Christian Communities throughout Manitowoc County are welcoming the public to join them this Sunday for a “Night of Hope”. Chris Gilbert-Lead Pastor of Manitowoc’s Connections Church says the event uniting all in prayerful support and awareness of substance abuse in our community begins at 7 p.m. in the Farmers Market Lot at 8th and Quay Streets. He told SeehaferNews.com, “In our community we hear all the time about the problems with substance use disorders, mental health, things like that…It’s easy to point out problems, but it’s a whole nother thing to start bringing a solution to those problems. That’s what we believe God calls us to do.”
Gilbert says the event is not being held to bring guilt-shame or condemnation to anyone, but rather to say “we care about you and we aren’t just going to pray in our churches, we are gonna come together as a community.”
A Luminary ceremony will also take place on the 8th Street Bridge. Participants are encouraged to decorate it in honor the memory of a loved one who struggles with substance abuse, is in recovery or has sadly lost their life to substance abuse. All participants are encouraged to wear purple, the official color of substance abuse awareness.
