What Is NICEVILLE Strong?

Our Story
OUR STORY

Where It Began

2017 was a record year for our area, and it wasn’t a good thing. Okaloosa County saw a 55% increase in felony narcotics arrests, and Niceville saw a 67% increase in overall drug arrests. President Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency and communities everywhere were facing the deadliest drug overdose epidemic in U.S. History.

Teen suicide rates skyrocketed 76% in the decade preceding 2018. In the last five years of that time period, Okaloosa County lost 30 young people – 17 of which were between the ages of nine and 18. This unfortunate turn of events resulted in Okaloosa ranking in the top 10 of Florida counties for youth suicides.

How We Responded

In August 2017, a group of concerned citizens organized the first Niceville Strong. The annual event continues to bring together community leaders and concerned citizens for a night of prayer, praise and worship, and speakers from our high school, churches and the local community.

Who we Are

Niceville Strong is a faith based non-profit 501C3 organization that aims to bring awareness to the local community regarding drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, violence, and suicide, as well as provide hope and the resources available to combat these issues.

What’s Next

We want to extend an invitation to other communities to join us in this critical mission. At the heart of our movement is the belief that prayer is our strongest weapon. Through corporate prayer, we find the strength, guidance, and courage needed to take on these challenges.

Contact us if you are interested in planning a prayer rally in your community.  We offer consultation, free of charge, using the experience we’ve gathered over the past seven years in putting a large event together of this caliber. In some circumstances, we can even help cover the overhead to get you started.

By embracing prayer and working hand in hand, we can bring healing, restoration, and hope to those who need it most. Let’s extend this movement beyond Niceville, transforming lives and communities across the nation, one prayer and one action at a time.

Yes, I’m Interested in a Prayer Rally

BOARD MEMBERS

Perian & Eddie Herring

CO-FOUNDERS CEO/CFO

Perian and Eddie Herring are co-founders of Niceville Strong, Inc.  Since 2013, they have run a local ministry called Parakaleo, a weekly support/prayer group for families that have loved ones suffering from life controlling issues. 

Selena Chavis

PUBLIC RELATIONS / MEDIA
Selena Chavis brings more than 25 years as a writer and public relations strategist to the Niceville Strong team. A journalism graduate from the University of GA, she runs a boutique communications business from her home and serves as the pianist for her local church.

Hanna Hutchinson

BOARD MEMBER
Hannah Hutchinson is the Associate Campus Pastor at Crosspoint’s Niceville Campus. She grew up in Mississippi and recently moved to Niceville from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where she was a pastor for three years.

James Ross

BOARD MEMBER
James is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church on Bayshore.  He has served as a pastor in Okaloosa County for fourteen years.  He has also been heavily involved in the community including mentoring and coaching youth sports.

Chris Shinnick

BOARD MEMBER
Chris is the lead pastor at Manna Church in Niceville and on the board of directors for Niceville Strong. Chris is an ordained minister who graduated from Denver Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity degree in 2010.

Member of Niceville-Valparasio

Chamber of Commerce

RSVP FOR NICEVILLE STRONG 2024

October 13, 2024

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