The body of Christ is not one member, but many

“For the body is not one member, but many.” - I Corinthians 12:14

This summer, I received a call from one of my community partners looking for assistance for one of their patients. After some background information, I learned the patient has a form of early dementia and needed help making a doctor’s appointment. Working alongside my Methodist Healthcare Ministries team members, we were able to help “Mrs.” not only get a doctor’s visit in place but also help her in various other ways as well.

As a Wesley Nurse, my job not only entails helping my clients get access to health care but also looking at their social determinants of health.

My journey of assistance began with a visit to Mrs.’ home. I was accompanied by my fellow team member, Aaron Milan, one of our community health workers. When we arrived at Mrs.’ home, we discovered she lived in a mobile trailer and that the steps leading up to her doorstep were not sturdy. She told us that she had fallen on them a few times before. As a community health worker, Aaron’s role is to build community partnerships and connect people to health care services and resources, so he had the contact information for a company that builds ramps. After working together and pooling our resources, a team was secured to build a new ramp and steps outside the trailer. The new addition helped Mrs. and her family access their home safely. She responded, “It’s nice to know people still care.”

As we continued talking to Mrs., we discovered she also needed assistance acquiring her medications, so my next step was connecting her to Karen Green, my fellow Wesley Nurse in San Angelo. Karen was able to help Mrs. obtain some of her medications right away and direct her to a nearby prescription assistance program.

With the timing of the Texas Mission of Mercy event in San Angelo – an event chaired by another fellow Wesley Nurse, Teresa Whitley – Mrs. and her husband were also able to receive dental services.

By collaborating with my team members and with community partners, we were all able to care for a patient in need. This is how the verse from I Corinthians 12:14 symbolizes our ministry, “for the body is not one member, but many.”