Churches help addicted on the road to recovery

Churches have been cornerstones of the recovery process for decades. From Alcoholics Anonymous on up, a faith-based element has been important for the recovery process of many as they give their selves and their problems over to something greater than themselves.

“We couldn’t do this on our own,” Patient 3, an addict in recovery with S.T.E.P.S. of Recovery said. “It’s God that makes it possible.”

While this doesn’t work for everyone, and obviously shouldn’t be the only approach to addiction and recovery, there is no denying that their faith, and the church, is important for many as they work through the recovery process.

The church can provide them with that sense of community that so many of them are missing, whether as a result of having to abandon old acquaintances to avoid temptation, or because they have alienated their old friends and family while in the grips of active addiction.

But the church, in addition to being a source of community for the addict, can work with the greater secular community to help addicts as they get their lives in order, and to address the larger social issues that lead to abuse and addiction in the first place.

In addition to leading Crossroads Church in Circleville, Pastor Tim Throckmorton serves on the Board of Directors for STAR Community Justice Center.

His church sponsors their own recovery services, through Reformers Unanimous. Throckmorton explained that the program deals with the whole family, offering counseling and biblical instruction, as well as encouraging conversation and, importantly, listening while interacting with spouses, parents and children.

“We’ve used this at Crossroads for five years now,” Throckmorton said, noting that having a group like this also encourages relationships between faith based entities and law enforcement.

“That’s a nice relationship to have,” Throckmorton said. “By partnering with local law enforcement, judges, and other faith based organizations… if someone needs more than we can provide (we have access to it). Having that resource with our churches is transformative in dealing with this epidemic.”

Throckmorton said that providing understanding and care was part and parcel of a church’s mission, as was acknowledging the value that each individual brings to the church and the community. This, he said, is why it’s so important to offer that help to those struggling with addiction.

“Churches are faith communities, so understanding the purpose of each other is built in,” he said. “There is value in knowing what others go through, and what a family is dealing with. When you’re around others who are struggling, the opportunity to grow and add value… is there in that community. Also accountability, affirmation, and confirmation.”

“These are still people of worth and value,” he continued. “The only people who say that (we should write addicts off) have never had a loved one go through this.”

But whether you understand it or not, or had someone you loved endure, it, Throckmorton said that if one is a Christian they are called to provide love and support to those in need.

Addiction, recovery, and all the social problems that initiate and reinforce the cycles of addiction, are all issues that the church should be addressing, Throckmorton said, and “poised” to take action on.

“This (addiction and recovery) is such a prevalent issue in our state… everybody knows this is the real deal,” Throckmorton said. “I’ve worked with the attorney general at a number of events, taking about faith based involvement. The church is poised to make the greatest difference. There are churches everywhere, people of faith everywhere. Not only are we poised to do it… but every church in America has people in it affected by this.”

Matthew 25:40 reads, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (NIV)
Throckmorton said that verse is important to keep in mind when you are considering the problems that face our society, including addiction.

“Jesus came to touch lives,” Throckmorton said, “and we are called to do the same.”

Next week we’ll continue our look at how the community can help support recovery and overcoming the opiate abuse epidemic that plagues our region.