By Tom Harle

I don’t think any of us were quite sure what to expect when a group of associates and I first felt led to open a dental clinic for the homeless at the Ottawa Mission. Yet, right from the start, there was a definite sense that God was in it.

It began with a simple comment from a patient of mine. I told him about a recent mission trip to North Korea with our registered charity, Health Teams International. When I finished, my patient said, “That’s great, but there is lots of need right here in Ottawa.”

I felt convicted. Surely, if I could travel half way around the world to help the poor, I could travel half way across my own city to do the same. After doing some research I presented a proposal to Diane Morrison, the executive director of the Ottawa Mission, back in 2006. Amazingly, she replied, “Just two months ago we decided to move towards opening a primary health clinic here and wanted to include a dental service. I had no idea how to go about it, but here you are handing us the plan on a platter!”

That day, I was reminded that even those with challenging lives have valuable lessons to teach us about the nature of God.

I think that was the point we both knew God was in this. We never would have imagined what He was going to do with that mustard seed of faith. All we had to do now was step out in faith and obedience to fulfill His vision.

In the past decade, the program has become the largest faith-based, volunteer driven, no-cost dental service for the homeless in North America. We now have more than 120 volunteer dental professionals (dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants). Together, they have established a community of care that transcends social boundaries and reaches a segment of our society that is acutely underserved with dental care. We have become a force for good in the community and a tangible demonstration of what it means to live out the gospel of Christ.

Our dental volunteers have become one more link at the Mission that assists the homeless in breaking the cycle of poverty and helps them move toward living their full potential.

However, the giving has not all been in one direction. The homeless have much to offer us, as well.

One afternoon, I arrived for my volunteer session at the Ottawa Mission dental clinic with little time to spare. I jumped out of my car and quickly popped quarters into the parking meter. Calling out my “hellos” to the homeless men milling about, I rushed into the clinic for an afternoon of pulling teeth and making dentures.

“My time volunteering at the dental clinic introduced me to the presence of Jesus in some of the people we see as most broken.” Photo courtesy of Tom Harle.

Several patients and two hours later, I suddenly realized that I had forgotten to keep feeding the meter. Parking fines can get expensive downtown, so I excused myself and hurried out onto the street, fully expecting to see a few tickets on my windshield. As I got closer, I heard a shout from a homeless man standing by the curb: “Don’t worry doc. We fed the meter for you.”

I was humbled and touched to be on the receiving end from people on the street. That day, I was reminded that even those with challenging lives have valuable lessons to teach us about the nature of God and His message of Grace that each of us needs to hear.

My time volunteering at the dental clinic introduced me to the presence of Jesus in some of the people we see as most broken. It gives me hope that I, too, can reflect the Spirit of Christ in a fallen world.

Dr. Tom Harle graduated first in his class in both his undergraduate degree and dental program. From the start of his career, he has dedicated time to dental mission work among Canadian Aboriginal and impoverished communities, as well as in developing countries.