Recovery Church aims to help people grow in faith, recovery at house of worship near Pine Grove

Hyun Soo Lee, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·3 min read

PINE GROVE — People in recovery are invited to a special church service Friday at Pine Grove Wesleyan Church, which is hosting its first rendition of what’s called a Recovery Church program.

The service, which will be held weekly at 7 p.m., is part of the national Recovery Church Movement, aimed at helping those in early recovery grow in their faith while conquering addiction and related issues.

“It bridges the 12-step programs, like AA and Narcotics Anonymous, with the church,” said the Rev. David Brady, pastor. “It meshes them. It takes people from recovery … and connects them to a church in a way that is still something that they’re used to, in regards to recovery.”

Recovery Church

Signs at Pine Grove Wesleyan Church herald the launch of a Recovery Church initiative at the house of worship.

Brady said he was inspired to bring the Recovery Church to Pine Grove when he learned there were some people in his congregation recovering from addiction and alcoholism.

He said the Recovery Church Movement includes Bible lessons and other elements that are based on the 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Part of the Pine Grove church’s mission statement, Brady said, is the concept of discovering one’s purpose — in this case, helping fellow people in recovery “find that there’s more to life than the drugs and the alcohol.”

Led by Brady and three other church members — who are also in recovery — the Recovery Church will be similar to the church’s Sunday services, lasting approximately an hour and a half. They are private, confidential services that will include worship, prayer and testimonies from those in recovery, Brady said.

“That’s pretty much what a Friday looks like,” said Brady, who has overcome drug-related issues in the past. “It’s a lot of spending time together, being comfortable with one another and knowing that it’s a safe space.”

Anyone is welcome to attend a Recovery Church service, and registration is not required.

Pine Grove Wesleyan Church is located at 74 Bethel Road (Route 501) south of Pine Grove in Pine Grove Twp.

As someone who has “been in that world,” Brady sees the Recovery Church Movement as a way to give back to the community.

While he did not struggle with addiction himself, Brady was heavily involved with dealing drugs and used them recreationally.

“Because of the kind of people I hung out with and the activities I was involved in,” he said, “it definitely played a role in probably other people’s addictive behaviors — helping supply that and keeping them locked in to it.

“I feel that this is a way for me to just give back, as a way of saying that there’s redemption through anybody’s story.”

Every week, leading up to its Friday service, the church will set up signs, cards and other materials near the sanctuary to promote the Recovery Church.

Based in Florida, the Recovery Church Movement was founded in 2010 as a way to help those through recovery and become disciple-makers within the recovery community.

The movement now includes 75 churches across the country, including in three other locations in Pennsylvania: Allentown, Pittsburgh and Sunbury.

“(The Recovery Church Movement) is led by people that are actually in recovery,” Brady said. “The only people who really understand people that are recovering are people who are in recovery.”