Partnership In The Gospel

Recently we took the opportunity to conduct an online interview with our friend, and partner in the gospel Liz Beck of Hope For Addiction Inc. Liz visited us last year, and we are looking forward to doing likewise when staff from Hope For Addiction UK attend the ten year anniversary event for Hope For Addiction Inc in Arizona, USA.

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 Liz, thank you for taking time out to answer a few questions about the ministry of Hope For Addiction Inc. Can you firstly share a little about yourself for those who may not know you?

I am mom to Grace (29) and Robert (28) and the founder of Hope for Addiction. I have attended my church, Center Church Gilbert, AZ for twenty years. 

Why did you decide to set up Hope For Addiction Inc in the USA?

My husband struggled with addiction our entire 17 year marriage. After losing Christian friends who didn’t know how to help us and even being asked not to return to a church, I found myself untrusting of church and very alone. Then we found Center Church. Our small group and pastors pressed in to the mess of our lives. In 2007 my husband’s addiction began to escalate and we lived in chaos for several years. During this time, my husband was in and out of the hospital, rehab or even times I did not know where he was. Emergency vehicles, police and ambulance visits were common at our home. Still my church family remained faithful to walk alongside my kids and me. In 2011, due to my husband’s choices, my marriage ended and I found myself asking, “what would it look like for the church to care for addicts the way my church cared for me?” Hope for Addiction officially began in December 2013… and I still did not know what I was doing or what it would look like. My ex husband died from an overdose in 2016 which has given me even more compassion as my children and I have grieved this tragic loss.

Could you tell us more about a typical week and what that looks like as you minister to those with addiction issues? 

There isn’t a typical week. Everyday looks different. As a growing organization, I am still involved in most aspects of the work so my time is spent in administrative tasks, fundraising, counselling, church training, writing resources and overseeing the ministry at our two transition homes for women and children. My favourite part of my job is equipping pastors to be confident in God’s Word to help those in their care who struggle with addiction. At the short - and long-term houses, I work with staff to create care plans to move the women forward toward independence.

 The bible is obviously central to the ministry of Hope For Addiction Inc as it is here at Hope For Addiction UK.  If you were asked to highlight a few main points about the bible as it relates to addiction, what would you say?

Scripture truly does give us guidance for all of life, including addiction. A big part of our work is teaching others to return to a biblical understanding of secular ideas so we can bring a biblical solution. We have to reinterpret what the culture says so we can connect answers from scripture. If we define addiction as a disease, the gospel is limited as a solution. If we define addiction biblically as a heart issue, an idolatry or worship problem, a sin struggle, the gospel provides the answer for true freedom. Many of the resources we create for churches keeps this in mind; framing secular ideas from a biblical view so a biblical solution can be applied. Once we learn to do this, we can apply this framework to any secular idea. 

At Hope For Addiction UK, we use a variety of resources to help address addiction from a biblical perspective. One such resource is Addictions: A Banquet In The Grave  by Ed Welch. Do you have any particular resources that you use or point people toward to aid them personally in their recovery?

Ed Welch’s book is a great resource! We use this for churches who are considering partnership with Hope for Addiction. The resources we use for discipleship/mentoring individuals are mostly written by our team. I found that many of the available resources are great for leaders, but are at a level that is difficult to understand for those in the midst of the battle with addiction. Our materials are simplified and made practical so struggling people can apply scripture in real life situations that brings real change and freedom

We both have a shared desire that the local church would be central in people’s lives as they recover from addiction issues. What difference has the local church made to your work?

 The local church is God’s means of grace for all Christians. As individuals we are limited in our reach. When the local church is equipped to practically walk alongside those who struggle, we can make a real difference and people will continue to grow and mature in Christ. I have seen many pastors with a desire to enter into messy situations, they just need a bit of guidance and practical connection to scripture. Everything we do is connected to the local church in some way. The local church is critical.

In June 2024 we were delighted that you visited Hope For Addiction UK here in Scotland and we publicly announced our partnership in the gospel.  Even though we operate on an autonomous basis, what do you think are the benefits of this friendship as we minister separately across the pond?

 It was a wonderful time with your team, and I was so blessed to see the great work you are doing! I was so inspired by your work when I visited, especially the Day Programme. Both of our staff excel in living life with those in our programmes. This is a beautiful example of loving like Jesus. Over the years, Terry and I have had opportunity to connect over zoom and we have learned from one another, been able to encourage one another and think through biblical application together. There are not many involved in both the biblical understanding AND the street level ministry. Finding a like-minded friend who understands both is a treasure. Our organisations have different approaches and application, but both aim for biblical integrity and application. I have learned from the UK team and been inspired. It is a blessing that I can reach out, talk through challenges and be encouraged. I am grateful for our partnership and I learn so much from your team.

Next year we are excited that you are celebrating your 10th anniversary as an organisation, and we look forward to visiting Arizona to spend time with you. Can you highlight some of the challenges you’ve faced over that period and are there any particular high points for you?

This is actually our 11th anniversary, but we were not able to secure Alistair Begg last year, so our celebration was delayed – well worth the wait!! And it will be an added blessing to have some of your team here with us as well. Of course, there have been many challenges over the years, but the biggest, I would say, is the push back from churches to the biblical approach to addiction. So many pastors and church leaders have been influenced by the world’s view of addiction that they find it difficult to embrace that the gospel is sufficient to care for addicts. The high points always involve God’s incredible work to grow this ministry and to provide in miraculous ways. Many times, I have been incapable of even functioning, and the ministry has grown. I always say that God is working in spite of me. I had the privilege these past few months to train a group of pastors in Kenya and they will launch Recovering Hope recovery meetings in February 2025. They found us through a google search – another example that I can’t make anything happen, I can simply be faithful with what the Lord places in front of me.

As you look ahead to the next 3-5 years are there any particular targets you have in mind as an organisation?

We would like to expand our support of pastors with strategy calls so if they have a situation in their congregation, we can equip them to confidently care for those in need with a practical plan. Additionally, we are praying about supporting men through a similar housing programme to what we provide for women and children.

Finally, how can we and others be praying for you and Hope For Addiction Inc? 

I would love your prayers! Pray that I will be faithful and bold. Pray for us to stand firm in the gospel and for wisdom as we write and produce more resources and grow our ability to support local churches to serve struggling addicts.