Background

Students from many of those countries come to the 'Sydenham Symposium', our International Medical Student Conference (IMSC) in the week before our own conference in February, where they are introduced to what CMF does in the UK, as well as hearing great talks on topics such as ethics in medicine, palliative care, evangelism, mission, leadership and so on. And of course, they get to spend time with each other and with UK medical students and doctors, becoming equipped and enthused to go back home and help develop and lead similar Christian medical movements there.

The Summer teams are the opportunity we as UK students and doctors have to learn from and encourage them in their own countries. Each camp is different; some are more about discipleship, some are more evangelistics. Some local organisations are much more developed than others, some are just beginning. So sometimes our teams take more of a role advising the leaders of the camps, sometimes we're there to provide some extra teaching, sometimes our students can just go as delegates. The sort of teaching we're involved with includes medical topics, ethics, and Bible teaching. We might be giving talks, joining in discussions, or simply being there to talk to the local students.

So whatever stage you're at in medical school, you can help as part of a team! You don't have to be an ALS instructor or a Bible teacher... you need to be willing to share time with other students, to talk about Jesus and what it means to follow him in medical school, to love others practically as we serve them. And as we serve others in Christ, we will be enormously blessed ourselves. Serving on a Summer team will be an experience you will never forget; the places you go, the friends you meet, the encouragement it is to be part of God's work among his people elsewhere in the world.

What do I do now?

Please prayerfully consider whether this is something you can do. And if you're interested, please fill in the application form and email it back to Giles. The form includes a request for details of a referee, and do remember to include which team you'd like to join.

NB CMF will link you up into teams, and we'll advise you about what you'll need to sort out, but you'll be responsible for arranging visas, travel insurance, jabs etc as necessary. We don't do it for you!

Other options for the Summer

UCCF

If you can't join any of the CMF teams, do have a look at the UCCF Summer Team pages - they also run several teams overseas, as well as within the UK.

UCCF Forum is 2-6 September, in Quinta. If you're involved in leading CU or CMF groups, this is the conference for you! CMF is helping recruit first-aiders as well, so if you're qualified, and have a week available - get in touch!

See these Nucleus articles written by CMF students who went to Forum:

2012

2011

Other Summer activities in the UK

CMF's Summer-school this year will be 9-10 September, in Cambridge, run jointly with KLICE.

Talk too to your church leaders or CU teams about children's summer camps or other activities where you can serve, learn... and have fun!