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Equipping United Methodists around the world to respond to alcohol, drugs and related violence

Advance #: 982598
Location: Global

Since its inception in 1992, SPSARV has galvanized the United Methodist connection to respond to alcohol, other drug and related violence issues. While the general church has made substance abuse and related violence a priority, this global health epidemic continues to rise dramatically. The Church is and must continue to be at the forefront of responding to this global crisis.

Worldwide, people in church pews are suffering silently because of their addiction or their loved one’s addiction. They need their church community to be informed, compassionate and responsive to their needs. SPSARV represents the Church’s commitment to replace the brokenness of the disease of addiction with the promise of God’s hope, healing, health and wholeness. Join us in making a witness to God’s promise.

Your gift helps us to continue to support innovative and impactful ministries around the world like the examples below:

AlcoholEdu, a college campus initiative

In 2006, Spartanburg Methodist College, a United Methodist-related college in Spartanburg, South Carolina reported 123 alcohol-related incidents among students that school year. After instituting a national alcohol awareness program, AlcoholEdu, just one year later in 2007, the incidents decreased to 74. SMU student Derrick Walden said the program was an “eye-opener” to the dangers of alcohol. “I really don’t look forward toward drinking that much anymore,” said Walden.

SPSARV provided the college with seed money over a two-year period to implement this new campus awareness program, and is looking at ways to assist our other United Methodist-related institutions.

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

SPSARV contributes annually to United Methodist congregational prevention programs. Butler UMC in New York received a SPSARV grant to support their “Youth on Friday” program, which provides recreational activities and Christian support to some 50 youth from the community. Activities include programs on self-esteem, gang violence, and substance abuse. The prevention program also addresses school performance and family conflicts.

Wendy Holness, Butler’s Youth Coordinator, noted that of the youth associated with gangs in their ministry program, two graduated from high school, and two obtained employment.

With your continued support, SPSARV can keep them more youth away from the lure of gangs and transform their lives in the process.

Addressing Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS in the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Katanga province has become a fertile ground for the spread of HIV/AIDS and drug use. Substance abuse is rampant in this wartorn province among soldiers, who often commit violent acts, including rape, against women and children in their drugged out stupor. In response, the North Katanga annual conference has launched an awareness campaign to provide support and help women and children, of whom many are HIV/AIDS orphans, to deal with this devastating crisis.

In a province where husbands frequently leave their families to join the war effort, women are often forced to stay home without incomes, and sometimes must sell themselves to provide basic needs for their families. The North Katanga annual conference is organizing women through seminars to build self-sufficiency and engaging them in recreational activities, including securing sporting equipment for their children.

This ministry has generated strong support from the bishop, district superintendents, local pastors, government officials, traditional chiefs, and NGOs. With your help, the North Katanga annual conference can continue this ministry to empower women and children and give them a livlihood to create change in their families and communities.

European Outreach to Young People in Need of Treatment

The United Methodist European Board on Drug and Alcohol Concerns has entered into a long-term community partnership with Teen Challenge in the Czech Republic’s cities of Pilzen and Prague. Teen Challenge reaches out to young men and women who are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, offering them an invitation to accept Christ and begin turning their lives in another direction. The youth initiative operates coffeehouses where people from the street can come to talk, as well as a rehabilitation center in rural communities. Teen Challenge’s halfway house enables individuals who have completed the rehabilitation program to re-enter into the community.

Through SPSARV, your gift will enable the European Board to provide meaningful support to this outreach ministry to help young pepole to change the course of their future.

Ex-Offender Re-entry Programs

Ministries like Exodus House, a program of the Criminal Justice & Mercy Ministries (CJMM) in Oklahoma City, Okla., are giving ex-offenders extra support by providing transitional living facilities to help ease their reintegration into the community. This ministry offers individualized recovery programs that address the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of recovery, in addition to assessments of addictive behaviors and drug monitoring.

Through denomination-wide collaboration and other faith community partnerships, SPSARV offers and supports grants, models, education, public policy advocacy and training.

Ready to Give? Your support will provide SPSARV with the resources for an effective churchwide response to alcohol, chemical abuse and dependency and its related violence. Please visit the United Methodist Church’s Advance page to support advancing the work of SPSARV: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982598