cause poor health; support building parks and fitness centers as places for exercise; partner with local organizations to bring affordable locally-grown produce to your neighborhood.
“We follow a God of justice and mercy who desires us, as His people, to live in a way that furthers justice and extends mercy to our neighbors and communities,” said Renee. “Lead on, O Lord!”
Learn more about Nurses Christian Fellowship at our website.
