Christian Musician Mark Schultz to Speak at Event

A stone thrown into a body of water causes a multitude of ripples that slowly expand as they reach outward toward the shore. The same is true of addiction. The addicted person's issues touch those closest to him - spouse, children, parents, friends.

How those ripples affect those who love a man with an addiction is the theme of Revelations of Freedom Ministries' (ROFM) annual Victory banquet. Victory: An Evening of Freedom Stories will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. at the Shady Maple Banquet Center, 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The speaker for this year's banquet will be Christian singer and songwriter Mark Schultz, known for his songs "Letters from War" and "He's My Son." Abbey Ginder, development and marketing director with ROFM, said Schultz's story fit with the ministry's current emphasis on how addiction affects families. "Mark has a story of adoption," explained Ginder. "His (adopted) parents stood in the gap for him. The adoption agency stood in the gap." Schultz also has experience mentoring men with addictions. "(Now), he talks about standing in the gap (for people)," Ginder added, noting that Schultz will bless the gathering by singing a few of his songs.

Elwood Martin, who serves as executive director of ROFM, has been involved with the ministry in a variety of roles since it was founded in 2012. Martin, who will speak about his experiences with the organization at the banquet, called adoption a "hot topic" among men struggling with addictions. "We have a few guys who have been adopted, and it is so close to the heart of these men. They have a black hole, and they have no clue what it is," he pointed out. "They have something missing, and they can't put a finger on it."

Martin has seen firsthand how addictions and the loss associated with those issues can affect families. While working at the Freedom Thrift on 30 store, Martin explained the mission of the ministry to a shopper. "(The shopper said) 'We lost our son (to an addiction) five years ago at 30 years old,'" recalled Martin. "She wanted to shake my hand, and she just tried to hold on. The family connection ... we have to (understand) how important that is."

Ginder said the ministry recently interviewed Cristy King, wife of Daniel King, a man who completed the ROFM program and now works as vocational therapy director for the organization. "We told the story from a wife's point of view ... what it was like to have Dan in the program and to have a young child ... and to come full circle to when he was working in the program," said Ginder. "That's the family theme."

On the menu for the evening will be Shady's slow roasted tender beef and baked barbecue chicken with a variety of sides and desserts served buffet style.

A silent auction featuring two high-end kayaks and a set of tires will be held during the event.

Tickets, which are necessary to attend the banquet, may be purchased by visiting http://www.rofm.org/banquet/. Readers who prefer may bring a check to the Freedom Thrift located at the ministry, 114 Ranck Church Road, New Holland. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, Sept. 12.