More than a conference: A window into God’s global work through ICMDA

Global Connections readers may not be familiar with the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA). But ICMDA has been active for over 60 years, helping build and sustain a global movement that now connects Christian healthcare professionals in over 150 countries and continues to grow.

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9)

There are moments in ministry that give us a glimpse of heaven.

Last month, on the beautiful island of Jeju in South Korea, I experienced one of those moments as almost 1,200 Christian doctors, dentists, medical students and healthcare leaders from 138 nations gathered for the 18th ICMDA World Congress. Our theme was Building God's Kingdom amongst the Broken, and throughout six unforgettable days we worshipped together, studied God's Word, wrestled with difficult issues facing healthcare, shared stories from every continent and prayed for one another. Almost 400 delegates from low-resource countries were able to attend through scholarships covering travel, accommodation and registration, ensuring that the Congress truly reflected the worldwide body of Christ.

As I looked across the auditorium during our opening worship, hearing songs of praise rise in many languages, I could not help but think of John's vision in Revelation. The diversity of cultures, languages and professional backgrounds was not a barrier but a beautiful testimony to the unity we have in Christ. Doctors working in sophisticated academic medical centres sat beside colleagues serving isolated mission hospitals. Dentists from major cities met physicians caring for refugees or practising in countries where Christians face discrimination or persecution. We were reminded that, although our circumstances differ greatly, we all serve the same Lord and are called to bring His hope into a broken world.

How the ICMDA World Congress links to the ICMDA’S vision

ICMDA's vision is simple but ambitious: to see a Christian witness through doctors and dentists in every community in every nation. We pursue this by establishing and strengthening national Christian medical and dental movements, developing leaders, encouraging students, equipping healthcare professionals to think and practise biblically, and fostering fellowship and partnership across the world.

The World Congress, held every four years, provides perhaps the clearest expression of that vision.

The Congress began with a three-day preconference attended by around 600 participants. Students and young professionals gathered for dedicated teaching on Christian leadership from the book of Nehemiah by Patrick Fung, together with plenary sessions exploring Christian worldview, technology and ethics, and finding our place in God's mission. More than forty breakout sessions addressed the practical challenges of following Christ in medicine and dentistry, while mentoring and networking opportunities invested intentionally in the next generation of Christian healthcare leaders.

Alongside this, qualified doctors and dentists participated in ten specialised training streams, each offering around ten hours of in-depth teaching. Subjects ranged from bioethics and apologetics to palliative care, healthcare leadership, advocacy, evangelism, whole-person medicine, family medicine, missions and strengthening national movements. Rather than simply listening to lectures, participants learned together in smaller groups, discussed practical ministry and forged friendships that will continue long after the Congress has ended.

One evening the preconference paused for a cultural celebration as delegates from around the world shared music, dance and testimony. It was impossible not to marvel at the extraordinary diversity of gifts God has given His people.

ICMDA General Assembly

Before the main Congress officially opened, ICMDA also held its four-yearly General Assembly. This gathering of board members, fieldworkers, staff and national leaders reflected on God's faithfulness over the previous three years, welcomed sixteen new national movements into membership and launched the sixth edition of Doctor's Life Support, ICMDA's daily devotional. These new member associations included countries as diverse as Czechia, Colombia, Guyana, Liberia, Morocco, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia and Solomon Islands. Each represents years of faithful local leadership, often supported by ICMDA fieldworkers who have invested patiently in developing Christian medical communities where none previously existed. Together they increase our worldwide family to 123 national movements.

The main Congress, held at Jeju's International Conference Centre, brought together approximately 1,200 participants for four inspiring days. Bible teaching formed the heart of the programme. Medical missionary and theologian Dr Dae Young Lee traced the biblical theme of brokenness from Genesis to Revelation, reminding us repeatedly that God delights in using broken people to build His Kingdom among those whose lives have also been broken by suffering, injustice and sin. His messages beautifully anchored everything else we heard during the week.

The plenary sessions addressed some of the greatest challenges confronting Christian healthcare professionals today. Paul Bendor-Samuel explored revolutionary changes in medical mission, asking how Christians should respond to rapidly changing global healthcare. Jana Macleod examined the opportunities and ethical questions arising from the AI revolution in medicine, while Jeff Barrows challenged delegates to think carefully about responding faithfully to an increasingly secular ethical agenda. These keynote addresses were complemented by almost 120 breakout seminars covering an extraordinary range of practical, ethical, clinical and missional topics, together with twenty Special Interest Groups that we hope will continue collaborating long after the Congress.

Some of the most significant moments, however, happened away from the platform.

Family time and Friendships

Regional Family Time brought together delegates from each of ICMDA's fourteen regions to pray, encourage one another and hear testimonies of God's work in their own parts of the world. Global Family Time assembled around 150 board members, fieldworkers, staff and national leaders to reflect honestly on ICMDA's strengths and weaknesses, identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and seek God's direction for the years ahead.

The Family Celebration included a joyful parade of national flags, reminding us visually of the astonishing breadth of God's work across the globe, followed by an international evening in which twenty-three national and regional groups presented music, dance, drama and cultural performances. There was tremendous energy, colour and laughter, but also a profound sense that every culture has unique gifts to contribute to God's Kingdom.

Equally memorable were the countless informal conversations over meals, coffee and walks around the conference centre. Friendships were renewed, partnerships were formed, students met mentors, and leaders discovered they were not alone in facing difficult ethical and professional challenges. For many delegates serving in isolated contexts, simply meeting hundreds of like-minded Christian healthcare professionals from around the world was deeply encouraging.

The Congress concluded with an offering to support ICMDA's field staff and volunteer fieldworkers before a moving communion and commissioning service centred on reconciliation. Delegates prayed together in small groups, often through tears, asking God to send each of us back to our own nations with renewed courage, deeper humility and greater dependence upon Christ. We did not leave simply having attended a conference; we left recommissioned for ministry.

Day to day

Of course, ICMDA is far more than a World Congress held every four years.

Throughout the year, a team of fieldworkers visits emerging national movements, mentoring local leaders and helping establish sustainable Christian fellowships. Weekly webinars now attract participants from every continent, with more than 300 presentations freely available covering bioethics, evangelism, leadership, medical mission, whole-person care, apologetics and many other topics. Daily devotionals, regional conferences, leadership programmes, student initiatives and countless informal mentoring relationships continue strengthening Christian healthcare professionals wherever they serve.

As I flew home from South Korea, I found myself reflecting not primarily on the excellent organisation, inspiring speakers or beautiful venue, but on the extraordinary faithfulness of God. Across every continent He is raising up Christian doctors and dentists who long to honour Christ through compassionate care, professional excellence and courageous witness. Through ICMDA these believers encourage one another, learn from one another and labour together so that, one day, there really will be a Christian witness through doctors and dentists in every community and every nation.

It is an immense privilege to be part of that family. My prayer is that many more will join us—in prayer, in partnership and, perhaps, in person at future gatherings—as together we seek to build God's Kingdom amongst the broken.

Our thanks go to Dr Peter Saunders for sharing this article with Global Connections. The images below give further insights into the conference along with the ICMDA World Congress video, which can be found in this YouTube link.