The mission of St. Luke's Mobile Medical, a ministry of the Episcopal Church,
is to improve the quality of life for those living in our communities of Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Desoto, and Claiborne Parishes.
St. Luke's addresses the needs of the whole person - physical, emotional, social and spiritual - through education and resource access, providing basic health care to the medically underserved.
Our goal is to break down the barriers that keep people from accessing health care.
There is no charge for our services which is especially helpful for the uninsured or underinsured.
We offer care to everyone who comes to our van.
St. Luke’s chose to be mobile so that we can go out into communities and offer health services where people live and work.
In doing so, we are able to offer accessible and quick health care for those who lack transportation
or do not have the ability to take time off from work.
We return to the same communities on a regular basis, so that individuals can have follow-up care and so we can develop a trusting long-term relationship with the community.
The volunteers at St. Luke’s look at the whole person's physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.
We work closely with other community organizations, referring people to the appropriate service so that their needs can be met.
While health screenings are quick, we will spend as much time as it takes with each individual.
We help educate all people who come into our van about their health and ways to take care of themselves.
We believe that this helps to empower them to make healthier choices.
For a wonderful definition of health ministry please read this excerpt from the National Episcopal Health Ministries:
From National Episcopal Health Ministries
Health ministry in a local congregation is an intentional ministry focusing on both healing and health, combining the ancient traditions of the
Christian community and the knowledge and tools of modern health care.
The mission given Christ’s disciples is to preach, teach and heal, and the church’s teaching and preaching have far exceeded her healing in this day.
The church needs to be true to her calling and has the opportunity in this modern age to use many tools to bring about health and healing.
There is significant need for the church to address health issues. The current health care system in the United States doesn’t focus on health; it is primarily disease oriented.
Too often it isn’t a cohesive, holistic system; it’s fragmented and enormously expensive. The church, on the other hand, is in the business of healing, of making whole, and of doing it in the community.
The local congregation is a place where health professionals and lay people can work together to keep people well, to empower and educate, to advocate for health and to care for people in need.
Health ministry is often, though not exclusively, led and coordinated by a parish nurse.
Health ministry looks different from congregation to congregation, reflecting the needs, interest and resources of the faith community.
Health ministry does not replicate services that already exist in the community, but rather works with community partners and resources.
Health ministry is a living witness of the healing activity of God through the local congregation, encouraging whole-person health through:
- Integration of body, mind and spirit
- Increased self-knowledge
- Personal responsibility
- And interdependence among God’s people
