Rev. Tessie Mandeville
January 27, 2008
Christ Covenant MCC
Decatur, GA 30030

This morning we are honored to bear witness to one another’s stories. Stories are what bind communities together; it’s how we know one another. Telling our stories is also how we heal and transform. My friend, Kevin Morgan, who is in recovery says, “Recovery and healing come from telling honest, real life, absolute, stainless steel truth to each other.”

Today we have three people who are coming out about addiction and God’s grace in their lives. Let’s just say up front and out loud that addiction comes in many forms: alcohol, drugs, sex, food, gambling, work, co-dependency, shopping—take your pick.
Our task as a spiritual community is to be a place where people can tell their truths without judgment and without shame. And the truth is, we are all on a journey toward wholeness and spiritual recovery no matter who we are or where we’ve come from.

This morning we will hear stories from the heart that are not without pain but are immersed in God’s grace. I invite us to remember that it’s not how you tell the story but the truth that you tell in the story that is important.

Let us pray together.

Copyright © 2008 by Rev. Tessie Mandeville. Permission granted for non- profit circulation with attribution of author and venue. Other rights reserved.