Elizabeth Camps/AdventHealth
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus illustrated the power of compassion in action. In Apopka, Fla., that story is being lived out in a very practical way.
Five years ago, the Apopka Spanish Church launched a clinic with the vision to serve uninsured and underserved people in the community. What began as a small ministry has grown into a significant outreach.
A few months into the ministry, the church pastor and the clinic director connected with Vicmael Arroyo, director of Faith Strategy & External Collaboration for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division. Through Arroyo, the church established a working relationship with the American Muslim Community Clinics, a nonprofit organization that provides free medical services in collaboration with AdventHealth hospitals.
Today, the Apopka Spanish Community Health Center functions as an Advent- Health Community Resource Spot, offering free services such as adult primary care, disease screening and prevention, and chronic condition management. The clinic also provides mental health counseling, chaplaincy support, prayer, and health education.
This educational outreach includes seminars on mental health, nutrition, and general wellness, led by professionals such as physicians, psychologists, nutritionists, and other health specialists.
Through its network, the Apopka clinic connects patients to additional medical services, including diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and prescription medications. All services are provided free of charge to people without access to health insurance. The clinic operates entirely through the effort and dedication of volunteers.
Johanny Gonzalez, the church’s Health and Temperance director, has served as the clinic’s director since its inception. Currently, she leads a team of 38 committed volunteers. Aileen Treto-Cabrera, M.D., is the volunteer medical director. She coordinates and schedules physicians from the community who generously donate their time and expertise. The clinic opens once a month on Sabbath afternoon, serving about 30 patients each session.
The Apopka Spanish Church also runs a food bank twice a month that helps more than 70 families. Noel Gonzalez, Apopka Spanish pastor, provides support and leadership, noting that these ministries demonstrate the church’s commitment to meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the community.
Brian Adams, president and CEO of the AdventHealth Central Florida Division, recently visited the clinic along with Vicmael Arroyo and other members of the AdventHealth team. Reflecting on the partnership, he recently shared in a post: “I’m grateful for partners such as American Muslim Community Clinics and the Apopka Spanish Community Health Center, whose collaboration brings health care and faith-based organizations together to expand access to care.”
Florida | May 2026
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