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Recovery Sunday September 24, 2023

Benefits of participating in Recovery Sunday

 

                

 

  • The ability to make a difference.  Makes your ministry relevant to one of our greatest needs and cultural problems

 

  • The church has the resources within itself to give a message of transformation hope, compassion, encouragement discipleship and prayer when needed.

 

  • Provides resources that many cannot get because there aren’t enough rehabs, professionals and programs available.  Furthermore the ones who need help cannot afford or have no paying source.

 

  • To be salt and light and bring healing to the world

 

  • Removes stigma for the one’s Jesus called least of these. They are too ashamed to come. 

 

  • Makes you attractive to a watching world and community. It shows your community that you care and what you are about. 

 

  • Grow your ministry. People and their affected families are looking for a place they can come and receive  support.  

Pastors Who Participated

I thought I would follow up and let you know how our Recovery Sunday Celebration went at L.I.F.E. Outreach yesterday.   I need to say that we had more in our ministry yesterday than we have had on any one Sunday in the nearly 5 years that it has been around.  We had 56 present yesterday afternoon along with 9 volunteers, which is more than that were present in the regular worship service of the First Church of God (our sponsoring congregation) yesterday morning.

 

-Glenn Koster, Pastor First Church Of God,  Hutchinson, KS

 I was previously unaware of Mission Recovery. After getting a letter about Recovery Sunday, I looked up your webpage and was very encouraged by what Mission Recovery is about.. Our Sunday service is planned well in advance but I will include a mention of the designation of Recovery Sunday and have a prayer.  I would like to know more about how our church could help. We could provide a space for a recovery group if one is needed. There are several members of our church who are either recovered addicts, or whose families have suffered the pain of seeing a loved one trapped by drugs or alcohol, thus the subject is close and relevant to our church family. I hope to be able to engage in partnership with you on this matter.

 

-Vic deLeon, South Lakeshore Christian Church, Tacoma WA

I am the Pastor of The Church of Living Hope in Tyler. I want to thank you for the e-mail you sent about Mission Recovery Sunday. Nearly half of our congregation are ex-offenders and most of them were incarcerated due to addiction or drug use. I agree that there are many hurting people out there and we do need to take more action.  We will pray before our scheduled service acknowledging Mission Recovery Sunday this Sunday.

 

-David Herndon, Pastor Church of The Living Hope, Tyler TX

How the Faith Community Can Make A Difference? 

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  • Addressing one of the most if not the most relevant needs in our nation, the issue of addiction and associated mental health. The  need is even greater now because of the pandemic.

 

  • Help People who are hurting. To help people that are hurting, struggling with anxiety, fear and  daily stress.  Studies show that hurting people come to the clergy or faith community first when looking for help.

 

  • It makes people feel safe when a faith leader will acknowledge the problem and that they care and are willing to accept them and provide spiritual support

 

  • Use the resources within the nature of the church to share the gospel that transforms from within, instills hope and to provide spiritual, emotional and financial support. The need for help is greater than the government, programs and professionals can provide. By engaging there is potential to meet more needs.

 

  • Combat the problem with social isolation with connection. 

 

 

 

SUGGESTED STRUCTURE FOR THE DAY

 

Some Songs Or Hymns.

 

    -Redeemed….Big Daddy Weave 

 

    -Who You Say I Am….Hillsong

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    -O Come To The Altar…Elevation

 

    -God So Loved The World….We The Kingdom

 

    -Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone…..Chris Tomlin

 

    -Good Good Father….Chris Tomlin

 

    -I Stand Amazed ….Chris Tomlin

 

    -Nothing But The Blood

 

    -Amazing Grace

 

 

Special Songs:  

 

    -Clean by  Natalie Grant

                

    -You Say by Lauren Daigle

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    -Chain Breaker by Zach Williams

 

 

TESTIMONY:  

 

    -Someone who has been transformed and experienced freedom from addiction

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    -A Parent who has been affected by their loved one’s addiction.  Their need for encouragement and                         support.

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MESSAGE:  

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    Suggested Sermons On Topics like

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    -Forgiveness and Freedom from the past

 

    -Freedom from shame - (in my experience every person I have ever met in recovery has deep rooted                         shame)

 

    -Identity in Christ

 

    -The Love of God or the Fatherhood of God

 

    -The Church as Community or The Need for Community

 

    -Jesus the Friend of the Lost and Broken

 

 

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SPECIAL TIME OF PRAYER OR MINISTRY TO SEEKERS:

This is the crux of our objective. That we acknowledge the pain, stress and isolation and we care.  We want to pray for you to receive encouragement and to give you support. 

 

***Our experience when one does this it has great impact on the seekers and many times leads to a specific ministry to the seekers and their family.

 

                

Scriptures:

 

These scriptures address issues related to recovery, forgiveness of sins and dealing with the past.  Healing shame and establishing a new identity.   Also the importance of prayer and community.

 

 

Luke 4:18-19  - 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

 

1 Corinthians 6:11 - 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

 

John 8:10-11 - 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

 

John 8:31-36 - 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. Howcan You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

 

 

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 

Romans 8:15-16 - 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 - 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

1 Timothy 1: 12-14 -  13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Galatians 6:1-2 - Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

 

James 5:16 - 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

 

All scripture is from   The New King James Version. (1982) . Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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