Chase Smith
Staff Writer
Churches from all over Bell County came together on Sunday at Bell County High School to walk and pray during the second annual “Stand in the Gap” march against drug and alcohol abuse.
Pastors, church members and volunteers started the walk at the high school, proceeding across the bridge in complete silence to the middle school and then back across the bridge. They prayed along the way.
“Today is all about uniting the local churches and allowing everyone to come together and pray for people addicted to drugs and alcohol,” said participant David King, reminding everyone that the walkers are not against people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, but instead are walking for them and praying for them.
“The statistics in this area are unbelievable when it comes to people fighting the disease and we believe that God is the only one that can help us,” said King.
King said the idea of humbling themselves and praying, just like the Bible says, is for everyone working together instead of against each other. That’s why they gathered Sunday afternoon, he said.
Along the march participants were reminded to pray specifically for certain needs. They were prompted by people holding signs as to when to change prayer topics.
The topics included praying for repentance, personal forgiveness, christians to unite across denominational lines, the addicted, the children and families of the addicted, the victims of drug or alcohol related violence and for domestic violence.
They also prayed for law enforcement and undercover officers, judges and the judicial system, drug courts, economic recovery, schools, imprisoned inmates, drug dealers and illegal prescription drug providers.
According to King, last year all the counties merged together in Cumberland Gap. This year they decided to have it in various counties.
“All the counties are doing the exact same thing we are at the exact same time,” added King.
Chase Smith is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be contacted at ksmith@heartlandpublications.com.
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