By Betty Gandee
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
This is something we all remember hearing in high school but one local church, Bethel United Methodist Church of Ovapa, is using this as the base for their new addiction recovery program. Simply said, this is OUR community, OUR homes, OUR children that are suffering and it is time to take these things back.
Pastor Paul Hopkins believes that we can’t take our communities back without first taking back our families. This epidemic started with one person and has grown into what it is today. Pastor Hopkins says, “To God we give all the glory, and that just as it started with one person it has to end one person at a time. The only way to take back our families is for ‘We the People’ to do it. I believe that ‘We the People’ can do it!”
This church is taking big steps to show God’s love and offer the help needed to overcome addiction. He believes that helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for that person. Pastor Hopkins quoted Bishop S. Clifton Ives, saying, “We may not be the best qualified to do this, but we are the ones who are here and who have the responsibility of doing it. We can’t wait until the best qualified ones come along. Right now, in this place, at this time, we are the best qualified to do it.” Pastor Hopkins and Trustee Keyota Jarvis, on behalf to the church, wants to let everyone know that help is waiting and that all you need to do is take that first step towards recovery.
The We the People recovery program will hold their first meeting on Thursday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, Ovapa WV. They will have meetings every Thursday with a meal provided on the first Thursday of each month. A follow up of last month’s Drug Awareness meeting will also take place on Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m. to educate the community. Dr. Ball will be speaking. You can contact Pastor Hopkins at 304-382-3486 or by email at bethelumchelp@gmail.com.
