Lubbock Impact opens free community clinic

LUBBOCK—Lubbock Impact seeks to heal the sick, clothe the naked and feed the hungry. Recently, it took another significant step to that end, opening a medical clinic.

“Our desire is to meet people’s physical needs in the inner-city world so that they have to ask why we do this, and we can point to Jesus,” said Dan Reynolds, pastor of Family Church and director of Lubbock Impact. “As Christians, we are supposed to be ready to account for what we believe. This is what we’re doing.”

The community clinic held a dry run a few days prior to its launch date to work out kinks in the system and train volunteers and medical staff on procedures. The organization’s long-range goal is to be open five days a week and provide a wide-range of services. But until it accumulates enough funds and resources, the clinic will perform acute medical procedures Wednesdays at the same time the soup kitchen serves its weekly dinner.

“There will be a sign-up sheet and people will write their names and needs on the list,” Reynolds said. “We will then help as many people as we can.”

Lubbock Impact already feeds more than 250 people each week at Family Church and gives them a bag of groceries when they leave. Additionally, the ministry donates resources to the homeless and runs a free clothing closet. Through these ministries, volunteers have the opportunity to engage the community and share God’s love.

“Christ did not walk for 30 years on this earth pounding theologies,” Reynolds said. “He met people where they were by meeting their physical needs first, and then revealed who he was.”

Reynolds hopes to equip and train the community to emulate Jesus’ ministry on earth. The clinic is just part of this overall perspective.

The clinic will be run completely by a volunteer staff, including three licensed physicians. Depending on the health needs, Reynolds hopes each physician will help four people per hour. Many Texas Tech medical students and other professionals will perform services, and other volunteers will help with the check-in process.

The clinic also is partnered with Lubbock Ambulance so patients faced with emergency situations will receive free transportation to a hospital or clinic that can provide necessary procedures.

Kelly Bennett, who leads the clinic, believes the ministry will benefit the community and will affect volunteers.

“You can make medicine nothing more than the mechanisms of the body, or you can make it a spiritual mission,” she said. “It’s easy to be competent in a field, but it’s challenging to be courageous and caring with your talents and skills.”

John Silva, BGCT church starter who helped facilitate the launch of Family Church and the Lubbock Impact ministry said the organization, located on 34th St. and Boston, has been a huge help in the community.

“This place really is Lubbock’s miracle on 34th St.,” he said.