GROUPS JOIN TOGETHER FOR ANTI-DRUG RALLY

GREENSBORO -- A gentle breeze drifted through the pavilion as more than 40
men, women and children sang, clapping and swaying to the rhythm of a
keyboard, tambourine and electric guitar.

Jesus loves you, so put the drugs away.

Can't you see for yourself what drugs are doing?

You don't have to use them to make a living.

You don't have to use them to survive.

They sang that by pulling together, a community can help victims of drugs
break free of their addiction.

Overcomers With Christ Ministries has shared that message for the last six
years during its annual anti-drug rally.

This year's event Saturday at Sussman Park, "Pulling Down Strongholds,"
gathered people from churches to nonprofits who are working to combat drugs.

"One person and one group can't do it," said Pastor Denise Williams.
"Everyone can be part of the solution. We want to bring all these resources
and groups together to present a visible force."

The church she and her husband pastor often joins with other groups
tackling various aspects of the drug problem -- Christian groups doing
prison ministry, programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters that help provide
mentors for children whose lives have been impacted by substance abuse.

Saturday's rally, which included a march through Hampton and Smith homes,
let people from those groups share about their work and learn from one another.

"The answer is in education and information, that's where your power comes
from," Williams said. "Through that you learn how to be more effective, not
just talking about change."

The Christ-centered program also included the testimony of people who
overcame their own struggle drug addition.

Shelethia Murray, 29, read a poem about cocaine written by her best friend.

In the poem, it's like cocaine is talking to you, Murray explained. Cocaine
talks about its power to destroy your life, cause isolation and make you do
things you never thought you'd do, like steal to fuel your drug habit.

Murray knows. She started using when she was 16 or 17 and ran away from home.

At the time, Murray thought she was having fun and wanted to get away from
anyone who would tell her otherwise. Then in the summer of 1998 she had a
heart attack triggered by the drug use.

Murray's mother, who never stopped praying for her, took her in and helped
her regroup. That support, and faith in Christ, helped her shake her habit.

"You're not born with strength," she said. "Strength comes from your
experiences, the things that you go through."

Murray, who has been clean for eight years, links her drug abuse to
unresolved feelings about childhood abuse. She hopes her stories will keep
other young women from going down the same path.

The rally closed with prayer for those working to overcome their addition,
and clothing and food giveaways.

Mitchell Wall, who is homeless, picked up a bags of both, and a Bible,
before leaving. He found out about the rally at Greensboro Urban Ministry.

Wall, who has fought drug addition for the last 20 years, is trying to turn
his life around. He's gotten work as a day laborer doing cement finishing.
What he hasn't had is someone to provide support.

He's used marijuana and cocaine and kicked the habit before. When things
got tough, he went back to old habits.

Saturday's rally gave him encouragement.

"This is really where I needed to be," Wall said. "This is a nice blessing
for me. It let me know that the Lord is real and that people are willing to
help other people."