Christians Find Hope Dealing with Addiction

Calvary Center's 30-day residential treatment program helps Christians overcome their addictions and reunite with God

It's a plane ride Pastor Greg Jensen will never forget. Overwhelmed with shame and guilt, he spent the trip worrying about his family and wondering if he still had a job as he stared out of the small window. Like 21 million other people across the nation, Jensen had an addiction problem he had not yet sought treatment for.

The pastor struggled with his addiction to prescription drugs for years. After being caught stealing medication from a parishioner, he even took a three-year sabbatical from his ministry, but his addiction problem persisted.

Jensen rejoined the ministry as one of 14 pastors at a large Montana church. When he was caught stealing medicine from a congregant's cabinet again, a senior pastor confronted him about his addiction. He flew to Phoenix the next morning and entered Calvary Center, a nationally-recognized, faith-based 30-day residential addiction treatment center.

"We're the 'hope doctors,'" says Larry Solomon, clinical director of Calvary Center and author of "Love Never Fails ... But A Marriage Can." "We don't preach. Instead, we help clients assess and explore their spirituality at their own pace and comfort level."

Prior to entering Calvary Center's treatment program, Jensen hid his addiction from almost everyone. He spent much of his time helping others, leading hundreds of people to Christ, but he was unable to stop his own addiction without treatment.

"You can't just send someone to church and think the addiction will go away," Pastor Jensen says, "You can be an addict and be a Christian, too."

But an active addiction does interfere with a person's relationship with the Lord. According to Solomon, an active addict spends 87 percent of his or her waking thoughts focused on the drug.

"Quite literally, the drug becomes the addict's god. Instead of following God's will, an addict follows the drug's will," Solomon explains.

The challenge in overcoming an addiction is finding something more beneficial to focus on. Calvary Center encourages its clients to focus freed thoughts on God, placing Him back in control of their lives.

"This is not easy. It's a matter of keeping God on your mind versus the drug," Solomon says.

While Calvary Center provides a traditional treatment program, nearly 85 percent of clients choose the Christian program, which provides a Christ-centered, biblical approach to recovery through faith-building activities such as devotions, bible studies, lectures and prayer. In addition, Christian therapists help clients explore their relationships with God and begin a strong spiritual foundation for recovery. Of the 15 percent of clients who choose the traditional program, nearly half eventually participate in the Christian activities.

Solomon says each client has a different path for recovery. "Some clients feel mixed emotions, such as anger and guilt. We help them learn how to find God's will and we teach them about God's love and forgiveness. Most importantly, we offer hope," he says.

Addressing the spiritual effects of addiction, as well as the physical, mental and emotional effects, is an important component of a recovering addict's success. In fact, Solomon says a strong faith in God helps clients deal with temptations well after they finish the program.

"Our experience is that those with a strong faith will be less likely to relapse," he says.

Pastor Jensen agrees. "People are going to be confronted with their spirituality at Calvary Center. Even if they do not know the Lord, they're going to be confronted with salvation while they are there," he says.

Thirty days after arriving at Calvary Center, Pastor Jensen flew home to a supportive crowd of family and friends. He was re-hired, and he now counsels congregation members who are struggling with addiction. He is also working towards earning his Master's degree in addiction counseling so he can help people both inside and outside of his congregation.

"If I can convince those in need to enter a 30-day residential treatment program, and they are ready for it, I think the experience will transform them," Pastor Jensen says.

Now clean for five years, Jensen attests that his decision to enter Calvary's Center treatment program was worth the fear and anxiety he felt on his flight to Phoenix.

"It was the toughest thing I did in my life, but I wouldn't be where I'm at today if I had not gone," Pastor Jensen says.

For information about Calvary Center's 30-day residential treatment programs for substance abuse and problem gambling, call 1-866-76-SOBER.