10 Year Anniversary | Good News Community Health Clinic from Andrew Cox on Vimeo.In 2006, Dr. Bob Sayson and his wife, Alice, were exploring opportunities to serve overseas as permanent medical missionaries. Dr. Bob’s medical work had led him all around the world: to the rice terraces of the Philippines, and his heart was to use his medical gifts to bring healing to the most vulnerable.
About that time, Compassion Connect hosted its inaugural medical day clinic event in the Rockwood neighborhood. While serving at the event, Bob was struck by the crowd of people seeking access to simple medical care from which they were otherwise cut off. Impressed, he invited a core group of friends and mentors to pray with him about what role he might have in God’s plan to restore Rockwood.
While reflecting on Matthew 14:28 and Romans 15, Bob and Alice were compelled that this was Christ’s movement, and resolved to leave practice, downsize life, and volunteer their time and service to see Rockwood redeemed. They had no idea the movement it would inspire.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Shortly after that decision, a donor stepped forward and acquired a dilapidated tanning salon: the site which would become the Good News Clinic. Over 100 volunteers converged on a community blight, turning it into a beautiful medical clinic.
On May 5, 2007, the clinic opened its doors to its neighbors. Since then and through the course of some 20,000 visits, the name of Christ has been lifted up in healthcare, and the hearts of some 7,000 patients have known joy and hope while experiencing physical healing. Alongside Bob, over 80 volunteers each year have carried the Good News, some 200 students have witnessed professional, sacrificial service, and the staff has expanded to grow the programs that have so blessed the community.
Over the last two decades, it is a joy to report that our loving Heavenly Father has surprised us time and again with His faithful goodness. He prompts special folks to come and bless our community through GNCHC, enabling us to provide “upstream health care” (a proactive approach that finds and addresses root causes of illness, instead of just treating sick patients in late stage disease). Think going upstream of a rapid river to stop people from falling in, rather than pulling them out from the bottom of a waterfall.
We are encouraged by generous donors, some who have given regularly and sacrificially for 2 decades. We are reinforced by a new generation of volunteers, students and staff providing medical, dental, spiritual and emotional care, and outreach to young children of a new generation with the Good News. A loving Child Evangelism Fellowship team teaches children from the neighborhood weekly Bible lessons and crafts through the Good News Club.
We praise God for our wise resilient Board and Executive Director, Maxine. They brought on a dynamic Christ loving next generation Medical Director who has already made many improvements in how we deliver excellent care. We continue to offer students interested in health care, opportunities to volunteer, do clinical rotations, or simply “shadow” providers to see if this is a desirable career choice. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.