Jesus went about the cities and villages proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom as recorded by Matthew.  In chapter four, he reminds us that Jesus began His public ministry after His baptism and temptation experience preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  The good news of Jesus began with a call to the admission of sin and the acceptance of the grace of forgiveness.  When the paralytic was lowered into the presence of Jesus, Mark records that Jesus’ first words were,

“Son, your sins are forgiven.”  After demonstrating that the priority of “The Son of Man” was “to seek and to save that which was lost,” Jesus then said to the paralytic, “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.”

 

After the priority of forgiveness, it seems the next most important good news kingdom mission of Jesus to the poor and to all peoples was health and wholeness, “To Cure Every Disease.”  David reminds us of that ranking of priorities when he said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul and do not forget all his benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.”  The compassion of Jesus drove Him to heal “every disease and every sickness… of the harassed and helpless.”  Jesus was and is good news for “the whole person, in the whole community with the whole church.”

 

Earlier, Jesus had asked his disciples to follow him.  He had promised to make them “fishers of men,” servants, co-laborers, harvest partners, to introduce others to himself and his kingdom of forgiveness, healing, and wholeness.  Now our text reveals Jesus casting the vision through his healing interactions with the crowd for his disciples to confirm, that the harvest is overwhelming but the laborers are few, pray for laborers.  Next, we see Jesus answering their prayer.  They, the disciples, would be the first to fulfill the prayer for laborers.  He sent them to “…go proclaim the good news, the king-

dom of heaven has come near.  Cure the sick . . .”  The disciples scattered to extend the kingdom ministry of Jesus of the good news of forgiveness and salvation and healing.

 

Today, we hear the same call upon each of us as did those disciples, that we proclaim the good news,  . . . “the kingdom of heaven has come near.  Cure the sick. . .”  The first night of the resurrection, Jesus commanded, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  You and I are the laborers prayed for and sought, we are the “sent ones” to continue the healing ministry of Jesus!

 

Equal access to health care is not only a desperate justice issue for this nation to address and provide, it is a calling of God to the called out and “sent ones” to continue the healing ministry of Jesus.  From the pulpit to the pew, we must ask, “what can I do to make a difference in gaining equal health care access for all people?”  We can share our passion for “equal access to healthcare” with out Senators and Congressmen from this state.  We can urge our state and county legislators to provide adequate funding

for Medicaid.  We can learn the positions of our presidential candidates and the platforms of their parties regarding “equal access to healthcare” and help form those directions by letter writing, conversations and networking with justice structures such

as the N.C. Council of Churches.  We are always sent to address the roots of injustice and disparity, not simply the fruits and symptoms.

 

But until we see new initiatives of justice for the healthcare for the poor, we the church must be involved in the policy making ministry of healing as followers of “The Healer.”  Following are examples of “love in action” health ministries of churches and

individual disciples:

 

In the Raleigh – Durham area there are at least seven “faith based” or other non-profit free primary care health clinics.  There are others throughout the state.

 

In Pembroke there is a faith based “Healing Lodge” ministry.  Christian leaders gathered to deal with a health crisis in the county in 2001 and made a commitment to address that and other health needs.  We formed a wellness/crisis health ministry dealing with addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, homelessness, domestic violence/child abuse and suicide prevention.  We have a parish nurse program to access health care for the poor, the uninsured, the underserved and the non-served.  We also have a “Spiritual Connections” program to equip people in local churches to become informed health outreach volunteers.

 

In the Pembroke area, a faith based task force is at work to establish a long term residential alcohol/drug recovery center, bringing together a cross section of professional disciplines and the church to enable the therapeutic recovery community to provide a healing/recovery center ministry.

 

In many churches, emergency aid funds buy medicines and pay for doctor visits. The churches also advocate for persons of the church and in the larger community to help gain governmental or private insurance for those served.

 

Many churches have health clinics/screenings and reach many of the unserved and underserved with awareness of illnesses and assistance in gaining medical services for those in need.

 

Many churches have special emphasis on praying for the sick and infirm, often anointing with oil.

 

         Many churches provide transportation to medical facilities.

 

When pastors and church leaders serve persons who are uninsured, underinsured, medically unserved or underserved, it is not difficult to gain a passion for “equal access to healthcare.”  To be sent by Jesus to continue his ministry of healing will make us

who have insurance and adequate healthcare determined to pray and to act to assure “equal access to healthcare” for all.

 

BY REV. ROBERT L. MANGUM, PEMBROKE;

PASTOR, HICKORY GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, CLIO, SC