08/29/2026
If you drive by Mt Orab park this weekend you will see some purple flags. They were placed as a visible reminder of the 2,931 lives lost to overdose in Ohio last year.
Behind every number is a person who was loved, a son or daughter, a mother or father, a brother or sister, a friend. Behind every flag is a family whose life has been forever changed.
As a church, we remember. We care. And we pray.
We pray for those who are grieving the loss of someone they love. We pray for those who are currently struggling with addiction that they would find hope, healing, strength, and the support they need to take the next step toward recovery.
And we pray that our churches and communities will continue to be places where people are met with compassion instead of condemnation, hope instead of shame, and love in their darkest moments.
May these purple flags remind us not only of the lives that have been lost, but also of the lives that can still be reached.
There is hope. There is help. And no life is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
— Psalm 34:18