UPDATE 11/19/12
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Hundreds prayed together Sunday at Pikeville's "Fire in the Mountains" rally.

Operation Unite's prayer rally brought local churches together to worship and pray.

With hands lifted and prayers raised, hundreds continued to fight against drug abuse, and the crowd at Fire in the Mountains believed prayer was the only answer.

Especially for those who have been through the fight before.
“I was a drug addict for 10 years started smoking weed when I was thirteen, and it just escalated from there,” said George Mann.

People from local churches came together in Pikeville to pray for the region and anyone who may be addicted.

Everyone was invited to write down any prayer requests, and then it was take to the foot of a cross in front of the stage to be prayed over.

Those praying said they are not relying on themselves or their church for change.

“It's not through a Christian community. It's through the power of god that these people can change,” said Vonda Mann.

They called on a higher power that they said goes much deeper than an addiction.

“The community today has a lot of different ways to battle this problem, but it's in just a physical way or means and doesn't take care of the root of the problem,” said George.

Something they will continue to battle one prayer at a time.

The rally was also held in Somerset and Corbin.

Operation Unite says the “Fire in the Mountains” rallies will take place at the Pikeville Expo Center, Somerset Christian School and the old Civic Center in Corbin. Each event will start at 3 p.m.

Community members and church congregations plan to gather at the locations and pray for the same things.

Karen Kelly with Operation Unite says the victims of drug abuse include the children and families of addicts so prayers at each location will focus on "addicts, their families, their children."

In Pikeville, the agenda will include:

Special Music – City of Hope Worship Team

Welcome – Karen Kelly, director, Operation UNITE

Special Music – Morgan George, singer/songwriter, and the City of Hope Worship Team

Prayer for Pastors – Barry Chaney, evangelist and member of the Pikeville City Commission

Prayer for Families – Jody Conley, worship pastor at Allen Baptist Church

Prayer for Youth – Jeff Sheppard, NCAA’s Final Four Most Valuable Player in the University of Kentucky’s 1997-98 championship season

Special Music – Led by City of Hope Worship Team

Prayer for Law Enforcement/Officials/Court System – Pike District and Drug Court Judge Kelsey E. Friend and Trooper Randy Hunter, Kentucky State Police Post 9

Prayer for Military – Dr. William T. Fannin, U.S. Army, retired

Prayer for Medical Community – Dr. Ronald Mann, family practitioner

Special Music – Led by City of Hope Worship Team

Prayer for Treatment/Recovery – Josh Huffman, youth pastor at Trinity Harvest Church and recovering addict, and Don McClelland, graduate of Chad’s Hope Teen Challenge Center, representing First Baptist Church of Louisa

Prayer for Educators – Phillip Birchfield, Principal of Mullins Elementary School

Charge – Pastor Ken Bolin, Manchester Baptist Church

Closing Music – Led by City of Hope Worship Team