Addiction can take a person further than they ever intended to go, but no chain is stronger than the power of Jesus Christ. In Episode 4 of the One Accord Podcast, Bishop Luke Smith sits down with Zach Rickard and Mark Lehman for an honest and deeply personal conversation about addiction, relapse, recovery, repentance, and restoration. This is not a discussion built around theory. Zach and Mark share their own testimonies of drug and alcohol addiction, incarceration, broken relationships, devastating consequences, and the moments when they finally realized something had to change. They discuss the deeper wounds that can fuel addiction, including rejection, isolation, the need to feel loved and accepted, disappointment, shame, and the search for something to fill an emptiness that only God can truly satisfy. The conversation also addresses an important reality for pastors and churches: transformation does not always happen overnight. People coming out of addiction may stumble, relapse, struggle with old thought patterns, or battle memories and temptations from their former lives. What they need is not condemnation, but biblical truth, accountability, genuine Christian community, and people willing to walk with them toward freedom. In this episode: • Zach shares how walking away from a promising gymnastics career eventually contributed to years of addiction and isolation. • Mark recounts growing up surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and crime, becoming addicted at a very young age, and repeatedly finding himself incarcerated. • They discuss their lowest moments and the consequences addiction brought into their lives and families. • Zach explains why he chose a long-term Christian recovery program even when he was only months away from completing drug court. • Mark shares how confronting the roots of his addiction and seeking both spiritual and practical help changed the trajectory of his life. • The conversation explores relapse, shame, accountability, intrusive thoughts, and learning to take thoughts captive. • Zach and Mark explain why a church must become a place where struggling people can tell the truth without fearing rejection. • The episode closes with a powerful discussion about repentance, dying to self, and why the Christian walk requires daily surrender. If you are coming out of addiction, ministering to someone who is struggling, pastoring people in recovery, or trying to understand how the church can better reach those caught in destructive cycles, this conversation is for you. There is hope. There is restoration. And through Jesus Christ, chains can still be broken. One Accord Podcast is hosted by Bishop Luke Smith, General Chairman of the Apostolic World Christian Fellowship (AWCF). The podcast exists to strengthen Apostolic believers around the world through biblical conversations, leadership insights, and stories of faith that unite the Body of Christ. 🌐 Learn more about AWCF: awcf.org Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and help us encourage others by sharing this episode.
