Published: April 28, 2008 09:14 am            

Church saves woman with addiction

Hi, my name is Kimberly Owens. I was privileged recently to speak at a dinner organized by Operation UNITE. I was able to share my personal story of drug addiction.

For many years I ran around Corbin high on drugs. My life meant nothing to me. I lived for the next high, with the hope it would be better than the last. That was pretty much the only hope I had.

I knew that my fight with drug addiction was hopeless ... I had battled addiction for 17 years, been in and out of rehab four times, really tried to stop using drugs many times, but always failed. So I gave up any hope of sobriety and fully embraced my druggie lifestyle.

Then, the most unexpected thing happened...

I was attending a funeral at a church that I had never been to before. This church was very different from any other I had ever been to. They did unusual things, like bow on their knees to pray. Now, I had been told many times that I myself needed to “get on my knees”... so I tried it, and surprisingly, it was kind of nice.

I left the funeral that day feeling just a little bit different than I had ever felt before.

I was really surprised when Sunday rolled around and I found myself back at that church. I had been up all night the night before (I was a meth-user) but for some reason, I wanted to go back to that place. The church service was beautiful and definitely something very special.

They called it mass, and I really moved by it. I was even more surprised when priest stood and asked the congregation to pray for all people afflicted by drug addiction, the congregation bowed their heads and said “for these, we pray to the Lord.”

It was as if I had been knocked off my feet I stood amazed, with my jaw dropped!

“Who are these people and why are they asking the Lord to help someone like me!?”

That was three years ago... and oh, how my life has changed! Through the love, compassion, and acceptance I found at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, I was able to find my way to sobriety. They taught me about the love and forgiveness of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to thank them all for the difference they’ve made, not only in my life, but also in the lives of my husband and children.

I would like for everyone who is battling drug addiction to know — there is hope! You can find healing, forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ Our Lord, and you can find Him right here in town, on Master Street, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Kimberly Owens,

Corbin

        

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