Recovery Friendly Churches

09/05/2026

Recovery Friendly Churches – What Is a Recovery Friendly Church? + Panel Q&A | Phil Dvorak
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So what does it actually mean to become a Recovery Friendly Church?
In this final session of the Recovery Friendly Church Training, Pastor Phil Dvorak brings the day's teaching together and reviews what it means for a church to intentionally engage, welcome, support, and disciple people impacted by addiction and recovery.

The session concludes with a panel Q&A, where Recovery Church leaders and ministry professionals respond to questions from pastors and church leaders about addiction, recovery, discipleship, church culture, and practically engaging the recovery community.

A Recovery Friendly Church isn't simply a church that hosts a recovery program. It's a church committed to becoming a place where individuals and families impacted by addiction can encounter Jesus, recover, belong, grow, serve, and become everything God created them to be.

Facilitated by: Pastor Phil Dvorak, Founder & President of Recovery Church Movement.
Filmed live at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 27, 2026.

Recovery is possible, and no one should have to walk the journey alone.
Learn more about becoming a Recovery Friendly Church:
www.RecoveryFriendlyChurches.org

Find a Recovery Church:
www.Recover.Church

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

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Recovery Friendly Churches – Making Room: Creating a Recovery-Safe Culture | Mitch Thompson

What does it really mean to make room for people in recovery?

In this session from the Recovery Friendly Church Training, Mitch Thompson explores what it takes to create a church culture where people impacted by addiction and recovery can truly feel safe, welcomed, understood, and valued.
Being Recovery Friendly is about much more than hosting a recovery meeting or adding another ministry. It's about examining the culture of our church—how we speak, how we respond, how we build relationships, and whether people in recovery have genuine opportunities to belong, grow, serve, and become disciples of Jesus.

Mitch shares practical insights for removing barriers, understanding the recovery journey, and creating a culture that supports holistic recovery and authentic discipleship.

Presented by: Mitch Thompson, Discipleship & Operations Pastor for Recovery Church Movement and longtime leader at Recovery Church Delray Beach.
Filmed live at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 27, 2026.
Recovery is possible, and no one should have to walk the journey alone.

Learn more about becoming a Recovery Friendly Church:
www.RecoveryFriendlyChurches.org

Find a Recovery Church:
www.Recover.Church

09/03/2026

Recovery Friendly Churches – Building Bridges | Pastor Mike Eleveld

How can the Church build meaningful bridges into the recovery community?
In this session from the Recovery Friendly Church Training, Pastor Mike Eleveld explores how churches can intentionally build relationships with people in recovery and create pathways that lead toward trust, belonging, discipleship, and Jesus.

Drawing from decades of pastoral ministry and experience working within addiction treatment and the recovery community, Mike discusses practical ways churches can remove barriers, better understand recovery culture, and develop genuine relationships with people impacted by addiction.

Becoming recovery friendly isn't simply about starting another program. It's about building bridges between the Church and a community that is already filled with people seeking hope, healing, connection, and a new way of life.

Presented by: Pastor Mike Eleveld, Chairman of the Board of Recovery Church Movement, longtime pastor and Bible professor, former Spiritual Care Director in addiction treatment, and one of the founding leaders of the original Recovery Church in Lake Worth, Florida.

Filmed live at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 27, 2026.

Recovery is possible, and no one should have to walk the journey alone.
Learn more about becoming a Recovery Friendly Church:
www.RecoveryFriendlyChurches.org

Find a Recovery Church:
www.Recover.Church

09/02/2026

Recovery Friendly Churches – Hey Church! Lessons from Our Friends in Recovery | Casey Cleveland

What can the Church learn from our friends in recovery?
In this session from the Recovery Friendly Church Training, Dr. Casey Cleveland turns the conversation around and challenges the Church to recognize that the recovery community doesn't simply need something from us—we have something to learn from them.

The recovery community has much to teach the Church about honesty, vulnerability, confession, accountability, community, perseverance, and walking alongside one another through life's struggles.
Rather than simply viewing people in recovery as individuals the Church is called to help, Casey challenges pastors and ministry leaders to recognize the gifts, experiences, and lessons they bring to the Church.

Presented by: Dr. Casey Cleveland, Lead Pastor of The Avenue Church in Delray Beach, Florida. Casey helped welcome Recovery Church Delray Beach into The Avenue Church and completed his doctoral work exploring how the local church can support sustained sobriety within the recovery community.
Filmed live at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 27, 2026.
Recovery is possible, and no one should have to walk the journey alone.

Learn more about becoming a Recovery Friendly Church:
RecoveryFriendlyChurches.org

Find a Recovery Church:
www.Recover.Church

09/01/2026

Recovery Friendly Churches – Addiction, Recovery & the Church | Pastor Phil Dvorak

There is no “those people.” These are our people.
In this session from the Recovery Friendly Church Training, Pastor Phil Dvorak explores addiction, recovery, and the critical role the local church can play in the lives of individuals and families impacted by addiction.

Drawing from his experience as a pastor, licensed therapist, and person in long-term recovery, Phil challenges some of the assumptions churches can have about addiction and asks us to consider whether our churches are truly places where people in recovery can belong, grow, serve, and thrive.

The session also explores how even well-intentioned words can sometimes undermine recovery, why recovery work is ministry, and how churches can better recognize and develop the gifts and calling of people in recovery.
The question isn't simply, “How do we get recovery people to fit into our church?”
It's: “How can our church become the kind of place where people affected by addiction can encounter Jesus, recover, belong, grow, serve, and become everything God created them to be?”

Presented by: Pastor Phil Dvorak, Founder & President of Recovery Church Movement, ordained pastor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and person in long-term recovery.

Filmed live at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 27, 2026.

Recovery is possible, and no one should have to walk the journey alone.
Learn more about becoming a Recovery Friendly Church:
www.RecoveryFriendlyChurches.org
Find a Recovery Church:
www.Recover.Church

09/01/2026

Thank you to Recovery Church and everyone who joined us for Recovery Friendly Church (RFC) Training!

We’re grateful for each person who took the time to learn, listen, and grow together as we explore how churches can become places of hope, healing, support, and belonging for individuals and families impacted by addiction.

We appreciate you being part of this important conversation and for your commitment to creating a more compassionate, recovery-friendly community.

Together, we can help ensure that no one has to walk the recovery journey alone. 🙏

08/31/2026