compassionate medical and spiritual services to those who need it most with the purpose of sharing God’s love

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The purpose of this letter is twofold. First, I want to bring you up to date on Christ Health Care Ministry's outreach efforts. Second, I want to ask you to prayerfully consider financially supporting this Ministry. Christ Health Care Ministry is a non profit that supports three local free medical clinics as an outreach to uninsured adults.  Clinic volunteers were led by the Holy Spirit to reach out in this way over three years ago.

The Health & Hope Ministry 1 John 3:18 is the Gouverneur clinic, which I am writing about primarily today.  It has served as the primary care office for about sixty of our locally uninsured and needy patients in 2017 with over one hundred and eighty seen since 2014.  It has been a blessing to work with these patients and provide the needed physical, mental, and spiritual healing available through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our volunteer team of doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dieticians, social workers, pharmacists, office manager, treasurer, counselors, pastors, and receptionist have provided comprehensive care to these patients.

Is there a need?

Well the obvious answer is yes!  In 2009, 15% of the population in St Lawrence County, 28% in Lewis County, and 12% in Jefferson County were uninsured. More recently, in July 2016 this had decreased to 6.8%, 7.1%, and 6.5% respectively.

Although this is dramatically improved, this 6.8% uninsured in St Lawrence county alone is about 7,400 people. To find yourself uninsured can be quite distressing. Some of our patients are self employed, recently unemployed, seasonal workers, or those whom after living expenses can't afford the cost of the healthcare plans offered by the government or their employer. Other patients are from the Amish community. Many of these people deal with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and COPD. To provide the reassurance of access to high quality medical care is very reassuring to this population. 

In 2017 we have:

  • Served as the primary care provider of about sixty uninsured patients in the area.  Patients travel from Lewis, St Lawrence, and Jefferson Counties.
  • Helped numerous patients manage their chronic disease processes, to include diabetes, hypertension, and COPD.
  • Worked with Bonaparte Pharmacy to provide our patients with a maximum out of pocket expense of $10 per medication per month.
  • Linked appropriate patients with other free programs in the community, to include free colorectal and lung cancer screening.
  • We now have four local doctors and nurse practitioners donating their time.
  • We have worked with Christ Health Care Ministry towards a goal of obtaining a medical malpractice waiver.
  • We have linked pregnant patients to a local program called "Viable Options" to provide them support through their pregnancy.
  • We are in the final stages of implementing an electronic medical record called ‘Practice Fusion’. We should be live with this by 2/1/18.
  • Provided access to pastoral support to all our volunteers and patients during working hours. Pastors at times were found to be praying, evangelizing, and lending a listening ear to patients.  We now have six local pastors regularly donating their time at the clinic.
  • We now have six local churches and fourteen local businesses financially supporting the clinic in some capacity.
  • We had a Pastoral Breakfast in August to share the clinic’s mission and vision and to thank local pastors for their support to the clinic.
  • In October we had our second annual community-wide fundraiser called a “Cowplop” as part of the Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival. 

Health & Hope Mission 1 John 3:18 does not charge for any of its services nor do the volunteer medical professionals charge any fees for their services, nor do we participate in government or insurer reimbursement programs. We are completely financially dependent upon contributions to pay for the operating expenses to provide much needed health and spiritual care.

Where are we going from here?

We have a holistic view of care – attending to not only physical health care needs but also spiritual needs. Volunteers consistently speak of “reaching out to the least and the lost. Jesus said he was “anointed to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18) and that He “came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). Jesus then tells us to “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19).

We will continue to grow the clinic as God leads.

You can help us. Most importantly we are asking for your commitment to prayer. We have several needs for the clinic as we move into the next year. The clinic has an ongoing need for financial support.

If you are willing to consider a generous gift to the clinic, we would ask if you would consider funding the cost of one month rent with a donation of $400, a donation of one month supply of all pharmacy costs at a $200 donation, or a donation of one month of office supplies at a donation of $20.

You can go online to www.christhealthcareministry.org and give online, or mail your gift to 137 E Main St. Suite 9 Gouverneur NY 13642. All donations are tax deductable. Please make out any checks to Christ Health Care Ministry.

May God Bless you in the year to come.

From the Volunteers of Health & Hope Mission
1 John 3:16

Rachel Raven FNP-C     Noreen Boclair

Jan Boregson      Dorothy Weaver