MUSKOGEE—Central Church is touching lives through ministry.
The church’s Celebrate Recovery program has reached several men and women who are in need of dental services. The church hosted the Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship (BMDF) Mobile Healthcare unit for two full days of oral surgery on June 28-29. A total of 28 people were treated during the two day event, with patients also coming from the Gospel Rescue Mission and Bridges Out of Poverty.
Several patients had six or seven teeth removed. Edwin Henslee, an oral surgeon from Midwest City, volunteered both days, and was assisted by dental hygienists Diana Bunch of Oktaha and Britany Hearlson of Muskogee.
The city of Muskogee began a program to positively impact area residents who are in poverty. The need for dental care was identified as one of the major issues facing many of the individuals with whom they were working. Pastor J.T. Carvel at Central had knowledge of the mobile dental unit operating in Oklahoma through the BMDF. He contacted Bill Sisson, director of the Mobile Healthcare Ministry, and began the process of getting the unit brought to Muskogee. A community grant was being applied for to cover expenses for the first year. The initial pilot event was funded by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Community Ministries department.
Catherine White is a Parish Nurse at Central, and was available to do blood pressure and glucose testing for all those who came to the dental clinic.
The Mobile Healthcare Unit is available to churches in Oklahoma. Anyone interested in hosting the mobile unit or volunteering to assist with the ministry, can contact Sisson at 405/246-5540, or by email, bills@bmdf.org.
