Written by Jeremy Mitchell, Executive Director, His Way Recovery Center of Georgia
When people talk about His Way Recovery Center, they often call it “a program.” I get why they do — it helps categorize what we’re doing. People like neat definitions: you enroll, you complete a curriculum, you check the boxes, and then you graduate. But honestly, I’ve never really liked the word program to describe what we do here.
I’ve been through plenty of actual programs. I’ve earned certifications as a peer support specialist, counselor, and Christian life coach. They each had value, but none of them changed who I was. Programs give you information. They give you credentials. But transformation — true heart change — that happens in relationship with God, in community with His people, and over time. That’s what His Way is really about. It’s not a program — it’s a lifestyle rooted in the Gospel.
At the core of that lifestyle is the Church. Without the local church, His Way wouldn’t be what it is today.
The Church’s Call to Engage
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He commanded us to go into all nations. And when we hear “nations,” we tend to think geographically. But addiction, in many ways, is its own nation. It’s a distinct culture with its own language, customs, values, and struggles. Yet the call of Christ is clear: we’re to step into all nations with the Gospel of hope.
Our churches have answered that call beautifully. Partner churches like East Cobb, Snellville, Grace Chapel, and Gwinnet Church of Christ have stepped into this mission field that exists right in their own backyard. They’ve chosen not to stay comfortable but to engage with men who are walking through some of the darkest valleys of life.
This isn’t just an act of charity or religious duty. It’s the church being the church.
It’s Not “Us and Them”
One of the biggest barriers I’ve seen between churches and recovery ministry is the mindset of us and them. The idea that people in recovery are somehow a separate category of brokenness — as if addiction is a worse form of lostness than the respectable sins most people wrestle with quietly in the pews.
But here’s the truth: we’re all broken. All of us are in desperate need of grace. Every person who walks through our doors at His Way was created in the image of God, just like everyone sitting in church on Sunday. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Men in recovery aren’t looking for handouts or pity. They want what everyone wants: purpose, family, stability, forgiveness, a chance to contribute. Many of them are incredibly intelligent, gifted, and compassionate people who simply got lost chasing the wrong things. When churches step into their lives, they’re not “ministering to addicts” — they’re welcoming brothers and sisters into the family of God.
The Power of Cross-Pollination
I like to use the image of cross-pollination when I talk about the relationship between the church and His Way. Just like bees spread pollen from one flower to another, the interaction between church members and our residents creates new growth on both sides.
Church members show up thinking they’re there to serve, and they do. But what they quickly discover is that their own faith grows, their perspectives shift, and they encounter God’s grace in ways they never expected. Recovery residents, on the other hand, experience acceptance, accountability, and see the Gospel lived out in flesh-and-blood relationships. The spiritual growth that happens through these interactions is far richer than anything that could be accomplished through isolated classes or sermons alone.
The Gift of Simple Presence
When people ask how they can support His Way, my answer is simple: show up. You don’t need counseling credentials or theological degrees. You don’t have to fix anyone. You just need to be present.
Our volunteers are the lifeblood of this ministry. They come and sit with the guys, take them to lunch, attend their graduations, and cheer them on as they rebuild their lives. It’s not complicated, but it’s deeply powerful.
Recovery isn’t something you master in 30 days, and neither is discipleship. It’s a long walk of learning to follow Jesus together. And the church plays a vital role in that long walk.
Breaking the Stigma
Unfortunately, fear still keeps some churches from engaging with recovery ministry. Many simply don’t understand addiction or are intimidated by it. But that’s why education and relationship matter so much. Once church members step into these relationships, they quickly see that these men aren’t monsters or dangerous people — they’re just people. Broken, yes, but no more broken than anyone else who needs Jesus.
The church has a unique opportunity to lead the way in breaking the stigma surrounding addiction. When we stop seeing people in terms of their sin and start seeing them as souls deeply loved by God, we can begin to offer the kind of grace that truly transforms lives.
His Way as a Model
His Way is one model of how churches can engage in recovery work, but it’s not the only way. Every church doesn’t need to create a His Way, but every church can do something. It could be mentoring, sponsoring, opening your church for meetings, or simply being a welcoming place for those in recovery to worship and grow.
Ministry to the addicted doesn’t have to happen on the other side of the world — it can happen right where you are. The mission field is not just in foreign lands. It’s in your neighborhood, your city, your community. His Way simply creates a structure that makes it easier for churches to step into that mission field.
Celebrating New Life
One of my favorite moments is when one of our guys is baptized at church. The whole church family shows up to celebrate. The congregation claps, cheers, and hugs these men as they come out of the water—a visible reminder that all of heaven rejoices when even one sinner repents. It’s not just a symbolic moment. It’s the culmination of God’s redeeming work in their lives — and the beginning of a new chapter.
After baptisms, churches like East Cobb continue to pour into these men’s lives. They write cards, send letters, and find ways to keep encouraging them long after the water dries. That kind of ongoing investment is where real discipleship begins.
Looking Ahead
My hope and prayer is that more churches will continue to step into this kind of ministry. As more churches partner with His Way and other recovery ministries, we will see entire communities transformed. Families will be restored, men will become spiritual leaders in their homes, and generational cycles of addiction will be broken.
But even more than that, the church itself will be transformed. When you walk alongside the broken, your faith becomes more real, your worship more passionate, and your understanding of God’s grace far deeper.
In the end, this isn’t just about helping people overcome addiction. It’s about introducing them to Jesus—the One who redeems, restores, and makes all things new.
Devotional Reflection: The Power of Proximity
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son—a young man who wasted everything in wild living, only to come to the end of himself in a distant land. And yet, while he was still far off, the father ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated his return.
That story isn’t just about a reckless son—it’s about a Father who never stops loving, and about a home that’s always open.
At His Way, we’ve seen modern-day prodigals come home. And just like in the parable, it’s not rules or programs that bring them back—it’s love. It’s the embrace of a church that sees value in the broken. It’s the patience of spiritual fathers and mothers who walk the road with them. It’s a feast, a welcome, and a robe of righteousness only God can give.
Church, don’t underestimate the power of your proximity. Just being near, just showing up—God can use that to spark repentance, restore dignity, and rewrite someone’s story.
Let’s be people who run toward the broken, not away from them. Because when we do, we reflect the heart of our Father.
Scripture:
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
—Luke 15:20 (NIV)