The church sanctuary was jammed with worshippers whose faith reached beyond the roof but whose spirit was born of the hard work that followed the despair of hitting bottom.

They came to Riverbend Church in Austin, Texas, on a Sunday morning in October to celebrate the promise and possibility of recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. I was there, too, to share my tale of addiction and redemption. But except for a few of the finer details, most of the congregation already knew my story; they had "been there, done that," too.

Such is the power of the collective experience that is the essence of finding hope and help. Sadly, though, churches such as Riverbend are the exception rather than the rule. For a church to celebrate addiction recovery, it first must admit that its congregation includes people whose faith alone can't shield them from the ravages of alcohol or other drugs. And even in this day and age, there are too many Southern Baptists, Catholics and Jews who not only still believe they are immune to this illness but also don't like the idea of worshipping with those who aren't.

Dear Mr. Moyers: I fell from grace while leading a big Lutheran church in Iowa a few years ago. It began with drinking at lunch after Sunday morning services and ended with crack. My bottom was when I showed up to preach still high after a three-day binge and passed out on the pulpit. I was fired, went to treatment and have been clean and sober for almost two years now. I feel that calling again to pastor a church somewhere. But I am not sure whether I should reveal all that's happened to me. Can you give me some insight? — Donald N. in Des Moines, Iowa

Dear Donald: Your weakness can become your greatest strength. You not only have an obligation to tell your new employer of your addiction but also must use your life's experiences in your ministry. Too many members of the clergy preach "thou shalt not." In reality, few of us can avoid the temptations of the mind, body and spirit. Your credibility lies in your own journey of faith, and that includes your struggles and your salvation. Addiction isn't a sin that dooms people to purgatory. It's an illness that can be overcome. Lead by example, and you will inspire your congregants, as well.

Not every church can be led by somebody who, like Donald, knows firsthand about addiction. But that shouldn't prevent all churches from facing the problem head-on. Faith Partners is a program currently being utilized in more than 300 churches across the country to equip people of faith with the resources to address alcohol and other drug problems and to support recovery from addiction. Riverbend is one of them.

"Every faith community in the country has the capacity to be part of the solution," says Trish Merrill, founder of the Faith Partners program and the director of the Rush Center of the Johnson Institute (www.rushcenter.org). "They can educate themselves. They can equip youth and adults with skills. They can help families find needed resources. And they can begin to do this by tapping into the existing resources in their own congregation — people in recovery, prevention and treatment professionals. Together we can transform this epidemic to a manageable health concern."

Faith Partners gives churchgoers permission to reach out to help others in their midst and to help themselves, too.

After the Sunday service, Candace P. cried as she told me she hasn't heard from her 18-year-old nephew for two years and doesn't know where he is, much less whether he is even alive. "The program here helps me to deal with my anger and fear in the context of my faith in God's love," she said. "I know he isn't a saint. But he's not a sinner, either."

The Sunday celebration at Riverbend Church reminds me that faith without works is dead.

William C. Moyers is the vice president of external affairs for the Hazelden Foundation and the author of "Broken," a best-selling memoir. The paperback edition was released in August 2007. Please send your questions to William Moyers at William@WilliamMoyers.com. To find out more about William Moyers and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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