We Need Each Other: Recovering Addicts and The Local Church

This manifesto is the result of many conversations among the Spiritual Life team at Helping Up Mission, where I work. The “we” that occurs throughout is the four of us — Gary, Kirk, Mike, and myself — speaking primarily to church leaders and church members in congregations that partner with us at HUM.

While Christian organizations like Helping Up Mission play a vital role in starting men on a path of recovery and Christian discipleship, we believe that local churches are the best context for men to continue their spiritual growth and find long-term support in their sobriety. We also believe that local churches can benefit greatly from welcoming recovering addicts into their communities. In other words, we need each other!