Addiction, Recovery and the Church: How Can We Help?
Will you be at the Church Resources Exhibition this October?
At CRE, there will be a great range of workshops to choose from, including this practical and inspiring session with Nigel Skelsey, founder of The Recovery Course. Come along, discover more and be equipped to help your church respond to the challenge of addiction and recovery.
WORKSHOP: Addiction, Recovery and the Church: How Can We Help? with Nigel Skelsey
Wed 14th Oct - 14:40-15:25
Addiction and compulsive behaviours affect people in every church and every community, yet many churches feel unsure about how best to respond.
This practical and encouraging workshop will introduce The Recovery Course – a free, Christian 12-step-based course designed to help churches support people struggling with all kinds of addiction and compulsive behaviours.
We’ll explore what recovery looks like, how churches can create a safe and welcoming environment for those seeking help, and how The Recovery Course can be used within your church. You’ll discover how the course works, who it is for, and the practical steps involved in running it.
You’ll also hear first-hand how The Recovery Course works from people who have run the course and from those who have attended the course and experienced freedom from addiction. Their stories will give you an insight into the impact the course can have and what participants can expect when they take part.
The Recovery Course is being used not only in churches, but also in prisons and homeless drop-in centres, as well as other settings, helping people find hope and take steps towards the freedom that they desperately long for.
Whether your church is already supporting people affected by addiction or you’re wondering where to begin, this workshop will provide practical guidance, encouragement and resources, all entirely free of charge, to help your church become a place where people can find hope, healing and lasting freedom.
Come and discover how your church can make a difference.
Nigel's Biography
Nigel Skelsey, Founder & Trustee
Nigel founded The Recovery Course during his time at Holy Trinity Brompton and has spent nearly twenty years helping churches and communities better understand addiction and recovery and equipping them to support people in overcoming destructive behaviours.
Nigel speaks not only from professional experience but from personal experience. Having struggled with various addictions throughout his own life, he understands both the challenges of addiction and the hope of recovery. His passion is to help others discover that change is possible and that freedom can be found.
Before founding the course, Nigel enjoyed a successful 30-year career in photography and publishing, including 17 years as Picture Editor of The Sunday Telegraph. He later worked alongside people facing acute mental health challenges at Priory Hospital.
Nigel lives in Sussex with his wife Jan, the love of his life, whom he first got engaged to in 1970 while they were both still at school.
The Recovery Course is free to attend and free for churches to run, made possible by the generosity of supporters. If you feel able to give, a gift of any size would help us continue reaching more people with hope and support.
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