North Carolina Baptist Men Receive New Mobile Medical Dental Unit
10/24/2011
On a rainy, misty Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011, a beautiful new mobile medical dental unit pulled into the parking lot of the Baptist State Convention. The excitement among those anticipating its arrival overshadowed the gloomy weather. Stepping out of the driver’s seat was Karyn Guse of Lifeline Mobile of Columbus, OH. Karyn was warmly greeted by Joanne Honeycutt, Coordinator of the Mobile Medical/Dental Ministry, Richard Brunson, Executive Director of NC Baptist Men, and mobile medical/dental unit drivers.
It was 22 years ago that the first medical/dental bus pulled into the parking lot at 205 Convention Dr.
During this 22 years of service, thousands of needy North Carolinians have received free medical and dental care. Most importantly, these individuals received spiritual care as well.
The decision to purchase a new mobile unit began in 2010 when the 1989 Bluebird Bus began having mechanical, electrical and dental equipment problems. Joanne Honeycutt and the dental bus drivers began researching and visiting other mobile units and organizations that build them.
Lifeline Mobile was chosen to manufacture NCBM’s new mobile unit after consideration of several companies that customize buses, trucks and RV’s into bloodmobiles, emergency vehicles, mobile medical/dental units and bookmobiles. Lifeline is a family owned business in Columbus, Ohio. Richard Brunson and Joanne Honeycutt visited the manufacturing facility in Ohio in May of 2010. This was the company we needed to work with because they are experts at the type of vehicle we needed.
The new Lifeline Mobile unit will replace the 1989 Bluebird bus. The Lifeline unit will be housed at the Baptist State Convention in Cary along with the 2001 Bluebird Bus. The 1989 unit is going to be moved to Truett Baptist Association near Murphy, N.C. It will be set up as a stationary clinic, and used by the Association to serve several of the most western N.C. counties.
The cost of the Lifeline Mobile unit was $400,000. Another $50,000 will be spent on medical/dental equipment and supplies to furnish the unit. The purchase of this unit was made possible by donations from individuals and dentists, grants and donations.
The new Lifeline Mobile Unit will be on display at the Annual Session of the Baptist State Convention at the Koury Center in Greensboro on November 7 and 8.
The ministry of the NC Baptist Men’s Mobile Medical Dental Ministry is supported by the North Carolina Missions Offering.