Ignited celebrates recovery at 2nd annual banquet

SHELBY — Ignited’s second annual banquet brought prayer, testimony and celebration to Shelby, as the community gathered to highlight recovery and hope for women overcoming addiction on Thursday night.

Kathy Durflinger, president of the Ignited board and Chief Nursing Officer at Avita Health Systems, reminded the crowd that she is not only a nurse and leader, but also the mother of a recovering addict.

She admitted she and her husband never believed one of their children would battle substance abuse.

“Addiction does not discriminate,” Durflinger said.

Her daughter’s journey included cycling through rehab and detox centers. While they saw temporary progress, there was no lasting change.

“I’ll never forget overhearing a probation officer say ‘that girl will never make it’ as I sat there, and they didn’t know I was the mom,” she said. “Those words pierced my heart and ignited a fire in me.”

Joining multiple support groups and involvement with a prevention coalition were helpful, Durflinger said, but leaning on prayer is what she said was most important.

“As a nurse, I was trained to fix things,” she said. “But this was not something I could fix. I had to let go …

“After 15 years of struggle, our daughter is free,” she said. “Ignited met her where she was. The women of this ministry loved her through it and continue to do so.”

The theme of the evening, Fan the Flame, carried throughout the program.

“Our theme is more than words — it is our mission to ignite faith, purpose and recovery in every life we touch,” Durflinger said.

Mosler shares the struggles that sparked a mission

Founder and Executive Director of Ignited, Kimberly Mosler, said the event was a celebration of healing, growing and recovery.

By 2017, Mosler said she had overdosed more than 20 times, and when she would look in the mirror, she was unrecognizable.

“When we share our stories, it breaks through the barriers of shame and guilt that so many people walk around with,” Mosler said.

In 2018, Mosler checked into a facility in Willard. There, she said she found the love of Jesus, and her life would never be the same.

The facility shut down in 2020. Mosler said this led to a lack of long-term, faith-based recovery housing for women.

“I will never forget the moment the Lord got a hold of my heart,” Mosler said. “And he called me to stay not only in Richland County, but specifically in Shelby.”

“He could hear the cries of his women,” she said. “I will never forget that.”

From that moment, Mosler said they began to build the vision of Ignited. It’s a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to sparking hope in the lives of women who are overcoming substance abuse, trauma and exploitation.

“So, what is the problem?” Mosler asked. “Why are we even here tonight?”

She explained that women in the area lack resources to help them reintegrate after addiction.

Ignited does not accept Medicare or Medicaid and is not funded through insurance. Instead, the organization provides holistic care, including discipleship, art therapy and a structured curriculum.

“I think being here tonight, you will see there is evidence this works,” Mosler said.

Ignited graduate shares testimony

Melinda Chester, an Ignited graduate, was celebrating 10 months of sobriety.

After years of struggling with addiction, Chester found herself losing custody of her four children. She said this led her to go down a path of recovery.

“I knew I had to change,” she said.

She checked herself into a rehab center in Cincinnati, which was four hours away from her children. She said while it was the hardest thing she has ever done, it was the move that made her sober.

On Feb. 17, 2025, Chester entered the home of Ignited. She said it was only a stone’s throw away from her children.

“That was all God,” she said.

After she entered the doors of Ignited, Chester said she felt an immediate change in her heart.

“So kind and caring, the women heard my cries and guided me to Jesus Christ,” she said. “I was saved on Feb. 26, 2025.”

An evening of community and hope

The evening opened with appetizers and social time, followed by a prayer and introduction from Pastor Chance Barnett.

Shelby Mayor Steven Schag shared words of thanks and offered another prayer before guests enjoyed a buffet dinner provided by Avita.

Attendees browsed and bid on silent auction items, with the winners announced at the end of the evening. Attendees also enjoyed live music and a dance performance.

The evening closed with words from the Ignited Program Director, Diane Ream and Mosler. They highlighted the many different ways people could volunteer or apply at Ignited.

(Pictures from the second annual Ignited banquet. Picture credit: Hannah Martin)