Steven and Tom Visit Discovery Cove - the all inclusive, family friendly resort in Orlando, Florida

 Discovery Cove is special in every way. Swim with dolphins. Kiss a dolphin. Go for a ride on a dolphin! Swim with stingrays. Snorkel with tropical fish. Feed birds. Take an underwater walk with a breathing helmet. And - unlike other parks - breakfast, lunch, snacks and non alcoholic beverages are all included!

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show - Orlando, FL

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show
Orlando, FL
The Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show is two and a half hours of scripted mystery, improvisation and audience participation where audience members of all ages are invited to “watch for anything suspicious, interrogate the suspects and help solve the crime!”  http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/sleuths-mystery-dinner-show---orlando-florida.html

Arabian Nights - Orlando, Florida

Arabian Nights
Orlando, Florida
A fairy tale production of princes, princesses, genies and eclectic equestrian expertise. If you love horses and fairy-tale stories with princes, princesses and genies battling evil doers, Arabian Nights is the Orlando dinner theater experience for you!  http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/arabian-nights---orlando-florida.html

Titanic Dinner Event - Orlando, Florida

Titanic Dinner Event
Orlando, Florida
On April 15, 1912 the most impressive ship of its era sank in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. The largest luxury liner ever created never completed its maiden voyage. The "unsinkable" Titanic slipped under the water taking over 1500 of her passengers to their tragic deaths. The Titanic tragedy has captivated humanity for over 100 years. If you are intrigued with the Titanic story, Titanic: The  Experience in Orlando, Florida has something perfect for you - the Titanic Dinner Event!  http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/titanic-dinner-event---orlando-florida.html

Pirates Dinner Adventure - Orlando, Florida

Pirates Dinner Adventure
Orlando, Florida
Discover the perfect family, fun adventure where every moment is filled with blasting cannons, swashbuckling swordfights, aerial acrobatics, comedy and romance on a floating pirate ship in the middle of the theater! http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/pirates-dinner-adventure---orlando-florida.html

The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show

The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show
Orlando, Florida
The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show at Wonderworks entertains almost 100,000 people a year with a unique blend of hilarious comedy, impersonations and audience-participation magic featuring the high energy talents Tony Brent. Brent, who earned a degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee, has a stunning resumé including stints at Circus Circus and the 9,000 seat Fantasmic Theater at MGM Studios.  http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/outta-control-magic-comedy---orlando-florida.html

Al Capone’s Dinner and Show

Al Capone’s Dinner and Show
Orlando, Florida
Visit Al Capone’s Dinner and Show and you’ll find yourself instantly transported back to 1930 prohibition era Gangland Chicago where the waiters and waitresses boast “service with an attitude” instead of “service with a smile!”   http://www.gaytravelersmagazine.com/al-capones-dinner--show---kissimmee-florida.html

Church-run clinics help families get needed care By Steven Skelley

Church-run clinics help families get needed care

By Steven Skelley

Published by UM News Service at  http://floridaconferenceconnection.info/newsarchives/detail/2673 

Melissa Whaley has been having grand-mal seizures lately, but with no insurance, she said seeing a doctor was out of the question — until she learned about Shepherd’s Hope Health Center.

Dr. Jeff Thill, who volunteers at a Shepherd's Hope Health Center, examines patient Geannie Figuereo. Photo by Tim Griffis. Photo #08-0731.

“There was nobody in the world to help me, but this place helped me,” she said. “It was my first time here today, and I met the doctor for the first time, and he shook my hand, and he looked at me as a person, not a paycheck.”

Whaley received a free doctor’s visit, free medication and, most importantly, compassionate care.

Shepherd’s Hope Health Center was organized a decade ago by St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando to serve people without access to insurance or medical care. Today, it’s a ministry that includes nine health care centers in the Orlando area run by 2,000 volunteers from 20 churches.

The Rev. Dr. William S. Barnes, senior pastor at St. Luke’s, says the ministry is simply “caring people, caring for other people.”

“We have so many people who are working part-time jobs in the parks (local attractions), in the entertainment community, a lot of persons who are involved in the hospitality industry who don’t have insurance benefits,” he said.

More than 60,000 people have found hope and healing since Barnes felt called to begin the ministry in 1995.

“I was walking on the beach … at Sanibel Island, Fla., minding my own business, and I had an epiphany from God to start a clinic,” he said.

The Rev. Dr. William Barnes says the Shepherd's Hope ministry is simply “caring people, caring for other people.” Photo by Tim Griffis. Photo by #08-0732.

Barnes sent out a call for volunteers, and 200 people showed up to help. Miraculously, he says, “the people, the places and pieces” all fell together. Within six months, the first Shepherd’s Hope Health Center opened its doors.

“When we give ourselves to God’s power and vision, there is no limit to what we can do, to what a difference we can make,” Barnes says.

All positions in the clinics, from the doctors and nurses to the clerical workers, are voluntary. Most doctors volunteer one shift a month.

Nann Carmine is a schoolteacher who volunteers in the pharmacy. “If we can keep the flow going, we can see 30 patients in an evening with two doctors,” she said.

Barnes believes the medical professionals who volunteer their time and talents benefit from their service. It reminds them why they were called to healing in the first place.

That service translates into even bigger benefits for the patients. In 2006 alone Shepherd’s Hope volunteers donated services valued at more than $1.8 million.

Shepherd’s Hope does not offer emergency care, but provides the kind of services patients would receive in a family practice setting. Commonly treated illnesses include upper respiratory infections, skin disorders, gynecological concerns and urinary tract infections. Area hospitals donate laboratory and radiology services.

Patients are eligible if they have incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty level, are uninsured and are not eligible for government-assisted health care programs. Once treated, the patients are assisted in finding a permanent source of medical care, whenever possible.

Shepherd's Hope Health Clinic volunteer Nann Carmine organizes donated medications to be given to the clinic's low-income patients. Photo by Tim Griffis. Photo #08-0733.

Barnes says the clinic ministry is a “natural outgrowth of who we are here at St. Luke’s.” The name Luke comes from a physician in the Bible and the church has always seen itself as a healing ministry for the community, Barnes said.

Patients and their families seem generally “overwhelmed with gratitude,” he added.

”We’re just pleased to hear that there are things like this in existence,” Tonya Scott said. She and her husband, William, brought in their 1-year-old son, Seth, for a checkup.

”I love that there’s people that love us enough to be here for us,” said Whaley, who visited the clinic after hearing about it from friends. “God sent them to us to help us.”

A list of Shepherd’s Hope health centers, with locations and operating hours, is available at http://www.ShepherdsHope.org.

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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.