Finding Eternity in a Medical Clinic
Good morning! My name is Allyson Cook. I have been married to Chris for 23 years & we have two kids in college (Cally & Collin) & 1 in high school (Ella). We have been at CityBridge for eight years serving in various ministries. I am excited to tell you how God has transformed my life through medicine and, specifically, our CityBridge Urgent Care clinic.
I was blessed to be raised in a very loving, supportive, and stable home. My family attended church every Sunday and were heavily involved there. Despite our considerable church involvement, I don't remember hearing the gospel preached, or the Bible taught. I had heard that Jesus died on the cross, but I didn't understand why this was significant or how it impacted me personally. I always believed in God, but I didn't know Him or His Word. This left me vulnerable to the world's and the enemy's lies, and I succumbed to sexual sin and had an abortion as a teenager.
After college graduation, I moved back to north Dallas and began working as a nurse before eventually becoming a pharmaceutical rep for a drug company. Though I had a great job, strong family support, and close friends surrounding me, I felt a void deep inside my heart. You see, I was searching for life & satisfaction in all the ways and in all the places the world said it was found. This inner turmoil eventually drove me to cry out to God in prayer - and, for the first time in my life, I began asking God the big questions of life, such as, "Who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life?"
On a typical day as a pharmaceutical rep, I would enter the doctor's office, briefly introduce myself, and leave samples of my medications. Understandably, time with the doctor was merely seconds, as they were busy seeing patients and didn't have time to listen to every sales rep telling them all the reasons why their drug was better than their competitor's.
One day, however, was different. I entered Dr. Emmanuel Desai's office in Lewisville, TX in April of 1997. His waiting room was packed with patients awaiting their appointments, so I knew my introduction would be brief, if it happened at all. Little did I know that I had an appointment that day - a divine appointment.
Even amidst his busy day, Dr. Desai made time to engage with me and started by saying: May I ask you a question?" I said, "Of course!" - I was thrilled at the opportunity to answer a question about one of my products. Instead, he kindly said to me, "Allyson, from 0 to 100 percent, how sure are you…that if you were to die tonight, you would go to heaven?" I thought for a second and answered, "about 80%," to which he asked an additional question, "If God were to ask you….Allyson, why should I let you into heaven? What would you say? I said - "Well, because I have gone to church most of my life, and I've really tried to be a good person." He thanked me for sharing, then asked would you like to know how you can be 100 percent sure you will go to heaven?" I said yes! He began drawing on a blank sheet of paper - I'd later learn this was the bridge illustration of the gospel. Now, I don't remember all that he said, but when he drew the cross, bridging the gap between myself and God - the Holy Spirit opened my eyes & I understood the good news of the gospel for the first time in my life. I understood Romans 6:23, which says,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I trusted in Jesus Christ as my Lord & Savior that day. I had walked into Dr. Desai's office, alienated from God & estranged from Him because of my sin. Now, I walked out not only reconciled to God but adopted as His daughter because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf.
Years later, sitting in Sunday service here in 2018, as slides were scrolling on the screens, one slide grabbed my attention week after week. It was the slide for our church's medical clinic - now called CityBridge Urgent Care. Each time I saw it, I felt a prompting in my heart. But I would quickly dismiss it, reminding myself you're no longer a nurse, you let your license expire long ago plus, you've been home with the kids for nearly 20 years. What can you contribute there?
God's promptings didn't stop, however, so I realized that my next faithful step was to visit the clinic. So, I attended a "Come & See" in early 2019 and was "all in" when I heard the clinic's mission… to meet the physical healthcare needs of people in the community but also to engage their souls with the love and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God is doing so much at the clinic - I wish I had time to tell you stories. I want to share one thing I've seen happen repeatedly. I often notice that when people walk through our doors, they appear downcast and burdened. However, when leaving, these same individuals often seem joyful, sometimes hugging the volunteers on the way out after having spent time with our staff & volunteers who have cared for their physical needs with excellence but, who have also taken the time to listen to their burdens, shared the gospel, and prayed with them.
Four years have passed since I began serving as a front desk volunteer. Much to my surprise, I was invited to come on staff this past December. A guiding verse for me in this decision was 2 Corinthians 5:15, which says,
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
As I stepped out in faith and accepted the job, God amazed me once more by restoring my nursing license in February.
God is so good. He has brought my story full circle - from once receiving the gospel in a medical clinic to now getting to share the gospel in a medical clinic. Thank you!
