A Baptist minister plans to walk across the U.S. starting this June in an effort to raise awareness about addiction recovery and encourage more churches to reach out to addicts, the Baptist Press reported April 12.

Durham, N.C., minister Ted Stone has previously completed three such walks, the last in 2000. A battle with colon cancer postponed a planned walk in 2002; the trek is now scheduled to start in mid 2006 in Chicago and end nine weeks later in Pensacola, Fla. Stone will be 72 when he finishes.

"It is true that my legs may not be what they once were, but the grace of God remains every bit as sufficient as it has ever been, and I am confident that our Lord will see me successfully through the journey," said Stone.

Stone said that faith offers addicts a pathway out of addiction. "Most programs use something to substitute for the abuser's addiction," he said. "Some even refer to a higher power. But my message is that by putting your dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, you can break your dependence on chemical substances."

During his walk, Stone hopes to meet with host congregations to discuss addiction and faith-based recovery and urge churches to become part of the solution. "We are in the business of changing the hearts of men and women," said Stone. "We represent Jesus here on the face of this earth, and broken people depend on us."

Stone's "HIS Way" ministry trains Christian mentors to aid recovering addicts and urge them to embrace Christianity.