Letter to the Editor:

Misconception and fear – powerful motives standing against something we don’t fully understand. I have witnessed this reality in Frontline’s appeal to add two sober living homes next to our church.

No one can deny the urgent need for this type of program in Kingfisher, yet fear has tried to stop it.  Neighbors cringe at the thought of being located next door to a bunch of addicts. Truth be known, they already live next door in an uncontrolled environment. The risk of crime is greater among that population than in controlled, sober living environments.

People coming to sober living homes, have minds made up to get out of addiction and destructive lifestyles. They come at their request, not court ordered or forced. Their focus is sobriety, not neighborhood crime. As stated by Scott, a young man who conquered addiction at a sober living facility,

“We weren’t sitting around trying to figure out how to hurt children, and do bad things; we were focused on getting clean and putting our lives back together. I found God and I found freedom from drugs at that place.”  How can that kind of life change be a threat to your neighborhood? Why wouldn’t we want to be part of something that could make such a great impact in our city and society?

Next week, our City Commissioners meet to vote on the fate of this much-needed ministry. Call them and encourage them to vote “yes” in this journey to snatch lives out of the path of addiction.

Debbie Burpo, Senior Pastor

Frontline Ministries