Contact: Micah Metz, World Gospel Mission, 765-671-7249, micah.metz@wgm.org  

BOMET, Kenya, Sept. 26, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Ben Roberts is an eye doctor at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. He is being honored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology with its Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award for "his contributions in charitable activities, care of the indigent, and community service performed above and beyond the typical duties of an ophthalmologist."

A service Dr. Roberts provides regularly is traveling to South Sudan with Tenwek's Eye Team to provide eye clinics for those in need. Following is a story that highlights his dedication to God's call and his willingness to serve. On the last day of a clinic, a special couple came for help; Dr. Roberts shared:

"They traveled four days, walking and sleeping in the bush to get to our clinic. The wife had bilateral cataracts, and the husband was blind in one eye. All of us were awestruck when we saw them with only a mosquito net, a bag of sorghum (a staple food grain), and a dry water canister. The husband did not come for himself but wanted sight for his wife. After informing the husband that we could help him as well, we proceeded to operate on both him and her.

"The next morning after removing the eye patches, the man was elated that he could see again. However, the wife, despite our removing cataracts with uncomplicated surgeries, still could not see. Further examination revealed that she had an irreversible blinding retinitis condition.

"This man and his wife were not believers. They came from a village where they had never heard of the truths of Jesus that we spoke about. Wilson, one of our eye team members, recognized the sacrificial love of this husband and used it as a beautiful example to share with him of the sacrificial love that Jesus has for each of us. This couple departed having heard the gospel but not personally receiving it. They stated that they would share these new truths that they heard with their village."

We thank God for Dr. Roberts' dedication to WGM, his medical field, and his family.

You can make a difference in the lives of people in South Sudan and Kenya by praying from your own home. We are all called to help impact the world for Christ. Will you answer God's call today and partner with us in the Great Commission? Visit www.wgm.org/gcc-25791 to donate to "Sight 4 South Sudan."