Hazardous to Your Health

Missionary work can be hazardous to your health. The International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has 500 missionaries serving in the region of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. Last year, just those missionaries, together with members of their families:

* Spent 395 days in the hospital.
* Visited the emergency room 34 times.
* Needed five medevac flights.
* Made 669 visits to doctors.
* Made 325 visits to dentists.
* Made 211 visits to pediatricians.
* Made 128 visits to OB-GYNs.
* Made 98 visits to optometrists.
* Made 90 visits dermatologists.
* Made 11 visits to oncologists.
* Required lab work 524 times.
* Required radiologic exams 426 times.
* Underwent 96 cardiac procedures.
* Underwent 72 surgeries.
* Underwent 67 mammograms.
* Underwent 50 colonoscopies/gastroscopies.

This is why we give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This is why we give to the cooperative program. This is why we should sacrifice to give the largest offering ever this year. The missionaries who are called and sent accept tremendous risks to their well being. It's our job to support them.