Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
When someone is experiencing a mental health challenge or is in the throngs of substance addiction, it can be extremely isolating both for that person and their family and friends. An event called Rally 4 Health, Hope & Recovery planned in downtown Bryson City next Saturday, Sept. 24 will be a reminder that no one is alone in their struggles. Organized and hosted by Hope Springs, a men’s Christian rehabilitation transition house in Swain County, the event will be for all ages with live music, guest speakers, food and activities for children.
Featured speakers include authors Pastor Jason Robbins of Clover, South Carolina and Crystal Owens of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, both regional authors with recent books sharing their own personal stories of hope and recovery.
In “Through the Eyes of Love” by Owens, readers hear a first-hand account from a devoted Christian mother who takes us through a real, honest experience of raising a daughter with substance addiction. Her story is a relatable one for anyone who has had a close friend or family member who become someone they hardly recognize when they are abusing drugs. In the story, she shares the shock of realizing her sweet daughter was addicted to methamphetamine and the challenges of being supportive when she received frantic calls for help to setting boundaries when her daughter would act accusatory and verbally abusive.
“I think my biggest thing I try to put out there is God didn’t give up on us and we can’t give up on them,” shared Owens.
Her daughter, Hannah, is currently in a great, supportive recovery program but it didn’t happen until after years of challenging times.
Owens works with other families who have had similar experiences.
“I talk to them and let them know loving an addict is not enabling them,” she said, adding there are ways to continue to let them know you are there to help them toward recovery.
In those tough moments, Owens turned to God for guidance. One poignant message she received from God was “As long as you are her comfort zone, I never will be.”
Pastor Robbins shares his own journey from addiction to faith in his July 2022 book, “From Prison to the Pulpit: From Dope to Hope.” His story is a real-life testimony of how he turned to God and found grace after years of drug addiction and crime landed him in jail.
“It is a book really that shows you with God you can overcome everything, it’s a matter of making a new decision,” Robbins said. “It shows the life I lived before Christ, how far I got away and it took me down the road from drugs to prison, and Jesus finally stepped in, and it changed everything.”
Robbins grew up in Gastonia and ended up without parents, living on the streets where drugs and gangs ruled.
“The next thing you know, I was full-blown selling drugs to (being) a drug addict to finally I ran into Jesus—we collided, it changed everything and restored everything.”
Since then, his life has been full of blessings. He is now Pastor of Kingdom Church of York, S.C., a place he describes as “we go after everybody that nobody wants; We know Jesus can save anybody and that’s our ministry.”
To learn more, visit kindgomchurchsc.com. Both authors will have copies of their books available at the event.
In addition to a focus on faith and recovery, there will be information for more than 30 health-related resources. Among resources will be health agencies, vocational training, legal aid, food resources, veterans’ services and more.
Live music will be from Resolute Ridge, A Band Called Praise & The Peaks Band. Other speakers will include Jennifer Yates, Lena Cody and Katelynn and Kallup McCoy. Several speakers will plan to share their testimonies at the event.
The event will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Bryson City (101 Mitchell Street, across from the post office), and there is no admission charge.