In the world of addiction problems and how to treat them there is an array of opinions. In recent years we have seen an opioid epidemic sweep our country. We have also seen the use of meth, fentanyl and alcohol rise dramatically.
As mentioned earlier, there are a variety of treatment options out there. Four years ago, I began to do research for a strong faith-based biblical program that treats the “whole” person. I came across an organization called The Addiction Connection.
“The Addiction Connection (TAC) is a collective of biblical counselors and ministries united for the purpose of training and equipping the Body of Christ in biblically helping those struggling with addiction and their loved ones. We offer a network of churches, ministries, and counselors who meet annually for our Leadership Summit.” (Shaw)
That experience led Dr. Mark Shaw to author a book titled “The Heart of Addiction, which led to the TAC organization being born in Dr. Shaw’s heart, He was working in a secular program and felt something was missing.” His profile on the book says, “Mark E. Shaw, D.Min., CABC, is the Director of Counseling at Grace Fellowship Church in Florence, KY, and Founder of The Addiction Connection. Mark is a certified counselor, an ordained minister, speaker, teacher, and servant. His passion is making disciple-makers who connect the heart of addiction with the hope of the Gospel.”
What is the connection that TAC promotes? To answer that we must first understand the TAC definition of addiction. Addiction is “The persistent, habitual thoughts, words, and actions associated with excessive pleasure-seeking which are known by the user to be harmful and physically enslaving, sinful, and willful choices to disobey God (whether one acknowledges it or not).” – Shaw, 2012
What is the Gospel? Simply put, it is Good News. However, to receive “good news” one must first realize the bad news. They must realize they were born in sin & that with repentance they can be forgiven, born-again and spared eternal separation from God.
Once the “good news” is accepted, a person gains a new heart & a new love for God, which in turn causes him to want to please God. I believe being born-again is the only (best) cure-all for addiction, or any bondage for that matter. Thus, the tag line for TAC has been “Connecting the Hope of the Gospel with the Heart of Addiction.”
You might wonder how successful a faith-based ministry is. Allow me to briefly share data from two TAC partners who offer residential treatment options. These statistics include follow-up with those who have successfully graduated residential programs and have maintained their sobriety after they returned to their community. TAC has a network of faith-based organizations and biblical counselors in twenty-six states in the USA and four countries worldwide. All of them have wonderful success stories.
Most all the residential programs affiliated with TAC offer a minimum of one-year residential program. Some ministries have a phase two, phase three, and even aftercare to continue with to pursue deeper accountability, obtain employment and transitional living to help them move back into society as strong transformed individuals.
They offer a daily structured routine of individual counseling, group biblical studies, working around the property as well as serving in the community. They also partner with churches and ministries locally. And while it may not seem significant, eating meals and having social times together helps them learn how to relate to others, which in turn helps them learn to live in freedom from their life dominating issues through interaction with others in various settings.
Homelessness and addiction will always be a problem. What needs to be addressed are the deeper, root issues that cause them. When the inner and spiritual needs are healed the societal problems decrease. Freedom and healing flows from the inside out.”
That is one of the strengths of dealing with life controlling problems from a faith-based perspective. Not only are medical/mental problems addressed but the spiritual roots of the problem. Therefore, the whole person is being treated not just the symptoms.
”Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23NLT)
There are assorted topics to be addressed in the treatment of addiction and how best to reach the addiction community. After doing my research for the last few years being a former addict myself, I have come to strongly believe and agree with Dr. Shaw that the best option is “Connecting the Hope of the Gospel with the Heart of Addiction.”
There is so much more to discuss regarding helping addicts become productive citizens in their families and communities. We will be sharing more thoughts about faith-based treatment with you throughout the coming year. If you would like to know more about Dr. Mark Shaw and the network of counselors and residential programs The Addiction Connection offers, please visit. www.theaddictionconnection.org
