Local church wages war on addiction, asks community to join

HANNIBAL, Mo. – “Will you join me in the fight against addiction?” Members at Consumed International Ministries have put this question out to Hannibal and surrounding communities. 

They hope to receive a powerful yes at their morning services at 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 22 at 17067 Sundance Dr. in New London, Mo. when they host Hope Sunday. The invitation is extended to all who are willing to respond to their battle cry against local addiction and to learn how to help.

Morris said local addiction continues to grow, and nearby rehabilitation services are running out of beds and often sending clients to other areas for help. Consumed International wants to help stand in that gap.

Pastor of Consumed International Ministries Corey Allen announced in March that the church seeks to add 30 beds to the local area through a partnership with Hope Center Ministries, to build a men’s rehabilitation center in or near Hannibal. 

Hope Center Ministries, is a rehabilitation program for people with drug and alcohol addiction, with locations in 13 states. The nearest Hope Center is in Sikeston, Mo.

“Hope Sunday is our launch to share with the community the vision of our church. We want to help people who are lost in addiction, support their families, and even be proactive,” Stephanie Morris, connection direction at Consumed International Ministries, said.

Morris said Hope Center Ministries will also bring programs to take into local schools to help prevent addiction. 

Consumed International has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $160,000 needed for the building to house the rehab center. After the initial money is raised Hope Center Ministries will coordinate construction of the building. They will also pay the staff at the Hope Center and run the programs once completed.

The year-long program implements three phases of rehabilitation. The first phase is to implement immediate focus on establishing Bible study, Christian group counseling and family and local church support. 

The second phase continues with the elements of the first phase but adds daily chores and a 40-hour per week vocational training, which also builds rapport with potential employers. 

The third phase allows more privileges, such as phone and car privileges, and preparation for life beyond graduation with financial counseling and securing a job.

“Detox only solutions have very low success rates, because they’re not teaching them how to live. They are not getting to the root of their addiction. They just put them back in the same community that they came from,” Morris said. “This program really seeks out the whole picture and ministers to the whole person and their family.”

Consumed International Ministries was recently approved as the Hope Center sponsor. In order for Hope Center Ministries to build in the area, they first secure a home church for those in the program to attend.  Morris said the initial application process for that was a slow–but important–one.

The sponsor church must have at least 100 members. If there is not a church with 100 members then Hope Center Ministries will not build there. 

“They come in and evaluate and make sure they feel like your church can handle a Hope Center. It needs to be a healthy church that has programs to support discipleship and growth,” Morris said. “Those men are coming to your church, and they are often bringing their families. So you end up with a church filled with those struggling addicts, and you will need a lot of healthy and mature believers there too.”

Morris said Hope Center Ministries has also evaluated the area zoning laws. They are still deciding on a location for the facility, and whether they will construct a new building or rehabilitate an existing one. Some circumstances, such as men with charges that restrict them from being near a school building, may persuade them to build outside city limits.

One of their goals is to conduct a local search for a director and assistant director to run the Hope House. Morris said they are currently taking candidates for the director, who will be provided with training. 

“Hope Center Ministries told us if you have a director you have a vision, if you have a vision, you can build the building,” Morris said.

Anyone who is interested in the director position should contact Pastor Corey Allen at Consumed Ministries at (573) 822-3136 or consumedministries@hotmail.com.