A 24/7 ministry: Road to Recovery reaches out to a hurting world

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By Susan Anderson | Tuesday, April 24, 2007 9:37 AM CDT | () comments

John Schultz/QUAD-CITY TIMES Frank Hughes, senior pastor of Road to Recovery, blesses Jerry and Murlene Ineichen of Davenport as the first official members of the church.

The Revs. Frank and Sandra Hughes share a vision of a church that draws alongside other people on their road to recovery.

Recovery is not just a program, though. Rather, it is the mission of the church, aptly named Road to Recovery of the Quad-Cities, 2313 44th St., Moline.

Their vision statement reads:

“In our own life experiences, we have witnessed hurting people wherever we go — people who are suffering, people who are lonely and feel rejected, and people with addictions of all kinds. Because we have walked where they are walking and have experienced their pain, our hearts hurt for them. We want them to find the freedom that we have found in our relationship with God.”

They believe in a 24/7 ministry.

What they do looks a lot more like family than a traditional church.

“We give people our phone number,” she said. “They can call us any time of the day or night.”

He points out that working with hurting people takes time and attention.

“In America, we are willing to give our money to help people, but we are not as willing to give our time,” he said.

He understands from experience that the love Jesus represents involves sacrifice.

His personal history is riddled with pain. Taking his first drink at 15, alcoholism eventually ruled his life.

“Alcohol ruined my mind,” he said. “My mind didn’t work right. I knew it, but I didn’t know how to fix it.”

His own road to recovery began Jan. 21, 1976, at the Lutheran General Hospital rehabilitation program in Chicago. He returned there in 1984 to become a certified addictions counselor.

Coming full circle is both his experience and his vision for the church. “I want to pass onto others what God has done in me,” he said.

Investing his life in helping people overcome addictions included leading Alcoholics Anonymous and church recovery groups. He served as chairman of the John Deere Harvester Works addictions program and on the Rock Island County Council on Addictions board. He volunteered at the East Moline Correctional Center drug unit, becoming a full-time drug counselor there in 1997. Together with his wife, they led chapel services at the state prison for 10 years.

Road to Recovery support groups developed in April 2006 and remain the church’s priority. The Bible-based 12-step program teaches foundational steps for Christian living. People gather at 6 p.m. Monday and 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Participants use the Road to Recovery workbook Hughes wrote as he mentored others.

Sitting around the table, participants share stories of brokenness, rejection and ultimate redemption.

In September, the couple began a Saturday evening worship service — which, on Easter, moved permanently to 11 a.m. Sundays in response to the growing discipleship needs of recovery group participants.

Both of them are ordained ministers through Harvesters Christian Fellowship in Crossville, Tenn. He facilitates the recovery groups and she preaches at the worship gatherings.

“Sandra is called to preach,” he said. “She has preached in many different churches over the years.”

“Frank is the lead pastor and I am the preacher,” she said. “I have a call to preach and he has a call to teach. We are each other’s helpers.”

Her ministry has reached both inside and outside the local church, including the Scott and Rock Island County jails. Her greatest desire for the church is true revival.

“I want people to know the presence of God is real. They can live in Jesus’ tangible presence and power all of the time, not just in church, but in their cars and in their homes. The experience only comes as we spend time with Him,” she said.

The church received its first official members in March. Jerry and Murlene Ineichen shared a testimony that sounds common among the congregants.

“Frank and Sandi loved us unconditionally,” Jerry Ineichen said. “They loved us when we were unlovable. They were willing to go through thick and thin, when we were ugly and when we were angry. You don’t see a lot of that today.”

The Hughes’ long-term goal is to train others like the Ineichens, to take the recovery message to those in need.

The Hugheses have have a blended family of eight grown children. Sandra’s son, Army Pfc. Michael Patrick Pittman, is currently serving in Baghdad, Iraq.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.