Speaker at St. Regis fundraising feast discusses pitfalls of addiction
During the Wild Game Dinner in St. Regis last Wednesday, Matt Kelley from Alabama, holds up an animal trap as a visual reminder of what it's like to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. Kelley has been sober for many decades now and travels around the states through his foundation, Equip Ministries to talk to youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. (Amy Quinlivan/Mineral Independent)
More than 100 guests gathered April 26 in the St. Regis Community Center for a Wild Game Dinner event featuring Matt Kelley from Alabama with Equip Ministries.
New Day Fellowship church accommodated the feast by cooking, serving, organizing and preparing the venue for the evening which in turn was a fundraiser to help with medical costs for local resident, Jenni Adams.
As the crowd dined on delicious venison burger chili and a slew of delectable desserts, Kelley once again shared his personal testimony of overcoming drug and alcohol addiction through his faith in God. Now he travels the country speaking at schools, churches and community functions warning of the traps and snares of drug and alcohol use, while also sharing his passion for the outdoors, hunting, fishing and recreation.
Kelley started Equip Ministries because, through experience, he knows that 85% of all addicts become addicted before the age of 18. Equip Ministries is committed to being an effective ministry for the prevention of drug abuse.
Wednesday night’s dinner followed Kelley’s presentations earlier in the week at St. Regis School, where 100% of the high school’s student body pledged to stay drug-free.
After the chili was eaten and Kelley wrapped up his message, he invited anyone in the audience to come to speak with him if they had more questions about Jesus, salvation or a desire to live a life free of bondage from drugs.
Like the last time that Kelley was in St. Regis, the dinner concluded with a drawing for some sportsman gear packages, which included a fly-fishing rod set and a new shotgun.