Aux-Captains Florence and Steve Yau, corps officers at Richmond Community Church, B.C., recognized that Richmond needed a program that went deeper than meal service alone. In response, the church recently opened its doors to Recovery Church, a transformative Sunday evening service designed to offer human connection, support and God’s love to those navigating the challenges of addiction.

Every week, nearly 30 guests fill the dining hall eager to enjoy a hot meal, meaningful conversations with peers and the spiritual care offered through the church. Recovery Church provides a welcoming space where individuals can share both victories and struggles, knowing they are surrounded by a community committed to walking with them toward sobriety.

For the past three years, the church’s mobile feeding program has distributed hot meals five times a week, giving volunteers and staff the opportunity to build trust with those who visit the food truck regularly. These relationships laid the foundation for what would eventually become Recovery Church.

“It’ll be tragic if we just feed for the rest of our lives,” shares Aux-Captain Steve Yau. “It’s a second step from the feeding now to the recovery. We’re praying and believing that a lot of them will recover, be delivered from their addiction, come clean and eventually help others.”

For some, like Dan, Recovery Church has become a lifeline. A longtime supporter of The Salvation Army, he never expected to need its services. “I didn’t know 40 years later I would be here for help,” he shares. The program has strengthened Dan both physically and spiritually.

“It helps keep me physically strong, to keep my body working like it should by having proper, balanced meals at regular times,” says Dan. “I’m very grateful for that, because sound body, sound mind are very important. And having faith is the best thing.”

For others, the greatest impact comes through community. Since the launch of Recovery Church, Chris and Dwayne have rarely missed a Sunday. For Chris, the gathering provides a grounding sense of connection: “Coming here, it’s a strong sense of community, and helps me get out of my head, and be around people.”

Dwayne shares that the program has given him a network he can trust, saying, “Now I’ve got people I can lean on.”

Recovery Church continues to nurture relationships and provide spiritual care, encouraging guests to grow in faith, build community and pursue freedom from addiction. Through prayer, worship and messages of God’s love, guests are reminded that they are not alone and that hope is always within reach.

Photo: Gavinder Randhawa

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