Jesus spent much of His time teaching in synagogues, on the streets, on the lakeshore, on a hillside, and in people’s homes, it seems He taught everywhere and everyone. He had a message, and He communicated it well using parables, similes, stories, allegories and poignant illustrations to impart knowledge. His audience was amazed at His understanding; and astonished by His wisdom and authority. The teachings of Christ continue to influence and transform lives, both for now and eternity. Living by the example of Jesus, the Master Healer and Teacher, EMAS Canada’s mission is to ‘heal, teach and serve those in need in a Christ-like manner’
Teaching has been a strong feature of EMAS missions since 1958, when the emphasis begun to shift from sending material supplies to hospitals in need to sending healthcare professionals to work alongside colleagues in remote mission hospitals.
Today virtually every EMAS team has a teaching component; with India, Haiti, Gambade, and Zimbabwe teams placing a greater emphasis on instruction.
We are recruiting for new teaching opportunities, which include: a nursing school in Cambodia, and hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and India.
Why We Teach:
Jesus told His followers to teach others in Matthew 28:18-20. When we do so in obedience, we are following His instructions, and inform others about Him, wherever it is appropriate to do so, and we teach the things we have learned about Him.
Banner from pastors’ retreat May 2018 – EMAS Zimbabwe Team.
Teaching is the most cost-effective way to make a lasting impact, developing healthcare workers who live among their people
The Gambade team recognizes that in the long run, it is the Haitians who will ultimately improve their own health through the choices they make. To make those changes, they need information and skills to take control of their health and the influencing factors.
We teach because it is a long-term investment. By training nurses at Soochow hospital the impact from the learned skills and attitudes reverberate almost indefinitely as our students become teachers and mentors to teach successive generations.
What We Teach:
Paul once wrote: “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Cor. 4:5)
That is the basis of one of the criteria used in the selection of EMAS projects: freedom to express the Lordship of Jesus and to serve others on His behalf.
We base our teaching and service on what is needed, we do not offer a service that is not the expressed need of our hosts.
In some Asian countries, teams have been asked to teach English as a second language. A clinical teaching team such as China East spends many hours in tutorials and lectures with doctors and nurses, whereas India and Haiti work with smaller groups including bedside and hands-on training. All teams teach health promotion and disease prevention. Zimbabwe has a robust program for coaching local pastors.
Teaching Team in Uganda
How We Teach:
We use university lecture halls, we provide clinical demonstrations, and we have peer-to-peer discussion on challenging bedside and operation room medical problems. Evening conversations over dinner with colleagues and hosts have often led to the subject of our faith and how it motivates service. Our Asia teams have excellent translators who prepare lecture slides into local languages, other teams select members with language proficiency according to the host country.
Who We Teach:
We are inclusive. The opportunities vary according to hosting partners’ needs and opportunities on the various projects. Patients and their families almost always get advice on health promotion. Village birth attendants learn about infection control.
Nurses and doctors are shown how to improve care for the mentally unwell; pastors are taught how to maintain personal spiritual growth. Young adults and youth are taught biblical values for healthy relationships and sexuality.
Among the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030, EMAS Canada contributes to healthy lives and promotion of well-being for all ages through teaching.
All Scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV)
