The 9th Healing Hands Medical Mission organized by the Saint Luke Society was successfully completed in the Philippines from January 17 to 19, under God’s abundant grace. Saint Luke Society is a Christian medical mission organization affiliated with the Communion of Churches in Korea and the Evangelical Medical Association of Korea. It collaborates with various denominations, including the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap and Hapdong), and actively engages in international ministry through MOUs with organizations such as the Mongolian Christian Medical Association and the Evangelical Fellowship of India. Since its launch in 2018, the Healing Hands Medical Mission has been carried out consistently, taking the lead in sharing the Gospel. Currently, approximately 1,000 members are actively serving through the Healing Hands ministry.
This medical mission was conducted in Pandi, Bulacan, a densely populated urban poor community in the Philippines. A total of 33 volunteers from Korea, along with many local Filipino volunteers, participated in the mission. The Pandi area is recognized by the United Nations as one of the representative impoverished regions in the world, where access to medical care is urgently needed. On January 17, the mission officially opened with an opening ceremony held at Barangay Cacarong Bata. The ceremony began with an opening prayer by Pastor Lee Sung-Kwang of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap), who was dispatched from Korea. This was followed by congratulatory remarks from the Vice Mayor of Pandi City and Mr. Mercado Estrella, representative of Barangay Cacarong Bata. Dr. Shin Myung-Seop, Representative of Saint Luke Society Korea, greeted the residents by saying that the team had come with the love of Jesus Christ and that all the residents were their brothers and sisters. The ceremony concluded with the signing of an MOU between Saint Luke Society Healing Hands and Barangay Cacarong Bata.
The medical mission was carried out through multiple departments, including dentistry, traditional Korean medicine, internal medicine, and pharmacy. Over the course of January 16 and 17, free medical care was provided to approximately 500 local residents, through which the love of Jesus Christ was shared. Many residents suffered from poor dental health, chronic illnesses such as hypertension, acute conditions including colds and allergies, and various skin diseases. Musculoskeletal disorders were also common due to financial hardship. As a result, whenever medical mission teams visit, large numbers of residents seek treatment. Because routine medical care is rare, disease prevention is extremely difficult. A local official shared that some individuals develop cancer in their twenties and pass away without ever knowing the cause of death. Therefore, even basic health checkups and health education provided through medical missions can make a significant impact. Additionally, many residents struggle with severe nutritional imbalance, as they often cannot afford three meals a day and have very limited access to vegetables. In response, Saint Luke Society also provides vitamins to help improve nutritional deficiencies.
Although Pandi faces challenging living conditions, the area has been steadily developing through the dedication of various Christian organizations and local churches. Dr. Shin of SLS, stated, “We have been visiting Pandi, Bulacan for many years to conduct medical missions, and we are witnessing improvements in the residents’ health and their awareness of basic health knowledge.”
On January 19, the Healing Hands team conducted a health education session at Cacarong Bata Elementary School and provided fluoride treatments to students as part of a dental cavity prevention initiative. Dr. Shin explained, “Dental cavities are a very serious issue in this community. Frequent consumption of carbonated drinks due to poor dietary habits appears to be a major cause, so we provided education on proper eating habits. Fluoride application can prevent a significant number of cavities, which is why we administer fluoride treatments every time we visit the Philippines.” In addition, meals were provided to approximately 600 children from impoverished families. On average, children in this community eat only one meal a day and consume meat about once a month.
The Healing Hands team also partnered with Happy Church of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap) to visit households in the slum area. During these visits, vinyl flooring was installed over cement floors, homes were blessed, prayers were offered, and the Gospel was shared with families.
Korean participants who joined the medical mission shared reflections such as, “While living in Korea, the world often felt dark and overwhelming, but through this medical mission, I rediscovered hope and regained a sense of calling as a medical professional,” and “Some people criticized us, saying that medical missions cannot change the world, but through our participation, we clearly experienced that medical missions truly can bring change.”
Dr. Shin Myung-Seop, Representative of SLS Korea, concluded by saying, “Medical missions greatly benefit local residents and serve as an effective means of sharing the Gospel. At the same time, volunteers who participate often experience God’s love firsthand and see transformation in their own lives. Missions are part of the Great Commission given by Jesus and are an essential responsibility for Christians. Yet, we also witness that those who participate in missions receive great blessings as well. We believe it is the mission of Saint Luke Society to help more people take part in sharing God’s love through medical missions.”