December 10-2007









                                                






                              Although drug and alcohol addiction has played a major role in society throughout the years, recently the  problem seems to have
either become more severe or there is now a stronger awareness of it and its devastating effects on family life. Once portrayed as a “male only”
problem, addiction has begun to affect many women over the course of the past several decades; and the problem may seem to be getting worse with
many of those known as sisters, daughters, mothers, and wives spending time behind bars for drug-related charges.
The Hand of Refuge Ministry, made up of several Harlan County women, has in an attempt to stop the addictions, made it their goal to reach as many
of these women as possible through the love and compassion of Christ.
HORM Executive Director Tammy Rice said that the goal of the five member ministry is to help these women of addiction to overcome their problem and
to stay on the right course throughout their lives.
“These women just need someone who they can relate to and somewhere to go for support,” said Rice.  “That is what our Christ-centered ministry is all
about—helping these women to learn how to live without these addictions and to aide them in getting their lives back together.”
Rice, who started the ministry support group in 1998, has led the ministry into the Harlan County Detention Center to speak and minister to the female
inmates every Tuesday evening; and said she has seen many cases where the efforts of her team have brought women back from the brink of despair.
“That is why it is so important that these women not only receive our support while they are in jail, but also continue with it after they are released,” said
Rice.
Rice, who opens her home to former inmates for Bible lessons and a 12-step program weekly, said she has witnessed many women whom have lost
custody of their children go through the program and regain control of their lives and be able to be reunited with their children.
“It is just so wonderful to be a part of this,” said Rice.  “To see these children get their mothers back and to see the women regain the lives that
addiction has taken away from them. And it is all done through the work of the Lord.”
Former inmate and mother of an eight-year-old son Sandy Napier said Rice and the other women of the ministry gave her the hope that “there was a
chance for her to change.”
Napier, who was serving six months for drug-related charges when she first met the women of the ministry, said she had lost custody of her son and
was drained of all hope at that time.
“I truly believe that God picked me out to save my life,” said Napier.  “If I had not gone to jail when I did, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”
Tenra Wilson, another former inmate and mother of two girls, said she “lived to use instead of living to live” before her encounter with the ministry.  
Wilson also added that since she has been released from jail she attends the sessions faithfully and has seen a great many blessings in her life.
“There was a time when I did not even have a cabinet to put a can of food in, now my cabinets are running over with groceries—thanks to Tammy and
the work of the Lord in my life,” Wilson said.
The former inmates, as well as the current inmates of the detention center, said they are thankful for the help of the ministry and without its support
they are not sure they could have made the adjustments necessary to improve their lives.
Current inmates Carolyn Cochran and Katie Jones said during a jail house interview that they “live for the sessions with the ministry” and that the truths
they have learned from the women have made a tremendous impact on their lives.
“We need this ministry to help us through this awful ordeal and I really look forward to the sessions,” said Jones, who added that she had just received
an inspiring letter from Rice.
Although the ministry sessions inside the jail have currently been stopped due to scheduling of the GED program at the jail, Rice said she continues to
correspond with the inmates through letters of support and encouragement.
“I know they need their GED and it is very important, but they also need the Lord and his help with their addictions and problems.  I mean, what good is
their GED going to do them if they fall right back into these same addictions?” said Rice.  “And it is obvious that they are hungry for this support since it
is all done on a volunteer basis on their part.  No one forces them to come to the sessions and it is not court ordered or anything.”
Rice, along with the other women of the ministry, said their “mission statement” is to find funding for a facility where they can not only minister to these
women, but that will allow them space to be able to house the women temporarily who come to them homeless and in need of a place of refuge.
“We would also like to be able to help them with meeting other goals such as furthering their education and finding a trade or a career,” Rice said.
The other members of the ministry include Regina Tussey, Jay Moses, Tammie Chapman, and Sherry Tinsley who said they all had unique stories as
to how and why they became involved in the ministry.
Although each lady had individual stories of how they became a part of the group, Tinsley said she joined after she had gotten involved in the ministry
as a 10-hour community assignment from her college psychology professor.
“I was supposed to do something that involved giving back to the community and so I heard about this ministry from another lady at the school and I
came into the group for that purpose,” said Tinsley.  “However, I liked it so much that I decided to stay with them after completing the class assignment.”
Rice encourages anyone who finds themselves in need of support or help with any addiction to contact the ministry by calling 573-6322 or 273-5604 or
by e-mailing  handofrefugeministry@yahoo.com   Anyone interested may also log onto their website at www.handofrefugeministry.com.