Salisbury, North Carolina – February 23, 2024. Scientific studies show that faith is a positive factor in addiction prevention or recovery.* Positive personal testimonies of the “faith factor” in recovery can be powerful in the lives of listeners.*
Shirley Luckadoo, EdD, MDiv, author of a new release True Stories of People in Recovery: Finding Healing from Hurts, Addictions, and Compulsive Behaviors (Redemption Press) says, “I have seen lives transformed through the power of testimonies.”
Luckadoo has been ministry leader of Trading Ford Baptist Church’s Celebrate Recovery ministry in Salisbury, NC, for almost seventeen years. The book is a compilation of testimonies of thirteen of the many people who have attended the Celebrate Recovery ministry and have experienced recovery through Jesus Christ from their addictions and compulsive behaviors. She says she wants others “to be encouraged and inspired to follow in the footsteps of those who have shared their testimonies.”
Luckadoo, a former community college vice president, includes her own story of recovery. She will be using potential profits from the book to fund Kings Haven Ministries, Inc., with the goal of opening a transition house for men coming out of treatment centers and a facility for women with children coming out of treatment.
*“Belief, Behavior, and Belonging: How Faith is Indispensable in Preventing and Recovering from Substance Abuse,” Brian J. Grim and Melissa E. Grim, Journal of Religious Health, Oct. 2019, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shirley Luckadoo, EdD, MDiv, retired from a community college vice presidency to serve as the ministry director of Celebrate Recovery at Trading Ford Baptist Church for the past seventeen years. The cofounder and board chair of Capstone Recovery Center, she is also the executive director of Hope House of Rowan, a transitional home for women. She has recently launched King’s Haven Ministries, Inc., to provide transitional homes for recovering substance abusers. A former pastor, teacher, and speaker, her passion is helping people find new, meaningful lives after years of hurt, addiction, or compulsive behaviors. Shirley enjoys spending time with her three sons, their wives, and her grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Suggested Interview Questions
- From your experience, is faith in God a major factor in addiction prevention and/or recovery? How so?
- Your book, True Stories of People in Recovery, shares the testimonies of thirteen people who have found freedom from addiction in their lives. Why do you feel testimonies can be important to others still caught up in addiction or compulsive behavior?
- You’ve been a community college vice president, and are now in recovery ministry. As well as the author of the book, you are one of the contributors. What’s your personal experience with recovery?
- The recovery stories aren’t only about freedom from alcohol or drug addiction. What are some of the various issues that the people whose stories are in this book struggled with?
- What would you say to someone who is listening who may be bound by one of these issues right now?
- Can you share with us some concrete first steps to freedom in Christ and the abundant life?
- Tell us about your ministries and your goal of opening a transition house for men and a facility for women with children.