Several churches throughout the Knox County, TN area unite to help end the opioid crisis in East Tennessee and they hope more churches will unite together to help.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.
Churches can often give help in paying some bills, food and other ways. Some churches even have Celebrate Recovery or other services to help those with additions.
Churches are needed to fill gaps that the government can’t, especially when it comes to resources and recovery programs.
Knox County state representative, Jason Zachary
At the time of this posting, around ten churches have stepped up to help East Tennessee. Below is a list of some of those churches assisting in this oipoid crisis.
- Shoreline
- Christ Covenant
- First Concord Baptist
- Park West Church
Our goal is to network and rally a group of churches together, so they can gather information about services each church provides.
Seth Hammond, Lead Pastor of Christ Covenant Church
Church leaders said they are meeting with each other consistently to help brainstorm. They are not only looking for ways to help lead people to recovery in their own congregations, but also improve overall health in Knoxville.
We’re gathering churches to form this network. We’re also learning about all the churches and what we have to offer to address this crisis, For example, counseling ministries and other recovery type programs that these churches are offering, so what we’re trying to do is gather all this information and then whenever we hear of a need we say here’s all that the church has to offer and here’s what we can do to help.
Seth Hammond, Lead Pastor of Christ Covenant Church
Knoxville is not going to be drug-free by the end of 2019. That would be a miracle. That would be great, but we’re going to work, we’re going to fight this because it’s more than an addiction problem, there is a spiritual problem, and we want to address that and we want to work together. Bringing awareness about the dangers of opioid and substance abuse is important. Preaching and teaching on it in our services to educate our people and just awareness brings one level of healing, one level of health there, so we’re doing some of those things.
Jeremy McGinnis, Lead Pastor of Park West Church
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