About Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic

CCMC is a nonprofit Christian ministry that strives to improve the quality of life for people who are under-served and under-resourced in our community. We do so by providing general medical care to the uninsured, dental and vision services to the under-insured, and serving as an advocate for those in need. We collaborate with other organizations to provide seamless coordination of community services for our clients . We focus on three areas of human need: (1) Poverty Disruption; (2) Charitable Healthcare Services; and (3) Advocacy Services. 

 

“I am often reminded that everything matters. From client’s resources or lack of, to their unique obstacles, everything matters. I learned to pay attention to detail during my 42-year medical career, but it applies even more now in how I see people and how I help them.”

Dr. John Wayne Smith, CCMC Founder

OUR HISTORY

We began in 1997 as the Charitable Christian Medical Clinic under the vision of founder, Dr. John Wayne Smith. We briefly called the Garland County Health Department home for our first night clinics where medical services were provided to those who could not otherwise afford it.  We soon relocated to 133 Arbor Street, a medical clinic facility that better suited our needs.  As community needs increased, our medical services expanded to include medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, and case management services.

In 2014, we changed our name to Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic as we recognized that a core issue faced by those who required our assistance is poverty. We expanded our mission to teach those who are in or near poverty to build new resources for a more sustainable future through our Bridges Out of Poverty Initiative.

Our Advocacy Services have evolved over the years to serve as a bridge between those experiencing destabilizing circumstances and community agencies, organizations, services, and resources that they need in order to move forward. 

We continue to provide charitable health care services to those who are uninsured or under-insured and partner with many local physicians, hospitals, and other service providers to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for people in our communities.

Our Founder, Dr. John Wayne Smith

Dr. John Wayne Smith CCMC Founder

Dr. Smith grew up with parents who instilled in him a deep sense of compassion for those in need and a love of learning. In medical school, he enjoyed the challenges of treating very sick kidney patients. His mentors not only trained him medically, but taught him what it means to be a caring physician.

Dr. Smith finished his nephrology training and entered private practice where he became acutely aware of the plight of his patients, most of which were mired in poverty in the midst of their chronic illness. He soon realized that treating their illness was not enough. Most of his patients who had reached the end stage had gotten to that point because they lacked access to care and had no insurance before starting dialysis. That’s what drove him to do something about it.

Dr. Smith assembled a team to start a charitable clinic in January of 1997. His awareness of the severe problems of poverty and poor health, coupled with his conviction that, spiritually, he needed to respond by loving his neighbors in this way is at the very heart of why CCMC exists today.

Our Executive Director, Kim Carter

Kim Carter Executive Director

Kim Carter joined CCMC in 2019 after serving for seven years as the executive director of Camp Tanako, an extension ministry of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. A native of Hot Springs and Lakeside High School graduate, she earned her undergraduate degree in special education from UCA and her master’s degree in early childhood special education, birth to 36 months, from UALR. 

The majority of her adult career has been spent working with children and families. At ASU, she was an early childhood consultant and technical advisor. She also worked with UAMS Partnership for Inclusive Communities as an instructor in the area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. For many years, she served infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities and medical issues, as well as with their families through in-home early intervention services. 

She, her husband, Terry, and their four children, provided foster care to approximately fifty children over a period of thirteen years. Carter has seen, first hand, the impact of generational poverty on families in crisis. 

Our Current Board of Directors

  • Kim Carter – CCMC Executive Director

  • Ed Franklin

  • Dr. Stuart Fleischner – Board Chair

  • Morgan Golden

  • Dorelle Hogan

  • Cora Jones

  • Minnie Lenox

  • Carrie Montgomery

  • Dr. Jack Porter

  • Linda Ragsdale

  • Miriam Ramirez

  • Dr. David Slay

  • Dr. John Wayne Smith – CCMC Founder

  • Jordan Steinhaus

Ways to Become Involved

Become a financial supporter.

Become a volunteer.

Become an advocate for the work we do.

 

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CONTACT US TODAY

133 Arbor Street, Hot Springs, AR, 71901

Call Us: (501) 318-1153