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Twinsburg
Church Plant Offers Free Clinic
by Helen Kaufmann
Michael Traylor |
Doctors Amelia and Michael Traylor give a new meaning
to the "Free" in Free Methodist — they offer a free
medical clinic in conjunction with their recently-organized Twinsburg
(OH) Free Methodist Church, called Christ Community Fellowship.
The Traylors were residents of Twinsburg, a Cleveland
suburb, when they felt that God was calling them into ministry.
"God put in our hearts a burden to reach out to our neighbors,"
Michael Traylor says. Although there were opportunities to pastor
churches in other communities, he adds, "We felt that God could
not call us to another city when our neighbors needed the power
of God. God gave us a tremendous heartache for the people here."
As a result of this call, the Traylors now pastor a growing church
and staff a free clinic in addition to their responsibilities at
outside jobs. Amelia works as an obstetrician-gynecologist at the
Cleveland Clinic, while Michael is employed by the Metrohealth Lee-Harvard
Health Center in Cleveland.
Church
members line up to fellowship after a recent baptism service. |
The church plant was begun with just two families
in 2000. Four years later, the growing congregation of 60 to 80
persons meets in a refurbished office building with a sanctuary
that holds about 100. Within the next five years the group hopes
to own their own building.
The free clinic came into being as a response to needs
in the community. It is hosted at the Western Reserve Outreach Center,
which provides space at no cost. Both Traylors work in the clinic
along with clinic coordinator, RN Vanessa Greer-Jones, who does
most of the screening. The Traylors do medical evaluations for people
with urgent needs and coordinate the prayer clinic. Even the Traylors'
two children — Matthew, 10, and Michaela, 7 — have their
part to play in the clinic: providing toys and playing with the
toddlers.
Patients
at the free clinic. |
Twinsburg, Traylor says, has a significant indigent
population. He notes, however, that many of the health problems
found in that group are prevalent in the church congregation as
well, and a "Healthy Living" small group has been formed
to help members who are struggling with health concerns. High blood
pressure, diabetes and obesity are high on the list. At the free
clinic screening tests are done for blood pressure and glucose,
and equally important, prayer is offered. In fact, Traylor says,
people come more often for prayer than they do for medical attention.
For the clinic, goals for the future include increasing
services by collaborating with other agencies and churches. For
the church, Traylor says, God has impressed upon them that 1) they
must bathe everything they do, everybody they minister to and everyone
in the church with prayer; 2) they must make disciples, not just
converts; and 3) they must focus on missions, understanding that
they are "part of a great movement of God."
A further opportunity for medical ministry will take
these pastor-doctors to the mission field in June and July as they
travel to Malawi, Africa, to assist Free Methodist career missionaries
Karen and Len Roller.
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