Health Care Ministry in Oklahoma Baptist Churches
Bill Sisson
Health Care Ministries Coordinator
 
Increasing numbers of Oklahoma Baptist churches are getting involved in local church healthcare ministry. There are currently 17 free medical clinics operated by individual churches or groups of churches. The Christian Family Health Care Center at the Baptist Mission Center is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, full service free clinics in the United States. During the 1970s people came from many other states to learn how to start medical and dental programs. Free clinics were started in Chickasha, Shawnee, Moore and Norman as a result of assistance given by the Baptist Mission Center staff.
 
The First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City began their free clinic in the late 1970s. A man from Quail Springs Baptist Church retired, moved to Davis, Oklahoma, and led the First Baptist church there to begin a prescription medication ministry. Olivet Baptist church partnered with Integris Hospital to begin a medical ministry directed toward the Hispanic population in their community. Henderson Hills in Edmond rounded out the Baptist church clinics in the Metropolitan area until 2007 when Britton Baptist Church opened their clinic and Bryant Avenue Baptist church began their medical ministry in May of 2008.
 
Several churches outside the metropolitan Oklahoma City area are doing healthcare ministry. Eufaula North Fork, Calvin First Baptist, Purcell First Baptist all have medical clinics and clinics in Broken Arrow and Wilburton are operated by several cooperating churches. Etowah Baptist Church, east of Noble, began a pharmacy ministry 4½ years ago. Since then, being open only twice each month, the pharmacy has distributed some $600,000 worth of free prescription medications. The First Baptist Church of Grove has sponsored a medical clinic for several years as well. Other medical clinics in various locations have volunteer support from local Baptist churches, although the clinics are not directly operated by a Baptist church.
 
Churches are very well suited for medical ministry. Many have space that can easily be adapted for use as a clinic and pharmacy. Equipment and supplies are frequently donated and available where needed. Expenses related to beginning and conducting a medical ministry are very minimal, making it possible for even the smallest of churches to have an effective program. And, it should also be noted that churches already have a place of respect in a community and people are somewhat more apt to donate to and support a church sponsored ministry than one sponsored by an individual or service group.
 
Oklahoma Baptist Churches are having varying levels of success using medical clinics for outreach and evangelism. The difference appears to be simply a matter of how well the members of the church support and participate in the program. Many people come to the clinic for assistance, giving a steady stream of people to relate to, witness to and communicate with concerning upcoming church programs and events. Benefits to the church are both direct and indirect. In a direct way, members who might not be open to doing visitation evangelism can find it easier to meet and relate to people who come into their church for medical care. Listening to people and praying with them often opens doors to share the gospel and call for a decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
 
Some churches are not reaching a lot of people directly through their medical clinics but feel that the image and reputation of the church is being projected positively in the community. Pastors indicate that being known as the church with the medical clinic gives them an entrance to people who have never utilized the clinic services but know that it is there.
 
As of May 1, 2009, there are 9 Baptist churches in various stages of the free clinic start up process. Tuttle Snow Hill will probably be open by mid month. Bryan Association has received their pharmacy license and is in the process of stocking it with medications. They should open sometime in the month of June. Guthrie First, Henryetta Immanuel, Midwest City Country Estates, Claremore First, Tulsa International, OKC New Bethel and Harvest of Souls are all moving forward. Muskogee First member, Dr. Mike Riley, began a free clinic with the support of his Sunday School class. They are in the process of adding a pharmacy as well.
 
The New Bethel and Harvest of Souls congregations mark the beginning of medical ministry in northeast Oklahoma City. Harvest of Souls, on north Portland, has formed the Community Health and Development Center. The church will host a medical clinic and is partnering with two other groups who will provide mental health services and youth recreational ministries. The New Bethel congregation will be able to interact with them to help provide much needed care in this neglected part of the city and county.
There are other churches that have made inquiry about medical programs and will be given assistance as requested.
 
In Muskogee and Durant, a pilot program is being put into place to extend the reach of a central medical clinic outward to surrounding communities. There are not enough physicians in these, and many other cities, to support multiple clinics. Churches located a few miles away from the main clinic can elect to train members to access prescription medications through the patient assistance programs of pharmaceutical companies. Once a patient has been established in a maintenance regimen, the church in their community can get their medications for them and take some load off the central pharmacy. Others could do diabetic management programs, focusing on nutrition, exercise and diet. Pediatric screening clinics, held weekly or bi-monthly, could aid first time mothers with child health issues. These programs could support the main clinic yet not require physicians to be present. Volunteer nurses and trained lay members could do these ministries adequately, referring patients to the central clinic as needed.
 
All of the free clinics are seeing an increase in the numbers of people coming for aid as a result of either losing their jobs or their employers cutting benefits. These trends, along with the availability of an abundant supply of free prescription medications, make this an ideal time for churches to enter into health care ministry.