Cause for celebration as Recovery Church hits a major milestone
BY LERISSE SMITH
A special celebration honouring the 10-year anniversary of Melbourne’s Recovery Church was held last month.
Based at Merri-Bek Corps, the church celebrated with an evening of fun, food and fellowship, with Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas as the special guest.
“Almost eight years ago, my life changed when I gave up drugs and became clean,” a church participant remarked.
“I walked into Recovery Church in the January and never left. The stories of hope from both Salvation Army personnel and other attendees kept me returning. The possibility of a relationship with God, regardless of my past, was also very much needed, as attending 12-step programs to find spirituality had not been working for me.”
Someone involved with the church since its inception in 2014 is Tracey English, who is a vocational trainer at Eva Burrows College.
Her connection with Recovery Church started when she was a chaplain with the Salvation Army’s Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Community Reintegration program. Liz Edminson, who was the team leader of that program, along with Kathryn Wright, now General Manager of AOD, were the driving forces behind the establishment of the church. Tracey, along with a group of others, became a member of the planning team.
Initially, the church was housed at the Mooney Valley Corps before moving to Merri-Bek in July 2023.
“The hope has always been that Recovery Church would be a community where people could come along and feel like they belonged, no matter who they are or where they’ve come from,” Tracey reflected.
“We just take people as they are and love them, no matter where they are in their recovery journey. Really, if you look at the top 10 addictions, which includes things like coffee, shopping, work, as well as alcohol and drugs, we’re all sort of in recovery.”
A dinner is an important aspect of community gathering, with people gathering around the table to enjoy fellowship with one another before the service begins.
For the past decade, volunteers Brett Stobie and Peter Stark have lovingly prepared wonderful meals for the attendees. A church service for everyone then starts after dinner.
“The church services have always been a place of hilarity,” Tracey said. “I’ve laughed more in our church services than I probably ever have anywhere else, and there have been some really memorable moments.
“From the perspective of someone who leads worship and preaches there, it’s a great place. You get used to the hecklers who chip in their bit during a sermon, and we take on board all of the comments.”
Recovery Church is supported by the chaplains who work at Bridgehaven, a residential rehabilitation centre; Flagstaff, The Open Door; and Foley House, which provides accommodation for men experiencing homelessness and transports participants to the church.
“Ours is a moveable congregation with people coming and going,” Tracey remarked.
“We hope that something of the gospel has been sown in their lives while they’ve been with us and that they’ll be able to reconnect. We do have prodigals as well. People who have belonged to our church [sometimes] go away, but then they come back. And I like to think that we welcome them with open arms. Recovery Church is a place of second, third and fourth chances.
“During our 10 years, we have seen lives transformed. There are people who have come to faith. We’ve had three people accepted as adherents. I think it’s a wonderful place to belong.”
Precious memories of people seeking after God have also formed part of the history, such as the time a group of Bridgehaven ladies went forward to the mercy seat, and with arms around each other and prayed.
While some in the public often believe overcoming addiction relies solely on self-will and self-control, the reality is this is not the case. There are often complexities and depth to individual experiences.
Tracey emphasised that people in recovery each have their own unique stories, and there was no single stereotype for those struggling with addiction. Everyone faced different challenges on their path to healing.
“I think people who go into rehab are extraordinarily brave,” she explained. “Because they have the courage to imagine that life can be better, and in getting to a better life, it’s not going to be easy, because recovery isn't easy, but they step into that space.
“My hope for the future is that Recovery Church continues to make a difference in the lives of the people who come and that those who come find a welcoming community where they are loved and accepted.”
