Beech Tree News Network

Dear Editor,
The decisions we make in life ALWAYS have consequences.
On January 26th the voters of Butler County will make a decision.  A decision about something that I hold dear to my heart.  A decision about something that I have witnessed destroy so many lives.  I have dedicated my life for the past 10 years to restoring the lives of those people of whom have experienced so much heartache and negative impacts as a result of drug and alcohol addiction.
In 2005, God called me to help the innocent children of whose lives are so deeply impacted by the effects of addiction get their parents back!  I along with a few other Butler-Countains began the journey to fight addiction in this county.  Over the past 10 years, I have witnesses the difficult battle that rages when a person is trying to overcome addiction.  The first 2-3 weeks are so difficult for these men and women.  The struggle to detox their bodies of alcohol and to remain strong enough to not take just a sip is beyond words.  During this struggle, the men and women of Andrea’s Mission surround the broken individual with prayers, stay up all night providing them with comfort and accountability, and help them to overcome the monster of addiction that is fighting hard to remain inside.  We have been blessed that during these difficult 2-3 weeks, alcohol is never easily accessible or made available for these men and women.  Therefore, with our prayers and support, these individuals can usually overcome the detox process and move forward in their recovery.  My fear is that, if this county were to vote “YES” and make alcohol readily available in our stores, that we would lose this battle in the early weeks.  That the individual that is fighting so hard to overcome the addiction would not be strong enough to withhold themselves from the alcohol if it was only a few blocks away. 
I wish I could share with you all the amazing stories, transformations, and lives that have been changed as a result of overcoming the addiction of alcohol.  Let me share just one experience with you…
One man that I became good friends with through Andrea’s Mission had had little or no contact with his children for the past 12-13 years because of his addiction to alcohol.  He had been with us at Andrea’s Mission for 3-4 months and was doing remarkably well.  His children discovered that their father was now in rehab for his alcohol addiction.  Three of his children then decided to drive six hours to visit their father.  Even though so much time had passed since they had had contact with him, they just wanted to experience their father sober.
I realize that most of you do not understand the battles that the addicted have to fight.  If our county goes wet, the battle is going to be an even more difficult one.

John 10:10 Says the thief or Satan, comes not but to steal and to kill and to destroy.

So, what does alcohol do?
IT STEALS.
Steals the lives of men and women who are addicted to it.  Steals parents from innocent children. Steals the happiness that this life can bring.
IT KILLS.
Innocent lives are lost on our roadways from alcohol.  Suicide rates climb as addiction rates climb.
IT DESTROYS.
Alcohol destroys Families.  Alcohol Destroys relationships. Alcohol can ultimately Destroy our community. 

What are the positive things that alcohol can do?
It is difficult for me to think of any.  Possibly bring a few extra dollars to our county? Is all of the above worth that?
The members of People Who Care Ministries and Andrea’s Mission for Men and Women ask for your help to vote NO to alcohol sales in our county on January 26th.
Thank you,
Jimmy Flener