PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ANNUAL LUNCHEON … Mary (left) and Victor (right) Juarez of Never Let Go Ministries of Edgerton welcomed those who attended the Ninth Annual Never Let Go Ministries Luncheon held on Saturday, April 25, at the Edgerton Village Hall.
MISS WILLIAMS COUNTY SPEAKS … Miss Williams County Felicity Thiel reflected on overcoming her own adversity during the ninth annual Never Let Go Ministries Luncheon held on Saturday, April 25, at the Edgerton Village Hall.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Never Let Go Ministries of Edgerton held its ninth annual Luncheon of Hope on Saturday, April 25, at the Edgerton Village Hall.
The purpose of the luncheon, according to Mary Juarez, who is the co-founder of Never Let Go Ministries along with her husband Victor Juarez, is to give a day of awareness and hope for those who attended the event.
It also featured several people who shared their own different testimonies on how they were affected by drugs and their own loved ones affected by drugs.
There was a memorial photo table for those who had lost their lives because of drug addiction. This year, Never Let Go Ministries added a sobriety photo table for all of those who survived addiction and came back.
MOTHER’S MISSION BORN FROM TRAGEDY
“Basically, it’s all about hope today,” said Mary Juarez. “I lost my son (Marjoe Gineman) in 2010 and from that day on our lives changed forever and I don’t want anybody else to go through that. We do every day try to reach out and help people.”
Fighting addiction with strength and saving lives with hope was the personal motivation of Mary Juarez’s presentation about her late son who died April 18, 2010, from drug addiction.
“Sixteen years ago, we buried my son (Marjoe) and that is when Never Let Go Ministries all began,” commented Mary Juarez.
“Thank you to everybody who has prayed for us, encouraged us. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without my husband and my family.
“For all you people here to thank us for what we do. We owe you a million thanks because you keep us going and you give us a reason to keep going.”
Never Let Go Ministries believes that every person is born for a specific purpose in life, and for that purpose to be fulfilled, the need to provide guidance, values and a strong support system.
Now more than ever with broken families, suicides, drug and alcohol abuse and hopelessness, there is a desperate need to bring faith, hope and courage back into society.
BRINGING AWARENESS AND ERASING STIGMA
Mary Juarez pointed out the purpose of the luncheon focused on bringing awareness, erasing the stigma, celebrating recovery and sharing hope of the ministry.
“Because when we went through this with my son (Marjoe) sixteen years ago, the state was horrible on drug addiction,” commented Mary Juarez. “Every one of you who has struggled with addiction you are amazing people.”
Mary Juarez said the Lord had big plans for her son’s life, but Marjoe didn’t go according to God’s plan and his life got on a detour.
“So, this was not all in memory of Marjoe when we first started out, it was kind of a memory of Marjoe,” said Mary Juarez. “Now there are so many people I know who have lost their lives to drugs or alcohol.
“I want to remind all of you there is always hope, even God took a tragedy of Marjoe’s death and turned it into something beautiful. When all of us come together today in hope and remember all of those who have walked and lost because of addiction, it gives us more power to want to keep fighting.
“And for all those sober people on that photo table over there, you guys keep fighting and don’t you ever quit.”
MISS WILLIAMS COUNTY SHARES PERSONAL STRUGGLE
2026 Miss Williams County Felicity Thiel of Edgerton, who has worked with the Never Let Go Ministry, addressed the audience from a youth perspective.
Thiel said that she hasn’t used either drugs or alcohol, but has been affected by them whether through friends, family or simply seeing what they can do to people.
“I’ve seen the impact,” she commented. “I’m not here to tell you how drugs or alcohol are bad and I know you heard the speech. Instead, I’m going to tell you my story and hopefully it will inspire you.
“As well as for my own peers, you don’t have to go down a dark path of drugs and alcohol.”
She would reflect on herself as a very different person nearly two years ago because she was negative and hated the world.
“I was struggling more than anyone around me could realize,” Thiel admitted. “I had anxiety and at the time it got worse and depression hit hard. At that time, I didn’t say anything, I was just too scared.
“I thought asking for help would make me look different. So, I kept everything inside and tried to be strong as long as I could. The truth is everything has a breaking point and I reached mine.”
REACHING A BREAKING POINT
Having reached a breaking point in her life, it was on November 18, 2024, she had attempted to take her own life with a bottle of ibuprofen.
“I wasn’t looking for drugs or alcohol to reach a high, I just didn’t want to feel anything anymore,” Thiel said. “I wanted the pain to stop and to say it plainly, I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
She was finally admitted into a mental hospital about a year and a half ago.
“At first, I didn’t want help, but I wanted to get out because I didn’t believe anything could get better,” Thiel commented.
“But then something changed, I met a therapist who truly saw me and for the first time, I started to believe that maybe things could get better. It started small, but I realized I wasn’t alone, and there were other people who felt exactly how I felt. And people who cared about me dearly that was my support system.”
FINDING HOPE AND PURPOSE
Thiel began to find herself again because she went back to the little things that once made her happy like watching cartoons, getting herself to smile again and becoming more able to feel joy.
She also remembered the time she had stopped competing in pageants because she was bullied out of it but decided to try again because it once made her feel confident and happy within herself.
“When I came back, I was asked the question, ‘What do you want to do for a platform,’” Thiel mentioned. “At first, I didn’t know, but then I thought about everything that I’ve been through and then I realized I wanted to turn my pain into purpose. That’s when I created my platform to live more and stress less.
“This platform I create and distribute stress less bags to organizations in my community. These bags are filled with resources from mental health support, stress free items, small toys and bracelets, simple things that can remind someone they’re not alone and help is within reach.”
Thiel has partnered with Never Let Go Ministries alongside Mary and Victor Juarez; she has been able to support many individuals who are struggling, just like she was.
“Because I know what it feels like,” pointed out Thiel. “While I never turned to drugs or alcohol, I try to understand why some people do.
“When you feel overwhelmed, numb or easily look for something or anything that might take away that feeling even if it’s only temporary. But I do know this, that temporary escape can turn into something that takes even more away. There are healthier, safer ways to cope that can actually lead you forward instead of holding you back.”
She then continued, “I was a different person when I was struggling. I wanted to show people especially young people you don’t have to turn to drugs or alcohol to escape.
“I understand how tempting it can be to look for a quick fix. I also know this; healing is possible, but you have to be persistent and have will. I tell you it’s going to be hard, but you’re going to have those days when you don’t feel like getting out of bed.
“But you have to push through, because hope is real, and you are never as alone as you feel. So always have room for others, because you can never know what they’re going through.
“Most importantly, have room for yourself, give yourself grace, give yourself time and give yourself a chance to heal.”
MESSAGE OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE
“There was a time I didn’t think I would be here today, but I am,” she then added. “If I can go from once feeling hopeless to standing in front of you as Miss Williams County, and I can promise you wherever you are right now, it can get better. You just have to hold on long enough to see it. My story isn’t over and neither is yours.
“My challenge to you is to live a little bit more and stress a little bit less and make it a great day, not just a good day.”
OTHER VOICES OF RECOVERY
Also speaking at the luncheon was Nicky Ferguson, a mental health and substance abuse liaison for the MAN UNIT (Multi-Area Narcotics Unit) along with several persons who spoke about overcoming their own drug or alcohol addiction.