At a national inter-faith gathering of ministers in April 2008 in Oklahoma, leaders of the meeting realized that by working together, they possessed viable solutions to the problems resulting from substance abuse and addiction. To make these solutions broadly available, they formed the Congress of Inter-Faith Alliance on Addiction and established a new conference in August to distribute these solutions across the country.
Leading the effort to spread the news is Rev. James McLaughlin, an African Methodist Episcopal minister. Rev. McLaughlin serves as the Global Mental Health and Substance Abuse Director of the AME Church and the Chaplain at the Narconon Arrowhead Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in Canadian, Oklahoma. Rev. McLaughlin announced the dates and agenda of the Minister’s Round Table Forum to be held on August 21 and 22, again in McAlester, Oklahoma.
“At our meeting in April, one startling fact that came to light was that most of the social problems suffered in our communities were related to drug and alcohol abuse,” stated Rev. McLaughlin. “The homeless, the jobless, the poor, spousal abuse, child abuse and crime were all points of concern rooted within the increasing substance abuse problems.
“We also found that we possessed effective solutions that can be made broadly available,” he continued. “Therefore, we must provide these solutions to ministers and community leaders from around the country so they can bring them home to their parishioners and communities.”
Rev. McLaughlin is joined in this effort by the other ministers who met in April: Rev. Jesse Brown, Jr. from Colorado Springs; Rev. Andrew Williamson from Louisiana; Rev. Joseph C. Spears from Alabama ; Rev. Coakeley Pendergrass from Atlanta; Rev. Alonzo Johnson from Oklahoma and Dr. Julia Wade from Tennessee. The group seeks the participation of ministers from any corner of the country as well as community leaders, educators, professionals, business owners and anyone else interested in solving substance abuse problems.
“I believe that God is calling us to move from behind the ‘Wall of Silence,’” Rev. McLaughlin declared. “By that I mean we must demonstrate our faith through involvement and active participation. Obviously, talk doesn’t change things – action does. Those who are ready to take action should join us and learn how these problems can be solved to the benefit of our congregations and our communities.”
For years, Rev. McLaughlin and his wife Cleo Glen Johnson McLaughlin have been delivering Faith Step First Step Program workshops around the country. Faith Step First Step Program workshops teach participants how to use drug education to prevent substance abuse problems from starting and how to break the chains of those addicted to drugs or alcohol. “From our experience with our Faith Step First Step Program workshops throughout the country, we are able to provide the tools that enable one to develop a purposeful, mission-driven life.”
The conference will be held at the Narconon Arrowhead Community and Educational Convention Center located in McAlester, Oklahoma on Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22, 2008. Registration for this conference is open now. Those who would like more information or are interested in registering for this event should contact Rev. McLaughlin at 1-800-468-6933 or 713-539-9409.
