Physical Therapy Missions: How God is Using One Career in the Middle East
“Hi! My name is Marie. I’m a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the United States, and I’m looking for a job. Can I talk to the manager?”
Using every word of Arabic she knew, Marie stood at the front desk of a small clinic in the Middle East. It was the final day of her short trip, a journey spent searching for a place to work as a physical therapist and live as a Christian witness. After many interviews across the region, she now found herself in a clinic she hadn’t even planned to visit. Perhaps this was the door the Lord had been waiting to open.
The women at the front desk beamed. “You speak Arabic!”
Marie smiled. She was far from fluent in Arabic, but moments like this reminded her how much even the smallest effort could mean.
The woman invited Marie to send her resume, explaining that if the clinic owner was interested, he would contact her. Marie sent it, though she doubted this would really lead anywhere.
The next day, as Marie drove to the airport to return to the United States, her phone rang. She was startled to see who was calling—it was the clinic owner!
“I have three clinics. Which one do you want to work at?” He asked.
Marie was shocked. She hadn’t even had an interview, yet the opportunity was suddenly wide open.
Several months later, Marie arrived in the Middle East, where she began her role in physical therapy at the clinic, supported by her church through SIM USA. Her career allowed her to live as a Christian witness in a place with few believers.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
In Marie’s region, traditional missionary work is limited. However, professional roles, like physical therapy, provide a unique doorway into otherwise closed countries. Through her work as a physical therapist, Marie could utilize her medical skills cross-culturally—entering the community, meeting real needs, and building meaningful relationships.
Marie’s path through SIM USA exemplifies a different approach to missions: putting to good use one’s professional skills to create a lasting impact in places where missionary access is restricted.
SIM USA Alternate Pathways: Ordinary Jobs, Extraordinary Impact for the Gospel
Living in a Muslim-majority country through physical therapy, Marie is often the first Christian many people encounter.
“Marie, you’re the only Christian I’ve ever met! Can I ask you some questions?” her local friends sometimes say. Marie is always glad to answer their questions about Jesus.
Although she lives in a largely unreached country, Marie’s life looks surprisingly ordinary. During the week, she studies Arabic and works at a local clinic, using physical therapy as her mission field. She meets regularly with other Christians for worship, fellowship, and prayer. She spends time in coffee shops with Muslim friends, visits their families, and takes weekly hikes to spend time alone with the Lord.
“My life looks really normal,” Marie said. “I just live in a place where there are no followers of Jesus. They think He’s only a good prophet, and they don’t know that salvation is found in His name alone. Those are my neighbors, my patients, and my coworkers. We need to pray for them.”
Marie’s story reveals a beautiful truth about how God is working through alternate pathways today. Not everyone who goes into the world to share the gospel does so through traditional missionary work. Increasingly, Christians like Marie enter creative access countries through regular jobs, such as healthcare, business, education, and more.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9-10
Every nation, tribe, and tongue will hear the gospel—even those from hard-to-reach countries. God is using ordinary people in ordinary jobs to fulfill His Great Commission. Through alternate pathways, His laborers are quietly entering the harvest fields, and one day, every nation on earth will worship before the throne of Jesus.
For Marie, whether in her home country or in the least-reached nation where she lives, her work in physical therapy isn’t just a job—it’s a bridge. In a country where the name of Jesus is rarely spoken, light is entering the darkness as workers like Marie use their medical skills missionally, living out the love of Jesus, forming genuine friendships, and gently sharing the hope of the gospel as the Holy Spirit opens doors.
Truly, this is God’s call upon all Jesus followers: to be His hands and feet to our neighbors, coworkers, and friends, no matter where He has planted us.
God Can Use Your Career for His Great Commission: SIM USA Alternate Pathways
Are you interested in living and working abroad? Through SIM USA’s Alternate Pathways, you can use your skills to enter communities where there is no other gospel access.
The career you’ve built, credentials you’ve earned, and experiences you’ve collected could be a part of God’s plan to reach the nations. The gifts He has given you are not accidental—they are tools He can use to open doors for the gospel.
Whether it’s using medical skills cross-culturally, treating patients in a clinic through healthcare, teaching in a classroom, or managing a business, your work can display the love of Jesus Christ and shine His light in the darkness. In places where churches are few and traditional missionaries are restricted, believers are entering through their careers, quietly yet boldly reflecting the love of Christ.
Contact a SIM USA coach here to learn more!
Names have been changed for the privacy and safety of our workers, ministry partners, and those we serve.
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Maggie Watts
Content Creator
I am a Content Creator with SIM USA. It is a joy to use writing and multimedia to glorify God and tell stories about how He is working around the world.