They Didn't Know What To Do With Me

I am interested in the F.A.I.T.H. Initiatives’ program to help churches have addiction prevention and recovery support ministries because I have a personal experience with being harmed by well-meaning church members who simply did not have a frame of reference for what to do with me as a young person struggling with addiction. It brings joy to me to be part of helping the church gain understanding of the best ways to interact with people around drugs and alcohol.

I am participating in this ministry primarily because it is very much in line with my own personal calling. Someone once asked me how I see myself in the recovery world and I said “I see myself as a bridge.” The mission of GOAL Project and F.A.I.T.H. Initiatives in particular is one more way that I can be a bridge between the faith community and the recovery community. So I fully support GOAL in their mission to equip faith leaders minister to their congregation by providing addiction education and resources to not only those suffering with full blown SUD, but also to step into prevention and support roles for their congregants. F.A.I.T.H. Initiatives’ trainings meet an enormous need. SUD affects a person and their family body, mind, and spirit. F.A.I.T.H. Initiatives jumps into the space where the spiritual nature of the solution meets the secular nature of the current modalities. The church also has access to the family in a non-clinical setting where peer support happens. All the research around SUD suggests that peer support is critical for both the individual seeking recovery as well as their family. The faith community has a large role to play and through F.A.I.T.H. Initiatives, they now also have access to solid training and support to achieve that goal.

I also pray that through this ministry, it will help bring unity and community between individual churches as they network and support each other further uniting the body of Christ.