HCM’s director, Dr. Deborah M. Highfill, takes a child’s temperature before seeing one of the doctors on HCM’s outreach to Jamai
HCM’s director, Dr. Deborah M. Highfill, takes a child’s temperature before seeing one of the doctors on HCM’s outreach to Jamai
Evelyn David prays with a patient at HCM’s clinic in Jamaica.
Evelyn David prays with a patient at HCM’s clinic in Jamaica.
Jenny Pandolfo checks a patient’s vision before fitting her with a pair of glasses.
Jenny Pandolfo checks a patient’s vision before fitting her with a pair of glasses.
January 3

By Carrie Stewart

In September of 2011, HealthCare Ministries held a medical outreach at a church in Norwood, Jamaica with missionaries Gary and Peggy Pyatt.  The team of 21 healthcare professionals and support treated medical and optical needs while also sharing the gospel and encouraging people through prayer.  Over 1,300 people were treated and 470 prayed for salvation.

Gary Pyatt said that the medical evangelism outreach opened a door to the community.

"It helps our churches tremendously to gain access to all of those contacts and people they pray with and people that they can follow up on when the job if finished," Pyatt said.

Gary and his wife Peggy, who is a registered nurse, have been involved with HCM before, both hosting teams and serving as team members.  Both perspectives have given them a well-rounded view of how medical evangelism can be effective.

"It can turn a church around," Pyatt said.

The team held the clinic at Norwood Full Gospel Church with Pastor Mervelyn Hall.  She was grateful for the way the outreach opened the doors for evangelism to the people in her community.

"We wanted to do something to encourage them, to give them hope," Hall said.  "This ministry has done it all."

HCM ministered to the people's spirit, soul and body.  Hall said that the people of Norwood have a definite need for both spiritual and physical help.

"This ministry was able to help and to uplift life," she said.

The team was able to intervene in many situations to help save lives. One instance was when a woman dropped off her daughter at the nearby preschool and suddenly passed out.  They brought her to the HCM clinic and her blood pressure started dropping.  The nurses started her on IV fluids and called an ambulance, which took 45 minutes to get there.

Peggy Pyatt, the missionary host, said that the people in the church began to pray for her and her pressure started rising.  Peggy was grateful for the presence of the HCM team to intervene in the situation.

"If we hadn't have been there, she would have died," Peggy said.

Peggy also had the opportunity to counsel a woman who came in for HIV testing.  The woman tested negative and Peggy explained to her how God was giving her a second chance.  The Holy Spirit worked in her heart and she prayed to receive Jesus as her savior.

Check out this video from the Jamaica outreach!