LENDING A HAND
Area churches participate in MedFest mission trip
Alocal group of shortterm missionaries were part of 4,982 salvations that took place during an outreach ministry program in January that led them to Nicaragua.
The group, including members from Lakeland First Baptist Church and Bartlett Hills Baptist Church, were among 171 Americans that joined Way of the Cross Ministries for Medfest 2016.
Way of the Cross Ministries is an evangelical organization that provides various outreach oppor- tunities to help fulfill the organization’s mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and train others to do the same. Their objective is to establish churches and provide training of national pastors and leaders.
For the last few years, Medfest has provided intensive medical care and for the people of Nica- ragua. While doctors, nurses and other medical staff are busy taking care of patients, volunteers join construction teams where needed, while some entertain children with various activities and games. Sticking to its mission to bring people to Jesus, there’s plenty of time for
worship presented by pastors and leaders.
It takes a lot of specialized professionals to make the mission trip a success. Groups from Chicago, Murfreesboro, Memphis, South Carolina, Kansas and Oklahoma join Way of the Cross Ministries each year for the annual Medfest event.
The hundreds of shortterm missionaries dedicating three days of clinics and did whatever they could do to assist the mission, included Giles Damron with Lakeland First Baptist Church.
Damron, a dentist in Bartlett, along with Walter Chitwood and Stanley Crunk with Bartlett Hills Baptist Church, were among dentists participating in the healthcare clinics providing all aspects of medical and dental care including extractions and cleanings. Approximately 3,500 people were treated for medical and dental care in those three days.
“We saw over 400 patients,” Damron shared, “300 of those were extrac- tions.”
Steve McPherson, church administrator/ missions pastor at Bartlett Hills Baptist Church and others with the church did their part to assist the mission in a whole different way. McPherson and his crew did bike repairs. Nearly 400 bikes were repaired this year with a team of around 15 and nine bike repair stations.
Damron insists there are numerous way to help the local people, some which have not been thought of yet. Through his own experience, this local dentist knows all too well how the mission trip can pull at your heartstrings and not let go. He’s witnessed many joining Medfest each year as they get a calling.
This was Damron’s 14th mission trip with Way of the Cross Ministries.
“God showed me many years ago that I was supposed sever others internationally,” Damron said. “I continue to go to serve as well as encourage others to go with me. I get a bigger blessing than the patients I work on. It is much better to give than to receive.”