James Hu: Dentistry, Faith, and the Legacy of Mother Teresa

A Legacy in Dentistry

• 💡 James Hu is a fourth-generation dentist, continuing a family tradition that began with his great-grandfather, with a fifth generation currently in dental school.
• 🎯 His family was drawn to dentistry for its 9-to-5 schedule, offering a better work-life balance compared to the demanding hours of medical professions.
• 🔬 James views dentistry as both an art and a science, finding appeal in the artistic aspect of sculpting and forming teeth.
• 🧠 He adopts a holistic approach to patient care, observing overall health indicators like posture and breathing, and addressing emotional needs beyond just dental issues.

Integrating Faith and Practice

• ✨ James actively integrates his Christian faith into his dental practice, showing compassion and playing gospel music in his office.
• 💬 He shares his testimony by attributing his skills to "God-given ability" and praying for his patients, which is often well-received.
• 💡 He uses the analogy of "good bacteria" in the mouth to explain spiritual growth, emphasizing the need to fill one's life with positive influences like God's word.

Personal Journey and Connections

• 📌 James's father was Mother Teresa's dentist, and James himself repaired her dentures, noting her humility and desire to live like the "poorest of the poor."
• 🚀 Mother Teresa was instrumental in his admission to school as a child, intervening after he struggled with an entrance exam due to undiagnosed learning difficulties.
• 🌱 Though born to an atheist father and universalist mother, James grew up in church through his aunt and uncle's ministry in India, eventually seeing his father convert.
• 💖 He reconnected with his wife, Joyce, a World Vision sponsored child, after knowing her since grade one, highlighting God's faithfulness in their relationship.

The Church in India and Persecution

• ⛪ James feels a strong calling to return to his 200-year-old church in India, established by William Carey, the "father of modern missions," to help with renovations and spiritual rejuvenation.
• ⚠️ He notes the increasing persecution of Christians in India under a Hindu-leaning government, making it harder for funds to reach churches and necessitating physical presence for support.
• 👏 Despite challenges, the church in India is growing, demonstrating strong faith and resilience in the face of adversity, which serves as a lesson for Western churches.

Foundations of Faith and Community

• ✅ To prepare for potential persecution, James advises immersing oneself in God's word and viewing the world through "Bible-colored glasses."
• 🤝 He stresses the vital role of church community groups for mutual support, edification, and fellowship, especially when facing trials.
• 🧠 James encourages memorizing scripture, emphasizing its value as an internal resource that cannot be taken away, unlike external tools like phones.
• 🔑 His ultimate life lesson is to understand that God's ways are higher than ours, fostering a deep trust in His plan and focusing on eternal perspective rather than mundane earthly concerns.