By: David Sauder MD FRCSC DRCPSC
Orthopedic Surgeon
University of Saskatchewan Associate Professor

Like many of you I struggle to know how to incorporate my Christian faith into my workplace. As an orthopedic surgeon, I have spent much of my time at work, completely focused on the physical needs of my patients, with not one thought to the spiritual realities unfolding. I have trained in a secular system and I largely practice like a secular doctor.  I have lived much of my professional life unaware of God’s direction. I’ve worked hard, and cared for people, as I’m sure many of you have. However, I believe God calls his children to so much more.

The COVID pandemic was a frustrating and limiting time, but also a time to take a step back and re-evaluate. It forced me to take a deeper look at my life and how I was doing. I evaluated my life from a physical, mental, relational, and spiritual perspective. In the grind of work, marriage and raising 4 kids, I hadn’t spent enough time thoughtfully creating priorities. I had spent far too much time focusing on the temporal, the here and now. I had not spent time focusing on the eternal, spiritual realities present in me and around me. 

I started to realize that God wanted all of me and wanted to guide me at all times. One of my problems was that I was compartmentalizing my life. I would go to church, read my Bible, and say some prayers, and they promptly forget about God for the rest of the day. I think this problem is endemic in today’s Christians. We have so much to distract us, it’s hard to focus and refocus on God during our busy days. But God was calling me to a deeper and more meaningful walk with him. A heart that is restored is one that can restore others. As the journey continued, I heard him call me to sabbatical, a longer rest. 

With the encouragement of my wife, I took a 9 month break from my work as a surgeon and program director. During that time, I regained my energy, strengthened my family relationships, and most of all deepened my walk with my saviour Jesus Christ. I felt the Holy Spirit call me to reach out of my normal circumstances and serve those with even greater needs than those in Canada. 

As I settled back into my practice, a trainee asked me to go on a surgical mission trip. God had been working on my heart, so when the invitation came, it was a resounding yes from me. Ten months later I went to a hospital in Lubango, Angola with my team. It was an amazing blessing for me. I recently returned in May of 2026 for another trip and really focused on supporting the work and educating the residents and doctors. I love the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) program that incorporates spiritual development with education. Along with PAACS, I’ve developed a great relationship with multiple organizations, including Kentro members. They are a constant presence there, working with local partners, and have been such a great help to get me there and back. God willing, I plan to return yearly for a surgical missions trip.

As with most short term missions, the effect on the mission team is often more profound than the difference for the locals. These two trips indeed have had a profound effect on me and spurred on my personal spiritual development. I pray that it would also have an impact on the staff I work with and the patients I interact with, here in Canada, too.  

I wrote this article to be a challenge and encouragement to you, the reader. If you are a medical professional, and you are not already participating in medical missions, I encourage you to prayerfully consider it. I know that not everyone has the capacity or calling, and not everyone reading this is a medical professional. Regardless of your profession, please be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in your own life and respond to his prompting. God has a calling that is specific for you. You don’t have to permanently “leave your practice,” (whatever that practice is!) to make a difference and you will never be more joyful than when you are in the middle of God’s will.

I will end with a scripture that has become more profound, the more I meditate on it, and the more I am obedient to it:

1 Peter 4: 10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (NIV)