Name: David George Ike
Hometown: Athens, Georgia
# of years volunteering at St. Luke's:
I have volunteered since the inception.
Position at SLFMC: I am a Cardiologist who sees referred patients in my office.
How did you learn about St. Luke's?:
I remember well the leadership of the Church of the Advent, First Presbyterian Church, Mount Moriah, and others as they recognized the gap in healthcare for the working poor in Spartanburg. There were physician leaders within the County Medical Society who recruited physicians. I remember Lucien Brailsford and George Bass as physician leaders. I also remember Gloria Close being a strong and joyful leader from the community. Mount Moriah graciously donated space on their campus. Numerous volunteers from the medical, pharmacy, nursing, the Faith community and the community at large gathered together and made a dream come true. We always had folks bringing food for the volunteers. The providers, patients, and volunteers were falling all over one another in the original facility. A dream has been realized in our beautiful clinic thanks to the support of so many.
How has volunteer work had an impact on your life? In the early days, I worked at the clinic and I really enjoyed the team spirit. As I serve on the Board presently, I once again have the sense of being on a team of very loving and caring teammates. In Hebrews, we are encouraged " to love each other as brothers." We are also asked to " not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." As I grow older and deeper in my faith, I realize that many angels have crossed my path and made my life so much fuller and rewarding. St. Lukes Clinic is full of angels some of whom are patients and many are volunteers. In Ephesians, Paul urges us " to live a life worthy of the calling." He also encourages us " to be humble and gentle: be patient, bearing with one another in love." St. Luke's is a special opportunity for me to " entertain strangers and love one another as brothers." It also allows me to get closer to being able to " live a life worthy of 'my' calling." *New International Version of the Life Application Bible
Why is St. luke's an important part of the community? or why is St. Luke's important to you? St. Luke's is a vital part of our community. Unfortunately, Spartanburg has a very large number of working poor who do not have health insurance. The number of uninsured is rising. As a Board, we are working in coordination with other agencies to improve the number of people we serve while striving to improve the quality of our care.
What advice would you give to those considering volunteering their time or donation a gift to the clinic? If you have been considering where you might serve the undeserved in Spartanburg, I can promise you that you will find St. Luke's Clinic a loving, caring and joyful place to serve. Some days of service will be more joyful than others. Each day will be an opportunity to make a real difference in your neighbor's life.