Christopher Dacanay LOCATION — The downstairs fellowship hall of Starkdale Presbyterian Church will house weekly meetings for the church’s new evangelical ministry, Life Recovery/Redemption: A New Life Through Jesus Christ.

STEUBENVILLE — Starkdale Presbyterian Church is beginning a new evangelical outreach initiative, aimed at providing Christ-centered direction and healing to individuals or their families who are seeking help with any addictions or life difficulties.

“Life Recovery/Redemption: A New Life Through Jesus Christ” is the name of Starkdale’s ministry, an inter-denominational fellowship of individuals who will meet every Friday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the downstairs fellowship hall of the church, located at 4600 Sunset Blvd., Steubenville.

Free and open to all ages, the fellowship is meant to support those experiencing any manner of challenges in life — mentally and physically. Members will follow the Christian 12-step recovery program presented in “The Life Recovery Bible,” engage in group discussions and offer mentorship to one another.

The group’s first meeting will take place this coming Friday. Individuals are asked to park in the church’s lower parking lot and enter through the adjacent glass door. Light refreshments will be served.

The Rev. Carl Moore, Starkdale’s pastor, noted Life Recovery/Redemption is unique from other recovery programs in that it emphasizes reaching out to individuals with the gospel, showing them God’s answers to their questions about life and its struggles.

“We believe the core problem with all human people is not necessarily a physical issue but a spiritual (one),” Moore said. “We believe the only adequate source that can deal with the true spiritual deficiency of mankind is the source of the word of God, and it points to Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit. So, we understand that any sort of addiction is a symptom of a spiritual (deficiency), which can only be filled by Christ.”

The group does not offer clinical rehabilitation or treatment, but it does offer a “spiritual treatment,” where individuals can walk alongside one another through their personal journeys toward ultimate fulfillment and healing in Christ, Moore said.

According to the Life Recovery/Redemption’s preamble, which establishes meetings’ structure, meetings will begin with members reciting the “Serenity Prayer” together.

“This group is for anyone looking for support through life’s difficulties and fellowship to help you grow in Christ Jesus,” the preamble reads. “This meeting also is for family members seeking comfort and peace. We share God’s love with each other. When we are honest with one another, Jesus is truth, ‘and the truth shall set you free.’ (John 8:32) ‘Apart from Jesus, you can do nothing.’ (John 15:5)”

The preamble asks for the Holy Spirit “to lead and guide our hearts always,” and invites attendees to join in singing two worship songs together.

Later, attendees will read from “The Life Recovery Bible,” copies of which can be purchased online, along with personal “Life Recovery” workbooks. If someone cannot afford a Bible, the church will provide him or her with one.

After reading the day’s message, attendees will break into small groups to discuss the topic and how it applies to their life situations. Confidentiality is “the most important thing,” the preamble reads, adding, “What you hear here stays here.”

“A Christ-centered sponsorship and fellowship is highly recommended,” the preamble reads. Attendees are encouraged to support and check in with other fellowship members, as well as request that treatment individuals who they are comfortable with.

Starkdale’s program began with Jim Kazak of Washington, Pa. Kazak joined a similar “Life Recovery” 12-step program where he lives and found it to be immensely fruitful. Believing faith-based recovery to be “the best way to go,” Kazak desired to cultivate programs in other areas.

Through an acquaintance, Kazak connected with Starkdale, and began working to convince church leaders of a new program’s potential benefits.

“I was persevering because I really wanted to get this meeting over here because I’ve seen what it did … in other meetings and it’s beautiful,” Kazak said.

Early this year, when Kazak began speaking with church members, Starkdale had just begun revitalizing its evangelism committee. Moore said it seemed providential that Kazak appeared when the committee was looking for new initiatives to start.

After reading “The Life Recovery Bible” and liking it, the evangelism committee took to establishing its own program, with Kazak giving direction.

Debra Louk chairs the committee with co-chair Dr. Tom Brown. A nurse for 45 years, Louk said she’s seen firsthand the issues people undergo in life.

“It makes sense to have a program where Jesus is involved because he’s the only one who can heal these people, and I truly believe that,” Louk said.

Moore said the ultimate hope with the ministry is that individuals would allow Christ to “enter and transform their life.”

“Even if a person is rescued from any sort of addiction, that in and of itself doesn’t save anybody,” Moore said, adding, “We know that the ultimate need for all of humanity is faith in Christ.”

Louk said, “That’s why we’re offering (the group) to anybody with life difficulties because people feel they’re alone in the world and no one else is experiencing this. But everybody has (something). You just don’t tell about it. … Anybody who needs’ Jesus help, we read scripture and guide you through it.”