Drugs are destroying Fairdale.

Homes, streets, neighborhoods, schools, families, people, moms, dads, boys, girls, etc. are being ruined by drugs in the Fairdale community. Its bad… really bad.

In October while at the funeral home, I had a local sheriff tell me that drugs are so bad around here that I could throw a rock in any direction and it would undoubtedly hit a house with drugs in it.
The following month (2 days before Thanksgiving) while I was preparing to preach at the Fairdale Community-wide service the cops flooded my street to bust a Meth lab.  That is when I really began to see how bad drugs are around here.

Since then I have been involved with 4 different funerals involving young people who were dying in some connection to drug use or addiction. A 17 year old who died partying. A 32 year old who died suddenly from drug use. A 37 year old addict who died tragically. A 29 year old who died tragically. There is so much more. That is only what I have been involved with from recent weeks. I am connected to so many teens in this town who have been led down a miserable hopeless path. It breaks my heart.

Who is going to do something about it? Is there anyone?

We sit in prayer meeting week after week hearing heart-breaking stories of teens who are suicidal and moms & dads who cannot take care of their children because of drugs. What can be done? What will be done?

The schools aren’t making much impact. Boy Scouts, Rec. leagues, and clubs are making minimal impact around here in the area of difference-making.

First Baptist Fairdale can be the difference. God is working. He has a plan. As more and more people get involved and get the conviction and passion to make a difference for the name of Jesus it will come.  We have said it before “Greater things have yet to come. Greater things are still to be done in this city.”

The key though is not a big church, or even an active church. The key is Jesus. Only Jesus truly brings change and improvement. Jesus is the redeemer. We are praying for a redeemed community.

Several years ago I worked at a furniture company. Every week the same truck driver would come and deliver furniture to us. He was in his 60s. Week after week our relationship developed. I found out he was now a follower of Jesus but has had some troubles in his past. (like all followers of Jesus) He always, literally always, told me how bad drugs were. No matter what we were talking about, whether it be work, weather, sports, North Carolina, money, etc. he would say “Josh, remember Satan is using the drug dealer.”

Jesus said that Satan comes “to steal, kill, and destroy us”. He sure does. Every single person living in our town sees that Satan is doing a fine job stealing, killing, and destroying. I now realize more than ever that my truck driver buddy was so accurate. Satan is using the drug dealer.

It needs to stop. It needs to change. What is going to be done about it? Who is going to do it? Who cares enough?

Jesus does. FBC Fairdale will soon… By grace and through prayer.

“Jesus is able to save to the uttermost.” –Hebrews 7:25