Touched Twice Clinic

by Church Health Reader Editors

The congregation at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, is continually striving to find ways to “engage head, heart, and hands in love of God and neighbor.” One way they do this is by hosting an annual Touched Twice Clinic, which began last year. At this clinic, they transform the church into a free health clinic that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people in their community.

The clinic is named “Touched Twice,” from the Scripture passage in Mark 8:22–25 where Jesus touched the blind man twice to heal him. The Touched Twice model encourages and equips

volunteers from local churches to host a one-day event meeting human needs in Christ’s name. Rather than traveling to another location, volunteers engage the community in which they live with this “backyard medical mission.” People who participate first touch guests through addressing their physical needs, and then touch them a second time through spending time with them and showing Christian love.

A Touched Twice Clinic allows uninsured and underinsured people to see doctors, dentists, and physical therapists. They also receive vision screenings (along with reading glasses), mental health screenings, pap smears, and mammograms at no charge. Guests have access to a food pantry and a clothes closet and are partnered with “friends” who walk with them through the entire day. But the clinic does more than just take care of the physical needs of the guests who attend; it also takes care of spiritual and emotional needs by providing services such as family portraits, legal advice, counseling, manicures, and haircuts.

“Touched Twice” is from Mark 8:22–25, where Jesus touched the blind man twice to heal him.

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