Uncovery: The Power of Community to Heal TraumaSample

Venturing into Uncovery territory requires a genuine encounter with a loving heavenly Father. The most effective way we, the church, can represent the Father well is to represent Jesus well in our interactions—to initiate with grace and love instead of judgment and condemnation. This part of the Uncovery requires three unique behaviors of us. We need to ask the right questions, listen to the Holy Spirit, and help identify the right next steps.

“How do we get people sober?” certainly isn’t a bad question—and most leaders who ask it are genuine. But if we want to lead people into life transformation, the question we need to ask is, “Why are they bound in the first place?” When we better understand the origin of their struggles, we can better understand how to show compassion and help them build a promised-land life worth staying sober for. What’s more, we can identify systemic change opportunities to prevent future generations from falling into the same traps.

When you’re privileged enough to speak one-on-one with someone who is struggling, keep one ear on them and one ear tuned in to the Holy Spirit. Be humble, gentle, and empathetic, remembering you are just a fellow traveler on a journey toward a promised-land life. I’m convinced that any one of us is only two or three choices away from a life of complete self-destruction, which is why I believe recovery is for everyone.

Even the most transformative meetings, counseling sessions, and conversations can be less than helpful when you, the fellow traveler, go missing on the journey. While you may not be called to walk with an individual throughout their entire life’s journey, God will ask you to be available for more than a one-time talk. Sponsors and accountability partners are a great start. But what happens when they can’t answer a call or drop everything to come running in a moment of need? People in recovery need real relationships with real people—and they need more than one accountability partner.

The bottom line is that it does take a village. We know this because we were created for relationships. Friends, we can’t bully anyone to the cross, but we can put Jesus, who lives in us, on display by showing up for people as He would—by demonstrating love, respect, empathy, and devotion, all covered in equal parts truth and grace.

We hope this plan encouraged you. Explore other resources at http://www.TheUncoveryBook.com.