Our Story of Hope

Shepherd’s Hope is faith-based organization of volunteers
providing access to health care for the uninsured.

Shepherd’s Hope had a very spiritual beginning. It started in the summer of 1996, along a beach in Sanibel Island, Florida where the Pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Dr. Williams S. Barnes, was vacationing. While walking alone on the beach, thinking and meditating as he often does on vacation, Reverend Barnes became aware that God was calling, directing him to do something for individuals and families who need medical care and have nowhere to turn. Reverend Barnes knew and trusted that when the time was right, God would lead the way. He brought back the message, first to some key members of his congregation, and then to the church as a whole. Miraculously, the people, the places and pieces all came together, so that in six months, the first Shepherd’s Hope Health Center, staffed completely by volunteers, opened its doors.

As word got around about this new, volunteer health care center, the response was overwhelming. Families were driving long distances to be seen for free by the doctors, nurses and other volunteers who were donating their time to serve uninsured, low income families in need of medical care. Other faith congregations in the area saw what was happening, knew of the need and they also responded. Today, Shepherds’ Hope operates eight medical clinics and a chronic care program.

Shepherd's Hope relies on strong partnerships within the local community to ensure its services reach those most in need. Each Shepherd's Hope Health Center is the result of a partnership between a faith community, school or facility partner, and hospital. The faith community or church is the primary resource for volunteer doctors, nurses and other lay volunteers who through their faith commitment regularly staff a health center, which is typically open several evenings each week. A local school, church or community agency houses the health center by donating clinic space in existing facilities that are available during the evening hours. Area hospitals accept referrals without compensation for routine laboratory and radiology services. In many cases, county health agencies provide follow-up and specialty services for patients who need more advanced care, such as neurological or orthopedic consultation and even surgery.

Patients who are eligible for services through Shepherd's Hope have income at or below 200% of the poverty level, are uninsured and not eligible for government assisted health care programs. For example, a family of four with a monthly income of approximately $3,500 per month would meet the income test. Utilizing these criteria, Shepherd's Hope has provided over 75,000 free medical visits in the past eleven years. While health care access for the uninsured is a much discussed national priority for many Americans, Shepherd's Hope is offering a faith-based model that can be replicated in local communities across the United States that brings hope and healing to many in need.

People often ask us how we got our name. We are called "Shepherd’s Hope" because Jesus was the “Good Shepherd” and His hope was that we would take care of one another.