Recovery Ministry in the Church

Starting a recovery ministry in a church can be difficult. Many people in church leadership have little direct experience with addiction, but understand that it is a vital component of a successful program. Get this straight - gaining sobriety over any drug or behavior is never a self-help exercise. If a person suffering from addiction could stop on their own, they would have. Asking for help is a humiliating experience, and plays a vital role in developing the necessary humility required to allow God to start the healing. While it is true that sometimes a person is spontaneously healed one day like a light switch, far too often it is a slower and very frustrating process as God works on our hearts to teach us valuable lessons of reliance upon Him.

There are genetic and neurobiological reasons that are discussed in detail in the Him & Them book which make transformation of the mind seem more like a rheostat. In some people, it can take many months to experience relief from the desire to use. Early in the recovery period it is essential that a community of like-minded people be available for support. The first step in setting up a recovery ministry is to identify men and women that have experience in 12-step work, and have some enthusiasm for starting a new program. Ideally, both male and female leaders should be brought into the equation from the start.

After leaders are identified and a meeting time and place are assigned, a request should be made for folks with at least a year of 12-step experience wishing to help start a new ministry. When new people are referred to the group and show up seeking help with their addiction, there MUST be people there to offer to be their Recovery Partner. Having an initial meeting before opening it to those seeking sobriety seems most prudent. Getting everyone a book and/or a workbook so everyone is on the same page should be the first goal. If your church finds this to be a financial challenge, please contact Him & Them.

Now that there is some infrastructure to the ministry, an open invite can be extended to the congregation by whatever mechanism works best for the individual church. Alternatively, the pastoral staff may know of individuals seeking help and can invite them privately. Additionally, local Christian counselors can be notified that there is a new resource for their clients that need more support in their search for a new life. These kinds of ministries tend to grow by both promotion and word of mouth.

A new person coming into a group like this needs to be able to slide in without having to tell their entire story. There can be a great deal of shame associated with addiction, and being forced to confess as a requirement for admission is a non-starter for most people. The opportunity to remain anonymous should be offered as a new person decides if the group is right for them. Many people approach sobriety with ambivalence as to whether or not they “really have a problem.” They probably do, of course, but admitting it doesn’t come automatically. If a person seems to be ill, or shaky, they should be strongly encouraged to enlist a doctor’s help in detoxing. Alcohol and benzodiazepines can be risky to stop suddenly.

There are many possible formats for recovery meetings, but the best to start with is a greeting, an opening prayer, and then any general announcements. Next someone with a bit of sobriety shares their story of where they were, what God did for them, and where they are now in their walk for 10 minutes or so, and then picks a topic for general discussion. Larger groups might consider breaking into smaller units to allow for more sharing. If numbers allow, at least split into separate men’s and women’s groups. Finally, coming together for a closing prayer, and cleaning up the area should round up the meeting. 

Things like how long a meeting should last, if coffee is available, or if standard prayers are used, are up to the individual group, and personal preferences should be honored. When groups get large, consideration should be given to splitting into another meeting time to offer more flexibility to the ministry, and for new people to have more of their risky, spare time occupied. 

Him & Them is designed to work independently of the specific drug of choice (DOC), whether it be chemical or behavioral. The DOC isn’t the problem, it is the misguided attempt to treat the deeper issue. Often though, people with a similar DOC might wish to meet separately to share common experiences and challenges. Small groups for specific DOCs (like opiates or pornography) or perhaps to pursue different formats (like individual step study, or bible study), can and should also be encouraged. 

Spending time surrounded with a sober community that shares a common experience is a life saver to most – especially early in the transformation period. Looking for opportunities to develop community with a group dinner, sports outing or a service project are time-tested winners in building bonds that allow vulnerability to flourish, and for God to honor our efforts.