The word soon spread throughout Torreon, Mexico, "A back doctor is coming!" Yes, coming all the way from Bryan, Texas by request from the field missionary in the city of Torreon, Mexico. Dr. Ed Stephenson with his wife, Henrietta, rose to answer this call through their home church to help the missionary in Torreon.
Upon arriving in the city of Torreon, the Stephensons set up domestic living in the local church facilities and were assigned two rooms (10 x 10 each) to function as the chiropractic clinic. For the majority of the people in Mexico, their day begins at 9 a.m. with a siesta from noon until 3 p.m. after which the day's business continues into the late afternoon or early evening.
Our first day, Monday, we treated 86 people. The missionary's wife could not believe her eyes! We had crowds of people waiting at noon and during the evening hours. When the church construction crew arrived to work they had to thread their way through the thick crowd in order to get to their work site.
The following morning, Tuesday, people showed up an hour early to wait in line for care. We finished that evening at 7:45 p.m. having treated 174 patients. While serving with missionaries in Brazil for 3 months we treated up to 200 patients per day. These are long and intense days.
On Wednesday morning people began lining up at 7:45 a.m.A young male medical student came every day only to observe. He was obviously
very intrigued as he stood next to me and watched my every move. It
seemed incredible to him what he was seeing. On this Wednesday he was amazed beyond belief. We saw legs with weeping ulcers the size of
silver dollars. The next day these same lesions were the size of a pencil eraser and scabbed over. A woman who had been struck by a car five years ago came to see us in a wheelchair. When she returned the next day she was walking! We witnessed inflamed infections disappear, even tumors diminish. There is no question in my mind what occurred and why. Some reading this account will have to address their own doubts. I really had little or nothing to do with the healing that took place. I was merely an instrument God deftly used to accomplish His good pleasure.
As our construction crew finished their work on Wednesday, we closed the clinic early at 5:30 p.m. in order to attend dedication services of the new church building. People were still knocking on the door after 6 p.m. We saw 225 patients that day.
To be certain, our supreme concern is the spiritual welfare and eternal destinies of these noble, gentle people.
Each patient was given a copy of the Book of Romans in their language.
Working with the church's pastor and lay people, each patient was lovingly and clearly guided through the Book of Romans wherein he was
shown and explained God's loving and dynamic plan of salvation for their lives. Ninety-eight patients responded postively and received Jesus Christ as savior and Lord. This is the purpose for our clinic as it comes full cycle. Healed bodies, changed lives! I saw a 225 lb. man cry with joy and relief as he saw this amazing truth unfold before him in the Book of Romans. He said no one had ever taken the time to tell him about this.
I was able to adjust 485 patients that week. I also treated many cracked and hardened feet.
The Mexican people begged us to return and the mother church promised to pray to that end.
Our next field of like service awaits us in Brazil.
Dr. Ed Stephenson is a member of the Christian Chiropractors Association and has practiced in Bryan, Texas for 34 years. Now semi-retired, he is free to be involved in the short-term mission program of the CCA.
Bruce Kniegge, D.C.
Missions Director
Christian Chiropractic Association
Enquiries concerning the Christian Chiropractors Association may be
directed to:
Christian Chiropractors Association
3200 South Lemay
Fort Collins, CO 80525-3605
1-800-999-1970
Affiliates:
Christian Chiropractors of Canada
3292 Bayview Ave., Suite 301
Willowdale, Ontario M2M 4J5
CANADA
(416) 226-3102
Australian Christian Chiropractors Association
122 Derrimut Road Hoopers Crossing
Melbourne, Victoria 3030
AUSTRALIA VIC
(03) 748-6666
British Christian Chiropractors Association
32 Doodstone Avenue
Lestock hall
Preston, Lancashire
ENGLAND U.K.
772-628-082
