This is yet another re-do of what I hope will become a more consistent effort at blogging. Although writing is primarily what I do as a side hustle, I’ve been horrible at expressing my own thoughts in written form, in a central place, for a long while. So to kick off the start of another iteration of my blog, I thought I’d share about the end, the culmination of what I hope and pray my career in the medical technology industry will look like.
Those of you who know me know that I’m a devout Christian. I’ve been a Christian nearly my entire life, and it occupies a significant part of my social life and activities. My identity is in Christ: my ambitions and motivation, and all the decisions I make to guide them, are rooted in the Christian faith.
Several years ago, I began a personal quest to find out how I could converge my passion for medical technology with my identity as a Christian. I believe that life-transforming technology was a God-given passion, and that as an individual with some level of influence who has also been blessed to work in the industry in Silicon Valley, God has given me a divine mandate to use my influence and network for His glory. I want to bring the healing message of Christianity by bringing the healing power of medical technology to people who need it the most.
So here are the realities that got my mental gears spinning.
There are over 7000 unreached people groups (UPG’s) in the world. A UPG is defined as a group of people who have very little to no exposure to Christianity (think the North Sentinelese people in India). Often times, UPG’s are tied to what social economics would define as “developing” or “emerging” nations, lacking sufficient healthcare. But Japan, with one-half of one percent of the population professing any form of Christianity, has also been classified as a UPG.
So, in general, the UPG’s are in need of physical healing and are in even greater need of spiritual healing.
Though much of the history of the recent missionary movement involved churches sending full-time workers into the field solely focused on Christian ministry, this model is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult. Don’t get me wrong: churches still must be raising up and sending out missionaries.
But a model of Christian entrepreneurship that I hope to one day follow offers some unique advantages.
In terms of country access, even the most closed-off countries and harsh dictatorships want some to provide some level of healthcare for their people. So while I will likely not be able to enter a country as a Christian worker, I will probably be accepted as a businessman who has identified a medical need in a country and a way to address it.
Second, I want to develop a medical device that is not only clinically beneficial, but is extremely affordable, easily scalable, and can be largely made in-country. The last point is very important to me, as I hope to provide safe, stable, and well-paying jobs that will not only benefit those who might otherwise be at risk for human trafficking and other crimes, but will help stimulate the local economy.
Lastly, by establishing a facility to build a medical device, I hope to establish a place to do ministry. This office would be a community center, a safe haven, and eventually, a place of worship. It would be the physical convergence of the “secular” and the “sacred”.
There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done and things I need to learn before venture becomes a reality, but I’m already starting to find some wonderful partners, both with expertise in healthcare and in missions.
If you’re a Christian, I would ask for your prayers for wisdom and providence. And even if you’re not a Christian, I would still absolutely welcome any thoughts and ideas you have about bringing medical technology to those in need. Thanks.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.
Psalm 103:2-3