The Presbytery of St. Augustine
Florida
Dr. Jim Gaff provides the only dental care these people will probably ever see.
Since 1978, the Presbytery of St. Augustine has been engaged with the nearby island of Jamaica in a mutual mission. For many years this ministry has included a youth exchange in which the youth spend a week in both countries engaging in ministry and cultural activities.
A significant ministry focused on medicine has developed over the past fifteen years. Each summer, Dr. Jim Gaff, a dentist from Jacksonville, takes a volunteer medical team to Jamaica consisting of medical doctors, pharmacists, optometrists, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, dental technicians, and a pastor.
Each morning the team travels in two buses to villages whose residents rarely receive any medical help or medications. During the week about 1,200 patients are seen and treated in very difficult conditions. There are no waiting rooms, air conditioning, or old magazines to read, let alone chairs. Often there are just long lines of ill and indigent people.
Each January Dr. Jim leads a separate dental trip with a team of dentists and dental technicians that provides as many as 120 dentures during their week of mission. Dr. Jim, who has received a Humanitarian Award from the Florida Dental Health Association for his work in Jamaica, has dreams of securing a fully equipped dental clinic bus that will stay in Jamaica.
The Presbytery of St. Augustine has 18,855 members in 64 congregations.
Presbytery Staff
The Rev. Dr. Paul Hooker, executive presbyter/stated clerk
The Rev. Alisun Donovan, associate executive
Allyson Criminger Apunte, office administrator
Nancy Brown, financial secretary
Shelby Miller, resource center director Montgomery Presbyterian Conference Center
P. J. Brobston, executive director
Cal Findeiss, program director
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Rebecca Snipp, GAMC
Elder Beth Snyder, GAMC
Carol Somplatsky-Jarman, GAMC
Almighty and loving God, you have instructed us to treat others as we would want to be treated. Look with compassion upon those who are without medical care. Relieve their suffering. Give us your blessing as we reach out to brothers and sisters in great need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Ps. 135, 145 Ps. 97, 112
Neh. 9:1–15 (16–25) or Neh. 2:1–20
Rev. 18:1–8; Matt. 15:1–20
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