Free Dental Clinics are one of the most practical reaches of Kentucky Mountain Mission. Twice a year, the gymnasium at Youth Haven Bible Camp is transformed as dentists, dental assistants, and hygienists from all over come together to share the love of Jesus in a powerful way. Services include examinations, cleanings, fillings, and extractions. Every patient that comes through the door meets with a trained counselor and is presented with the gospel message. New Testaments and other materials are given to the patients who get a visible illustration of Christianity in action. A number of people have accepted Christ as their Savior at these clinics, and our community has been greatly touched. Please pray for this ministry. 

A Story of God’s Blessing and Grace

by Dave Maddy, DMD

I have been praying for God to help me view others as children of God without prejudice, judgment, or condemnation, and to find more opportunities to serve Jesus by serving others with unconditional love.

In April 2026, I had the opportunity to spend a day at Kentucky Mountain Mission (KMM) participating in a dental clinic. The clinic, organized by KMM and hosted at Youth Haven Bible Camp in Beattyville, Kentucky, is one of two free clinics they provide each year.

On Friday, two out-of-state dentists were serving under charitable dental licenses. In order for them to provide care, a dentist with a Kentucky license needed to be present. Although I no longer practice clinical dentistry, I still maintain my Kentucky license, so I volunteered to help.

That day, we provided care for inmates from a local jail—three women and nine men. This facility serves as a holding center for individuals awaiting trial. As I listened to some of their stories, I was both astonished and reminded that each one reflects the brokenness of our fallen world.

Over the past 30 years, dentistry has given me many opportunities to witness life’s hardships, especially through mission work around the globe. Yet serving these individuals—so close to home—touched my heart in a way I did not expect.

It felt like a tangible expression of what Jesus teaches in the parable of the sheep and the goats: that when we care for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, or the imprisoned, we are serving Him (Matthew 25:31–46).

I was pleased that we spent the day providing dental care to prisoners. Scripture calls us to care for the imprisoned—not only as a metaphor, but also for those who are literally behind bars.

Even though these men and women may have done serious crimes, I am striving to look at humanity as though every person is a child of God. That is hard to do, but it has been the focus of my prayer for the last year.

The reality is that this facility has no dentist. Many of those incarcerated have serious dental problems, yet they have no means of seeking care. Because of where they are, they do not have a choice of where to go, and most lack the financial resources to access treatment.

I was blessed to be part of an outreach to those who are vulnerable, without judgment or condemnation for any action they may have had in their previous life—a powerful reminder that God calls us to love others not based on their past, but on His love for them.