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One of the first things Dr. Erin Meier did when she arrived in Papua New Guinea was start to learn Pidgin, the local language.

As the new physician at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, she wanted to be able to communicate with her patients about their medical concerns. But just as important, she wanted to be able to share the Gospel.

“With the help of my language tutor and her son, Marvin, I have been learning how to share Jesus in Pidgin,” Erin said.

Erin’s twin passions for medicine and evangelism made her a perfect candidate for World Medical Mission’s Post-Residency Program. Through the program, gifted Christian physicians are given an opportunity to serve for two years at a mission hospital overseas. The goal of the program is to prepare young physicians for lifetime careers in full-time missionary medicine.

Erin helped fill a critical need for a family practice physician in Papua New Guinea. She also discovered a mission field among her many patients.

“I believe that medicine and evangelism go hand in hand,” Erin said. “As a physician, not only do I care about patients’ physical health, but I also take care of their spiritual health, too. It’s part of the whole person.”

Whenever Erin treats a patient for a physical need, she also makes sure she gives them a spiritual check-up.

“If I don’t talk with a patient about Jesus or pray with a patient it can be considered medical malpractice because I’m withholding something that could really help,” Erin said with conviction. “I’m not going to be able to treat and cure everyone’s physical ailments, but spiritually, if they believe in Christ, we know where they’re going.”