A decade ago, you may not have recognized Adam Comer. Back then, he was a captive to drug addiction, stuck in a cycle of recovery and relapse. He was, in his own words, “a thief, liar and manipulator.”

Not anymore. Now, Adam is a pastor and the chief executive officer of S2L Recovery, a Christian addiction recovery center. Having experienced the healing only Jesus brings, Adam passionately preaches the good news to addicts and alcoholics—that with Christ, lasting freedom is possible.

Today, we’re asking Adam to give us a deeper look at the faith that drives his life and ministry. He’s getting honest about the habits that spiritually revitalize him, the weaknesses he still battles and the Christian resources that strengthen his bond with Jesus.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

After living for a decade in the mid-Tennessee area, my go-to meal is Nashville hot chicken. Maybe what this says about me is that I’m spicy! (I can’t believe I just said that.) I do like spicy food, but I am a grown man from the South and have never said “I am spicy” in my life.

What led me to mid-Tennessee is probably of the most importance. I battled an addiction to prescription opiates for many years. I went to many secular rehabs that told me that “once I was an addict, I would always be an addict.” There is no hope in this message. Relapse after relapse after relapse and destroying every relationship I ever had was my life for many years. This is what led me to where I live now.

I had tried the secular way for so long. I found myself broken and Googled “Is there such a thing as Christian recovery?” What I found was this place called S2LRecovery. What this rehab taught was radically different from any message I had ever heard — that there was absolute freedom from addiction. That if I was in Christ, I was a new creation. And that whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So, what are yours? What so-called "nonspiritual" activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?

After spending a decade in what is called “spiritual trench warfare” while serving at a residential addiction recovery ministry, I’ve found that spiritual renewal is of great importance. I’m useless if my cup is empty. So I’ve learned that being alone in God’s creation with a fly rod in the middle of a river is just what I need. Now, I am terrible at fly-fishing, but it is so peaceful, and it seems to recharge me spiritually.

Another activity for spiritual renewal is having “family game night.” Being able to see the blessings in my life that God has given me is a breath of fresh air in chaotic times. Another activity that I enjoy is playing sports with my 6-year-old son, Eli, and somehow doing whatever my 4-year-old daughter, Ella, says we should do. I grew up in a house with all boys, so I was unprepared for the powers of a 4-year-old girl. She once convinced me to let her paint my toenails pink.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We're just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

You don’t have to look too hard to find weaknesses in my life. A decade ago, I was a drug addict, thief, liar and manipulator. I praise God those are not weaknesses in my life anymore. But my weaknesses today are just as severe — I have to die to my pride daily. So often, I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of what God is doing in my life and ministry, and I have to lay pride at the foot of the cross daily.

More of him and less of me has to be my posture because when I do things my way, it always ends badly. On this journey of sanctification, I’ve learned why the apostle Paul says, “I will gladly boast in my weakness” (see 2 Corinthians 12:10). When I do this, God gets the glory, and his will gets done.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

My obsession and calling right now is multifaceted. First, it’s seeing God glorified through the restoration of broken men and women who have been told that they would be alcoholics or addicts their whole lives. Those who are told that, at best, they’re doomed to a life of remission.

I’m called to tell them that the message that they’ll be an alcoholic or addict their whole lives is from the pits of hell. I tell them that God has made them fearfully and wonderfully in his image, the Imago Dei. I want them to know that there is absolute freedom from the bondage of addiction because if you’re in Christ, you’re a new creation.

Another major passion right now is creating a message for the universal church. That message is that addiction is not a surprise to God. We did this by making a short documentary film titled “The Forgotten Pandemic.”

We’re blessed to have interviewed Zach Williams, Mark Hall (lead vocalist of Casting Crowns), politicians, pastors and people who have been set free from addiction. This documentary goes against the secular norm and its ideology.

The reason that this should be your passion as well is that this truly is a forgotten pandemic. Everyone reading this either has struggled with addiction or knows someone who has. The most recent overdose death data we have is from the CDC for 2020. Overdose deaths skyrocketed 30% over the previous year — from 70,000 in 2019 to 93,000 in 2020. That’s more deaths than the entire 14-year Vietnam War era. Keep in mind, these are only drug overdose deaths; this doesn’t include alcohol-related deaths. Clearly, the secular methodology is not working, and it’s time for the church to march into the storm.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?

My answer may be a call-back from a previous question, but without God, I would’ve burned out a long time ago. When people come to our ministry, they are in the darkest season of their lives. I don’t have the strength to pull someone out of that pit. And yet, we see the Spirit of God move in such a way that men in the darkest times of their lives — when they feel broken, worthless and ashamed — are restored to be powerful, godly leaders in their homes and communities.

I know that it’s God when this happens because our approach is not outside-in behavior modification. S2L’s approach is getting to the heart of stone and allowing God to make that into a heart of flesh, which rattles from the inside out and, by design, modifies our behaviors. The behavior change and the addiction deliverance are merely the byproducts of being radically changed by God.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin' best for you right now?

I do these four things on a daily basis: read God’s Word, pray, engage in good fellowship and walk in action (obedience).

God’s Word is spiritual nourishment, but it’s also spiritual protection. The Bible allows us to know more about our Creator and his promises. And it tells us how we were created and what our true identity is.

I pray daily because, when he spoke, he birthed everything out of nothing. In his sovereignty and amazing will, he ordained that we get to talk to him. The one who spoke all things into existence wants us to communicate with him. I have seen too much to believe that prayer is not powerful and effective.

Good fellowship is important because that’s how God designed us. If I asked you to tell me what was on the wall behind you without looking, you wouldn’t be able to do it. Why? Because you can’t see what’s behind you. It’s a blind spot. But if I were standing in front of you, I could tell you what’s behind you. In the same way, the amazing part about godly fellowship is that I can see your blind spots, and you can see mine. When we do life with people and take off our masks, we can accomplish amazing things for the kingdom of God.

Walking in daily obedience (action) is so important because God has ordained before time good works for his children to accomplish. When we walk in obedience, we walk with a purpose and there is no room for the thoughts of worthlessness. To walk in your calling and obey God, regardless of what the world thinks, is one of the most freeing and empowering things you can do. We have this saying at S2L: “From the rooms of recovery, the revival of a nation.”

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are some resources that have impacted you?

Outside of the Bible, my mentors and other pastors have had an amazing impact on me. Pat Hood from Lifepoint Church, Matt Chandler from the Village Church, Voddie Baucham (pastor and author of “Fault Lines”) are a few names that come to mind when I think of what’s impacted my faith.

Sermons from these three pastors are full of authentic, mask-off, biblical exegesis that has caused me to wrestle with Scripture and my own worldview. By proclaiming the Word, these three godly men have revealed the sovereignty of who God is to me. And that has forever changed my life.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it's done for you.

The one resource I have turned to and found indispensable in this current season is amazing worship music and an app called Dwell. Dwell is an app that has many different Bible reading plans and offers 18 different voice options for reading Scripture aloud. I have about an hour-long commute to work, and I’m often in my truck during the day driving to and from meetings. So to be able to listen to “Felix’s voice” (an African warrior in my mind) read Scripture with ambient music in the background has had an amazing impact on my personal growth while I spend time with the Lord.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

Lately, what’s been stirring in my heart is that God is going to use S2L Recovery and me to spark a revival in this nation. We have had amazing doors open, such as having our “Lost and Found: Recovery in Christ” curriculum on Right Now Media. We are beginning to train churches with the workbooks to start recovery ministries in multiple states, and we’ve had amazing feedback on “The Forgotten Pandemic” documentary. We hope to get this message of true freedom and true recovery out to the masses in the future.

In this country, we’re in a very unique moment in history. We believe the question God is asking us, and whoever is reading this interview, “What will you do with this moment?” Will we continuously surrender our spiritual authority to the secular world over the issue of addiction, or will we turn and march into the storm?

It brings to mind this powerful moment between God and the prophet Isaiah:

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8, ESV).

With over 93,000 overdose deaths in 2020 and more than 95,000 alcohol-related deaths each year, Adam is right. The world’s solutions can’t fix the enormous issue of addiction. And they certainly can’t heal the sickness at the core of this problem — sin.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

Addiction’s burdens are no match for the rest and peace Jesus offers to all who come to him. And as his followers, it’s our privilege to share that invitation with everyone we can, including the broken, the hurting and the addicted.

All we have to say is, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”

Adam Comer