87 Kentucky churches invited to anti-tobacco pledge via VBS

Each church above received this Vacation Bible School letter below

June 7, 2003

Mike Sawyer
Founder & Executive Director
"I Will Never Use Tobacco, Inc., 501 (c) (e)
PO Box 133
Wilmore, KY 40390
TobaccoKills2000@aol.com
www.IWillNeverUseTobacco.com

Dear VBS Director,

What a blessing you have to be in charge of our innocent lambs of God, especially those that may be fatherless like I was at the age of eleven. My dad died a very painful death due to his many years of smoking.

Now, it is so meaningful to me that I try to reach out to as many as possible to prevent a soul from traveling the Dead End of Tobacco Road.

Back in 1989, Reverend Claude M. Witt, Executive Director of the Kentucky Temperance League of Kentucky replied to my letter by stating: "The Temperance League does oppose the use of tobacco and we discourage its use. We have found that other organizations such as American Lung Association and American Heart Association have done a very effective job and because of their efforts we can narrow our scope of emphasis to alcohol and other drugs. We feel there is no reason to duplicate their message."
(Reference, www.ASAP911Tobacco.com/TemperanceLeagueKY1989.htm)

In 1987, my US Senator Howard Helfin in a reply to my letter stated: "I realize that it is a "ticklish" issue, one that seems to have an equal number of advocates on each side. I am afraid at this time, I could not offer any advice on this issue, Mayor Sawyer."
(Reference, www.ASAP911Tobacco.com/Helfin.htm)

Would you prayerfully consider inviting your VBS kids to consider making this pledge "I Will Never Use Tobacco?" How AWESOME for one adult many years down the road of life to credit his/her tobacco-free life to this VBS vow!

Many Blessings,

Mike Sawyer
Master of Divinity

This letter posted at www.IWillNeverUseTobacco.com/VBSKY2003.htm

Each church above received this Contest for Most Signatures page

The VBS Program that secures the highest number of signatures (based on percentage of VBS enrollment) will be rewarded with $1.00 per signature on August 1, 2003. (Please make copies of this form if needed and after completion mail to "I Will Never Use Tobacco," Inc. PO Box 133, Wilmore, KY or email to TobaccoKills2000@aol.com

"I Will Never Use Tobacco"
Name	Age	Church

1. Should I make follow up calls to these VBS directors to see if they received this letter and ask them if they would support this anti-tobacco program or should I wait for them to contact me?

1. Mike, I think you should follow up with the churches. You won't know any thing if you don't.

2. let them call you

3. I think you should contact them. It is harder to say 'NO' to a voice than a letter!

2. Was it OK to offer a competitive contest to the VBS Program that secures the highest number of signatures (based on percentage of VBS enrollment) that pledge "I Will Never Use Tobacco," with a $1.00 per signature reward?

1. Yes, I think it was OK to offer that, but how are you going to know if it is a child signing or an adult?

2. unsure

3. Money is always a good incentive but be careful that you get a bunch of signatures!

B. Was is ethical for me to offer this contest in "faith," with our nonprofit only having about $160.00 in the bank?

1. Sure, the Lord will provide.

2. yes, but sad

3. I think you need to be doing some fund raising. This could be testy!

C. What would happened if a church gets 500 signatures?

1. Is it possible for them to have 500 students in VBS? WOW! Big churches.

2. send them to intended final recipients

3. Give them your 'IOU' and then fund raise.

3. I discovered a Baptist church in Lexington with a Burley Avenue address; do you think that this would hurt or offend someone that lost a family member or best friend from an agonizing tobacco related death like my dad?

1. maybe in KY, Burley isn't an offensive name.

2. irrelevant if people are offended by trying to stop holocaust.

3. No. Street addresses can't be controlled. People know that.

B. Is this similar to the Confederate Flag issue today? Many Southern bumpers stickers justifying the public display of the flag read, "Heritage not Hate," even though tobacco suffocates over 400,000 Americans per year, is Burley Avenue also Kentucky heritage?

I would think you are right.

2. yes, similar, they'll say any lie to keep on killing, even in Maine, selling nicotined-water!

3. Yes it is heritage. But the heritage stops at health issues. The flag was heritage from KY being independent of the union. display of the flag will not injure health per se but using tobacco products will.

4. Does anyone know of a similar church/anti-tobacco mission like this on Earth?

1. I don't, but why not? It is an important message.

2. No

3. The present Miss KY was featured in the Herald Leader the other day speaking to elementary school children on the dangers of tobacco use and getting pledges from them to never start using.

B. Is the EPA doing this church/anti-tobacco outreach?

1. I can't remember, is EPA the one who stole your I Will Never Use Tobacco theme?

2. No

Mike, I pray the VBS directors will indeed say a word against tobacco!
Bless you with His shalom.

Mike — I’m afraid I don’t have the answers to your questions. Do whatever you think is right.

Mike:
What an excellent idea!

Good work! But churches usually shrink from this test--

This is a worthwhile project. I suggest you get a really good video about teen smoking to lend to the churches to show the youth. It you do get 500 signatures you will need to pay them out of your pocket unless you get some donations.

Keep up the good work.

It is an excellent idea that you had.

A major problem will be getting it included in the pre-packaged VBS program that most churches use. E.g. SBC churches will mostly be using Kingdom Capers. It is a theme driven set of materials, highly scheduled. So, the chance of getting it in this summer may not be very bright.

A thought. consider meeting with the leadership of the Elkhorn Baptist Assn. in Lexington sometime this winter. Share the program with them. They will have scheduled a clinic for the training of VBS directors in the Spring of 2004. See if you can get some airtime there.

I do not know the time needed for your program. So, whether or not it could be shoe-horned into the canned programs for VBS, is a question in my mind.

I hope this helps.

Hi, Mike: I think it is great that you are going right into the lions den, to confront the problem which in my mind, is that there is not nearly enough education about the great harm that is done to our children when they start smoking at an early age, in their attempt to be older, more mature. Of course, I have talked about the problem which ministers have when they mention smoking. You know first hand how the congregations handle ministers who are concerned about the kids in the congregation starting to smoke.

I wonder about doing the contest thing. I think they should be only too happy to get these signatures, after their kids are 'educated'. They need to know why they should not ever use tobacco and be glad for it. They can be a far bigger part of the overall solution than just getting their signature. Of course, getting them to sign is a big thing, if they are really serious in becoming a cog in the gears to educate their peers. I think I would have a discussion pretty well put together, so it can be a rational and friendly exchange, where you can hopefully get them as an ally. One thing, you do not have the help of TV ads like we here in California, which is a big step forward. I think the people who smoke out here are considered to be not exactly the best informed, about anything. However, I am sure they can talk a lot about whether the L.A.Lakers can win the NBA championships.

Not sure what the 'border' depicts. I can feel for the lady who hates cigar smoke. I feel nothing for anyone who smokes cigars, who apparently have a problem with the idea that smoking one will make them somebody. I have a friend who thought that his big stogie made him 'somebody',would stand on the curb outside his company workplace, smoking his big stogie. It was just a few years later that he was diagnosed with diabetes, after his asthmatic bronchitis, then he developed macular degeneration, not age related. If you do a google search on 'smoking macular degeneration," you wll see a whole lot of stuff, but 4 items down from thefirst one, you will see a 'fact sheet on Macular degeneration.

I have a hunch that you won't hear from any of them. I have been thinking about what I would do if I were you. Actually, we here in Orange County don't try to work with the churches. Speaking for myself, I think they are a lost cause. The response you got which you mentioned earlier does not surprise me one bit. We can never have enough help in tobacco education. The kids are far too important. One thing I would do if I were you, I would get together information about addiction, kids are more likely to drop out of school, how smoking is the precursor to harder drugs, such as marjuana and cocaine, and nowadays, meth. My sibling brother started to smoke after I got drafted into WW II. He ran with a bunch of scum bags in town, drank beer, couldn't make it through his 3rd year of high school. He passed about 10 years ago, from lung cancer. I did well, being tied with another for tops in my class. He should have done just as well in his classes.

Since there is so much money to be made dealing in these drugs, it is no surprise that the kids start doing this. I would call each church, speaking with the minister to explain your concern about the children, asking if you could talk with him for an hour or so, to present and explain your concern, and how you believe that you might make a difference if you can start an education group. Of course, if the people who are pushing tobacco in your city finds out about what you are doing, talking with the ministers, I imagine they will not be happy campers.

Out here in California, we are having great success working with the schools. The kids are only too happy to be doing something where they are included in the education process. It would not hurt to have the evidence with you that the kids are getting in trouble. No doubt there are arrests being made for drugs and the dealing the kids are doing? I think you will have to do it one church at a time. I would suppose each church might have their own thoughts about how to get the kids involved in this education process. You might be the start of something big.

Please use our S.A.F.E. web page, where we have actual experiences with the great harm that second hand smoke does to other people, including mine, which involves second hand tobacco smoke. I believe the people have to be informed, essentially educated before you can get their attention. Since so many people there in Kentucky make a living from growing the stuff, you do have a problem, but nowadays the government has programs to encourage the farmers to grow other crops. Some have been very successful. Anytime you want to know something about a subject, such as alternative crops, google does a wonderful job of bringing up literally thousands of sites. I just did a google search entering 'alternative crops to tobacco' and it brought up 65,300 sites. Very interesting. I generally try to supply a solution to a problem, what ever it might be,if I am trying to work with other people, whether it is a fellow engineer with a workplace problem, or management when itwas necessary that I stop the smoking in my workplace, or if it is a city councilman or a county supervisor.

So, from an ordinary guy out here in California, who has as claims to fame, which is not that much, winning battles such as I described above, and others more important, it all comes down to preparation, which includes education. Solutions such as alternative crops is a prime idea. Again, it comes down to having allies, in the media when you can find them, working with them.

Subj:	Forms sent
Date:	6/13/2003 1:27:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	gethluch@juno.com
To:	tobaccokills2000@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)

To whom it may concern:

We appreciate the letter that was sent to our VBS director, and we do
plan on encouraging your program, however, you will not be receiving the
"list" on time, as our VBS won't take place until the first full week of
August. Thank you for the letter, and as always, may the will of God
guide your life.

Sincerely,

Dennis Roberts,
Christian Education Chairman.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church

87 Kentucky Churches contacted by US Mail 6-7-03 56 in Lexington	Response date and comment
Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1881 Eastland Pkwy.
Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, 163 N. Ashland Ave.
Athens Christian Church, 6295 Athens-Boonesboro Rd.
Bluegrass Baptist Church, 812 Loudon Ave.
Boones Creek Baptist Church, 185 N. Cleveland Rd.
Bread of Life Assembly of God, 1705 Jennifer Rd.
Broadway Baptist Church, 2500 Harrodsburg Rd.
Broadway Christian Church, 187 N. Broadway.
Bryan Station Baptist Church, 3175 Briar Hill Rd.
Calvary Baptist Church, 150 E. High St.
Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 1142 Caywood Dr.
Christ Centered Church, 2275 Eastland Pkwy.
The Church of the Apostles, 1131 Trent Blvd.
Cramer & Hanover Church of Christ, 199 N. Hanover Ave.
Crestwood Christian Church, 1882 Bellefonte Drive.
Daybreak Community Church, 210 E. Reynolds Rd.
Durbin Memorial Baptist Church, 8650 Durbin Lane
East Hickman Baptist Church, 6418 Tates Creek Rd.
East Second Street Christian Church, 146 Constitution St.
Eastland Church of God, 2598 Liberty Rd.
Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 500 Don Anna Dr.
Faith Lutheran Church, 1000 Tates Creek Rd.
First Alliance Church, 2201 Old Higbee Mill Rd.
Gardenside Christian Church, 940 Holly Springs Dr.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 2185 Garden Springs Dr
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 425 Patchen Dr.
Grace Baptist Church, 811 Bryan Ave.
Greater Liberty Baptist Church, 330 Chestnut St.
Heritage Baptist Church, 257 Swigert Ave.
Hillcrest Baptist Church, 1409 Versailles Rd.
Hill-n-Dale Christian Church, 371 Hill 'n Dale Rd.
Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Bapt Church, 540 W Maxwell St.
Hunter Presbyterian Church, 109 Rosemont Garden.
Liberty Road Community Church, 2734 Liberty Rd.
Macedonia Christian Church, 4551 Winchester Rd.
Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, 356 Hillsboro Ave.
Nathaniel United Methodist Mission, 616 DeRoode St.
North Lexington Church of Christ, 549 Parkside Dr.
North View Baptist Church, 1742 Bryan Station Rd.
Palomar Baptist Church, 2190 Fort Harrod Dr.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2255 Eastland Pkwy.
Park United Methodist Church, 645 E. High St.
Parkway Baptist Church, 1915 N. Broadway.
St. John's Lutheran Church, 516 Pasadena Dr.
St. Luke United Methodist Church, 2351 Alumni Dr.
Second Presbyterian Church, 460 E. Main St.
Southern Acres Christian Church, 301 Harvard Dr.
Southern Hills United Meth Church, 2356 Harrodsburg Rd.
Southside Baptist Church, 201 Burley Ave.
Southside Church of Christ, 1533 Nicholasville Rd.
Tates Creek Christian Church, 3150 Tates Creek Rd.
Trinity Baptist Church, 1675 Strader Rd
Trinity Hill United Method Church, 3600 Tates Creek Rd.
Twin Pines Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1139 Tanbark Rd.
Victory Baptist Church, 2261 Armstrong Mill Rd.
Wellington Christian Church, 2334 Nicholasville Rd.

31 Churches in Other Kentucky Cities contacted by US Mail 6-7-03
The Church of the Holy Trinity, 209 S. Broadway, Georgetown
Community Missionary Church, 702 E. Main St., Wilmore
Corbin Presbyterian Church, 601 Master St.
Crosswoods Baptist Church, 4991 Harrodsburg Rd., Nicholasville
Edgewood Baptist Church, 717 S. Main St, Nicholasville
Faith Baptist Church, 3692 Huntertown Rd., Versailles
First Presbyterian Church, 330 W. Main St., Richmond
First United Methodist Church, 401 W. Main St., Richmond
Evangelical Free Church, 101 Grayson Way, Georgetown
Harrodsburg Baptist Church, 312 S. Main St., Harrodsburg
Hutchison United Meth Church, 251 Hutchison Rd., Paris
Mallard Point Baptist Church, 3580 Cincinnati Pike, Georgetown
Menifee County Church of Christ, 1695 Walnut St., Frenchburg
Midway Baptist Church, 121 S. Winter St., Midway
Midway First Christian Church, 123 E. Bruin St., Midway
Midway Presbyterian Church, Midway
Mt Vernon Baptist Church, 1220 Old Frankfort Pike, Versailles
Mt Zion United Method Church, 6155 Mt Sterling Rd., Winchester
Nicholasville Baptist Church, 131 S. Main St., Nicholasville
St. Andrews UMC, 1075 Ashgrove Rd., Nicholasville
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 4086 Frankfort Pike, White Sulphur
Southside Christian Church, 3621 Cabin Hill Lane, Versailles
Disciples of Christ Christian Church , 3210 Main St., Stamping Ground
Stanton First Church of God, 980 E. College Ave., Stanton
Thornhill Baptist Church, 1142 Holmes St., Frankfort
Troy Presbyterian Church, 11021 Troy Pike, Versailles
Versailles Presbyterian Church, 130 N. Main St., Versailles
White Sulphur Baptist Church, 5300 Ironworks Pike, Georgetown
Williams Memorial Baptist Church, 402 Poplar St., Ravenna
First United Methodist Church, 244 E. Broadway, Winchester
Woodford Community Christian Church, 320 Hope Lane, Versailles