Pubdate: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
Source: Alexandria Daily Town Talk (LA)
Copyright: 2001sAlexandria Daily Town Talk
Contact:  http://www.thetowntalk.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1027
Author: Eugene Sutherland

'REVIVAL' CALLED KEY TO REACHING YOUTH AT DRUG SEMINAR

Area civic and church leaders joined forces Thursday night to inform and 
motivate parents to keep their children off drugs.

About 50 parents, relatives and other loved ones of area children gathered 
at First Union Baptist Church for the 13th Annual Drug Awareness Seminar.

Notables such as Alexandria City Marshal James Byrd, seminar 
founder/chairman Rev. Henry Powell and State Director of Safe and Drug-Free 
Schools Steve Young relied more on inspirational messages than 
informational ones to get their points across.

Their messages were supported by rousing performances from the First Union 
Baptist Church Choir and the United Sons of God, a choir composed of 
Rapides Detention Center inmates.

"Drugs of any kind are the tools of Satan," Powell said. "From my own 
experience, I've seen what drugs do to our kids. This is good to make 
people aware of what's going on around them."

The atmosphere generated by the seminar was more church than conference, 
more revival than formal talk.

A governor's office official, Young felt extra motivation to make the trip 
to Alexandria after receiving an invitation months ago from Powell, the 
event's organizer.

"It's a fight we can win. But as long as there's drugs, there'll be 
problems," Young said. "But we aren't going to solve this problem with 
drugs until we have revival. There won't be any problems when we have a 
revival."

Gov. Mike Foster himself was scheduled to appear but was unable to attend. 
Foster did send a proclamation which was read to the audience by First 
Union Baptist Pastor Nathan D. Lee.

"When we as parents are informed about drugs, our children will benefit," 
the brief letter read.

Byrd, meanwhile, reflected on his youth and 20 years in the Air Force when 
speaking about today's war on drugs.

"Things are really bad for our young community," Byrd said. "If we had to 
go to war now, we'd be in trouble. But God is good. And I know we can solve 
this problem with God."

Alexandria Police Department Lt. Frank Dawson has witnessed the drug war 
firsthand during his 25 years on the force. He reaffirmed the city police's 
stance on the prevention, as well as enforcement of drugs. He estimated 
three out of 10 black youth use drugs.

"I've seen just about everything there is to see," Dawson said. "We're at a 
critical time with our youth. We do our jobs. But our job is not just to 
bust people. But to prevent it from happening in the first place."
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MAP posted-by: Beth