Dr. Philip Ptacin
"This I Believe" Speaker

A well known and highly regarded member of Battle Creek's medical community will be sharing a few words about his faith at this year's Battle Creek Community Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, May 4.

"Each year we invite a member of our local community to briefly share a personal message about what they believe," explained Bob Harvey who is co-hosting this year's event with his wife, Carolyn. "We know that Dr. Philip Ptacin is well respected and thought that he would be an appropriate person to do this."

Ptacin is both humbled and a bit embarrassed by the invitation. "It's not anything that most of us are real comfortable with -- talking about our faith -- and yet I know that a relationship with God is the most important one a person has," said Ptacin. "Communities would be much healthier places if people were more open, communicated more freely, and were less isolated."

Phil and his wife Maria have led busy, active lives since moving to Battle Creek 25 years ago. "I'm from Chicago originally and Maria immigrated here from Poland. We knew that we wanted to live somewhere within driving distance of Chicago, but not in a large city -- Battle Creek ended up being a perfect place for us," said Ptacin.

Managing a busy medical practice and raising a young family would be enough for many people. However, Ptacin felt compelled to answer the call when Sally Whitten sent him a letter 13 years ago to help start a clinic for the uninsured in Battle Creek. He and Dr. John Collins were instrumental in getting the Nursing Clinic up and running and have scrambled repeatedly over the years to keep the doors open with on-going operational dollars hard to come by.

"We converted a used car shop into a tiny examination room to get things started," said Ptacin. "There's something very energizing about working with volunteers who get involved in something like this -- wanting it to succeed, despite the odds. Today there are 12 primary care doctors who volunteer their time as well as a host of sub-specialists.

While Dr. Ptacin doesn't necessarily subscribe to a belief in physical healing through faith, he does believe that people with an active faith lead richer, fuller, happier lives. "I think they feel a sense of connection that allows them to rise above pain and illness. They don't feel so isolated, and maybe that is what sustains them," said Ptacin. "All of us do affect one another, I really believe that."

What: Battle Creek Community Prayer Breakfast

Where: Kellogg Arena, Downtown Battle Creek

When: 7:25-9:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 4

How: Tickets @ $10 per person -- Call 269/969-2194 or 269/441-2710

Guest Speaker: Dave Dravecky, Who Am I Now?

In the seventh year of Dave Dravecky's Major League Baseball career as pitcher for the San Francicso Giants, a cancerous tumor was discovered in Dave's pitching arm. Eventually, Dave's arm was amputated to stop the spread of cancer and to save his life. Through it all, Dave's faith in God and the love He gave through others provided the anchor he needed in the midst of the storm.

Text Prepared by: Bonnie Garbrecht

Web page by Maggie LaNoue
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