By Anna Johnson
Over the past decade, dozens of groups of churches have used Compassion Clinics as a tool to bring together volunteers (more than 27,000 of them) to provide holistic and compassionate health services to their struggling neighbors (more than 30,000 of them) who might otherwise have gone without these essential services. We feel extremely blessed to have played a role in helping these communities and individuals–these everyday heroes–on their journey of unity and service to their neighbors.
We hope that each and every person of faith finds an outlet to express the love of Jesus outside the four walls of a church building, and to those who feel called, we invite you to explore how Compassion Clinics might be your outlet.
But….maybe you’re not sure if you want to dive in. You need to see it in person. Meet some people, have some conversations.
“There is no better way to see compassion in action and unity at work than viewing a Compassion Clinic up front and personal. Whether you are interested in starting a clinic in your community, are representing a partnering church or organization, or are simply a volunteer interested in seeing what the fuss is about, a Compassion Clinic tour is a great place to start the journey,” says Compassion Clinics Director Ray Biggerstaff.
Are you ready? Here are 6 reasons to take a Compassion Clinic tour this year:
1.) Not sure whether you want to volunteer, donate, or get involved in other ways? Take the experience for a test drive.
There are multiple ways to get involved with Compassion Clinics and by taking a Clinic tour, you can have the experience and better see how you best envision your involvement without diving in headfirst into the unknown.
“It can initially seem daunting to make a difference, but with the infrastructure and plan of Compassion, everyone can find a way to help and join in the mission. I feel I’ve grown in leadership ability, teaching ability, and confidence under pressure–all of which I can use for the rest of my life both in my career in medicine and in life. I got to experience these joys and successes with the church teams and those in my community.”-Alex Paschke, Former Clinic Volunteer
2.) Hobnob with Clinic leaders and get every question answered you can think of. Be a VIP for a day.
A Clinic tour allows for a personal and hands-on experience, with many opportunities to ask any and all questions you have while getting specific, undivided attention from a Compassion Clinic leader. It will also give you an insider’s glimpse at community needs and how they are being addressed at the Clinic:
“In a suburban context you can drive right past and not really see people in need. When you have people come to a Compassion Clinic with hundreds of people and you realize they are all from your city, that kind of thing just unveils the realities. [Your] eyes are more open.” -Chuck Bomar, Pastor at Colossae Church in Tigard (part of the Compassion Tigard Clinic)
“In a suburban content you can drive right past and not really see people in need. When you have people come to a Compassion Clinic with hundreds of people and you realize they are all from your city, that kind of thing just unveils the realities.”
3.) Bummed there isn’t a Compassion Clinic in your city? Learn what it takes to host one of your own.
The personalized treatment of the tour allows you to truly see what goes on behind the scenes to make Compassion Clinics possible. It is a perfect outlet to ask questions of clinic leaders about what it would take to host a clinic in your own city. Compassion Connect welcomes such questions, as we are always looking to provide opportunities for more people to put their faith in action by uniting with others to serve their neighbors.
You can also learn more about bringing a Compassion Clinic to your city by visiting our website here.
4.) What the heck does this abstract concept of “unity” look like in action?
Despite coming from different churches and denominational backgrounds, Compassion Clinic volunteers come together to create a true embodiment of unity in action. Each person sets aside their differences in order to share the love of Jesus by serving together, and that is powerful stuff. It’s not something that we get to see every day–it takes this abstract concept of “unity” and makes it real.
“I just want to thank you for bringing all Christians together. I have volunteered at several of your clinics and thank God for the opportunity to serve.” -Sandy Iseke, Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
5.) You have tons of opportunities: there is at least one clinic every month now, sometimes two or more.
Several years ago a new type of Compassion Clinic emerged: mini-clinics, which take place in high-need neighborhoods around the Portland metro area on a quarterly basis (instead of annually like the larger clinics).
Because of these smaller clinics, there are now more opportunities than ever to visit a clinic in person (sometimes there are even 2-3 clinics a month).
Chances are, there are clinics geographically close to you for convenience, and with more clinics come more opportunities to find a date that suits your schedule.
See the full list of upcoming clinics here.
6.) If you take a few minutes to chat with people there, you may witness lives being changed through compassion in action–maybe even yours.
Compassion Clinics go beyond just physical services and seek to build unity and relationships amongst volunteers and guests alike. Taking a Clinic tour will allow you to dialogue with all sorts of people, from clinic leaders to beneficiaries, and you too can also start to build strong, lasting relationships.
“I have learned that there’s something about serving together that helps us grow. Compassion Connect and its various outreaches are where you can take a big leap, and then you find out that it wasn’t that big a leap. You gain confidence. At first you are nervous, but you quickly find yourself serving with others. The most tangible stuff is the hugs, tears, and joy that you experience as you help others. There is nothing like that. It’s a mountaintop experience.” -Tom Moore, Clinic Volunteer
We invite you to join us this year for a Compassion Clinic tour…and to see where it leads you!
To see a full list of upcoming tours, and to sign up, visit us here.
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