Rick Gibbons considers himself a blessed man, and hecounts off his blessings in order: 1. A wonderful wife,2. A loving home, and 3. Bethesda Health Clinic.

As a church janitor, Rick works hard and loves his job.When he started losing weight, he thought it was just thelong hours of manual labor he puts in every day. But Rickdidn’t feel well – ever. A visit to Bethesda resulted in a quickbut unexpected diagnosis of diabetes. With regular visitsto the clinic, careful monitoring of his blood sugar andconsistency in taking his medicines, Rick feels muchbetter physically. He also feels much better spiritually.

“Without Bethesda Health Clinic, I don’t know where I’d be,”Rick asserts. “At Bethesda, they talk to you and they listen.They want to know the details. They care about youphysically, but they also care about you mentally andspiritually. They will work with you, no matter what.”

On one of his routine clinic visits, Rick saw a notice for“The Healing Arts”, an exhibit at the Tyler Museum of Art towhich Bethesda Health Clinic patients were invited to submittheir artwork. “I saw Dr. Ridenour that day,” remembers Rick,“and he asked me if he and his nurse could pray with me.We bowed our heads and while they were praying, thisimage came to me, of Jesus with his arms around Bethesda.I saw clearly that the Lord was watching over everyone andeverything that happened in the clinic.”

The artwork Rick created after seeing his vision was chosenfor the exhibit, and Rick, who has been an amateur artist allhis life, checked an item off his bucket list. “A piece of my artin a real art museum exhibit! How great is that?” Recountingthe experience three years later, Rick still beams. “Some ofthe smallest things can give you the biggest boost ofconfidence,” he offers.

It is a source of pride to Rick that Bethesda is not a freeclinic, and he is happy that he can do his part by paying anaffordable sliding scale fee for the care he receives. “I makea modest living,” says Rick, “and it’s right that I pay forBethesda’s services.”

What does Rick want supporters of Bethesda to know? “Thisis the best investment you could possibly make,” he asserts.“Lives are changed here because the Lord is in this, andhaving the Lord in this is important. I believe He will prosperthe clinic. He will lead the clinic in the direction it needs to go.We just have to have a lot of faith and a lot of hope.”

Yes, Rick Gibbons is a blessed man. Blessed by his family,his faith and his connection to Bethesda Health Clinic.

Spring 2015

BLESSEDA

MAN

Our Patients Have afor Bethesda!

Artist: Rick Gibbons, patient of Bethesda Health Clinic Title: Health-Physical -Spiritual, 2012

Our Donors Have a for Bethesda!

Artist Jan Widner is clear aboutthe source of her gift. “I create withjoy,” she says, looking upward.“I have a light that shines on me.”

Jan’s life wasn’t always full of joyand light. Nomadic years, marriageto an alcoholic husband, financialinstability and uncertainty abouther direction and purpose in lifekept Jan and her family on themove, literally and figuratively. “Inthe first half of my life, I didn’t knowGod,” she says. “But in the secondhalf of my life, I met Jesus and webecame good friends. I listen toHim. I pay attention.”

Though she turned to the Lord,Jan still struggled as a singlemom raising two sons on her own.“I’ve always been poor,” sheadmits, “and I’ve never had healthinsurance.” Still, Jan put her sonsfirst, taking part-time jobs so thatshe could devote most of herenergy to her children. After theyleft home, she embarked on alife- long dream, getting her collegeeducation. Settling in Tyler to benear her oldest son in Dallas, Jancompleted her Bachelors Degreein Fine Arts at U.T. Tyler whilecleaning houses to support herself.When she graduated summa cumlaude, her children were therebeaming with pride to watch herwalk across the stage.

In those lean college years, Janturned to Bethesda for help withher medical needs. “I was sohappy to pay the $20 copay, andI love that Bethesda requires itspatients to have a job and to paysomething. I don’t like “freebies” –

for myself or anyone else,” shesays. “Everyone at the clinic is sofriendly and nice, and it gave mesuch peace of mind to know I hadmedical care.”

After graduation, Jan asked theLord for direction about the nextsteps in her life. “He told me I wasto open a children’s art studio,”she says. “Put a sign on your carthat says, ‘Children’s Art’, He said,so I did, and now I teach artlessons to 80 children each week.”

With the financial security providedby her business, Jan decided itwas time to give back. “Tyler hasgiven me a lot” she affirms “andBethesda Health Clinic has givenme a lot. I really believe you shouldgive back to what has been givento you.”

Diane Thomason, Director ofDevelopment at Bethesda,applauds Jan’s giving. “Nothingmeans more to us at Bethesdathan when one of our patientsbecomes a donor. It’s anaffirmation of all that Bethesdais about.”

For Jan, art remains an expressionof her faith. “I don’t start a workwith an idea. I start with materialsand colors, sometimes with musicand motion. For me, creating art isplaying, building, and seeing.” It isalso allowing God to flow throughher gift, and through her gift, to thechildren she teaches. “That’s whatI want to teach the children,” saysJan. “I want to teach them to see.There is so much more to see thanit seems.”GIVING

ARTAND

Becky Hernandezchose a career atBethesda Health Clinicbecause it met bothher goals: to care forpatients medicallyand to minister tothem spiritually.

A mission trip toEcuador andexperiences in herown life drew Beckyto work at Bethesda.“When patients comein we can talk withthem to find out whatis going on with themmentally, physicallyand spiritually,” shesays. “This is howwe’re able to connectwith patients. We open our hearts tothem and let them talk to us about whatis going on in their lives.”

It speaks to Becky that there areScriptures on the walls of the patientrooms. “We ask the patients ‘How is yourday going? Can I pray for you?’ Ourpatients allow us into their lives like that.We can find out if there is something elsegoing on in their lives that is preventingthem from taking care of their health.

I believe it really movesmountains for them tolet us in and just beable to say a little prayerfor them.”

That view of the“big picture” of what itmeans to be healthy isclear to Becky. “If themind, spirit and soulare not workingtogether, it doesn’tmatter how muchmedicine you give thepatient, or what youtell them about theirhealth... it is not goingto happen. They haveto be whole in orderto allow you into theirlives.”

For Becky, Bethesda Health Clinic ismore than a place to work. “I know thatBethesda is the place God intended forme to be. My life at Bethesda has been sofulfilling. I am blessed to be able to comehere. Sometimes you just say you loveyour job, but I really do. I love coming herein the morning, seeing what challengeswe have and knowing that God is here forus. And our patients feel blessed and arethankful that we are here for them.”

We Have a for our Patients!

MEDICINE MINISTRYAND

“I know that

Bethesda is the place

God intended

for me to be.”

Becky Hernandez

Derrith Bondurant, Louise and Joseph Ornelas, LaVerne Gollob

Margaret and Jim Perkins

Clark and Patricia Hampe

DOCTOR LUKE AWARDS CEREMONY

Ben and Dorothy Bridges Darla Bennett and Sandra King

Mary Dale Thomas, Mary Gammell, Bess Arnold, Eleanor Cameron, Brenda Cameron, Catherine Harrison, Louise Arnold

DOCTOR LUKE AWARDS CEREMONY

Duane Andrews, Paul Powell, and Jim Arnold

Andy and Sandy Tindel, Doug and Ellen Coltman

Betty Ann Smith, June Hillis and Susan Smith Don Smith and Donal Steph

Dianne and Bill Moore, Sue and Ken Kummerfeld

Susana Cuevas came to Tyler in 2013 toget a new start in life. Less than two yearslater, that new start involves a great job,a husband and a stable, loving home forher two boys.

A big part of Susana’s new start is due toher work at Hangers of Hope, Bethesda’sthrift store.

She began as a sorter, an entry levelposition sorting donations into bins –clothes here, toys there, dishes over there.Susana’s strong work ethic, can-doattitude and good business sense quicklypaid off, and she became a “hanger,”placing clothes on racks; then a “keyholder” with access to the cash registerand locked areas; then an assistantmanager. In February 2015 Susanabecame manager of Hangers of Hope.

Susana sees her biggest job as thatof role model for staff and volunteerswho work in the store.

Excellent customer service for donors,volunteers and shoppers is key, andSusana’s goal is to greet everyone with asmile. “We have a donor-centered modelat the store,” says Susana. “The peoplewho give us donations, the people who

volunteer here and the people who shophere are all donors. We want people tofeel good about their experience withHangers of Hope. We greet them with asmile and thank them for what they aregiving and doing. We always talk aboutthe clinic, how sales in the store help theclinic’s work and that the money earned inthe store stays right here in Smith County.”

The number of people to greet and thankat Hangers of Hope is staggering: everymonth there are more than 400 donationsand more than 2,400 transactions withcustomers. To Susana, each of those is anopportunity to promote Bethesda HealthClinic at the donation door and at thecash register. The “mission connection”is so important to Susana, because likemost of the store staff, she has also beena clinic patient, and she knows first-handhow exceptional the care is. “There arelots of retail places to work,” says Susana.“This is a retail place with an importantmission behind it.”

Susana is grateful for the opportunityher work at Hangers has afforded her.“It means the world to me,” she offers.“I’m so glad to be here and so honoredto be a part of the work of BethesdaHealth Clinic.”

WOMEN’S CLOTHINGMEN’S CLOTHING

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SUSANA’S STORY

A NOTEFROMJOHN

BENEFITSBETHESDA

A Heart For Our Mission

FRESHEVENT

On a brisk March Saturday morning, runners and walkersparticipating in the second annual FRESH 15 did their part tosupport health and wellness programs at Bethesda Health Clinic.

Trent Brookshire expressed the sentiments of BrookshireGrocery Company. “Our goal for the FRESH 15 from thebeginning was to give back and make an impact in ourcommunity. By partnering with Bethesda Health Clinic, wewere able to assist the working uninsured of East Texas.Themission of Bethesda Health Clinic is very similar to ours, anit made perfect sense for them to be one of our local charities.We were very excited to have raised more than $25,000 forBethesda and I know that the money raised will go to great use.”

Bethesda Executive Director, John English, M.D., echoedMr. Brookshire’s sentiments. “Bethesda Clinic was honoredto be a partner with Brookshire’s in the FRESH 15 race. Bothof our organizations are supported by the community andboth emphasize the need for a healthy lifestyle. The FRESHteam put on a first class event, and we were proud to bechosen as a beneficiary.”

More than 3,300 runners from all over Texas and beyondcompeted in the 15k, 5k and 1k kids’ races. Bethesda Clinicwas blessed to be one of the organizations benefiting fromthe race proceeds.

It’s no exaggeration to say that everyonewho works at Bethesda, staff andvolunteers alike, has a heart for ourmission. Their hearts draw them to thiswork, and they find great satisfaction intheir ministry.

It’s also clear that our patients have aheart for our work. Time and again theytell us that they get so much more fromtheir visits to the clinic than good medicalcare. They feel the faith and the soul andthe heart of the clinic when they comethrough the doors, and that, as much asthe health care, is the reason they returnagain and again.

Our donors also have a heart forBethesda. In the last few months,incredibly generous donors have fundedthe renovation of the clinic, runners at theFRESH 15 have become donors byparticipating in the race and, especiallymeaningful to us, patients themselves are“giving back” to Bethesda in appreciationfor the care they received.

In this edition of the newsletter, we sharestories of those who, like you, have aheart for the mission of Bethesda – staff,volunteers, patients and donors. Theirhearts and your hearts reflect theimmense and immeasurable heart ofGod – his heart here on earth. This iswhat Bethesda Health Clinic is all about.

409 W. FergusonTyler, TX 75702

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PAIDTyler, Texas

Permit No. 14

To learn more aboutthese events orBethesda Health Clinic,contact us at:409 W. FergusonTyler, TX 75702903.596.8353www.bethesdaclinic.org

Board of DirectorsBarry JonesPresidentTom Lowery, M.D.Vice-PresidentPatty SteelmanSecretaryRich KnarrTreasurer

Verna HallJerre IversenFritter McNallyJohn MerrillDavid Nichols, D.D.S.Mike RostisRebecca SandersSue SaxenmeyerKristen SeeberH. Don Smith, M.D.Ramsey StarksCharles Stone, D.D.S.Todd TuttJoseph Woelkers

Todd Raabe, M.D.Board Emeritus

Rev. Pat MalloryBoard Emeritus

John English, M.D.CEO / Medical Director

Advisory CouncilKen DanceChair

Maxey Abernathy, M.D.Harold BeairdHon. Leo BermanBen Bridges, M.D.Jerry CaddyTracy CrawfordSam Houston, M.D.John MintonMac MoseleyRon Pinkenburg, M.D.Rev. Paul PowellJohn SoulesWilliam Starling, M.D.Pat Thomas, M.D.

Publication BoardDiane ThomasonManaging Editor

Graphic DesignAutry DesignPhotographyDon BristowFrancie Batten Hodges