'I was sick, and you cared for me'

God's wonderful display of mercy and grace continues to amaze me. As we opened our free health clinic for the homeless tonight at the Love In Action Ministry Center I watched in awe the goodness of God in action.

Doctors came to volunteer. Dr. H.L. "Chief" Lassiter was our doctor on duty and Dr. Steve Stokes grilled hamburgers for everyone who attended. Other doctors came to support our efforts and check out the new facility.

Volunteers lovingly served the hamburger dinner to our guests. Our six patients enjoyed the meal as did others we invited in who were walking past the ministry center. We were also able to provide hamburgers and chips to about 20 homeless men.

When I look at the health clinic I think about the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:36, "I was sick, and you cared for me." Then he tells us in Matthew 25:40, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

Jesus had to be smiling tonight at His Body of believers coming together to start a new outreach out of the LIA Ministry Center. He instructs us to care for the poor, and one of the things we need to do is take care of the sick. That happened tonight and will happen every Thursday evening as we open the clinic for the homeless, women from the House of Ruth and the men and women from Houston County Community Corrections work release.


They do not have insurance. They don't have money to pay for medical care. Thanks be to God, we are able to provide them with medical care, including medicine. At the same time we provide a dinner for them, and we are there to pray with them. That is a powerful combination.


I was honored to speak to a large group of social services organizations in Dothan this week and I told them that Jesus tells us to provide social services to the poor. He didn't use the term social services, but providing food, clothing and shelter is what we call social services. I also told them that social services without Jesus doesn't work.


We have to show and tell them about the great physician. Jesus is the one who can heal our bodies and spirits. He is the only one who can save us.


We are so honored that God would allow us to provide this type of ministry to the homeless population in Dothan, and it is an honor to minister alongside such great men and women who will give up their Thursday evenings to take care of the needs of the needy.


One thing this clinic does is show people we care about them and love them. More importantly, it shows them that God loves them and cares about their needs. It lets them know they are of great worth to God.


Please continue to pray for this medical outreach. Next week we will have eye care, and in the near future, dental care.


We thank and praise God for everything He is doing.