Before sunrise on May 31, dozens of people were already waiting outside The Ark Church in Lewiston. Some needed relief from chronic dental pain. Others hoped to receive an eye exam, a pair of prescription glasses, or a medical consultation they otherwise could not afford.
By the end of the day, more than 100 patients received free healthcare through the AMEN Free Clinic, a volunteer-driven initiative organized by the Adventist Medical Evangelism Network (AMEN) in partnership with The Ark Church.
For Nicole Braxton, Director of AMEN Free Clinics, the event represented far more than a one-day healthcare outreach.
“The clinic has been going phenomenally well,” Braxton told Amjambo Africa. “As we are here serving amazing patients in Lewiston, it has been a blessing to serve at The Ark Church. They’re sponsoring and leading this initiative where we’re giving out free dental, medical, and vision care.”
Patients received a wide range of services, including dental cleanings, fillings and extractions, eye exams and prescription glasses, physical exams, blood pressure screenings, diabetes testing, and lifestyle education.
“We’ve seen over 100 patients today for free healthcare,” Braxton said. “Not only that, we’ve had patients coming for wraparound services such as lifestyle education and massage. Some patients were getting their A1C checked while others were receiving fillings, extractions, and cleanings. It’s been a huge blessing to see the impact.”
The clinic was open to everyone, regardless of insurance coverage, income, employment status, identification, or immigration status.
A mission rooted in service
Braxton explained that AMEN’s work is guided by a commitment to meeting immediate community needs.
“AMEN Free Clinics stems from Adventist Medical Evangelism Network,” she said. “Essentially, we love meeting the immediate needs in the community through free health care. Our mission is to serve the community and meet those needs just like Christ did.”
The organization views health through a holistic lens. “We’re inspired by faith,” Braxton said. “It is a Christian organization that is interested in holistic health — mental, physical, and spiritual health.”
The Lewiston clinic was organized after leaders at The Ark Church approached AMEN with a desire to bring free healthcare services to the community.
“The Ark Church requested a clinic in the area because they wanted to make an impact and change lives,” Braxton said. “Especially with rising healthcare costs and barriers to care, the goal was to meet immediate needs — mental, physical, and spiritual.”
Dental and vision needs remain greatest
While patients sought a variety of services, Braxton said two needs consistently stand out.
“The top services are dental and vision,” she said. “At some of our clinics, about 80% of patients do not have an optometrist. Likewise, around 79% do not have their own dentist.”
Those statistics reflect a growing challenge for many families struggling to access preventive healthcare. “It’s a really huge need,” Braxton said. “That’s why we’re so committed to providing those services.”
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The clinic welcomes patients of all ages, although vision services generally begin at age six.
“We try to meet all different age groups,” Braxton explained. “Outside of vision requirements, it depends on the patient’s needs and the provider’s assessment.”
Photo | Ernest Ndayisaba
Powered by volunteers
Organizing a clinic capable of serving hundreds of people in a single day requires extensive preparation.
Braxton credited the success of the event to both dedicated volunteers and careful planning. “With such high demand, we lean heavily on our systems and structure,” she said. “We have so many awesome volunteers and providers who have dedicated their time and are donating it specifically to give back and change lives in the community.”
AMEN also conducts training sessions before each clinic to ensure volunteers are prepared. “We do training leading up to the clinic,” Braxton said. “And most importantly, glory to God, because he helped us put this all together.”
The clinic itself was funded by The Ark Church, while AMEN provided equipment, supplies, training, and organizational support.
“We organize the clinics, bring our equipment and supplies, train volunteers, and work in tandem with the local church,” Braxton said. “The local church leads alongside us in partnership.”
Among those volunteers was Thabée Niyirora, a member of the Lewiston Seventh-day Adventist Church, who spent the day helping welcome and assist patients.
“It was the first time we organized a clinic of this size in Lewiston,” Niyirora told Amjambo Africa. “We were overwhelmed by the response. We received more people than we had planned for.”
Despite the challenges of serving such a large crowd, she described the event as a success and said the need for accessible healthcare in the community was evident throughout the day.
Niyirora also thanked Amjambo Africa for helping publicize the event before it took place. “Many people came because they had heard about the clinic in advance,” she said. “We are grateful to Amjambo Africa for helping share the information with the community.”
More than 400 patients served in Maine
The Lewiston event followed a successful AMEN clinic in Topsham earlier this year.
According to Braxton, the organization had already served more than 300 patients in Maine before arriving in Lewiston. “With today’s clinic, we’ve served more than 400 patients this year alone,” she said.
The organization’s work in Maine is continuing. Braxton announced that AMEN is preparing another clinic in partnership with Caring Hands of Maine in Houlton.
“We are open to clinic requests,” she said. “If churches reach out to us, we love to meet with them and see what’s possible. Our goal is to continue care across Maine, throughout the United States and beyond.”
A call for more healthcare volunteers
Despite the success of the Lewiston clinic, Braxton said the need continues to exceed available resources.
“We had an excessive number of patients starting at 6 a.m.,” she said. “The need is so great.”
She hopes more healthcare professionals will consider volunteering. “We would love to have more providers helping us meet those immediate needs,” Braxton said. “If anyone is listening and you’re a doctor, dentist, hygienist, or optometrist interested in changing lives, we would love to serve with you so we can expand our services.”
Caring for the whole person
The Adventist Church has long emphasized the connection between physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Pastor Samuel Nzoikorera, who oversees Adventist congregations in Lewiston, Augusta, and Farmingdale, said that message is especially important for immigrant communities.
“It is good to work hard and provide for your family,” Nzoikorera said. “But people must not work to the point of burnout. Your family needs you.”
He encouraged community members to pay attention not only to financial success but also to their overall health. “People must learn how to stay fit mentally, physically, and spiritually,” he said. “A person must be cared for holistically.”
Giving glory where it belongs
At the end of a long day serving hundreds of patients, Braxton was asked whether she ever sees herself as a hero.
She smiled before gently rejecting the title. “I give all the glory to God,” she said. “I couldn’t do this without him. He is the one who inspires, encourages, and opens doors.”
She was equally quick to recognize the people working behind the scenes.
“I don’t do this alone,” Braxton said. “We have an amazing team at AMEN — dentists, administrative assistants, registration leaders, dental assistants, and many others. There is an entire team supporting these efforts.”
As patients left The Ark Church carrying new eyeglasses, improved smiles, and a renewed sense of hope, the impact of the clinic was impossible to miss.
For many, it was a day of healthcare. For others, it was a reminder that compassion and service remain powerful tools for building healthier communities.
