Service Is What We Do

Hurricane Helene did more than just destroy homes, businesses and lives in western North Carolina. It revealed deep, longstanding needs within communities that had largely gone unnoticed.

Seeing the desperation of their neighbors, Pastor Anton Roos and members of Lake Lure Baptist Church felt compelled to do more to meet those needs. As they prayed and dreamed about new ways to serve their community in the storm’s aftermath, they sensed a clear direction to meet basic needs that many lacked. With that in mind, the church reserved one of Baptists on Mission’s mobile dental units and continued praying.

Those prayers were answered when enough volunteers stepped forward to host a two-day dental clinic at the church in October. Church members coordinated meals and registration, hygienists set up inside the church and several dentists rotated shifts on the unit, ultimately providing care to 59 patients.

One of those dentists was Brian Moore, who served both days along with his two daughters. Service is a defining value for the Moore family, who volunteer whenever one of the dental units comes to the area.

One of Moore’s daughters, Kayla, even drove 3.5 hours from Raleigh on a Friday night so she could serve at the clinic on Saturday, before returning to Raleigh the next day.

“I love to work with my dad,” said Kayla, who volunteered in the midst of finishing her final semester at N.C. State University and preparing to attend dental school. “Not only do I get to treat patients, but I get to spend quality time with him, so that’s worth the drive for me.

“As Christians, service is what we do. It’s how we show our love. And there is nothing like being able to see someone’s life changed, seeing a smile on their face.”

For church member and clinic coordinator Linda Poe, hosting a dental clinic at the church was a natural continuation of the church’s ongoing ministry in Lake Lure and surrounding area after Hurricane Helene. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the church had provided meals and served as a distribution center for relief supplies.

“This was just an extension of that, especially coming off of what happened last year,” Poe said. “Our greatest need of course is where we’re going to spend eternity. So we’re happy to meet their physical needs and hope that leads to an opportunity to pray with them and sow seeds of the gospel.”

Learn how your church can utilize the dental or health screening unit as an outreach to your community!