a team called to service fall 04

Siloam - A Team Called to Service

Originally published in the Fall 2004 edition of Healing Waters
By: Morgan Wills; staff physician, J. Brevard Haynes; volunteer physician and board president, and Ericka West; staff medical receptionist

The word calling is very important to the Siloam Family Health Center ’s staff and board members, as well as to many of Siloam’s volunteers. Regularly, the Siloam team is challenged to examine their call to Siloam and to serving the poor.

In the following paragraphs, the word call being used is defined in the Merriam-Webster: to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office <was called to active duty>. Biblically, it is being defined as: Romans 11:29 – “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Morgan Wills, staff physician

Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

When asked to select a "life verse" that encapsulates my calling into health ministry among the poor, I initially desired to select a more “impressive” passage. But that wouldn't have been very honest--or very accurate. The fact is that this passage from Hebrews found me . I never set out to be a doctor, much less the sole staff physician at an indigent health clinic. But God, in his mysterious and wise way, called me here.

Like Abraham, I reached a point in my life where the noise of life as usual grew dim and God's Call became increasingly, irresistibly clear: "Follow me." And yet God did not reveal the destination--just each successive step in the journey. For solace I looked to the life of Abraham, and I took comfort in God’s promise both to bless him and make him a blessing. " All peoples on earth will be blessed through you ." (Gen. 12:3) Today at Siloam I am receiving a foretaste of my own “inheritance.” I am extremely blessed to serve as a conduit of His blessing to “all peoples on earth” through whole person health care right here in Nashville !

J. Brevard Haynes, volunteer physician and board president

Many Saturday mornings I volunteer at Siloam. I have thought about the reasons that I serve as a volunteer. Scripture tells us that “the purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters but a man of understanding draws them out.” Why do I go? Is it because I think more highly of myself in doing so? Is it because I want others to think more highly of me? Am I trying to earn favor with God? Is it because God commands me to serve and I am fearful of his wrath if I do not? Our mission statement directs us to the correct motive: “To share the love of Christ by serving those in need through healthcare.”

Paul expresses the proper motive for service in 2 Corinthians 5:14 -15 – “ For Christ’s love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all; and therefore all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. ” I should be so moved by Christ’s love for me that I am compelled to serve him and others.

Charles Wesley writes of this love in the refrain of “And Can It Be” – “Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me.” I need to reflect and meditate upon this compelling love so that I want to share it verbally and non-verbally with the patients I will see on Saturday.

Ericka West, staff medical receptionist

I see my calling to serve at Siloam as a calling to serve the nations of the world. At Siloam, I am continually interacting with patients and co-workers from different backgrounds and countries. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to work at a place where lives are being touched and transformed by the power of God. Here, we not only want to love and care for “the poor and hurting”, we want to honor them. 1 Peter 2:17 says to “Honor all people…”, and I also believe that as we honor our patients, we’re also honoring God. I believe that a person who honors others and has the true heart of a servant can win many to Christ.

Matthew 5:16 says “Let your light shine before men…” , and I believe that we are here to shine and give light to everyone we encounter. Everyday as I come to work, it is my desire to let the light of Jesus Christ shine through me – to brighten hearts with a kind word, a sincere smile, and a word of hope.

“You are the light of the World. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good work, and glorify your father who is in heaven .” Matthew 5:14-16

{content}