How to Start a Small Group Recovery Ministry in Your Church

Posted by Ready Now Recovery on 19th Feb 2026

How to Start a Small Group Recovery Ministry in Your Church

Addiction is impacting families in every community, and churches are uniquely positioned to respond with hope. Many churches want to offer help but aren’t sure how to begin. Ready Now Recovery makes it possible for any church—large or small—to launch a structured, biblical recovery ministry using trusted Adult & Teen Challenge USA discipleship resources.
A Ready Now Recovery location does not require a clinical environment. It begins with a commitment to Christ-centered transformation, trained facilitators, proven curriculum that guides people toward long-term freedom, and various resources.

Step 1: Build Your Ministry on a Biblical Foundation

Ready Now Recovery is rooted in the belief that lasting change happens through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The discipleship model focuses on:

  • Scripture-based teaching

  • Identity in Christ

  • Practical guidance for life-controlling issues

  • Heart transformation that leads to lasting behavior change

Ready Now Recovery utilizes the proven Adult & Teen Challenge (ATC) curriculum as a foundational component of its discipleship pathway. ATC curriculum has been field-tested for decades in residential and community-based recovery settings across the country.

In addition to ATC materials, Ready Now incorporates select Christ-centered resources from other trusted ministries to provide a well-rounded recovery experience tailored for the local church context.

Whether your church desires to launch a full Ready Now Recovery location or simply implement Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum within an existing ministry, these biblically grounded materials provide a clear, Christ-honoring roadmap for recovery discipleship.

Explore the Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum here:
https://store.teenchallengeusa.org/breaking-free-recovery-curriculum/

Step 2: Train and Equip Your Leaders

A strong Ready Now Recovery ministry starts with trained facilitators. Churches receive facilitator training that covers:
  • Understanding addiction and life-controlling issues
  • Establishing healthy boundaries
  • Facilitating groups effectively
  • Creating an atmosphere of safety, accountability, and grace
Facilitator tools through Ready Now Recovery give your team confidence and ensure the ministry stays consistent, sustainable, and mission‑focused.

Step 3: Launch a Structured Weekly Group

One of the greatest strengths of Ready Now Recovery is its simplicity and structure. Churches receive a clear framework to follow, including:

  • Weekly group sessions built around Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum and complementary Ready Now resources

  • Christ-centered teaching and guided discussion

  • Personal accountability and goal setting

  • Clear discipleship milestones that track spiritual and personal growth

This blended curriculum approach allows churches to confidently address addiction and other life-controlling issues while maintaining theological integrity and practical effectiveness.

For churches not ready to launch a full location, Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum can also be implemented independently to begin building a recovery-focused discipleship ministry within your congregation.

Step 4: Resource Participants for Ongoing Growth

Participants in Ready Now Recovery benefit from high-quality discipleship materials, including:

  • Adult & Teen Challenge participant guides

  • Supplemental Ready Now discipleship resources

  • Devotional materials and biblical studies

  • Life-skills tools that reinforce growth throughout the week

  • Community resources for wraparound support

These materials work together to help individuals continue their transformation beyond weekly group meetings and support long-term spiritual growth.

Ready to Bring Recovery to Your Church?

Your church can be a place of hope and transformation for individuals and families impacted by addiction and life-controlling issues.

If you’re ready to launch a structured, fully supported recovery ministry, becoming a Ready Now Recovery location provides:

  • A proven Christ-centered framework

  • Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum integrated into a complete discipleship pathway

  • Facilitator training and leadership support

  • Ongoing guidance to help your ministry grow and thrive

Learn how to launch a Ready Now location today:
https://readynow.org/become-a-location/

Not ready to launch a full location? You can begin immediately by implementing Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum within your existing ministry. Many churches start by offering a small group using Breaking Free or other ATC resources, then expand as the ministry grows.

Explore Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum and start building your recovery ministry today:
https://store.teenchallengeusa.org/breaking-free-recovery-curriculum/