disease

November 21, 2011

Treatment vs. Eradication: Relevance for Mission

“Disease treatment vs. disease eradication: why is this important and relevant for us today,” by Brian Lowther, in William Carey International Development Journal. Being an incarnational witness for the Gospel is not just about preaching, proclaiming, and distributing the Gospel. It’s also about incarnating Good News through activities that heal, restore, redeem, release, and bring transformation. In this article Lowther explores how God can be glorified through the eradication of diseases. Does it seem to you like the church is largely leaving this to others? Why are they?

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July 14, 2011

Against the Odds in South Sudan: Saving Lives One Toilet at a Time

AllAfrica.com writes about a USAID project in south Sudan to increase the number of toilets in communities. Bill Gates wants to reinvent the toilet. Toilets prevent fecal contamination (just writing those words can give you a shiver) which can lead to all sorts of diseases. Remember: lengthening lifespans can lead to the stability of the church and, in the long run, healthy church growth. So in the long run, building a toilet can actually build a church. Remember to take the long view:

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July 12, 2011

Eradicating a disease = Church growth

Here’s an argument for humanitarian and development work: In the July 11 Webinar (which I am working on getting converted and posted) Rudolf Kabutz of TWR mentioned that statistics from the Atlas of Global Christianity for East Africa reveal what retards church growth in the region is the significantly high death rate. This retards church growth not just because people die, but because the church loses knowledge, wisdom, and stability of elders. Everything the church does to lower the death rate (e.g. eradicating disease, dealing with drought, preventing violence) actually lends itself to church growth: because people will live longer, [...]

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April 15, 2010

Ethicists discuss a moral “duty to rescue” polio victims

Finishing the job of polio eradication worldwide is an ethical obligation: Experts (PhysOrg.com). An interesting argument with implications for missions.

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March 22, 2010

The need for toilets

Lack of access to sanitation–read, toilets–is a critical issue of health. “Open defecation” is on the decline but 1.1 billion still practice it, leading to the spread of disease from polluted water. In New York Times. (Although the percentage of the world doing this declined, constant population growth means the absolute number has grown.) The problem is worst in the urban slums.

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March 5, 2010

US & North Korean doctors create TB lab

A public health project is said to represent “an unprecedented level of cooperation” between doctors from the United States and North Korea. via NYT.

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