Galatians 6:2 tells us as Christians that if we bear one another’s burdens, we will fulfill the laws of Christ. It’s a motto that Dr. Lee and Lori Wilbur, cofounders of healthcare for vulnerable patients in Divine Mercy Health Center, have spent years living out as true examples of Catholic social teaching.
The Wilburs, originally from Kansas, met in high school. They both grew up Catholic and with a love for serving others. When they graduated from high school, Lori knew she wanted to go into the medical field, and Lee knew he just wanted to be with Lori. Lee followed Lori to Kansas State University, where Lori was attending physical therapy school.
“I thought I was going to be a trauma surgeon, and I saw the light. I figured I could be a better advocate for patients if I chose emergency medicine,” Lee said.
So he began training at the trauma center in Denver. There he discovered a passion for teaching and developing programs in healthcare for vulnerable patients. Lee’s work took the Wilbur family from Colorado to Indiana, and from Indiana to Arkansas in 2016. The Wilburs and their children now live in Little Rock.
The Divine Mercy
Eventually, the more Lee and Lori worked in their respective fields, the more they saw firsthand just how badly so many patients needed help beyond their checkups and appointments.
“We really felt like this is what God is asking us to do in our lives and careers,” Lori said. “serving those most in need. We saw the flaws in the system, and that a lot of people were largely forgotten about. The more we followed our Catholic faith, the more we realized that we should do something about that.”
Guided by Catholic social teaching, the two pondered what to call their new organization. While in Mass, Lee and Lori glanced down to find a prayer card in their pew. It was an image of Jesus appearing to St. Faustina Kowalska with the caption, “Jesus, I trust in you.”
This image, known as “The Divine Mercy,” depicted Jesus, with two rays of light, one light and one red, shining from His Heart. The rays symbolized His infinite mercy, which He continuously pours out to heal the world of sin.
The Wilburs desired for their clinic to be an extension of that mercy to every person who came to them so that they could learn to trust in Jesus, the Divine Physician, who can not only heal their body, but also their soul.
A Model Built on People Over Profit
In 2018, Lee and Lori incorporated Divine Mercy Health Center (DMHC) as a nonprofit and explored how to best make an impact. The two wanted DMHC to be built around people, not profit — to show the love of Christ to every downtrodden soul who walked in the door.
“Our initial thought was all the services those vulnerable people require would be under one roof. The current system is so fragmented that people get lost in it,” Lee said. “DMHC was created to help the vulnerable overcome the barriers that are preventing them from achieving their best health. These barriers can include poverty, poor access to quality care, insufficient housing, and hunger. By addressing the root causes of poor health, the DMHC model can achieve more successful outcomes for those in need compared to the traditional healthcare system.”
Living out the Call to Discipleship
After launching, the Wilburs had big plans for a brick-and-mortar clinic, where they would begin their ministry. But as He often does, God had other plans. Just months before the Wilburs were preparing to take the next big step, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and restrictions and limitations shortly followed. The Wilburs were devastated. They felt that God had touched their hearts to open a clinic. Why were things falling apart now?
The Wilburs turned to Eucharistic Adoration for strength and encouragement. It was there, in the chapel at Christ the King, that the Holy Spirit moved. Lee decided to open his Bible to a random page and begin reading until he felt God calling him on what to do next.
As Lee read his Bible, he came across a passage about being disciples first.
Matthew 4:18-22 recounts how Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John — fishermen — to trust in Him.
“Follow me,” Jesus said. “And I will make you fishers of men.”
Lee continued reading Matthew. He came across Matthew 9:9-13, recounting Jesus’ introduction to Matthew, the tax collector, and once again issuing the call.
“Follow me.”
The disciples weren’t staying in one place and waiting for people to come to them. The disciples were traveling all over the world to preach, teach, and heal in the name of Jesus Christ.
“I realized that we had a unique opportunity, which ended up being a true blessing for us,” Lee said. “If people couldn’t come to us, we would go to them.”
On Mission
Steadily, the Wilburs began building their volunteer network — Christians from all over Central Arkansas came together to help. They offered their houses of worship, skills, time, and talents to help serve others. The Wilburs shared their story and the core of their mission with everyone they met. Leaders of many different faith backgrounds were impressed by the Wilburs’ selfless, people-first approach, and wanted to be part of that mission too.
“We took our model to the people and decided to do outreach into the most needy areas of the city. And so we looked at the various zip codes around the Little Rock area and found those that had the greatest healthcare needs. That’s where we decided to start our missions,” Lee said.
Lee and Lori’s model consisted of a once-a-month free medical mission, each at a different house of worship somewhere in Pulaski County. They quickly built up an impressive Rolodex of health professionals who were willing to provide free services for the four-hour-long free monthly medical missions. The first mission was a success, and the missions have continued nearly monthly since 2021. DMHC recently hosted its 30th medical mission.
An Answered Prayer
Unexpectedly, the Wilburs were contacted by the pastor of Mosaic Church in Little Rock. Mosaic Church has a nonprofit called Vine and Village. There they serve the community and the local unsheltered population. Mosaic Church had been searching for a medical care non-profit to provide care to the community in need. A friend recommended he speak to the Wilburs.
Suddenly, things began to fall into place — planning meetings went smoothly, and architects and contractors began to work over the next few months to prepare the space.
The Wilburs chose the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe as the day to open their doors.
As a powerful sign of God’s care for the poor and marginalized, Mary appeared to indigenous peasant Juan Diego in Mexico on December 12, 1531. Identified here as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary served as a unifying figure, a source of comfort, and a protector of those in need. Opening the health center on her feast day signaled a commitment to serve the community with compassion, especially the vulnerable, a pillar of Catholic social teaching. It reflects the center’s mission to provide holistic care that honors the spiritual as well as physical well-being of its patients.
On December 12, 2024, Divine Mercy Health Center opened its first brick-and-mortar clinic at 6221 Colonel Glenn Road, Suite B, in Little Rock.
Affordable and High-Quality Care
“We wanted to create an innovative clinic design with flexible payment models so all could receive high-quality care,” Lee said. “No person in need of care is ever turned away.”
- Patients with insurance can receive a primary care visit, blood tests, a mental health evaluation and care coordination for the cost of their co-pay.
- Patients without insurance can receive the same services, except the mental health evaluation, for $75. Patients can also arrange a mental health evaluation appointment for $75.
- A patient membership is available for $30 per month, or $300 per year, where the patient can receive six primary care visits a year, four sets of blood tests a year, a mental health evaluation and a care coordination plan.
- People can also sponsor patients by buying memberships anonymously.
Holistic Approach to Healthcare
The Wilburs have had the opportunity to meet and help people from various walks of life. One of them was Mr. Askew.
Mr. Askew was an older gentleman who worked at a gas station near the clinic, sleeping in the storeroom when the manager allowed him. When he arrived at DMHC over the summer, he was exhausted, dehydrated, and had several medical complaints. The DMHC team provided him care, helped him get referrals and appointments with cardiac specialists, and even helped him begin receiving Medicaid benefits. After their assistance, he no longer needed a patient sponsorship provided by generous donors to the clinic.
Over the following months, social workers and specialists at DMHC helped Mr. Askew arrange and receive transportation, medical equipment, and housing.
Mr. Askew stopped by the clinic in late August to receive help filling out forms for follow-up care. He said he felt much better and was very grateful for the help and services of DMHC.
“I sat with him as he wrote his appointment reminders in his Bible,” Lori said. “When digging through his bag, he found his DMHC sponsorship packet. I offered to throw it away…but he wanted to keep it!”
Christ, the Divine Physician
The Wilburs have a holistic approach to healthcare, providing mental, physical, and spiritual support. In the lobby of the clinic is a prayer station where patients can submit their prayer intentions. The Wilburs or a DMHC volunteer bring the prayer petition box with them to religious services to pray over all patient intentions.
For the Wilburs, it’s not about getting rich. It’s about living out their faith values and being the hands and feet of Christ.
“As a team, we know DMHC is more than just a job — it is a purpose,” Lori said. “So we try to begin each morning as a staff, in prayer. We thank God for His blessings that allow us the opportunity to serve others. We pray to be His hands and feet, showing mercy and compassion to a world in need. That is what we are called to do — share our blessings, our gifts with others to lighten their burden.”
The Wilburs and the staff of DMHC have the ultimate mentor in their work — the Divine Physician.
“Christ, as the Divine Physician, calls us to heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give drink to the thirsty,” Lee said. “The Catholic Church inspires us to live our faith in action. DMHC provides an opportunity for the community to follow Galatians 6:2 — by carrying each other’s burdens, we all fulfill the law of Christ.”