The Yazoo Ministerial Association, along with Warren Yazoo Mental Health and Steve Roark, are calling for a community-wide effort to draw attention to the devastating spike in opioid drug overdoses within the area.
For Pastor Ken Lynch, vice president of the association, the recent overdose deaths were more than just statistics. The victims were some of Yazoo’s most promising youth whose life was tragically cut short.
“They are young friends of mine,” Lynch said. “I watched them grow up with my sons playing football and cheerleading at Friday football games. I saw them in our Sunday worship services. And I conducted the funerals for two of them. They are more than statistics for me. They are my friends. Their deaths trouble me. And, I believe, their deaths trouble you, too. “
Lynch said the effort to address opioid abuse will be handled in three responses: prayer, testimony and awareness. A number of events are planned over the course of the next few months to “fight the good fight.”
Lynch said the effort was organized because he felt more needed to be done after the recent tragedies. He said he simply couldn’t just walk away after the two funerals he conducted.
“Two funerals are what led me to this,” Lynch said. “When I heard the news of the deaths, it devastated me, but as I wrestled with the aftermath of everything happening, something struck my heart. I couldn’t just do the funerals, wipe my hands clean and walk on. I have to do more.”
Lynch recalls The Beatitudes, which says “blessed are the merciful.”
“Mercy is more than a feeling of compassion,” he said. “It is compassion followed by action.”
The first response will be Pray Yazoo, a community-wide prayer gathering will allow others to partner in prayer with Yazoo leaders from the mental health, education, law enforcement, clergy, drug treatment, and medical professions. The gathering will be held on Feb, 19 from 4-5 p.m. at Parkview Church of God.
“We want to mobilize people to God as a community,” Lynch said. “And we want to include people that are leaders in all corners of our community.”
The second response will be the powerful testimony of Andy Taggart, a Madison attorney and former chief of staff for Governor Kirk Fordice. He and his wife Karen will share their story of losing their son Brad to suicide after a secret struggle with drugs. The testimony will be delivered on March 22, from 6-7:30 p.m., at Parkview Church of God.
“They have turned a tragedy into a mission to help, encourage, inspire and caution families about the reality of drug and alcohol abuse,” Lynch said, “They want to use their loss for good to help other people. And there is something about a spoken testimony that has a tremendous power to overcome evil.”
The third response will be sponsored by Warren Yazoo Mental Health, including an education and awareness event which will feature the gathering of treatment providers, community services, church ministries, school clubs, law enforcement, and others who can others be aware of the "next steps" available in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
“If we together can help save just one life, it would be worth this and so much more,” Lynch said.
