📝 Worksheet 1.5: Addiction Recovery Chaplain Self-Reflection and Field Readiness

Purpose of This Worksheet

This worksheet helps you reflect on your readiness to serve as an Addiction Recovery Chaplain. Topic 1 introduced the call to Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy, the ministry of presence, whole-person care, first conversations after recovery meetings, volunteer involvement, and discernment about whether this ministry is right for you.

This worksheet is not a test of perfection. It is a tool for honest discernment.

Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy requires compassion, but compassion alone is not enough. This ministry also requires humility, boundaries, accountability, consent-based spiritual care, referral wisdom, and a clear understanding that the chaplain is not a therapist, sponsor, treatment provider, detox worker, case manager, legal advocate, or rescuer. This worksheet follows the course template’s emphasis on Christ-centered recovery, wise boundaries, restored community, and chaplaincy role clarity.

Part 1: Key Concept Review

Write a short answer for each question.

1. What is the main role of an Addiction Recovery Chaplain?

2. Why is presence important when serving people in recovery?

3. What is the difference between presence and fixing?

4. Why should prayer be offered by permission?

5. Why should Scripture be shared with consent?

6. What does it mean to treat a person in recovery as an embodied soul?

7. What are three roles the Addiction Recovery Chaplain should not replace?

8. What is one reason relapse disclosure should be handled calmly?

Part 2: Personal Discernment

Mark each statement honestly.

My Heart for This Ministry

☐ I feel compassion for people impacted by addiction.
☐ I want to serve people in recovery with dignity and hope.
☐ I understand that people are more than their addiction, relapse, or worst day.
☐ I believe Christ-centered recovery includes grace, truth, accountability, and community.
☐ I am willing to keep learning before assuming I know how to help.

My Readiness for Boundaries

☐ I can say no kindly when a request is outside my role.
☐ I can avoid becoming someone’s only support person.
☐ I can resist the desire to rescue people.
☐ I can serve under church, ministry, recovery group, or Soul Center leadership.
☐ I can follow policies even when I feel emotionally pulled to make an exception.

My Readiness for Difficult Conversations

☐ I can listen without quickly correcting.
☐ I can hear relapse disclosure without panic or harshness.
☐ I can ask safety questions when needed.
☐ I can honor confidentiality while understanding its limits.
☐ I can refer someone to proper support when needs exceed my role.

My Personal Formation

☐ I am aware that my own story may affect how I serve.
☐ I am willing to bring my motives before God.
☐ I have trusted leaders or mentors who can help me process ministry situations.
☐ I understand that “not yet” can be a faithful answer.
☐ I want to serve in Christ’s strength, not from a need to be needed.

Part 3: Practice Phrases

Practice writing short ministry responses. Keep them calm, clear, and compassionate.

Scenario 1

A person says, “I relapsed this week. God must be done with me.”

Write a response that protects dignity and offers hope.

Scenario 2

A person says, “Please don’t tell anyone I used again.”

Write a response that honors privacy but does not promise unsafe secrecy.

Scenario 3

A person says, “Can you just be my sponsor? I trust you more than anyone.”

Write a response that keeps your chaplain role clear.

Scenario 4

A person asks, “Can you give me money? I promise I’ll pay you back.”

Write a response that is caring but boundary-aware.

Scenario 5

A person says, “Can you pray for me?”

Write a response that shows consent-based spiritual care.

Scenario 6

A family member says, “You need to make him stop using.”

Write a response that honors the family’s pain but keeps role clarity.

Part 4: Boundary Check Scenarios

For each situation, mark the wisest response.

1. A person in recovery wants to meet alone late at night in a private place.

☐ Agree because they finally trust you.
☐ Refuse harshly and tell them they are being manipulative.
☐ Suggest a safer, accountable, ministry-approved setting.
☐ Ignore the request and hope they stop asking.

Why?

2. A person discloses relapse but says there is no current danger.

☐ Shame them so they take relapse seriously.
☐ Promise secrecy so they keep trusting you.
☐ Thank them for telling you and encourage contact with proper recovery support.
☐ Tell their whole small group immediately.

Why?

3. A person mentions suicidal thoughts after relapse.

☐ Keep talking privately and promise confidentiality.
☐ Treat it as urgent and involve proper crisis support.
☐ Tell them real Christians should not talk that way.
☐ Change the subject to avoid making them uncomfortable.

Why?

4. A person asks for frequent private texting throughout the day.

☐ Agree because constant access proves compassion.
☐ Set clear communication boundaries and point them to broader support.
☐ Stop responding without explanation.
☐ Tell them they are too needy to help.

Why?

5. A recovery group leader asks you to follow the group’s rules about anonymity and public sharing.

☐ Follow the rules and respect the recovery setting.
☐ Ignore the rules if you think your ministry is more spiritual.
☐ Share stories anyway if they are encouraging.
☐ Ask people to give testimonies before they are ready.

Why?

Part 5: Local Ministry Application

Think about your own church, Soul Center, ministry, or community context.

1. Where might addiction recovery ministry already be happening near you?

☐ Local church recovery group
☐ Community recovery meeting
☐ Recovery home
☐ Jail or reentry ministry
☐ Homeless outreach
☐ Counseling or treatment referral network
☐ Family support ministry
☐ Soul Center ministry
☐ Other: _____________________________________________

2. Who would you need to speak with before serving in this field?

☐ Pastor
☐ Elder or deacon
☐ Recovery group leader
☐ Chaplain supervisor
☐ Soul Center leader
☐ Ministry director
☐ Community partner
☐ Counselor or treatment referral contact
☐ Other: _____________________________________________

3. What permission structures would you need to respect?

4. What safety concerns might be present in this ministry field?

5. What boundaries would need to be clear before you begin serving?

6. What kinds of referral contacts would be helpful to know?

Part 6: Calling and Readiness Reflection

Complete the following statements.

1. I feel drawn to Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy because:

2. One strength I may bring to this ministry is:

3. One weakness or growth area I must bring before God is:

4. One boundary I need to practice is:

5. One kind of situation that might be difficult for me is:

6. One trusted person I could ask for guidance is:

7. Right now, my next faithful step is:

☐ Begin serving under approved leadership.
☐ Continue training before direct service.
☐ Serve indirectly through prayer, hospitality, or support.
☐ Talk with a pastor or ministry leader.
☐ Seek mentorship, healing, or personal support first.
☐ Discern more slowly before deciding.

Explain your answer:

Part 7: Prayer and Commitment

Read the following commitments. Mark the ones you are willing to make as you continue this course.

☐ I will treat people in recovery as image-bearers of God.
☐ I will remember that people are more than their addiction or relapse.
☐ I will practice prayer by permission.
☐ I will share Scripture with consent.
☐ I will not replace sponsors, counselors, pastors, treatment providers, or recovery leaders.
☐ I will not promise absolute secrecy when safety is at risk.
☐ I will avoid unsafe private ministry practices.
☐ I will serve under appropriate leadership and accountability.
☐ I will refer when needs exceed my role.
☐ I will keep Christ, not myself, at the center of recovery chaplaincy.

My Personal Commitment

Write a short commitment prayer or statement.

Closing Formation Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Prepare me to serve with humility, courage, and wisdom.

Teach me to be present without taking over. Help me listen without shaming, speak truth without harshness, and offer hope without false promises.

Give me compassion with boundaries. Give me courage to ask safety questions. Give me wisdom to refer when needs exceed my role. Keep me from becoming a rescuer, a secret keeper, or someone’s only support.

Help me see each person in recovery as an embodied soul, made in Your image, and worthy of dignity.

If Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy is my assignment, form me for faithful service. If I need more preparation, give me patience and teachability.

Use me in Your timing, under Your authority, for Your glory.

Amen.