Calvary Chapel Offers Bible-based Addiction Recovery

ERMA – Those under any addiction need the ability to “just say no.”
“Without the power of the Holy Spirit and a relationship with Jesus Christ you just can’t say no,” said Pastor Dave Schenk of Calvary Chapel, 596 Seashore Road. For that reason Calvary Chapel opens its doors Monday nights at 7 p.m. for those seeking to rid themselves of their addictions.
Freedom through Christ is the name of the group to which all are invited, Schenk said.
When Schenk speaks of addictions, they can be anything, drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, smoking, overeating, etc.
“What we are doing through Freedom through Christ is address addictions,” he said in a telephone interview. “It is a wonderful way to set people free,” he added.
Those who attend must understand “If you come, it’s from a scriptural base.” That scriptural context, Schenk noted, makes this slightly different from other groups that fight addictions. While he realizes all have their place, he believes without a connection to God, no recovery program can be successful.
Freedom through Christ had its start in September 2015 after chapel members had prayed about what they could do to assist the community which is facing an epidemic of heroin overdoses as well as many other addictions.
It was that “escalation of heroin overdoses in Lower Township that we put into action this group,” he said.
Schenk acknowledged there have been some success with some who later sought aid in rehabilitation centers.
To Schenk all addictions have similar roots. “It goes from making a poor choice to fill an inner voice. There are all sorts of extemporaneous things, but the only thing to fill the void is Jesus Christ,” he said.
While the group has many resources, such as pamphlets and books, the main source is the Holy Bible, Schenk said. “We believe in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and Narcotics Anonymous which were great in the beginning. They started being Christian based, and since then left Christianity out of the program,” Schenk said.
“We view it completely different than the secular population. We believe it is sin and they have a choice for freedom through Jesus Christ. We tell people that beforehand, we say that very thing,” Schenk said.
The group is under the guidance of Mark and Renee Christopher who have a home in Villas.
“They are Christians called to ministry,” said Schenk.
Mark was addicted for “quite some time” and his wife, “supported him, went through the rigors of supporting someone she loved.”
“He is clean,” said Schenk noting Christopher’s sobriety. “This was something heavy on his heart. He was praying for a long time. He came to me with the idea of wanting to do this project right around the time there had been several overdoses leading to death in the county. We all agreed it was much needed, and we had been praying for a way to reach the population,” said Schenk.
Ages of those attending range from 20 to those over 60.
“Everyone is welcome to come. There is no criteria to attend,” Schenk said.
Calvary Chapel is a “fellowship of believers” that started on the West Coast in the 1960s by Chuck Smith as part of the Jesus Movement.
The movement grew and spread until it became nationwide. Each church is independent of others.
“We are a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ,” said Schenk.