Darryl Strawberry is a name that baseball fans will recognize for many reasons…from his phenomenal 17-year Major League career to his battle with personal struggles off the field.
Today, the former baseball star is a born-again Christian evangelist and minister. He has overcome depression, two bouts with cancer, drug and sex addictions, abuse, divorces, jail time and other issues after finding restoration and redemption in Christ. And he is coming to Paulding.
Strawberry and others will be speaking at Branch Christian Fellowship April 14 as part of the Epidemic of Hope conference tour in northwest Ohio. This is an event geared toward helping those caught in addictions and will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
“I have a heart for people, especially those who are faced with conditions, situations or battles in their lives that often bring a deep sense of hopelessness to the soul,” he said. “As many people know, much of my life has been filled with the battles that left me without hope. However, that is not the case today.”
Darryl and his wife, Tracy, who together founded Strawberry Ministries, will present a powerful and cutting-edge event in response to Ohio’s current opioid/drug crisis. The Strawberrys will be speaking for 45 to 60 minutes.
“We are VERY pleased to be bringing in Darryl Strawberry to our church,” said Pastor Greg Cramer. “His story is a story of hope and redemption for everyone suffering from addiction. We welcome all who want to understand that they or their loved ones can find relief and strength to overcome.”
In addition to Saturday’s Paulding visit, the group will be visiting three schools on Friday followed by a satellite faith event conducted from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at New Life Christian Center in Celina.
Saturday evening after their Branch meeting, they travel to Van Wert where an appearance will be made at Trinity Friends Church from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. for another faith event. The following day, Sunday, April 15, two more events will be conducted at Niswonger Performing Arts Center. A youth event runs from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. followed by the main event from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For the main event the Strawberrys will be joined by Pastor Jerry O’Brein of Faith Harvest Fellowship and Harvest Recovery Ministries in Wooster, plus representatives from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s outreach team and from Woodhaven Ohio, a drug and treatment center.
“We are excited to bring Darryl Strawberry and the Epidemic of Hope event to Northwest Ohio, especially Paulding County,” said Pastor Paul Hamrick. “This is an once-in-a-lifetime event to bring a program of this caliber to our area. I recommend that you come early to get a good seat at Branch Christian Fellowship.”
The Epidemic of Hope promises to be a night of education, enlightenment, equipping and hope. Organizers encourage people to be a catalyst for change by attending one of the events scheduled over the upcoming weekend. It is sponsored by the Van Wert County Ministerial Association and area churches.
Branch Christian Fellowship is located at 109 N. Main St., Paulding which is the old Armory on the east side of the Courthouse Square.
