Pubdate: Tue, 14 Mar 2006
Source: Winchester Sun (KY)
Copyright: 2006 The Winchester Sun
Contact:  http://www.winchestersun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1083
Author: Tim Weldon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?1043 (Christianity)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

FAITH-BASED WAR ON DRUGS GATHERS STEAM

A newly formed faith-based effort to try to rid Clark County of
illicit drugs is hoping a higher power will succeed where laws and
tougher sentences have failed.

More than 70 people signed up during an organizational meeting on
Saturday afternoon to be part of Winchester-Clark County Christians
United Against Drugs. Organizers plan to create educational anti-drug
programs as well as new rehabilitation programs to help drug addicts
in Clark County.

Attending the meeting, which was held at the Church of God Cathedral
on Lexington Road, were ministers, political candidates, physicians
and others who indicated they want to have a role in the anti-drug
effort.

The meeting at times had the feel of a tent revival meeting, with
shouts of "yes" and "Amen" in response to the Rev. Henry Baker's call
to fight drug abuse in Clark County with prayer and a call to action.
Eleven people died of drug overdoses in Clark County in 2005 and three
so far this year.

The organization intends to use committees to explore a variety of
ways to combat drug use and to assist those who are addicted:

- - Fifteen people signed up to serve on a committee which will organize
community-wide prayer meetings, marches and other similar events.

- - Thirteen joined the group's anti-drug committee, which will work
with local law enforcement agencies to create neighborhood watch
programs, a drug tip line and drug help line.

- - Twelve people pledged to begin work on a prevention and education
committee, which will brainstorm for ways to convice young people to
resist using drugs.

- - Eleven people signed up for the rehabilitation center committee,
which will seek funding for rehabilitation programs, possibly
including a Christian-based "safe house" and a full-time chaplain for
jail ministry.

- - Eleven joined the awareness/media committee, which will use a
variety of methods to give the organization a high-profile in the
community. The committee is also charged with finding ways to make
drug dealers aware they are being watched.

- - Eleven pledged to work on the youth committee, which will plan
monthly events for youth and to seek funding for a youth center in
Winchester.

- - Five signed up for the grant writing committee, which will apply for
funding for the organization's efforts.

"I feel very positive. I feel like we have some tremendous people on
these committees, and I definitely feel that we're going in the right
direction," the organization's co-leader Roger Hurst said.

Hurst said the group's next meeting is scheduled for next month at
Broadway Baptist Church, by which time Hurst said each committee will
meet at least once.
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MAP posted-by: Tom