In early 1992, though she was working a full-time day job, Becky Evans, wife of newly appointed Executive Director, Chuck Evans, would return to her home on the Good News campus and notice shelter residents who were clearly in poor health. As a registered nurse, concern and compassion naturally drew her to help them. One evening after work she began treating several men that had wounds and other physical ailments. Those first acts of kindness in the Men’s Shelter were the genesis of what today is the Good News Health Clinic.

“I cared,” Becky said when asked why she stepped forward to help. “There were men coming in that had bloody wounds, diabetes and men with hypertension that didn’t know it.” She had been down this road before, having provided medical care to other homeless people when she and her husband served at shelters in New York City and Detroit.

Becky quit her job in September 1992, choosing instead to spend her days at Good News. With more available hours, she could dedicate that time to caring for the men. At the time there was only one office in the shelter, which served as the work space for all 3 Good News employees, so Becky began utilizing the Chapel pews and dining area to treat the men.

To accommodate the overwhelming health needs of the men, the administration office was literally moved into Chuck and Becky’s home across the alley and half of the Mission office was given to Becky for Clinic operations. The other half was a counseling office. God was blessing this humble medical ministry and our first doctor, Francis Dillon, began volunteering a few hours each week. An off-site optometrist offered to give free eye exams and glasses to our men. Becky and Dr. Dillon often paid out of their own pockets for medications the men needed

By March 1996 the clinic was open 3-5 days a week and reported 146 patient visits among 46 men. The one room clinic needed more space and when a new counseling office was built the medical facility was doubled in size.

God showed us a greater vision one day when a man from the neighborhood came to the Mission and asked if he could be seen in our Clinic. We had never considered providing care to the general public, but we shrugged our shoulders and invited the man in. That opened our eyes to a new evangelistic opportunity. There were hundreds of people in our neighborhood who didn’t need us because of homelessness, but we could get the Gospel to them through our Clinic because of their health needs!

In the fall of 1997 Good News announced a capital campaign to raise $200,000 during a kickoff ceremony attended by Margaret Goldsmith, wife of then-Mayor Stephen Goldsmith. The following summer, land across the alley from the current Youth Center playground was purchased as a clinic site through a local block grant and $13,000 raised from the Good News annual golf tournament. Site preparation took place the second half of 1999.

More than a year of construction later, in May 2001, the Good News Health Clinic opened, increasing the clinic’s size from 360 square feet and two rooms to more than 2,000 square feet and six examination rooms. Services were formally opened to uninsured individuals and families in and around our community as well as the men staying in our shelter. Becky continued to serve as staff nurse until 2004, when she handed the day-to-day operations over to a small, full-time staff and volunteer doctors and nurses.

Today, the Good News Health Clinic receives nearly 250 patient visits per month. Patients are screened and treated for high blood pressure, diabetes, muscular and foot problems, cancer, vision and other issues. An in-house pharmacy supplies patients with medication and in-house optometry services provide exams and eyeglasses, all at no charge. Patients can even consult with doctors and nurses online through our Telehealth program. Staff and volunteers have ample opportunities to pray with patients and share the Gospel and God’s Word.

Although she was the catalyst for what is now a full-service health clinic, Becky said all credit belongs to the Lord. “Look what God has done,” she said. Indeed, He has.