3. EXPERIENCE NEW COMMUNITY ‘Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently… Carry each other’s burdens’ Galatians 6:1-2 NIV
God created us for community and to be part of a body bigger than ourselves and our immediate family. We need to be constantly reminded of who we are in Christ
(see above, ’EMBRACE YOUR NEW IDENTITY’) and encouraged in our lifestyles (see ‘EXERCISE SOME NEW HABITS’). That’s why He gave us the church. Our churches should be places where grace is extended to those who are struggling with addiction, and the families of addicts can be supported while they find healing. Sadly this is not always the case, and addicts can be met with judgement instead of mercy, rejection instead of acceptance. You may need to find a supportive Christian community outside of your local church. Another local church may have a specific recovery group or ministry, or you may have to travel in order to find one. Once again, freedom is not found in a supportive community – it is only the truth about Jesus’ finished work on the cross which sets us free (John 8:32). But supportive, caring community is essential to anyone seeking freedom from addiction
TRY....
Freedom from addiction usually starts with the risky step of becoming vulnerable enough to tell others about your struggle. Find a group of people who can help and get started. Some suggestions of where to look for help are offered on page 15.
WAS BORN in Salford, Manchester. I really struggled at school and left with no qualifications. It was then I met a group of guys who were taking drugs. They were smoking cannabis, taking amphetamines and using LSD. That’s when I started to use drugs. Before long, we were all using heroin. Eventually, I started to deal cannabis, LSD and speed. I then met a girl who was 11 years older than me called Lisa. She was an addict too. We moved into a flat together in Moss Side. That’s when I started to deal heroin. It wasn’t long before I was on the treadmill of crime, prison, crime, prison, crime, prison. After one sentence, I went on a nine-month bender when I wouldn’t let myself sleep. I’d just sit there making house music with my electronic music equipment, taking whizz and other drugs. Right out of the blue, I started to hear voices. I was later admitted to Cheadle Royal psychiatric unit in Manchester. Nine years later, I was still hearing voices. I was now an outpatient. By now I’d split up with Lisa and I was living in Rochdale. Then one Thursday, I got chatting to this guy on a bus. On the Sunday, I was taking my dog for a walk and I met him again outside the local hospital. He told me he’d been to a church that met in the hospital ground. The next day, I was walking past the hospital and I was looking for a church, but I couldn’t see it. On the Wednesday, I had an appointment with my new psychiatrist. This was my first appointment since moving to Rochdale. That afternoon, I was taking my dog for a walk past the hospital again, and I still couldn’t see a church. On the Friday, one of my neighbours knocked on my door. Her name is Dot. I asked her if she knew where the church was. She said, ‘Yes, course I do; I go to that church! I’ll take you on Sunday morning!’ On the Sunday, we walked into the church. I sat down next to Dot. There was a tap on my shoulder, I looked round; it was the guy that I’d met on the bus! And then five minutes later, I heard the words behind me, ‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!’ I looked round, and it was my psychiatrist! Remember, I was suffering from psychosis. I thought, ‘Have these guys been following me?’ The speaker asked if people wanted prayer. I thought, ‘What have I got to lose?’ I asked him to pray for my heroin addiction and the voices. As he prayed for me, I started to shake, tears started to run down my cheeks and it felt like there was fire being poured in my body! I realised that this must be God. Straight away the voices disappeared and within four weeks, I was off all the drugs! The next day, I prayed a prayer and invited God into my life. Within no time I realised that with God, nothing is wasted and that He could even use someone with a past like mine. I felt that God had a specific purpose for my life and that He wanted me to be a public speaker, that He was going to turn my mess into a message that would help other people. After studying at Cliff College I set up a charity called Proclaim Trust, which facilitates the work that I do. That episode in church that day changed my life. Now fifteen years later, I’m still changed, so I was changed and I’ve stayed changed! It just shows that with God’s help, anything is possible.