Life Recovery Group Leader Spotlight
The Life Recovery Group Leader Spotlight is a monthly conversation with one of our
faithful Life Recovery Group Leaders, from across the country.
“There was nothing that we could have done to stop your brain from bleeding,” the doctors told George Smith when he woke up in the hospital after being brutally beaten and suffering a traumatic brain injury.
But George knew it was God who had healed him and kept him alive. Having surrendered his life to the Lord, he has continued in his recovery, and now leads The Steps Work – Life Recovery 12-Step Bible Study online every Sunday, 7 to 8:30 pm EST.
When Amy Payne looked into the mirror, she could hardly believe the meth addict and drug dealer staring back was her. It took facing death for her to surrender her life to Christ. With six years of sobriety under her belt, she now leads the All In Recovery Small Group at VH Dream Center in Scottsville, KY, every Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 pm.
After discovering that their daughter was addicted to Heroin, Chris and Jill began attending Al-Anon meetings to help contribute to their daughter’s recovery, rather than her addiction. However, it wasn’t long before each of them discovered that “Recovery is for Everyone” including themselves!
Chris and Jill have been leading the Life Recovery meeting at Grace Fellowship Church in Shrewsbury, PA for eleven years. The group meets on Tuesday nights at 7pm.
“I’ve seen too many people do Step One, Two, and Three, then attempt to glide through the rest of recovery.”—Peter Lucas
“Sadly,” Peter pointed out, “It’s a matter of when—not if—their self-medicating instinct will creep back in.”
Life Recovery Groups’ Coordinator, Terri Ward, interviews Peter about his recovery program and why Life Recovery Step Four is essential to recovery.
Peter leads the Chippewa Valley Christ Centered Recovery Program in Chippewa Valley, WI, on Mondays, 6:00-7:00 PM CST.
“Everyone wants to be loved. But when they’re struggling with addiction, they don’t have love,” says Shannon Glaser.
By going into drug houses, praying with addicts, and inviting them to her Life Recovery Group, Shannon has shown love to those in her community. Shannon and her husband Tony lead the Life Recovery Group at the First Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Chesterton, IL, each Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM CST. They also meet at these additional locations: Life Recovery in Thebes, IL; Life Recovery in Willisville, IL; Life Recovery – Online.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bill and Jackie LeClair did not let that stop them from carrying the message of Life Recovery. When a woman from Australia contacted them and requested a Life Recovery Bible, they sent her one, even though the borders of Australia were closed.
Bill and Jackie lead the Life Recovery Ministries at North Star Community Church in Coon Rapids, MN. Their group meets in person every Friday, 6:30-8:30 pm, at the North Star Community Church.
Identifying and equipping leaders from within your group is an important part of “giving back what we have been so freely given” in Life Recovery! Elevate Recovery Online Groups are a great example of this very thing!
Jericha Osborn leads the Elevate Recovery Online Group for women on Thursdays, and Tarra Melioris leads the Elevate Recovery Online Group for men and women on Mondays.
Why does Pastor Bobby have a heart for those who are far from God? Because he spent 33 years running from God, after what he calls the “worst year of my life”. But after turning to the Lord, Bobby wanted to help others understand how much God loves them.
He is now the executive pastor at Franklin Heights Church in Rocky Mount, VA, and the campus pastor at the Rocky Mount Campus. Every Tuesday night, 6:30-8:00 pm EST, he also leads the in-person Recovery Church.
Want to start a Life Recovery Group?
Marc Calvert wanted to start a group, but he was nervous and didn’t know how he was going to do it.
But after one phone call, God miraculously provided. And he now leads the Turning Points group at the Sunflower Community Center in Perkinston, MS.
“I walked away from the New Life Workshop changed,” says Elizabeth Whitney.
Then later at a church service, Elizabeth Whitney and her future husband got on their hands and knees surrendered their alcohol and substance abuse to the Lord. Elizabeth now leads the Chapel Recovery Group in Midlothian, VA, every Thursday from 6:30-7:30 EST.
“God, remove the mess I’ve made of my life,” Robert Joslyn cried in a treatment facility. Then he finally stopped using alcohol and cocaine. Terri Ward, Life Recovery Groups’ Coordinator, talks to Robert and his wife, Nichole. They lead the Life Recovery Group at The Ascent Church in Monument, Colorado.
Have you ever hit rock bottom? Lewis Johnson did—literally! He died on his daughter’s floor. Then after being in a coma, God woke him up. Lewis stopped using drugs and alcohol. And he now leads Open Door Recovery—a Life Recovery Group in Bailey, NC. Visit the group page.
"If not for the Lord, I probably would not be here today."—Ben Spencer
After 34 years of being wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he never committed, Ben was finally released. He now leads the Life Recovery Groups at First Baptist Dallas in Dallas, TX. Along with Anna Schaefer, the Prison Ministry Coordinator, he uses our Life Recovery resources.
Jeanie Fulton’s life abruptly changed when her alcoholic husband shot her and committed suicide. While recovering in the hospital, she read Romans 10:9-10 and surrendered her drinking and life to God. She is now the leader of the Life Recovery Group at Crosspointe Church in Ada, Oklahoma.
Tenneh Hollins, LCDC, never imagined God would call her out of drug addiction to become an addiction counselor herself and lead a Life Recovery Group. But God’s calling, at times, was so persistent that she couldn’t even sleep at night. So in December, she started the Iron Sharpens Iron group that meets online every Friday, 7:00-8:30 pm. Terri Ward, Life Recovery Groups’ Coordinator, talks with Tenneh about her inspiring story.
Kelly Phillips lived a life of crime and drug addiction. But after collapsing at church, she got up and started a new life. Watch Life Recovery Groups’ Coordinator, Terri Ward, talk with Kelly about the Life Recovery Groups she leads in Middlefield, OH.
After smoking weed, taking speed, and drinking, Michael Orr had planned to kill himself. But he heard a voice saying everything was going to be all right. While attending Alcoholics Anonymous, he received The Life Recovery Bible. Years later, Michael is now sober and leads the 12 Step Life Recovery Bible Study in Burnley, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
What lie kept Matthew Street in bondage?
He believed the lie that he couldn’t have fun without drugs or alcohol. But after working the 12 Steps, Matthew has been free from addiction for three years.
What makes in-person Life Recovery at FBC Park Street in Charlottesville, VA, so diverse? Find out more.
Walk into a recovery meeting at Life Recovery Signal Hill in CA, and what will you get? A warm hug, food, and coffee. During the first half of the meeting, the group goes through The Life Recovery Workbook; in the second half, they study the Gospel of John using The Life Recovery Bible.
Amos Swepston grew up in a family of alcoholics. One night, his stepfather held a shotgun in his face. But he overcame his past and now leads the Life Recovery of Hutchinson group in Hutchinson, KS. Visit the group page.
After crying out to Jesus, John Goddard overcame his alcohol cravings. He now leads Humble Beginnings, a Life Recovery Group in Lemoyne, PA. If you’d like to start a Life Recovery Group, don’t miss Life Recovery Groups’ Coordinator Terri Ward’s interview with John. Visit the group page.