First Baptist Church, Kingsport, began Providence Medical Clinic in 2010 and remains active in it today. Leaders involved with the clinic at First Baptist include deacon Loyce “Ardie” Aredmagni, left, who serves as president of the clinic’s board of directors and pastor Marvin Cameron.
KINGSPORT — Members of First Baptist Church, Kingsport, had a vision in 2005 of reaching out to their community, especially in ways to provide avenues of medical care for Sullivan County residents who could not afford it.
As a result, Providence Medical Clinic of Kingsport opened in 2010 to provide not only physical care to area residents, but spiritual support as well. The clinic offers free health care to uninsured residents of Sullivan County and the greater Kingsport area as well as those who are at least 150 percent below the poverty level in Tennessee.
Pastor Marvin Cameron affirmed that while the health needs of the people are vital, so are their spiritual needs. “We listen to the people and provide spiritual counseling,” he stressed.
Providence Medical Clinic has grown since its inception and now is open four days a week from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and is also open for walk-ins who are established patients on Thursday evening. Providence also has a mobile clinic that is used throughout the county.
The clinic has eight staff members, including three who are full time, in addition to between 70-80 volunteers who provide a variety of services, said Kim Hart, executive director of the clinic.
Hart
The clinic, now operates under a 501 (c) (3) organization, provides primary, acute and preventative medical care in addition to specialty clinics and health education, Hart said.
Providence is funded by private donations, grants and First Baptist Church which provides $55,000 in its budget every year for the clinic, Cameron said. “It is one of our ministries that we support,” he affirmed.
The clinic also has benefited from grants provided by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
The Baptist Healthcare System of East Tennessee was begun by Tennessee Baptists soon after the end of World War II. More than $2 million was contributed by 800 churches in 32 counties of East Tennessee. The hospital began service on Nov. 30, 1949.
In 2007, BHSET negotiated a merger with St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, in which both entities would be under the control of Catholic Health Partners, Inc.
In order to memorialize the contribution of the Tennessee Baptist Convention to the Healthcare System over the years, the merger agreement provided a total of $2 million to the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board) to be used to support medical missions.
One-year grants are made to cooperating Tennessee Baptist churches and affiliated Baptist associations located within the East Grand Region of Tennessee for assistance with medical missions and ministries, according to committee guidelines.
Robyn Herrick, part-time pharmacy technician at Providence Medical Clinic, fills a prescription.
Grants are to be used only for purchase of medicine, medical supplies and medical equipment. Guidelines also state that grant money is not to be used for travel expenses, administrative compensation or basic operating expenses.
Both Cameron and Hart are appreciative for the grants provided by the grants administered by TBMB.
“They have been very generous, providing thousands of dollars over the years,” Cameron said.
“We are blessed and so appreciative of all funding and to be part of such a giving organization,” Hart said.
The grants help us to purchase medicines, diabetic supplies, educational materials, medical equipment, devotionals and Bibles for our patients, she noted.
“Since we have started up our mobile clinic, the funds help us to reach patients in the more remote areas of the county.
“This grant allows us to not only to help with their healthcare needs, but it also allows us to aid in their spiritual and human service needs in our little area of the world. We are able to bring them the gospel through medicine,” Hart said.
“Providence Medical Clinic has used the funds received from BHET grants for medical supplies and prescriptions that are necessary to properly treat their clients,” observed Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“By meeting these tangible needs the door is opened for them to share the hope of the gospel.”
The deadline has passed for this year’s grants, but churches can apply next year for 2025 grants, Moore noted. B&R
