About Us
Our Mission Statement
As a Christ-centered, interdenominational ministry, our mission is to bring the hope of recovery through Jesus Christ to those struggling with chemical dependency, codependency, other addictions, and the wounds of dysfunctional family systems.
We pursue this mission by:
- Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging people to enter into a personal, saving relationship with Him
- Equipping and assisting churches in starting Christ-centered recovery support groups and fostering cooperation between ministries
- Providing biblical, Christ-centered counseling to those who are hurting
- Publishing and distributing recovery materials to individuals, leaders, and groups
- Training lay Christians and church leaders to minister effectively to those who are suffering
Our desire is to serve as a bridge between the Church and those in recovery, helping people experience both freedom from addiction and wholeness in Christ.
Welcome to Recovery in Christ Ministries
If you feel broken, weary, or beyond help, you’re not alone—and you’re not without hope.
At Recovery in Christ Ministries, we walk with people seeking freedom from addiction and life-controlling struggles, helping them discover the healing and wholeness found in Jesus.
We also come alongside the Body of Christ—equipping the Church to minister to those struggling with life-controlling dependencies—so that every hurting heart can find hope, healing, and new life through the love of Christ.
A Message From a Fellow Traveler
This ministry exists to help establish and support Christ-centered recovery groups and encourage Christians on their journey of recovery.
What you’ll find here is not theory—it’s the heart of someone who has walked the road of addiction and found freedom in Jesus Christ.
This resource was created as a plain-speaking tool to help:
- People who are hurting and searching for hope
- Pastors, ministers, and missionaries who want to walk alongside them
Our goal is simple: to see broken lives made whole through the love and power of Jesus.
My Story
More than forty years ago, I came to the end of myself. My way wasn’t working. My life was in pieces, and I had nothing left to hold onto.
In that place of desperation, I fully surrendered my life to the Lord. And in His mercy, Jesus led me into twelve-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
At that moment of total surrender, God set me completely free from drugs and alcohol. But that was not the end of my recovery—it was the beginning. Sobriety alone wasn’t enough. I discovered that addiction was only a symptom of a deeper problem: my life was out of balance, out of order, and in desperate need of healing. My mind needed renewing (Romans 12:2).
No price could be placed on the help I received through these groups. Traditional religion, medical treatment, and willpower had all failed me. I considered myself beyond hope and beyond help—and honestly, many others would have agreed.
I tried everything this world offered to find peace, and nothing worked. Eventually, suicide felt like my only way out. I attempted to end my life more than once. I truly saw no hope at all.
But to my amazement, the recovery process worked. At first, simply feeling “okay” was a miracle. Then, something even greater happened—I began to actually enjoy life.
I realized that if there was hope for me, there is hope for anyone.
The Heart of This Ministry
I am deeply grateful for the unconditional love and acceptance I found in those Twelve Step groups. Though they didn’t speak much about Jesus directly, I could feel His love shining through people who shared their stories and walked with me in grace.
I firmly believe the Twelve Steps were not the invention of human wisdom but were inspired by the Lord Himself. They are spiritual principles drawn from the Bible, and God’s power is what makes them work. Millions have found healing by walking through these steps with Him.
Being involved in Christ-centered recovery gives us a unique gift:
- Fellowship with other believers who understand our faith
- A bridge for those in the Church who need recovery
- A bridge for those in recovery who need the Church
Here, both worlds meet at the feet of Jesus.
Gratitude
I am thankful for every person who has ever shared their story in a meeting. Time and time again, I have heard the Lord speak through people who simply spoke the truth in love.
I am especially grateful for those who encouraged me to share this message and write this workbook: Bernice Fleming, Joe Santolucito, Robert Greenwald, Tommy Tieche, and Dr. Louise Doliveiria.
A heartfelt thank you to my mother, Bridget Massman, who gave me a safe place to write when I returned from the mission field, and to Pastor Bob Adams, whose spiritual encouragement has shaped my walk with the Lord.
With love and hope,
Richard Massman
Recovery in Christ Ministries
“Reaching Out to a Hurting World” is the heartbeat of Recovery In Christ Ministries.
This ministry informally began in 1985 when a small group of Christians—each walking the road of recovery—gathered after a traditional 12-step meeting for coffee at a local restaurant.
In that simple setting, the Lord met us with His presence. There was genuine Christian fellowship, heartfelt prayer, and a shared longing:
“What if there were a place where people in recovery could talk freely about Jesus and the Bible—without fear, without shame?”
Within weeks, the first Christ-centered recovery meeting was born. Only a couple of people came to that first gathering—but even there, ministry and healing began to flow.
Since that humble beginning, hundreds of lives have been touched, restored, and transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.
In June 1990, Recovery in Christ Ministries, Inc. was formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the State of Florida and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt ministry.
Are you longing to see people set free from life-controlling issues in your church, your community, or even within your own family? Have you looked around your congregation and wondered how to help those silently struggling with addiction, brokenness, or deep….
If you’re wondering where to begin, take heart—there is a way forward, and it works. You don’t have to figure it all out or start from scratch. Countless lives have been set free by walking a simple path of recovery rooted in Christ’s love through the Twelve Steps.
Pray and Seek God’s Direction
Ask the Lord if this is His timing and His assignment for you. Invite Him to guide every decision from the very beginning. This is His ministry, not ours. (Psalm 127:1)
When we follow these simple practices, we create a place where grace flourishes, honesty grows, and Jesus is free to bring healing.
Remember: our role is to make space — His role is to transform lives.