“Mega-Clinic” Healthcare Outreach Launches in San Antonio
By AT News Team, April 8, 2015: More than 1,500 healthcare professionals and other volunteers have gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to operate a free medical and dental clinic for local residents, reports the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (NAD). Over three days (April 8 to 10), volunteers will donate an estimated $10 million in free health-related services at the Alamodome.
The event has been organized by Your Best Pathway to Health, an independent ministry with membership in Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), in partnership with the denomination, Adventist Health System, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and other entities. “Those who show up seeking care Wednesday, Thursday or Friday will not have to show any identification, health insurance or proof of income,” according to My San Antonio. “So many people suffer because they do not have insurance and cannot afford quality health care services,” said Dr. Lela Lewis in an Adventist Health System story. Lewis is president of Your Best Pathway to Health. “By offering a free clinic where no appointments, insurance, or identification are required, we hope to ease that suffering,” Lewis explained.
Costin Jordache, the spokesperson for the event, told My San Antonio that organizers “hope to care for 6,000 patients during the three-day event.” Appointments for the various services will be handed out on a first come, first served basis, and the team will strive to see as many patients as possible, according to a report by the Cosmetic Dentristry Guide.
Services will include primary care exams, pediatric exams, immunizations, women’s health exams, X-rays, heart evaluations, STD screenings, blood pressure testing, physical therapy, digestive evaluations, neurology exams and services, medial massage, laboratory services, lung care, arthritis evaluations, podiatry exams, eyeglass fittings and exams, pharmaceutical support and surgeries. Dental services include cleanings, root canals, crowns, fillings and extractions. Haircuts, chaplaincy services and meals will also be provided.
In addition to thousands of hours of service provided by healthcare professionals, the event is made possible by a large team of supporting volunteers. For instance, Anca Tanasa bought an airline ticket from England to volunteer at the clinic in registration. Tanasa, who is a senior management accountant and SunPlus consultant, told Adventist Today: “I felt touched when I heard about the mission of this event, helping people in their greatest need—health. I’m not a medical professional, but I still wanted to be of service. I work as an accountant, and my job is relevant behind the desk, but this one feels like a direct help to people. It’s closer to their needs.”
San Antonio will be the location for the next General Conference session (July 2-11, 2015), the administrative meeting of the world-wide governing body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Thousands of Adventists will gather from around the world for the event, which takes place every five years.
More information is available at: https://pathwaytohealthvolunteer.org
Related Article: Mission Trip Aims to Prepare San Antonio for World Church Gathering (March 26, 2015)
Doing this once is great. What about the other 258 weeks that will pass until the next General Conference session? What is the possibility of this being replicated on a smaller scale in multiple cities across America on a continuing basis just because it is a good thing to do?
Yea they do have follow up plans. I was a part in the planning of the 1st event held last year in San Francisco and Oakland. The goal is to do this in other cities as well. It’s a great start to helping people!
Kevin Kuehmichel (https://atoday.org/interview-with-kevin-kuehmichel-pastor-committed-to-community-service.html#comment-9978):
“What happened in Cleveland was “incarnational” ministry as opposed to “event” ministry. This is the biggest difference between my old church and my new one. The majority of Adventist churches hold some form of evangelistic event, whether it is a felt need seminar or a traditional Daniel and Revelation series. This event mentality does not allow for submersion into the lives of the people we are called to serve.”
I am glad that a host of volunteers are doing something for the people in San Antonio. But what will these local people think of us after GC is over and all of the volunteers are gone?
Do we care enough about the people of San Antonio to make a long-term commitment to ministering to them? Or will we bask in the warm glow of feel-good publicity and then get-on with the “real” business of the church in our various conference headquarters?
There are not enough of us to do anything of that scale in every place that it is warranted. The important thing is for more of us to do more than we currently are doing.
William and Kevin, these people that volunteer are also volunteering in their own communities and home towns. They go on mission trips, flying in to remote areas of Mexico and South American Countries. They help an illegal who needs dental attention and surgery. They help fix a single mom’s vehicle and pay for a college student’s tuition. They just do not seek news reports and the so called feel-good publicity about their services. Those same people have families, jobs, and responsibilities of their own. What would be a better question is how can I (and you) serve, not ask why don’t they (the volunteers) serve more often?