Sunday, 7 October, will be a milestone in the history of the battle against addiction to alcohol and other drugs in Wales.

This is the fourth Recovery Sunday in Wales. On this Sunday, Christians will unite in prayer for those who are dependent and trapped in addiction, to ask God to help us to help them.

‘Amazing Grace’ is the theme for this Recovery Sunday arranged by Living Room Cardiff in an attempt to challenge the stigma and prejudice which still persists towards people with mental health and addiction problems.

Wynford Ellis Owen, Chief Executive of the Living Room says:

“‘Amazing Grace’ is the theme of this years’ service which has been prepared by the Reverend Susan Stevenson who is one of the Ministers at Albany Road Baptist Church in Cardiff. Before that for over 20 years she served as a local church minister in south London, during which time her involvement began with Street Pastors. Street Pastors are volunteers drawn from across a broad spectrum of church traditions who ‘patrol’ towns and cities across the UK and beyond, between 10pm and 4am, seeking to care, to listen and to help. Susan is also a trustee of the Living Room Cardiff and a board member of CAIS. 

“It is high time to challenge the idea that addiction is a disgrace, something that should be kept under wraps.  Even within the life of the church, there are people and families struggling against addiction.

“Everyone recovers from some condition or other – whether it be a difficult childhood, a recent bereavement, redundancy, cancer or other illness.  Recovery Sunday is a chance for us to come together and to start discussing recovery and the ‘Amazing Grace’ that instigates and maintains that recovery.  The principles of recovery stretch far beyond the use of drugs, far beyond the use of alcohol – they are relevant to each one of us.

“But one must lead sufferers towards practical recovery also, and that is the work of the Living Room, a community-based bilingual recovery centre in Cardiff.  In the five years since being established, the Living Room has changed hundreds of lives.  We are proud that this work has been based on the Lord Jesus Christ and we sincerely hope that we will be able to open more Living Rooms in west and north Wales soon.”

You will be able to download the Recovery Sunday service, in both Welsh and English, from our website: www.livingroom-cardiff.com.

Dependence on alcohol and other drugs kills, causes unlimited numbers of crimes and it keeps families in poverty.  This is an opportunity for the churches in Wales to tackle the problem in the name of the Lord. Are you willing to do this?

For more information contact Living Room Cardiff, 58 Richmond Road, Cardiff CF24 3AT; or email  wynfordellisowen@cais.org.uk