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CBN.com – Six years ago, a guest speaker challenged pastor Hal Adams with a question.
"He said, 'If this church was to shut its doors today, would the community miss it?' And the answer was, 'No,' " Rev. Adams recalls. "That's when I had to get honest with myself and with God."
Little did Rev. Adams know that when he decided to get honest with God, an opportunity to help his community would just walk right up to him. A member of his own congregation brought him an idea.
"I have an interest in opening up a clinic," registered nurse Becky Underwood told the pastor. "I wanted to do something to give to the community because God had been really good in letting me be a nurse. I wanted to give something back."
Out of Becky's desire to give back, the Radford Medical Clinic was born. With a congregation full of medical personnel, a clinic serving people who couldn't afford care was a natural fit.
"We get referrals from the hospital. We get referrals from Social Services. We get referrals from the local emergency room. Our ministries here are free. There is no charge," Rev. Adams says.
Says Dr. Don Miller, who helps at the clinic, "To me this is my mission, and missions start at home. I know that patients would not be taken care of for their medical needs if we were not here."
"I remember one patient coming to me and with the biggest tears in her eyes," adds Underwood. "She said, 'You don't understand. I don't even have a dollar.'"
Being a part of the clinic has stretched Dr. Bruce Terry's sphere of influence.
"It's taken my walk outside my own circle, using my training to provide a little bit of comfort," he says.
Becky believes that it is the fact that the doctors can pray with the patients that sets Radford Medical Clinic apart.
"They [the doctors] can take care of the physical needs, they can take care of the mental needs, and they can take care of the spiritual needs," she says.
One patient, Sherry, has nothing but good things to say about her experiences with the clinic.
"People here are sincere," says Sherry. "They're not just putting on to be nice; they're sincere, and they're good!"
Every time the medical ministry meets, they serve a meal, Rev. Adams explains.
That's where Dave and Edith Osterbauer come in. Besides weekly food distribution to community members in need, the Osterbauers lead a whole team in preparing a meal to be enjoyed by church and community members taking part in all their outreaches.
"It's just one of the unique outreaches of this church - we have a meal together just to fellowship and outreach and get to know one another," says Dave Osterbauer.
Adds Edith Osterbauer, "It really meets a need. The food ministry really helps a lot so those families can make ends meet."
"We've got to walk in what we preach and believe," Rev. Adams concludes. "If God gives you a vision, He's going to give you provision to do it."
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