A local church will offer healing to those affected by the rising opioid abuse epidemic in a spiritual service Sunday.

First Free Will Baptist Church in Washington is holding a “Break the Chains” service and is bringing in the help of Jim McComas, a man who has withstood the heartbreaking consequences of addiction first hand.

“He is somebody who will not just tell the truth, but who has lived the truth. He knows what it’s like to be in the valley, because he’s been there. … His life is the message, not just his words,” said Todd Parrish, lead pastor at First Free Will.

McComas, the director of revitalization for Free Will Baptist North American Ministries, lost his oldest son, Matt, to a heroin addiction in February of this year. Parrish said he and his church had already set a date for McComas’ to visit as part of its “Fall Revival” series, even before McComas suffered the loss of his son. McComas will minister the special service on Sunday evening, and it will both tell the truth and honor his son, Parrish said.

“I know there was a period of time where him and his wife were thinking, ‘Can I even go on?’” Parrish said. “But he’s pulled himself up by the bootstraps and through grace and the glory of God. It’s changed his ministry.”

McComas continues to travel from church to church, working to revitalize congregations around the country. Parrish said McComas’ life acts as a message, and his words are intended to shine light on the problem and consequences of addiction — not only to the addicted, but to the family, friends, community and church families that surround them.

“He has a message for the church — make sure that you hate drugs and not the drug addict. Make sure your angst, make sure your anger, is against the addiction, not the addict,” Parrish said.

Parrish said the service will emphasize that the church can be an outlet for hope for families, especially ones that may be struggling with addiction. He said he wants the church to act as a judgment-free home of love and healing.

“I heard a message long ago. … It said, ‘The church is like a hospital. Everybody who comes is a patient.’ Even though I’m a pastor, the only difference is I’ve been a patient a little longer,” Parrish said. “We’re all patients.”

The church is extending an invitation to the Sunday evening service to the entire community, as well. Parrish said it isn’t a motive to steer people away from their own churches; rather, it’s an effort to instill feelings of hope and healing into as many lives in the community as they can. He said he is sure McComas will share a story the entire community could benefit from experiencing.

“I don’t want to pick up the paper and read about another loss. (Those people) need to be here, and we don’t need to lose them. I hope this is something we can do as a ministry to help our neighbors and friends and really be able to offer some real help,” Parrish said.

Parrish, who has background in addiction counseling, said the addicted often tend to think there is no way out, and the only option is an overdose. He said he hopes that this service will not only offer comfort for the families and friends of the addicted, but also offer a glimmer of hope to those struggling to get clean, and show them that there is a way to “break the chains” of their struggles.

“We want families to know they are not struggling alone. We will struggle with you. We will hold you while you struggle. … Our message is just freedom. There is not just sobriety in Christ, but freedom in Christ,” Parrish said.

As part of the “Fall Revival” series, McComas will also be at the church Sunday at 10:30 a.m., and Monday through Wednesday at 7p.m. The public is invited to each service.

The “Break the Chains” service is Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at the First Free Will Baptist Church, located at 901 N. Bonner St. The public is welcome to attend.