Click here for a special message from Dr. Paul and Jennifer Osteen regarding the February 11 event at Lakewood Church.

2024 M3 Conference

February 16-17, 2024

The Mobilizing Medical Missions (M3) Conference is a two-day global health missions conference designed to bring together doctors, nurses, dentists, other healthcare professionals and medical students, as well as non-medical professionals and students, who have a desire to use their skills to meet pressing global health and related community needs.

The vision of M3 is to help people connect with others, be inspired, and find their mission. At the 2024 M3 Conference, you will be inspired by dozens of speakers; you will connect with other purpose-minded people; and you will find your mission in the Exhibit Hall filled with over 70 organizations providing opportunities to serve both locally and abroad.

The M3 Conference reaches around the world to touch the hearts and lives of people in need.  Don’t miss this great opportunity to be a part of a movement that is changing this world for the better, and register today to join us on February 16-17, 2024!

2024 M3 Conference Program

Download the conference program to have easy access to the conference schedule, speaker/session information, exhibitor list, and much more right at your fingertips!

2024 M3 Conference Speakers

Conference Hosts

Paul Osteen, MD, FACS and

Jennifer Osteen, RN

Co-Founders, M3 Conference

Read More

Jenny Dyer, PhD

Emcee

Joël Malm

Author and founder, Summit Leaders

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Keynote Speaker

Stephen J. Foster, MD FRCS(C)

Clinical Director, Lubango Evangelical Medical Center

Read More

Jenny Dyer, PhD

Anne Alaniz, DO

Gynecologic Oncologist and Founder of Pothawira

Read More

Jenny Dyer, PhD

Nicholas Comninellis, MD, MPH, DIMPH

President & Professor, INMED

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Erin Grim, BSN

Director of Nursing, Sacre Coeur Pediatric Center of Excellence

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Mary E. Hermiz, RN, MSN, EdD

Missionary Emeritus, World Gospel Mission

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Danny Joseph, MD

Bethesda International Ministries Board Member

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Leigh Kohler

Co-Founder and President, Freedom Church Alliance

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Larry J. Miller, MD

Missionary / Medical Doctor, Acacia Medical Missions in Spring Branch

Read More

Matthew Dasco

Timothy Myrick, MD

Family Medicine Professor at University of Missouri Kansas City

Read More

Matthew Dasco

Bob Paeglow, MD

Founder, President and Medical Director, Koinonia Primary Care

Read More

Todd Price

Todd Price, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Julie Rosá, MD, MIH

Family Medicine Physician, Kanad Hospital UAE

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Herschel Rothchild

Senior Relationship Manager, SIM USA

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Greg Seager, RN, MSN

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Christian Health Service Corps

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Allan T. Sawyer, MD, MS, MATS

Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Emily Smith, PhD

Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine/Surgery, Duke University and Assistant Professor of Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute

Read More

Mary Hermiz

Sasha Thew, BSN, MPH

Emergency Medical Response Specialist, Samaritan’s Purse International

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

James M. Tour, PhD

T. T. and W. F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Computer Science, Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University

Read More

Mary Hermiz

Carlan Wendler, MD, FACEP

SERGE Missionary

Read More

Joy Vonk, PA-C

Cindy M. Wu

Co-founder, Mosaic Formation

Read More

Advance Pricing

Main conference registration includes access to the Exhibit Hall, access to Plenary and Breakout speaker sessions, dessert on Friday, and breakfast and boxed lunch on Saturday. (A Pre-Conference Workshop providing optional CME credits is available for an additional fee.) NOTE: These prices are available online through Thursday, February 15. Starting Friday, February 16, registration will be available onsite and different pricing will apply.

Attendee Registrant Type

Early Bird Rates* / Rates Starting Jan. 1, 2024

In-Person Attendee – Physician/Dentist

$90 / $110

In-Person Attendee – Nurse

$70 / $90

In-Person Attendee – Other Medical Professional

$70 / $90

In-Person Attendee – Non-Medical Professional

$70 / $90

In-Person Attendee – Missionary

$55 / $55

In-Person Attendee – Medical Resident-in-Training

$55 / $55

In-Person Attendee – Student

$55 / $55

*Early Bird rates end December 31, 2023

EVENT REGISTRATION CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY:
1. No refunds will be issued for cancelled registrations or no shows.
2.Please note that in the event of circumstances beyond its control, Lakewood Church reserves the right to cancel any event. In the event of a cancellation, event registrations will be refunded; however, Lakewood Church is not liable for any expenses (i.e. travel, etc.) incurred by participants as a result of such cancellation.

Pre-Conference Workshop

M3 will once again host a Pre-Conference Workshop, offering optional CME credits, during the day on Friday before the main conference begins. Click to learn more.

M3 Conference Schedule

February 16-17, 2024

Lakewood Church | Houston, TX

NOTE: All times are listed in Central Standard Time (CST).

Friday, February 16, 2024

4:00 p.m.
Dinner on Own
6:00 p.m.
Main Conference Registration/Check-In (2nd Floor)
Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor)
Lakewood Church Bookstore opens (Closes at 10:30 p.m.) (2nd Floor)
7:00 p.m.
Plenary Session 01 (Main Sanctuary)

A Shepherd, A Builder and A Healer: From Layers of Poverty to Dimensions of Global Health

Speaker: Anne Alaniz, DO

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description:

Dr. Alaniz will share her incredible journey of how God has used her personal experiences and struggles growing up in a small village in Malawi  to now lead survivor driven change in the community where she grew up.

Addressing both spiritual and physical  challenges of unstacking the layers of poverty. Her story embodies the power of community, service, grace, humility, and hope.

 

Whole-istic Care: Integrating Body, Soul and Spirit

Speaker: Robert (Bob) Paeglow, MD

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description:

We at Koinonia believe that God has created us as integrated beings and as Primary Care providers we have a responsibility to care for the whole person. The topic involves our journey as to how to implement this type of care which has developed over many years. I share the triumphs and failures that we have experienced implementing this kind of care in a small, less than 5 providers, practice setting.

 

Using Your Clinical Skills to Serve the “Least of These” Through DART

Speaker: Sasha Thew, BSN, MPH

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description:

A look at how to practically use your clinical skills (physician and nurses) in disaster response and DART responses in challenging and often forgotten places, specifically disasters that may not make the mainstream news circuit.

 

Discerning God’s Will – Take Home Lessons

Speaker: Stephen J. Foster, MD FRCS(C)

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description:

In this session, Dr. Stephen Foster will share invaluable insights from his 45-year journey as a missionary surgeon in Angola. Join us as he imparts lessons on understanding God’s heart, discerning His call, and taking meaningful steps towards becoming the person God intended you to be. We invite you to reflect on your own journey and discover how to align yourself with God’s purpose for your life.

9:00 p.m.
Dessert & Coffee (Food Court, 2nd Floor)
Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor)
Prayer Room (2nd Floor)
Poster Presentation Session (New Beginnings Room, 2nd Floor)
10:30 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Closes

Saturday, February 17, 2024

7:00 a.m.
Breakfast (Food Court, 2nd Floor)
Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor)
Prayer Room (2nd Floor)
8:00 a.m.
Breakout Sessions 01 (2nd, 3rd & 4th Floors)

Making an Impact in a Rural Ugandan Village Through Community Health

Speaker: Todd Price, MD

Room:  Trailblazers, 2nd floor

Description: 

Approximately 1.5 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths worldwide, making this the most common infection in the world and contribute to an unbroken cycle of malnutrition and poverty.  Yet the standard methods of waste management worldwide include open defecation and unhygienic pit latrines, which are the main routes of disease transmission.   

In a rural Ugandan village, we introduced an alternative waste management system that drastically reduced fecal contamination in the environment and thereby contact with fecal-transmitted organisms.  It uniquely fits the rural, agricultural lifestyle of many people without access to other forms of waste management and it is sustainable since there is no need for the importation of materials, technology, or equipment.  We believe that if applied in similar communities worldwide, there will be markedly less infections, malnutrition will decrease, and the cycle of poverty broken.

 

Become a Missionary, It’s Easier Than You Think: “What to expect on your first medical mission trip”

Speaker: Larry J. Miller, MD

Room: Chapel, 3rd floor

Description: 

Most Christian medical professionals want to make a difference in the world. You may have thought about serving as a short-term missionary, but feel you may not have the necessary skills, or don’t know how to get started. 

Over the years, I have led 25 medical mission teams (with more than 100 first-time missionaries) to serve in some of the poorest places on earth, where these volunteers have contributed greatly to global health and the Kingdom of Christ. I encourage you to break through your comfort zone and join one of the many mission teams available. I will give you practical tips on how to do it, and what to expect on your first mission trip. 

 

Fruit of Martyrdom

Speaker: Mary E. Hermiz, RN, MSN, EdD

Room: Warehouse, 4th floor

Description: 

My mission journey of 35 years begins with the martyrdom of my grandmother in 1915 in Turkey and over 30 others from our family. My father’s last view of his mother at the age of four was lying in a pool of blood after having the flesh of her neck slashed open. Through many miraculous events my father came to the USA at the age of 10 to be reunited with his family who immigrated. After many rebellious years he became a Christian and later a minister. An ancient Christian writer, Tertullian, states “The blood of the martyr’s is the fruit of the church.” 

From the sacrifice of those who have gone before, we now have four generations in the Hermiz family in Christian service. Believing that just like in 1915, the world still needs those who are steadfast in their faith.

 

Health Through the Eyes of Culture 

Speaker: Nicholas Comninellis, MD, MPH, DIMPH

Room:  Loft, 4th floor

Description: 

1 – Cite health interventions that are ineffective due to cultural irrelevancy. 2 – Explain four principles of cultural competence. 3 – Describe a process of observing, understanding, and adjusting to local cultures.

 

Serving the “Least of These” on your Mission Trip

Speaker: Danny Joseph, MD

Room:  Mission Control, 3rd floor

Description: 

In the session, we will discuss what the Lord expects of us as His followers and how we can practically go about this through international missions.  Dr. Joseph will share ideas of how we can effectively care for the “Least of These” on the mission field using examples from his family’s personal experience during their missionary service in India, Africa, and Nepal.

 

Wholistic Care for Refugees 

Speaker: Cindy M. Wu

Room:   3022 – 3023, 3rd floor

Description: 

The global refugee crisis is both an unprecedented migration phenomenon and major humanitarian issue. This workshop will provide insights from Scripture on why caring for refugees is a special mandate for followers of Jesus. We’ll conduct an asset-based assessment of refugees in our communities and discuss practical ways to get involved, all the while honoring refugees as whole persons: spirit, body, mind, and soul.

Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor) (It is optional for Exhibitors to open during Breakout Sessions)
8:50 a.m.
Break
9:00 a.m.
Breakout Sessions 02 (2nd, 3rd & 4th Floors)

Thinking Bigger about Global Health

Speaker: Emily Smith, PhD

Room:  Trailblazers, 2nd floor

Description:

This talk will encourage the audience to think bigger about global health. Often, the families I work with in Africa say they have to make a choice between paying for healthcare for one child or feeding the rest of the family. Doing both results in poverty for the family. That decision should not even be in our vocabulary as Believers – because we believe in the abundance of God, not a scarcity. As researchers or global health practitioners (missionaries, etc), sometimes we can get caught in that scarcity model of having to make a choice of only providing healthcare or only giving food, for example. This talk will focus on the ‘And, Also’ of global health through the lens of Jesus – Providing healthcare and also protecting the family from poverty. I will tell these stories through data of my own work as a global health epidemiologist who has seen the transformative power of talking about healthcare and poverty together, even at the United Nations.

 

Developing an Effective Communication Plan for Supporters

Speaker: Allan Sawyer, MD

Room:  Chapel, 3rd floor

Description:

This would not be the typical “how to raise financial support” but rather sharing my own experience with raising support and discussing exceptional communication skills in order to develop a support team.

 

What it takes to Send An Emergency Field Hospital: A Behind the Scenes Look

Speaker: Sasha Thew, BSN, MPH

Room: Warehouse, 4th floor

Description:

A look into the behind-the-scenes preparedness required to deploy an Emergency Field Hospital when a disaster strikes and the various elements to successfully establish an EFH, including initial and long-term management.

 

Raising Prayer and Financial Support

Speaker: Herschel Rothchild

Room: Loft, 4th floor

Description:

God has led you God will provide for you. Why we should trust God and His word. There is joy in adventure/excitement in support raising. It really all depends how we look at it. With where people are now our focus should be on trusting God and watching what He does and how He does it. We will also discuss a few books to read and why they should go to a training on support raising. The journey is a sweet one and is faith building as well as humbling.

 

Research as Mission: the next (final?) step in cross-cultural healthcare missions 

Speaker: Carlan Wendler, MD, FACEP

Room:  Mission Control, 3rd floor

Description:

From the earliest days of healthcare missions, direct clinical care and training of national providers have featured prominently. A renewed surge in healthcare education missions in the post-WWII era has changed the need for expatriate workers to fill to gaps of care provision and now increasingly in teaching others. The logical next step is to come alongside these professors and practitioners to generate the data that will guide best practice in their local contexts. Missions and missionaries are not yet equipped to pivot towards research as missions though it offers many advantages for Gospel discipleship and improved community health.

 

Propelling Your Career as a Christian Professional

Speaker: James M. Tour, PhD

Room: 3022 – 3023, 3rd floor

Description:

Key list of advice to advance a career as a Christian professional.

9:50 a.m.
Break
10:00 a.m.
Breakout Sessions 03 (2nd, 3rd & 4th Floors)

Ready, Set, GO

Speaker: Julie Rosá, MD, MIH

Room:  Trailblazers, 2nd floor

Description:

From the farmland of Kansas to the winding Appalachian Trail to the sand dunes of the UAE …  God’s adventure is always trustworthy!  Join Dr. Julie in an expanded discussion regarding God’s creative lessons in seasons of equipping, sending and GOing!  Session is especially focused on preparation for GOing to our current location in the Middle East.

 

Jesus Touched the Leper

Speaker: Robert (Bob) Paeglow, MD

Room: Chapel, 3rd floor

Description:

Chronic pain patients in many ways may evoke memories of the biblical lepers, that is, no one wants to touch them. At Koinonia Primary Care our target population is one of the poorest, most addicted, most violent in our city. Chronic pain, and its treatment, can become incredibly difficult and risky, in this milieu. We have developed a program to allow us to treat many of these patients with efficacy and dignity while mitigating the risk.

 

The Next Small Step of Obedience

Speaker: Erin Grim, BSN

Room: Warehouse, 4th floor

Description:

From entering into medical missions to helping open the first pediatric center in Guinea, West Africa. Sometimes we are called to the “big thing” from the start, but often God just asks for the next small step. I hope to encourage people in all levels of interest and experience in medical missions. Coming to a conference as a new person can feel overwhelming – how do I even start? And coming to a conference as an experienced medical missionary – where is God leading me? What is He doing? In sharing God’s faithfulness in each step for me and Sacre Coeur, I pray in this session we could all feel encouraged that God will show us the way we should go and give us the strength and courage to walk in it.

 

Finding Your Place in World Missions

Speaker: Joël Malm

Room: Loft, 4th floor

Description: 

We all have a part to play in the call to reach the world — and you have been uniquely equipped for that mission. This talk will give you practical tips to explore what God has for you on the global mission field. 

 

Confronting Human Trafficking on the Mission Field

Speaker: Leigh Kohler

Room:  Mission Control, 3rd floor

Description:

Human trafficking is a growing global crisis. As followers of Jesus Christ we are part of God’s unfolding story to renew and restore a broken world. We have the opportunity to step into the brokenness and proclaim hope. As missionaries, you often serve the most vulnerable and will undoubtedly encounter victims of human trafficking. In this session we will take a deeper look into the complexities of human trafficking and ways you can be ready and equipped to confront this evil in Jesus’ name.

 

Understanding the One Purpose in Medical Missions: Where are you needed?

Speaker: Greg Seager, RN, MSN

Room:  3022 – 3023, 3rd floor

Description:

Overview of mission hospitals in need of short-term volunteers and long-term medical missionaries. Have you felt called to serve in medical missions but don’t know where to start? It has been said that the one purpose of short-term missions is to support long-term mission work. But what does this look like in medical missions? This session will overview how to plug into medical work God is already doing in locations around the world. It will look at mission hospitals and their medical volunteer needs in low- and middle- income countries around the world.

11:00 a.m.
Lunch (Food Court, 2nd Floor)
Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor)
Prayer Room (2nd Floor)
Nurse’s Networking Session (Trailblazers Room, 2nd Floor)
Physician & Dentist’s Networking Session (Trailblazers Area, Rooms 2028/2029/2030, 2nd Floor)
Lakewood Church Bookstore Opens (Closes @ 5:30 p.m.) (2nd Floor)
1:00 p.m.
Plenary Session 02 (Main Sanctuary)

The Mission You’re Already Prepared For

Speaker: Joël Malm

Room: Sanctuary

Description: 

What if everything that has happened to you has prepared you for a unique mission? This talk will help you connect the dots of what God has been doing to prepare you for your calling to reach the world with his love. 

 

The Faith in the Margins

Speaker: Emily Smith, PhD

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description:

What does it mean to love our neighbor? Taking lessons from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan and through my lens as an epidemiologist, the talk focuses on the three “C’s” of loving our neighbor: Centering correctly, Cost, and Courage. When we ‘center’ correctly on our neighbors like Jesus showed us, our hearts and actions align correctly to love in word and deed. Often this comes with a ‘cost’ that is worth it since our eyes are on the Author and Perfector of our faith. That gives us ‘courage’ to live boldly for our neighbors, including our global neighbors. This courage needs wisdom too and I will conclude with the powerful example of Nehemiah reminding us to do ‘our good work and not come down’. Throughout the talk, I will scatter in data from my own work in Somaliland, Burundi, and Tanzania for children with cancer or surgical needs.

 

The Conductor and the Virtuoso

Speaker: Carlan Wendler, MD, FACEP

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description:

How a networked world has changed the game for healthcare missions qualifications – Scudder, Livingstone, Schweitzer, Hume, Mackenzie, Steury, and many healthcare missionaries of the past two centuries were renaissance men, carpenters and architects, mechanics and engineers, physicians and administrators. For those of us who did not grow up on a ranch or a farm or in a world without running water, electric lights, or the Internet, their stories can sometimes feel remote or near-legendary. However, the most effective healthcare missionaries of the 21st Century probably need a new and different set of competencies, one they might be closer to already possessing than they know.

3:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor)
Prayer Room (2nd Floor)
4:00 p.m.
Plenary Session 03 (Main Sanctuary)

The Future of Medical Missions

Speaker: Stephen J. Foster, MD FRCS(C)

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description: 

To unravel the future of medical missions, it is essential to delve into their roots and current landscape. What insights did God impart to Moses regarding health and prevention? How did Jesus exemplify compassion towards the sick? As modern-day Christians, how can we demonstrate our own compassion? Let us keep our hearts and eyes fixed upon the radiant face of Christ, for in doing so, we will remain actively engaged until His return, faithfully expressing His compassion for the world.

 

My Journeys of YES, 2.0 

Speaker: Julie Rosá, MD, MIH

Room:  Main Sanctuary

Description: 

Prepping/equipping/Going in the context of Intentional international medicine in the Middle Eastern context.

5:00 p.m.
Conference Ends

Poster Presentation Abstract

M3 will host academic poster presentations during the conference. The call for abstracts is open from August 1 to November 1.  Click here to learn more and submit your abstract for consideration to present.

Project of the Year

Each year, a portion of the conference proceeds goes toward a featured project. The 2024 M3 Project of the Year recipient is SIM USA – Angola Project. Click to learn more.

Lakewood Church Hotel Vendors

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston – Greenway Plaza
6 E Greenway Plaza
Houston, Texas 77046
713-629-1200

Special M3 Conference rate available until Feb. 1, 2024 – Click here to reserve your room online or by phone. (This hotel is the only one within walking distance of the conference venue.)

Courtyard by Marriott – Galleria
2900 Sage Road
Houston, Texas 77056
713-622-3611

Click here and call to reserve your room.
Use the special Lakewood Church corporate/promo code: C51

Courtyard by Marriott – Houston Downtown
916 Dallas Street
Houston, Texas 77002
832-366-1600

Click here and call to reserve your room.
Use the special Lakewood Church corporate/promo code: C51

Crowne Plaza – Houston River Oaks
2712 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77098
713-523-8448

Click here and call to reserve your room.
Use the special Lakewood Church corporate/promo code: 99502056

With the conference venue being at Lakewood Church, other area hotels also provide a “Lakewood Church” discount. CLICK HERE for a full list of participating hotels and corresponding promo rate codes.

Lakewood Church

Lakewood Church
3700 Southwest Fwy
Houston, TX 77027

713-635-4154
LakewoodChurch.com

Doubletree by Hilton

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston – Greenway Plaza
6 E Greenway Plaza
Houston, Texas 77046
713-629-1200

Hampton Inn Houston – Near the Galleria

Hampton Inn Houston – Near the Galleria
4500 Post Oak Parkway
Houston, Texas 77027
713-871-9911
Book a room

Sheraton Suites near the Galleria

Sheraton Suites Houston near the Galleria
2400 West Loop South
Houston, Texas 77027
713-586-2444
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: C51

Courtyard by Marriott

Courtyard by Marriott
2900 Sage Road
Houston, Texas 77056
713-622-3611
Book a room
Use Corporate/Pomo Code: C51

Courtyard by Marriott - Houston Downtown

Courtyard by Marriott – Houston Downtown
916 Dallas Street
Houston, TX 77002
832-366-1600
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: C51

Crowne Plaza Houston River Oaks

Crowne Plaza Houston River Oaks
2712 Southwest Frwy
Houston, Texas 77098
713-523-8448
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: 99502056

Embassy Suites by Hilton

Embassy Suites by Hilton
2911 Sage Road
Houston, Texas 77056
713-977-7911
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: 0560038671

Hilton Houston Galleria Area

Hilton Houston Galleria Area
6780 Southwest Frwy
Houston, Texas 77074
713-977-7911
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: 3027026

Hyatt House Houston-Galleria

Hyatt House Houston-Galleria
3440 Sage Rd
Houston, Texas 77056
713-629-9711
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: 99214

Hyatt Place Houston/Galleria

Hyatt Place Houston/Galleria
5252 W. Alabama
Houston, Texas 77056
713-626-7300
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: 99214

Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria

Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria
2626 Sage Rd
Houston, Texas 77056
832-803-1234
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: 99214

La Quinta Inn Houston Greenway Plaza Medical Area

La Quinta Inn Houston Greenway Plaza Medical Area
4015 Southwest Fwy
Houston, Texas 77027
713-623-4750
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: LWCH

Royal Sonesta

Royal Sonesta
2222 West Loop South
Houston, Texas 77027
713-622-3611
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: LAKC

Residence Inn by Marriott - Houston Downtown

Residence Inn by Marriott – Houston Downtown
904 Dallas Street
Houston, Texas 77002
832-366-1000
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: C51

Springhill Suites by Marriott - Houston Downtown

Springhill Suites by Marriott – Houston Downtown
914 Dallas Street
Houston, Texas 77002
713-655-0002
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: C51

The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston

The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
1600 W Loop S
Houston, Texas 77027
844-386-1600
Book a room
Use Corporate/Promo Code: LWC

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can attend the conference?

The conference’s primary focus is global health and medical missions, but other areas of interest include human trafficking, WaSH (water access, sanitation, and hygiene), orphan care, disaster relief, refugee care, education, and other missionary work. So if you are a physician, nurse, dentist, pharmacist or other healthcare professional, or you are in medical, dental, nursing, allied health, or pharmacy school, or you are a college or high school student who is interested in medical missions, we believe this conference will be a great resource and encouragement to you. In addition, if you are not in the medical field but have a heart and passion for missions, you will fit right in, be inspired in your faith, and also find opportunities to serve. So the answer is—anyone is welcome!

What is included in my conference registration?

Main conference registration includes access to the conference Exhibit Hall; access to all Plenary and Breakout speaker sessions; dessert on Friday evening; breakfast on Saturday morning; and a boxed lunch on Saturday afternoon.  (NOTE: The Pre-Conference Workshop is NOT included in your main conference registration fee, but is available at an additional cost.)

What does my registration fee cover?

Your registration fee helps cover the cost of putting on the conference (i.e. speakers, meals, materials, etc.).  All other expenses not covered by the registration fees are generously provided by our conference sponsors and Lakewood Church.

Additionally, each year, a portion of the conference proceeds goes toward a featured project. The 2024 Project of the Year is SIM USA – Angola Project. Click here to learn more.

What is the refund policy?

EVENT REGISTRATION CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY:
1. No refunds will be issued for cancelled registrations or no shows.
2.Please note that in the event of circumstances beyond its control, Lakewood Church reserves the right to cancel any event. In the event of a cancellation, event registrations will be refunded; however, Lakewood Church is not liable for any expenses (i.e. travel, etc.) incurred by participants as a result of such cancellation.

What is the conference schedule?

Friday, February 16, 2024
8:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. CST*

Saturday, February 17, 2024
7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CST

Click here for more detailed schedule.

*The Pre-Conference Workshop is held from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and the main conference begins at 6:00 p.m.

What meals are included in my conference registration?

The following “meals” are included with your registration:

  • Dessert following Friday night’s session;
  • Breakfast sandwich and coffee on Saturday morning; and
  • Boxed lunch on Saturday afternoon.
Outside of the meals provided at the conference, what are my other meal options?

Click here for a list of several area restaurants, coffee bars and juice shops that are within walking distance or a short drive from the conference venue.

Where is the conference taking place?

Location:
Lakewood Church
3700 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77027

Where do I park for the conference?

Free covered parking is available starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday in the B1 and B2 underground parking garages. Please note that these garages are connected to the conference venue by underground/covered walkways. Click here for a map showing the locations of the B1 and B2 underground garages. (NOTE: Once you park, we suggest making a note or taking a picture of where you parked to assist you in finding your car after the conference.)

If you are attending a Pre-Conference Workshop, you will need to park in a different location on Friday only. Please click here for detailed Pre-Conference Workshop parking information.

Will there be any Pre-Conference Workshops?

Yes, we will once again host a Pre-Conference Workshop during the day on Friday, February 16, 2024, before the main conference begins.  The Pre-Conference Workshop is NOT included in your main conference registration fee, but can be added to your registration at an additional cost.

Click here for more detailed information.

Is the Pre-Conference Workshop included as part of my main conference registration?

No, the Pre-Conference Workshop is only available for a separate registration fee.

Are special hotel rates available?

Yes, click here for more details.

With the conference venue being at Lakewood Church, several area hotels provide a “Lakewood Church” discount. Click here for a full list of participating hotels and corresponding promo rate codes.

How far is the airport from the venue?

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is approximately 25 miles from the conference location.

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is approximately 15 miles from the conference location.

Because Houston is a large metropolis with fluctuating heavy traffic, make sure to give yourself an ample amount of time to travel from the airport to the venue, and vice-versa. We recommend allotting yourself a minimum of one hour of transportation time each way.

Will there be translation available for other languages at the conference?

No, not at this time.

I am traveling from another country; do you provide a “Letter of Invite” for a visa application?

No. M3 does not provide letters of invitation or sponsorship to international persons who wish to attend the M3 Conference. Once you register to attend M3, you will be sent an automated email letter that shows you have registered to attend the conference; some countries accept that letter in visa applications. However, before registering for M3, please contact the government agency where you are submitting your travel visa application to find out what documentation they will or will not accept with your application.

What should I bring?

We recommend that you bring a pen and a notebook. Also, please keep in mind that it can get very cool in the auditorium, so we suggest bringing a light jacket or sweater. If you want to bring your own water bottle, we will have stations to refill it in the Food Court area, as well as in the break and restroom areas near the Saturday morning Breakout Sessions.

How should I dress?

Casual; jeans are acceptable. Keep in mind that it can get very cool in the auditorium.

Who will be speaking at the conference?

Please refer to the speaker section on this conference page to learn more about the dynamic panel of speakers who will be sharing at this year’s conference.

Who will be exhibiting at the conference?

Please refer to our exhibitors page to learn more about this year’s conference Exhibitors.

Is childcare available?

No. Childcare is not provided.

Are scholarships available?

Yes, a limited number of scholarships to help attend the conference are available. Typically, scholarships only cover the conference registration fee and do not include travel or other expenses. Please email us for more information.

The deadline for scholarship applications is December 31, or until all scholarship funds are depleted, whichever comes first.

Can I sponsor a student or missionary to attend the conference?

Yes. To sponsor an individual and cover their expenses to attend the conference, please contact us.

What is a Church Partner and how can I get my church involved?

A Church Partner is a Christian congregation of any denomination that stands behind M3 and wants to help promote the event to its congregants who may have an interest in medical missions or missions in general. Our desire is for M3 to be a cross-denominational, Kingdom event. There is no financial obligation to become a Church Partner, only the time invested in sharing about M3 with your congregation and a passion for missions. If you’re interested in becoming a Church Partner to help us spread the word about M3, click here!

How can I become an exhibitor?

Exhibitors must meet certain criteria and must go through a pre-approval application process. Please note that priority is given to organizations that have a global health focus and offer volunteer and/or paid service opportunities. Exhibitor spaces are limited.

Click here for more information.

Click here to begin the application process, and choose “Exhibitor” as the “Registration Type.”

How can I become a sponsor?

If you are interested in becoming a conference sponsor, please click here to request more information. You can also click here to download sponsorship level and benefit information to review.

Click here to begin the application process, and choose the “Sponsor Level” you desire as the “Registration Type.”

How do I contact M3?

Please email us at info@m3missions.com or call us at 713-491-5108.

M3 Partners

Sponsors

M3 sponsors help support the vision of M3 by contributing financially and have an opportunity to promote their own organization through partnering.

Exhibitors

M3 exhibitors have the opportunity to present and educate about their organization, as well as connect with people looking for a place to serve.

Church Partners

M3 church partners are ministries from many different Christian denominations who believe in and support the heart and vision of the M3 Conference.