Love Heals Clinic

It was 5:00 a.m. on January 19, one of the coldest days of winter, when a team of volunteers from the Baton Rouge Jones Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church arrived at the designated center near the Baton Rouge Airport where hundreds of medical personnel and volunteers had set up shop for a “Love Heals” Free Health Clinic. 

Despite the early hour and the freezing temperatures, a line of people waiting to enter the clinic was already down the block and around the corner. The people were waiting in hope of receiving medical assistance for a variety of problems, including much-needed dental work, eye exams, or a pair of eyeglasses. Those who waited to be served were of all ages and needs. The services provided included many kinds of medical, dental, and vision services by volunteer medical professionals and physicians from across the spectrum of medical expertise, and all services were provided at no cost to the participants. The materials and supplies were also donated.

Although the city roads and highways were freezing in the cold weather and access was limited, many people had stayed in their cars overnight to see a physician and receive medical help.

None of the volunteers could have imagined what God was going to do over the next few days, but we had faith that He was going to show Himself mighty if we were willing to be used by Him to minister to anyone needing medical, dental and vision assistance.

The appreciation from the community was overwhelming, and the testimonies and stories shared throughout this event were priceless.

Verses from 1 John came to mind as we worked together to serve: “Jesus Christ laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18). 

The unity of all the volunteers working together as God called each of us displayed the body of Christ in love for our fellow brothers and sisters.

By Monica McQueen

The Baton Rouge Jones Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church were part of the 1,300 volunteers that served over 1,400 people at the Love Heals Free Health Clinic in Baton Rouge in January.