Locke went on to explain what he described as the difference between rebellious hearts and people who struggle with addiction.
“You have to understand something about the reality of people that struggle with addictions, some of which are in this room,” he said. “There’s a massive difference between someone that has a rebellious heart and a struggling flesh.”
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He continued, “Evan didn’t have a rebellious bone in his body, but he struggled, and we don’t minimize that struggle. The struggle was the proof of the calling of God upon his life that everyone knows was upon his life.”
During the service, Locke spoke directly to Evan’s best friend, James, who also struggles with addiction.
“To the detriment of many times us not wanting them to, James and Evan were the best of friends,” Locke shared. “A couple of years ago, I sat with James’ parents when you were in a hospital, and we didn’t think you were going to be the one that was going to make it. But God spared you, son. God spared you.”
“James has a calling of God on his life, an anointing that he’s just run from because he’s not had enough good men around him to keep him strong,” Locke said. “[James] told me the other day, ‘I wish I had somebody that could help me.’”
Locke encouraged the men at the church to come alongside Evan’s best friend.
“Global Vision men, there should be at least 10 of you in this room right now that would share your cell phone number with this man and hold his feet to the fire and keep him right,” he said. “Don’t let my son, his best friend, die in vain and then let it happen to James. You’re going to preach the gospel, son. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is going to reside on your life.”
“You’re going to beat addiction and our church is going to stand with you every step of the way,” he added. “We’re going to have to have some men in this church that’ll give that boy their cell phone number and say, ‘Enough is enough, devil. You won’t get another one in this house.’”
