What does 'good news' look like?

At Mercy Ships, we have a weekly column on our intranet entitled 'Leadership Point of View'. Last week was my turn to contribute and I thought I would blog the same thoughts here to make them available to a wider audience

Jesus said he came ‘to preach good news to the poor’ (Luke 4:18). So, I wonder, have you ever asked yourself the question, “what does ‘good news’ look like for my neighbour?”

Most of us can imagine what good news looks like for a patient with a facial tumour. But what does good news look like for young man serving your table at the restaurant, the young mother buying groceries at the local store, your neighbour? What does good news look like for them? This was a question my friends and I would often ask ourselves in England as we sought to be relevant, incarnational followers of Jesus in the 21^st century.

As the Medical Capacity Building Director for Mercy Ships, I find myself asking the same question in yet another context, ‘what does good news look like for the local doctor, or the local nurse’.

Recently I asked a local nurse, “why did you become a nurse?”

She answered, “Because I wanted to care for people.”

“What’s the hardest part of your job”, I replied

“Not being able to care for people because I don’t have what I need”

Our Medical Capacity Building programs bring ‘good news’ by offering training and providing equipment so local staff are empowered to do their job - caring for the sick and injured. In this way they bring good news (hope and healing) to their own communities without relying on us.

Imagine being a doctor or nurse, watching people suffering day after day and not being able to help. I am not sure I would last long working like that. Imagine not knowing what to do because no-one had ever taught you anything since you left college, no continuing medical education, no refresher courses, nothing.  Or worse, imagine you did actually know what to do, but didn’t have the equipment to do it. People were dying, and you had to stand by and watch. Is it any wonder doctors and nurses leave seeking work overseas?

Recently one of our training teams visited a hospital several hours drive from Toamasina. The doctor there said,

“Thank you so much for coming, your visit has encouraged me so much. Because you came and showed you cared, that will keep me going for another year”.

What an honour to participate in God’s calling on our lives, and preach good news to the poor.  Medical Capacity Building is good news. It is gospel work because it empowers and transforms people. Transformed people, transform nations.

May God show you today, who is your neighbour and what good news looks like for them.