In 2012, I was driving down the road and the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “Would you build Me a church?” My teary-eyed reply was, “Where Lord?” His answer was instant: “Covington” (which is in Kentucky, in case you’re not from around here). He then proceeded to show me a vision, or an image, of a group of men in recovery, arm in arm like a wall around that church and the city.
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Now, to say that this conversation has been the driving force behind everything I’ve done for the last 11 years would be an understatement. From that day to this day, and every day in between, I’ve been preparing to answer that call. I've read hundreds of books, watched thousands of sermons, enrolled in Bible College, and sought out Godly mentors in numerous fields so they could take me under their wing and teach me all the things I would need to know. I’ve attended retreats, seminars, and workshops, all for the sake of getting ready for this day. I visited or volunteered at behavior centers, jails, urban missions, and residential programs in order to get a peek behind the veil of these ministries, so that I would be ready for the day when I would build my own.
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Most importantly, I’ve spent days, months, years and now a decade seeking the face of the Lord and His heart for the day when He would say, “Arise and build!” In September of 2022, that call finally came in, and when it did, Lisa and I answered it! It was then that Pastor Joey Butsch and the people of GracePointe sent Lisa and I out as missionaries to the addicted and lost, on our district and in the Tri-state area.
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In October, the Lord gave us the name of our church: Recovery Community Church. The Lord also gave us a threefold cord of focus for this church: Jesus, Freedom, and Truth! As per the original vision in 2012, this is to be a church specifically for those in recovery, as well as their friends, family, fellow church members, along with a great resource for our EKD district.
I don’t quite know how to explain what happened next, other than to say that I felt led to start walking the streets of Covington, Kentucky and share Jesus, just like David Wilkerson (Founder of Teen Challenge) used to walk the streets of New York City. |
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Sure, I could have been walking these same streets from the moment the Lord asked me to build Him a church in 2012 but, for some reason, I did not feel released or that I was allowed to do so until 2022… 10 years later.
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So, with the commission of God, our church, and our district now behind us, we started walking the streets of Covington, praying, and trusting the Lord to direct our steps to meet people and strike up conversations (Psalm 37:23). And let me tell you, He didn’t disappoint!
We would love to tell you about all of the divine appointments the Lord has sent our way through these prayer walks and hanging out at churches and other faith-based organizations in Covington, but time will not allow for that. Instead, we’d like to talk to you about what our church looks like. |
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We have no building. No money. No staff. If you’ve ever heard me sing, you know that we definitely have no worship team! But what we do have is:
- a small canopy tent,
- a banner with our name and an invitation (for prayer, encouragement, or help),
- an undying burden for this community,
- a message of absolute freedom in Christ no matter who you are,
- and a promise from God that we will succeed in pushing back the enemy.
On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
~Matthew 16:18
~Matthew 16:18
At this early stage in our building, salvation's are fewer and farther between than we would like. However, we remain confident that they’re coming, and so we “press on” and, for now, the effectiveness of our ministry lies in joining the community where they’re at (as opposed to asking them to join us where we’re at), and in removing any mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and even demonic roadblocks that may be keeping them from the truth of God’s Word and the power and freedom He offers to all… both sinner and addict alike!
In faith, Pastor Chuck Chapman,
Recovery Community Church
In faith, Pastor Chuck Chapman,
Recovery Community Church