Brooke Hartman brought a powerful message of hope and recovery to the Powell Business and Professional Association, which met April 9 at Jubilee Banquet Facility.
Hartman is the recovery and discipleship pastor for Powell Church, 323 W. Emory Road.
She said Powell Church identified two community needs – support and resources for the loved ones of those in substance use disorder and support for those experiencing grief and loss. Recovery at Powell is designed to meet those needs.
“Don’t speak of those in recovery as ‘them’ or ‘those people.’ We are all in recovery,” she said.
For many of us, church is the last place we feel worthy of going, she said, because of our own actions or others’ actions. Recovery at Powell is a “come as we are” gathering. Recovery is about much more than addiction. Participants might struggle with broken relationships, death of a loved one, illness, divorce, long-term resentment, guilt or anger.
Thursday meetings are for families, starting with dinner at 5:45 p.m., followed by worship at 6:30 and share groups at 7:40. There are groups for kids – a “safe place” for them to speak about their feelings.
“Just show up,” Hartman said. “We will be there.” She encouraged PBPA members to invite family and friends to attend Recovery at Powell. “Don’t just hand them a brochure. Come with them.”
Hartman can be reached at the church, 865-938-2741, or by email. She said addiction information is available at the Metro Drug Coalition website.