Shepherd’s Hope is a faith-based organization of volunteers
that exists to provide access to health care for the uninsured.
Shepherd’s
Hope had a very spiritual beginning. It started in
the summer of 1996, along a beach in Sanibel Island,
Florida, where the Pastor of St. Luke’s
United Methodist Church, Dr. Williams S. Barnes,
was vacationing. While walking alone on the
beach, thinking and meditating as he often
does on vacation, Reverend Barnes became aware
that God was calling, directing him to do
something for individuals and families who
need medical care and have nowhere to turn.
Reverend Barnes knew and trusted that when
the time was right, God would lead the way.
He brought back
the message, first to some key members of his congregation,
and then to the church as a whole. Miraculously,
the people, the places and pieces all came
together, so that in six months, the first
Shepherd’s Hope Health Center, staffed
completely by volunteers, opened its doors.
As word got around
about this new, volunteer health care center, the
response was overwhelming. Families were driving
long distances to be seen for free by the doctors,
nurses and other volunteers who were donating
their time to serve uninsured, low income families
in need of medical care. Other faith congregations
in the area saw what was happening, knew of
the need and they also responded. Today, Shepherds’ Hope
operates nine medical clinics.
Shepherd's
Hope relies on strong partnerships within the local community
to ensure its services reach those most in need.
Each Shepherd's Hope Health Center is the result
of a partnership between a faith community,
school or facility partner, and hospital. The
houses of faith are the primary resource
for volunteer doctors, nurses and other lay
volunteers who, through their faith commitment,
regularly staff a health center, which typically are open
1 to 2 evenings each week. Currently a local school,
church, mosque or community agency houses the health center by
donating clinic space in existing facilities that are
available during certain hours. Area hospitals
accept referrals without compensation for routine
laboratory and radiology services. In many cases,
county health agencies provide follow-up
and specialty services for patients who need
more advanced care, such as neurological or orthopedic
consultation and even surgery.
Patients
who are eligible for services through Shepherd's Hope have income
at or below 200%
of the poverty level, are uninsured and not eligible for government
assisted health care programs.
For example, a family of four with a monthly income of approximately
$3,300 per month would meet the income test. Utilizing these
criteria, Shepherd's Hope has provided over
100,000 free medical visits in the past twelve
years. While health care access for
the uninsured is a much discussed national priority
for many Americans, Shepherd's Hope is offering
a faith-based model that can be replicated in
local communities across the United States bringing hope and healing to many in need.
People
often ask us how we got our name. We are called "Shepherd’s
Hope" because Jesus was the “Good Shepherd” and
His hope was that we would take care of one another.
Shepherd’s
Hope had a very spiritual beginning. It started in
the summer of 1996, along a beach in Sanibel Island,
Florida, where the Pastor of St. Luke’s
United Methodist Church, Dr. Williams S. Barnes,
was vacationing. While walking alone on the
beach, thinking and meditating as he often
does on vacation, Reverend Barnes became aware
that God was calling, directing him to do
something for individuals and families who
need medical care and have nowhere to turn.
Reverend Barnes knew and trusted that when
the time was right, God would lead the way.
He brought back
the message, first to some key members of his congregation,
and then to the church as a whole. Miraculously,
the people, the places and pieces all came
together, so that in six months, the first
Shepherd’s Hope Health Center, staffed
completely by volunteers, opened its doors. 
Shepherd's
Hope relies on strong partnerships within the local community
to ensure its services reach those most in need.
Each Shepherd's Hope Health Center is the result
of a partnership between a faith community,
school or facility partner, and hospital. The
houses of faith are the primary resource
for volunteer doctors, nurses and other lay
volunteers who, through their faith commitment,
regularly staff a health center, which typically are open
1 to 2 evenings each week. Currently a local school,
church, mosque or community agency houses the health center by
donating clinic space in existing facilities that are
available during certain hours. Area hospitals
accept referrals without compensation for routine
laboratory and radiology services. In many cases,
county health agencies provide follow-up
and specialty services for patients who need
more advanced care, such as neurological or orthopedic
consultation and even surgery.
Patients
who are eligible for services through Shepherd's Hope have income
at or below 200%
of the poverty level, are uninsured and not eligible for government
assisted health care programs.
For example, a family of four with a monthly income of approximately
$3,300 per month would meet the income test. Utilizing these
criteria, Shepherd's Hope has provided over
100,000 free medical visits in the past twelve
years. While health care access for
the uninsured is a much discussed national priority
for many Americans, Shepherd's Hope is offering
a faith-based model that can be replicated in
local communities across the United States bringing hope and healing to many in need.