Led by Life Point Church and Freedom Assembly of God, Ohio community is combating the growing addiction epidemic with the power of prayer.
Drug addiction comes with a heavy price and many families are unsure what to do when they are faced with it.
The number of lives impacted by addiction in Ohio are continuing to increase. According to recent reports, Ohio is so overwhelmed with this crisis that law enforcement can’t keep up. Part of the problem is the relatively easy access people have to heroin and other deadly drugs like the mixture of heroin and fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.
“It takes a community to stand up and do something,” Amber Strnad told News-Herald. “We need to have a conversation. We need to connect with people and let them know we care,” the prayer walk participant added.
This past Sunday there were slightly less than 60 participants at the prayer walk held in the Mentor Headlands area of Ohio. One of the organizers, Deborah Rickel said, she felt inspired to help create and participate in the walk because of her families personal struggle with drugs.
“My son was an addict for 20-plus years, so I have a real heart for people who are struggling for their lives, and for their families who don’t know what to do,” she said, adding, “There are a lot of single-family homes today, a lot of financial need, a lot of despair and frustration. It’s just a bad combination.”
Her purpose in organizing the walk is for people to know “how deeply loved they are,” she said. “And I want them to know that people care and are willing to come out and pray for them.”
Another participant that did not want to share her name, said, she felt compelled to make the prayer walk because God moved her to do so. In the past, the woman stated, “I’ve been on the street, on drugs… But now I gave my life to Christ.”
And as a former drug user, she has also noticed the increase in drug use, even among the Amish population that live in the Mentor Headlands. To respond to it, she said,“we [need to] go out. I feel as though God’s power will intervene and [there] will be healing in this town.”
If you or someone you know is battling opioid addiction, organizations like Sam Scripts, a faith-based addiction ministry, can help.