It’s About… Recovery

a letter from Paul to a friend for a friend

PHILEMON

The Book of Philemon is a quiet but powerful picture of the Gospel lived out in real relationships. Onesimus had run away—he was a failure in the eyes of society, possibly even a criminal. But somewhere along the way, he met Paul the Apostle and more importantly, he met Christ. His life was transformed. Now it’s time for Onesimus to return to face the life he ran from. Paul sends him back to Philemon—but it’s not as a servant or criminal, but as a true Christian Brother.

The message of Philemon becomes even more real when you relate it to the life of someone struggling with addiction. Imagine a person who, because of drugs, has burned bridges with family, stolen from people who trusted them, and walked away from responsibilities. Addiction often leaves behind a trail of hurt, broken trust, and deep disappointment. In many ways, that person stands in the place of Onesimus—someone who has made serious mistakes and now has to face the consequences of those choices.

Then something changes. Maybe it’s hitting rock bottom, entering recovery, or encountering faith in a way that finally breaks through. The person begins to change—not perfectly, not overnight, but genuinely. And eventually, they’re faced with one of the hardest steps in recovery: going back to the people they hurt. Apologizing. Taking responsibility. Owning the damage. That moment is filled with fear, because they know they are not owed forgiveness.

Ultimately, Philemon speaks directly into situations like this. It reminds us that the Gospel meets people at their lowest and gives them a new identity, and it challenges others to respond to that change with grace. Whether you are the one seeking forgiveness or the one being asked to give it, the message is the same: healing begins when truth, accountability, and grace come together, one step at a time.

  • WE PREACH THE WORD

    Expository preaching involves the exposition, or comprehensive explanation, of the Scripture; that is, expository preaching presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable. The word exposition is related to the word expose—the expository preacher’s goal is simply to expose the meaning of the Bible, verse by verse.

  • WE DISCIPLE GOD’S PEOPLE

    Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the indwelling Holy Spirit to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more Christlike. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words, and actions and compare them with the Word of God. This requires that we be in the Word daily—studying it, praying over it, and obeying it. In addition, we should always be ready to give testimony of the reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and to disciple others to walk in His way.

  • WE COUNSEL THE HURTS

    Biblical counseling consists of lovingly confronting people out of deep concern in order to help them make those changes that God requires.

    Biblical counseling is an attempt to return to a strictly biblical method of problem-solving. As such, it is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and local church-oriented.

    The premise that the Bible is God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17) and is totally sufficient for meeting the mental, spiritual, and emotional needs of mankind. Effective counseling depends on the Holy Spirit to change the believer, using God’s Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

  • WE EDUCATE OUR KIDS

    God created the family. His design was for a man and a woman to marry for life and raise children to know and honor Him (Mark 10:9; Malachi 2:15). Adoption is also God’s idea, and He models this in His adoption of us as His children (Romans 8:15, 23; Ephesians 1:5). Regardless of the means by which they enter a family, children are a gift from God and He cares about how they are raised (Psalm 127:3; Psalm 34:11; Proverbs 23:13–14). When God gives us gifts, He also gives clear instructions about their use.

  • WE ENGAGE OUR YOUTH

    Our God has already given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, including the principles and models of ministry in the Scriptures. If our goal is not to grow a youth group, but to see the first-century church ideals and convictions reproduced in the context of twenty-first-century teens, then Scripture does indeed contain sound principles for youth ministries within the church.

  • WE REACH THE LOST

    One line in the familiar hymn “Amazing Grace” says, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” We may have sung it a thousand times without realizing what lost means. The term lost is used in the Bible and in Christian circles to refer to people who have not yet found eternal life in Christ. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Those who are spiritually lost are separated from God and unable to find their way back to Him.

    We make it a commitment to open our doors to the lost.

  • WE HELP THE POOR

    The Bible says we are to care for the poor, which involves feeding the hungry. God is pictured as feeding the hungry. “He has filled the hungry with good things,” Mary sings (Luke 1:53). “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry,” the psalmist sings (Psalm 146:7). If we are to be godly people, then, we must also seek to feed the hungry.

  • WE VISIT THOSE IN JAIL

    There are two types of people in jail or prison: those who were wrongfully accused and victimized by an unjust system, and those who are guilty and whose punishment is just according to the system of law they have broken.

    The Bible has something to say to both the innocent and guilty who are in jail/prison. To the guilty, the Bible recommends truth and submission to the laws of the government, and it offers freedom from the spiritual prison of sin—freedom that comes through the person of Christ (Romans 6:18). To the innocent and wrongfully accused, the Bible offers peace, patience, and hope in difficult circumstances, as well as the hope of heavenly reward.

  • WE EMBRACE THE HOMELESS

    The Bible acknowledges the fact of homelessness and instructs us to help those who are poor and needy, including those in homeless situations.

    God expects His people to help those who are homeless. The Law directly addressed care for those in need. In Leviticus 25:35 God commands His people to help support those who have no home and cannot support themselves: “If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you” (see also Deuteronomy 15:7–11).

    The Lord rebuked those who kept the outward form of religion yet did not care for the poor: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: . . . to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6–7).

THE PROGRAM RHYTHM

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    Sunday's

    1st Week | Message | The Word

    2nd Week | Message | The Family

    3rd Week | Message | The Word

    4th Week | The Love Factory

    5th Week | Communion & Prayer

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    Tuesday's

    1st Quarter | Message | The Gospel

    2nd Quarter | Message | The Encounter

    3rd Quarter | Message | The Basics

    4th Quarter | Spiritual Gifts & The Future

  • A circular logo with a dark gray background, featuring white stylized text and words. The prominent text is an artistic stylized letter 'A'. Smaller text includes 'Awakening Jesus', 'This is about the awakening his people', and 'Recently for the Forg

    Wednesday's

    1st Week | Worship & Testimony

    2nd Week | Message | The Recovery

    3rd Week | Family Game Night

    4th Week | Message | The Recovery

    5th Week | Communion & Prayer

  • A circular logo with a dark gray background, featuring white stylized text and words. The prominent text is an artistic stylized letter 'A'. Smaller text includes 'Awakening Jesus', 'This is about the awakening his people', and 'Recently for the Forg

    Thursday's

    Trauma Recovery | An Anonymous Place to Connect

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    Friday's

    2nd Friday | Family Movie Night

    4th Friday | Karaoke Worship Night

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    Discipleship

    Sunday’s | Children with Jan

    Tuesday’s | Adult with Pastor Matt

    Wednesday’s | Youth with Pastor Dustin

    Thursday’s | Adult with Pastor Matt

    Saturday’s | Adult with Bashir

“You’re getting him back now for good.... a true Christian Brother.”

— PHILEMON

It's about GOD awakening the hearts of His people.

It's about EVERYONE getting a second chance in their Brother's eye

A person sitting alone against a plain, textured wall, hugging their knees with their face buried in their arms, conveying feelings of shame and guilt, with overlaid text about blaming oneself and feeling anger and self-control issues.
Broken red and white swirled lollipop on a red background with a quote about love and betrayal.
Blurry interior of a church or cathedral, with large stained glass window and soft lighting. The text on the image reads: "Religious people have really hurt me."
A crumpled paper bag with the quote, "My whole life I’ve been made to feel worthless. I’m grown up now and still struggle with this."
A textured white wall with a large crack running vertically on the left side. Overlayed on the wall is a quote in bold, black, distressed font reading, 'I'M MORE EMOTIONALLY DESTROYED THAN MOST EVERYONE WILL EVER KNOW.'
Two women looking at a tablet, with an overlay text about failures in marriage due to violence and overcoming failure through faith.
A quote overlay on a blurry brick wall background that says, "Every time I go to the grocery store I crop dust people."
Black and white photo of a woman with dark hair partially covering her face, holding her hand with fingers spread in front of her eyes, with the text 'I USED TO PIMP WOMEN OUT.' in bold, distressed font overlayed at the bottom.
Close-up of a hand holding a cigarette and a white powdery substance on a dark surface. Overlaid text: "I used to sell and do copious amounts of cocaine."
Empty shopping cart with various grocery items inside, including packages of Balocco cookies, on a store checkout counter.
A close-up of a foil condom wrapper with purple handwritten-style text overlaying it that reads, "I thought God was punishing me because we had sex before we were married. But, it wasn't true."
A wooden calendar displaying the 1st and 3rd of September, a laptop computer, a partially visible phone, and some papers on a desk.
A quote about fighting in the kitchen and pushing a person's head into a refrigerator, with a background of a stainless steel fridge with handles and a water dispenser.
A quote on a wall with black and red text about difficult experiences.
Close-up of U.S. dollar bills with a text overlay about financial struggles and poverty.
A close-up view of a diamond ring with multiple diamonds set in a gold band, placed on a reflective surface. Overlay text reads: "Before I got married, I 'chased' only married women. It was a conquest for me. I succeeded many times."
A person speaking to a child with a quote overlay that says, 'Sometimes I feel like I've failed as a parent,' in a cozy, well-lit room.
Text overlay on a blurred background of a sofa and a blanket, saying "Sometimes I feel so tired I just sit and do nothing" in red, cracked letters.
Close-up of gray fabric with pink text that says "I am addicted to sex." overlaid on it.
A person writing in a notebook with a blue pen, with a handwritten note that reads: "He put the knife at my throat and proceeded to molest me. I didn't know adult men did this to young boys."
A wooden textured background with a quote that reads: "I'm guilty... she was underage... now I'm labeled for life."
A church with a gabled roof, two men in dark suits and hats standing at the entrance, surrounded by trees, with an overlaid text that reads "porn is my addiction. religion is my cover up."
Text with a dark textured background, highlighting certain words in red and green for emphasis.
Light blue pills scattered on a surface with a text overlay about addiction and heroin.
Text overlay on blurry background of a hand holding a cigarette. The text reads: "I'm purposefully overdosed and died when I was 30. I guess I was so high I left the house and didn't know... Someone found me. 27 hits of Narcan to bring me back from b
Blurred background with orange and black stripes, overlaid with a red banner that reads, "I was a stripper for 18 years."
A black and white photo of a woman with long hair holding her stomach, with overlaid text expressing regret about an abortion at 19.
Background of rolled US dollar bills with overlaid text that reads, "I used to setup 'escorts' to make a profit. Basically I was a pimp."
Quote about childhood secrets on a blurred paper background.
A wheelchair in front of a window with floral curtains. The image includes a quote about a sister who was a paraplegic, with sections of text in different fonts and colors, including italics and red text.
Close-up of a human eye with a threatening message overlaid in bold, colorful text.
Text overlay on a textured beige fabric background that reads: "She kept saying it hurt... I didn't care... I never thought twice about it. Now, as an adult, I realize that I was the problem...."
Handwritten note with humorous question about being gay and reversibility.
A background of an alleyway with brick walls, a metal fence, and a street lamp overhead. Overlaying the image is a humorous and serious text about secrets and faith, with words highlighted in red and yellow.
A young man wearing a hoodie and jacket standing in front of a black car in a dark parking garage. White text overlays the image reading, 'I drove the get away car, I actually drove the get away car.'
Shattered car window with a poem about vandalism.
Two glasses of beer on a table with a text overlay that reads: "She remembered nothing the next day. At least, that's what she said. I've never confessed what I've done to her. I hope I never see her again."
A dark stormy sky with lightning strikes and a quote about faith, judging others, and perseverance written in bold white letters.
Colorful party balloons and multicolored confetti on a white background with a quote about resilience and hope.
A painting of a nurse in green scrubs, wearing a face mask and surgical cap, administering an injection to a patient. The nurse is focused on her task.
A digital art depiction of a humanoid creature with cracked, dark, textured skin and glowing red veins, clutching a bunch of pink-tipped matchsticks. Text overlay reads, 'i was raped many years ago.'
Close-up of a DNA double helix model with red accents against a gray background, overlaid with the text 'I was rejected by my family because I was not like them' in red.
An image with a crack in a dark textured surface, with fiery red and orange colors inside the crack. The word "TRUST" is written across the surface, with a bandaid covering the crack. Overlaid text in orange states: "step dad raped me from 13 to 23".
A black background image with a person’s face made up of collage words related to mental health, depression, and psychology, with overlaid white text reading "Heavy Depression Suicidal Thoughts Psalm 118:17."
Close-up of a person's face with a somber expression, eye visible, with dark makeup or dirt around the eye. Overlaid text reads: 'killed many men for my country I see their faces every day & night'.
Text reading 'WHO ARE YOU?' in large green distressed font with the words 'abandoned', 'molested', and 'abused' in smaller bright green text below.
A dark background with orange text listing words: 'Molested,' 'abused,' 'addict,' 'adulterer,' alongside an orange question mark.
A dark landscape with leafless trees and a yellow moonrise or sunset in the background, with the text 'Thank You for awakening me!' in yellow font.
An illustration of a yellow and orange figure surrounded by dark gray figures, with the text 'I am a relative of the KKK' in yellow and red.
Decorative illuminated number 15 with pink, gold, and maroon balloons, with text overlay: 'I Was Raped at... it continued for a couple more years'.
A person inside a car smoking a joint at night. The car's dashboard is visible, and outside lights and trees can be seen through the windshield. The text "i love weed" appears at the bottom of the image.
A red heart-shaped neon light with a glowing heart inside it, hanging in a dark room. The image contains overlaid yellow cursive text that reads, "I struggle with pornography addiction that I have been unfaithful to my spouse for years."
Text on black and gray background reads: "BLACK, I struggle with sex, food & weed. WHITE, Even though I have turned my life over to God."
A yellow leaf hanging from a tree branch against a blurred grayscale background.
A black strawberry with yellow seeds and a green leaf and stem on top, with the text "I would use sex to manipulate men to fill my needs... Now I look to the LORD" over the image.
Lines of white powder on a black surface with blue text that reads, "I used to sell cocaine to people even though I had a job!"
A person is holding a small bag of white powder while another person points at it, with the text 'I am a drug dealer CROY' overlaid.
Black butterfly with smoking clouds in the background and white text overlay reading "I know rejection 4 times. I've had marriages. I've felt that no one cares & I'm not good enough."
Image of a handgun, bullets, and a second firearm with a quote overlay that says 'He put a gun to my head & was going to pull the trigger... I stayed because the drugs trumped everything.'
Blackboard with handwritten white chalk message that reads, 'My soul is bankrupt. As the days go by, the more I give to people, the more I feel taken advantage of. Everyday someone asks for something I have nothing left to give!'
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A dark cityscape with a cracked glass overlay. Overlaid text in red and white says: 'anger, fear, & regret run through my mind as I sit here quietly, as hard as I try, some days I just can't let go!'
Graphic with a red brick wall background, featuring a warning sign with an 18+ label, and the text "I have to have PORN" at the top.
A dark background with a quote about addiction and its consequences, mentioning family, drugs, and nearly causing death.
A sign with a graffiti-style smiley face on a black brick wall background. Overlapping the face is the text 'FAKE SMILE' in white, with additional text below reading 'i was so scared at times, i though God was punishing me'.
A caution sign with an orange background and black symbols indicating a person walking, with the word 'EXIT' written vertically. There is also a black circle representing a head and a geometric figure resembling a person. Overlaid on the sign is a me
A close-up black-and-white photo of a padlock attached to a latch on a rough, weathered surface, possibly a door or wall, with the caption: "When I was 6, I was kidnapped, ducktapped, & thrown in a closet for a week... he kept trying to rape me!"
Two men kissing passionately, with one having tattoos and wearing a smartwatch, against a neutral background, accompanied by text questioning about grace and identity.
A clock with Roman numerals showing a spiral pattern, accompanied by overlaid text expressing regret about lost time with children.
Green door with a red sign that reads 'Emergency Exit Only Alarm Will Sound Push Here,' a black keypad lock, and a large red and white warning message 'I'm not ready to open the door. Keep Out!' in bold red text.
A black-and-white image of a rustic wooden door with a metal latch, featuring two hanging heart-shaped locks, one pink and one red, and red overlay text that reads, "I have had 2 affairs on my husband."
A pregnant woman holding her belly with the text "I USED DRUGS WHILE PREGNANT" over her abdomen in white font.