The Fruit of the Vineyard Church

CBN.com Located in the heartland of Ohio, Vineyard Church of Columbus reaches out to people of their community in an amazing way.

This church provides medical care for the homeless, the uninsured and the poor of Columbus with “the fruit of the vine ministry.”

Senior pastor, Rich Nathan explains, “As pastor of the Vineyard Church, we have a commitment and a responsibility to reach out to the homeless in our community. There are just so many people that need medical attention… Many times they are college students or single parents who just don’t have the coverage they need. We feel it is what Jesus would do.”

Ministry leader Dan Franz says many people in Columbus depend on this outreach and for them it is their only connection to needed healthcare.

“Last year we saw thousands of people here. Every Wednesday night we open the clinic at 6:30 pm, and we don’t close until the last patient leaves that night. We have a fantastic group of volunteer doctors who serve this ministry without pay. One Friday a month we take appointments for dental and optometry work. We work in conjunction with the Prevent Blindness Ohio organization. So many people come together to help us and others.”

One patient says this clinic is her lifeline for her family’s medical care. “Health insurance is so high. I just can’t get it right now. When my kids are sick, we come here. The doctors are fantastic. They really seem to care for my kids.”

Another patient feels this free medical care is a life saver. “I had no where to go. These people just reached out to me and gave me the medicine I needed. I don’t think I would’ve made it. Honestly, I don’t. These people make me think of Jesus.”

For their fantastic medical outreach to the poor of Columbus, The 700 Club congratulates the Vineyard Church of Columbus for being selected as America’s Church of the Week.