Dental Training with a Vision
Project 8110 was founded in October 2009 by Dr. Brian Evans and Tom Linder.
Our mission is to provide training to lay persons in underdeveloped countries to perform dental procedures and provide optometry services, in order to facilitate church planting and evangelism, to help grow the national church and to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Our name is derived from Psalm 81:10. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” (NIV) This may not be a literal reference to dentistry, but it works for us. The verse speaks of God’s provisions for all of life’s needs. The “vision” refers to the optometry training. More importantly, it is the perspective that this program is going to be successful only if God wants it to be, not because we are capable of doing this on our own. Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NIV) Paul wrote, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NIV) Praise the Lord! We will work hard to do his will, and depend on him completely to accomplish his good work.
Our motivation is to be obedient and to help provide for those in need. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV) He also commanded us “to go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19 NIV)
Our current work is b
eing done in West Africa. Our ministry partner has a network of churches throughout the country. When their church planters enter a new community, they develop a relationship with that community by first finding a “man of peace”, a host. They provide for a need of the community through one of their “access ministries” which include clean drinking water, agriculture (seed planting), and now dentistry and optometry. Once a relationship is developed, ministry can begin, and a church can be planted.
Our program is fashioned after the work of those associated with i-Tech ministries (www.itecusa.org) and mPower ministries (www.mpowerapproach.org). We use their equipment and have fashioned our training material and program after theirs. Patterson Dental (www.pattersondental.com) has graciously agreed to provide instruments and supplies at cost. In six days, two days of classroom training and four days of clinical training, by the grace of God we are able to train people with no prior dental experience to perform extractions and fillings under local anesthetic. They are instructed in proper techniques and principles to provide care at or above the local standard of care. They provide the care to people in desperate need, without regard to race or religion. For a population of almost six million people, there are only eleven dentists.
The optometry training is completed in less than one day. The trainees are able to examine the patient, prescribe, adjust and deliver eyeglasses in about fifteen minutes. This simple program can make a huge impact on the life of a person who has not been able to see clearly for years.
In October 2009 we trained ten people to perform the dental procedures. In March 2010 we returned to train ten more. On this trip Dr. Evans did the classroom training; the graduates from the first class did the clinical training. In September 2010, the graduates trained six more on their own, classroom and clinical training. It is amazing to see God at work to move the program forward.
The program has been funded by ourselves, Christ Community Church, and our friends and family. We have started a foundation to help promote and fund this effort, “Project 8110.” We are now a recognized 501(c)(3) Public Charity. Tax deductible donations can be made by check, made payable to Project 8110 and mailed to:
Project 8110
Dr. Brian Evans
351 Sayer Road
Bartlett, IL. 60103
630-830-0852
DrBri60@project8110.org
Or you may click on the donate button below:
