You Did It for Me
Dale's heart was moved as he observed a full emergency waiting room and clinic packed with babies, children, men, and women presenting obvious symptoms. These people often waited a full day or night for help. Dale McKinney, a local neurosurgical and emergency medicine physician's assistant, saw the people, took pity, and acted.
With a population of 110,730, Macon County, Illinois, has at least 17,384 people living in poverty. The adult obesity and diabetes rates are high, resulting in increased hospital stays and shorter life spans. At least 29.3 percent of the community has no health care insurance.
These are not unusual statistics for many communities, nor are they by any means complete. The few health care clinics providing free or low cost health care are understaffed and overwhelmed causing unacceptable wait time from weeks to months for appointments. Often the working poor have to seek other medical help and acquire bills they cannot hope to pay.
Dale sought God's help to understand what could be done for this very evident need.
The words of Jesus came to mind, 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me' (Matthew 25:40). He sent an email to colleagues, peers, and friends seeking support for a Christian-based free health clinic to be located in the heart of Macon County.
The response was overwhelming and continues to grow. First Church of the Nazarene in Decatur, Illinois, embraced this ministry and Tzedakah Christian Health Center was born. This exciting ministry has an advisory council of 96, and a 9-member board of directors.
Dale saw the need, and in spite of limited resources, a busy schedule, and many demands upon his life, did what he could for Jesus and for Macon County. A Christian-based free clinic for Macon County was born because one man saw the need and answered Jesus' appeal, 'Whatever you did'you did it for me.'
'Submitted by Janice H. Abla
Holiness Today, January/February 2013
Please note: This article was originally published in 2013. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.
