Borderland doctor deals with physical, spiritual ailments

MATAMOROS, Mexico—With a stethoscope draped around his neck, an otoscope in his hand and a prescription pad on the table next to him, tools for ministry surround Dr. Guillermo Lozano.

Nearly every Saturday morning, Lozano and his team of volunteers serve with Texas Baptist River Ministry at clinics in multiple locations in Mexico, listening to people's ailments, diagnosing their problems, providing free medical care and introducing them to the gospel.

"I accepted Jesus Christ about 15 years ago," Lozano said. "Being a doctor, they asked me to help with mobile medical clinics (along the Rio Grande). That has motivated me to continue to serve the Lord through this ministry of health. That way I can be in contact with people and be able to share the love of Christ."

Lozano believes it is important to take a holistic approach in treating people. People have physical and spiritual dimensions, he insists. They can be healthy physically but still be troubled by something spiritually or emotionally. Individuals may be spiritually healthy but struggle physically. It's important to diagnose and treat both kinds of issues.

"The need is constant," he said. "It might be that we can never alleviate completely. But when we're able to share with somebody to meet their physical need, they're more likely to open up so we can share with them for their spiritual need."

Lozano and his team served about 12,000 people last year, helping with a variety of issues. He prayed with many of them. All of them heard the gospel, and about 1,200 people embraced a relationship with Christ as a result.

That means about 10 percent of the people who come to Lozano's clinics make spiritual decisions for Christ—the highest rate of any ministry supported by Texas Baptists' River Ministry through the worldwide portion of the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program and Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

Daniel Rangel, director of River Ministry, said the secret to Lozano's success is his desire to share the hope of Christ by meeting physical and spiritual needs. While people are waiting to see Lozano, another volunteer shares a devotional with the crowd. Each person receives a gospel tract. Patients are offered sandwiches and can pick up clothes.

Lozano takes his time with each patient, investing in the life of each person he serves. His ministry exemplifies the life of Christ in every facet, Rangel said.

"It's helping the local churches grow because the local churches are able to follow up," Rangel said. "Also, in some areas, it's helped start some churches. This is one of the main areas he comes to because the need is so great."