Some have been miserable for days because of aching teeth. Others have cavities in need of immediate attention.
But Ron Belcher is convinced the people gathered for appointments at a mobile dental clinic parked outside Washington Heights Baptist Church in Thomson, Georgia, have an even greater need, a spiritual need.
So the deacon tells them about Jesus as they wait their turns with one of the volunteer dentists who help to care for Georgia’s 1.3 million uninsured residents.
Last week, Belcher’s gospel presentations led 30 of them to surrender their hearts and lives to Christ.
RELATED: Check out more stories here.
“He cuts straight to chase with them,” Pastor Gary Caudill said of Belcher. “He gets real with them.”
Georgia Baptists provide about $250,000 a year to keep a mobile dental clinic and mobile medical clinic on the road, crisscrossing the state to help people who don’t qualify for government medical benefits but who can’t afford to pay for care out of pocket.
The clinics are housed in what from the outside looks like RVs that families might take on summer vacations. But on the inside, they’re the typical dentist’s or doctor’s office, fully equipped with the latest tools.
Some 2,400 Georgia Baptist churches kick in financially to cover the cost of the mobile clinics, which have proven to be incredibly effective evangelistically.
Reaching out
Tom Crites, who oversees the Baptist Mobile Health Ministry, said the goal is to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of people.
“We’ve had a good year as far as outreach,” Crites said. “We’ve been able to help lots of people with their dental and medical needs, and we’ve seen many people turn to Christ.”
Read full story here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Roger Alford and originally published by the Christian Index.
