The Importance of the Local Church

Here at Transformation to Recovery (TTR), we often get asked an important question, “What makes the discipleship program at TTR unique from other recovery houses?” The answer is the integration of the church. 

TTR is a ministry of Christ Church South Philly and a faith-based recovery community center with a recovery residence called Hope House. Our ministry strongly relies on the community of our local church to assist in the recovery of those who we serve.

The men and women who join our recovery program are integrated into our church family. The discipleship program consists of various meetings specific to addiction recovery, an individual recovery play (IRP), Bible studies, community outreach, attending church, and small group meetings  in church member’s homes. 

Recovery programs that are integrated into the fellowship of the local church have a higher success rate of individuals graduating the program and being restored back into their community with a godly purpose. That is exactly what TTR is experiencing. By the grace of God, men and women are being restored back into their communities after years of addiction.

As an organization, we believe with Biblical hope that God is using his church to help bring restoration to those stuck in the darkness of addiction. God has established his church to be a community of believers who walk alongside one another in Spirit-empowered relationships, encouraging each other to look to Jesus and grow in their walk with the Lord. This is what people in recovery need. Programs are helpful and important. But more importantly, just like all of us, those in recovery need people in their lives who know, love, and are encouraging them to continue to press on in their walk with the Lord. This is how the church plays an essential role in the recovery process. As a ministry, we depend on the members of our local church to come alongside and invest in the lives of those in recovery. 

The video below is a recent testimony from our Peer Manager at Hope House, James McIntire. He spoke on what we have been talking about here in this month’s blog, “The Importance of the Local Church in Recovery”. We hope you will enjoy listening to how being a part of the local church has helped him on his recovery journey. 

If you are struggling, we would love to connect and tell you more about our ministry. 

If you are someone who is part of a local church, we hope this video inspires you to join in the work that God is doing through his church to bring the light of the Gospel into the darkness of addiction!

In Christ,

John Carlson
Executive Director
Transformation to Recovery