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What if the path to recovery and the path of discipleship were actually one and the same?
Roz shares how the 12 Steps and the way of Jesus intersect in powerful ways—through confession, reconciliation, and the deep recognition that we can’t save ourselves. In this episode, you’ll hear how Roz’s personal journey with recovery has transformed his ministry, reshaped his church, and led to authentic connections with the recovery community. Discover how Fresh Expressions naturally makes space for healing, honesty, and hope—and why discipleship and recovery may have more in common than you think.
Rosario “Roz” Picardo is a pastor, author, speaker, and coach with a passion for church planting and leadership development. He is the co-founder of Mosaic Church in Dayton, Ohio, and serves as a faculty consultant in United Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. Roz also leads Picardo Coaching LLC, equipping pastors and church planters, and has authored ten books on ministry and leadership.
In Season 6, we’re diving into discipleship—exploring what it means to follow Jesus and share Jesus in our everyday lives and how churches can cultivate a culture of discipleship that is more than curriculum within their communities.
Related Resources:
Discipleship Reset – a week-long live training experience designed to equip the leaders of the average North American church for the opportunities of 2025. You can still receive access to the replay of all sessions (for FREE!). freshexpressions.com/discipleship-reset
Email us: podcasts@freshexpressions.com
Interview Summary
“The 12 steps offer a road map to follow Jesus—not just as a way of modifying behavior but as a deep heart change that leads to freedom and transformation.” — Roz Picardo
In this episode of the Fresh Expressions podcast, Roz Picardo shares how the 12-step recovery journey and discipleship intersect to bring healing, wholeness, and transformation. Roz, a church planter and passionate advocate for recovery ministry, reveals how his experience in both church planting and recovery ministry has shaped his work at Mosaic Church in Dayton, Ohio. Through his work, Roz highlights the critical role that recovery plays in helping people reconnect with God, themselves, and others. His reflections provide a powerful example of how the church can live out the message of healing and reconciliation.
The Intersection of Recovery and Discipleship
Roz Picardo powerfully links the recovery journey with the process of discipleship, recognizing the 12-step framework as a path that not only leads to recovery but also to spiritual transformation. For Roz, the steps offer more than a method for overcoming addiction—they are a spiritual roadmap, deeply rooted in the principles of discipleship that Jesus modeled. By integrating practices like self-examination, confession, and surrender to God, individuals walk a path toward healing that mirrors the Christian life.
The steps are transformative because they align so closely with biblical teachings. Step 1—admitting powerlessness—calls individuals to recognize their brokenness and need for God’s grace, mirroring the biblical understanding of sin as outlined in Romans 3:23. Similarly, Step 3—surrendering to a higher power—echoes the call to make Jesus the Lord of our lives, a key element of discipleship. The emphasis on confession, reconciliation, and prayer in Steps 4, 5, 8, and 9 closely mirrors the practices of the early church and the ministry of Jesus, who welcomed sinners and called for reconciliation. Finally, Step 12—carrying the message to others—aligns with the Great Commission, emphasizing the importance of sharing the gospel and walking alongside others on their own transformative journeys.
Everyone is in Recovery
One of the central themes Roz emphasizes is the recognition that everyone is in recovery—whether from addiction, trauma, or even the compulsions that come from daily life.
“Sin is addictive, and in that sense, we are all in recovery.”
The 12 steps offer a structured path to healing, starting with the acknowledgment of our brokenness and moving toward reconciliation and restoration. Steps like self-examination, confession, and surrender to God are not just tools for overcoming addiction but also spiritual practices that deepen one’s relationship with God and others.
Through this process, individuals experience profound heart changes. For example, Step 9, which focuses on making amends, directly correlates with the biblical call to practice reconciliation as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:18. Similarly, the steps encourage prayer, meditation, and a continual journey of self-improvement, reflecting the rhythms of discipleship in the church. Ultimately, Roz believes that the 12 steps provide a transformative framework that aligns deeply with Christian principles, offering people a path to freedom and spiritual growth. It’s not just about recovery; it’s about becoming more like Christ, embracing the process of sanctification and transformation through every step.
“Nobody makes better disciples than the 12 steps. They’re methodical and lead us to spiritual transformation in ways that align directly with Jesus’ teachings.”
The Impact of Recovery Ministry on the Larger Church
Roz also discusses the profound impact of recovery ministry on the broader church community. By embracing recovery as a part of their church’s mission, Mosaic Church has created a place where the broader congregation and the recovery community interact in meaningful ways. The church is no longer simply a place where those in recovery are served; it becomes a place of mutual transformation.
At the heart of Mosaic’s recovery ministry is the creation of a space where people can build authentic friendships. Roz emphasizes that friendship and hospitality are essential, and that true transformation happens not just through structured recovery steps but also through genuine, supportive relationships.
Roz shares how individuals in recovery often lead the way in spiritual growth, teaching the rest of the church about the power of vulnerability and healing. He recalls a powerful moment when someone in recovery shared their testimony at a Sunday morning service, leading to a wave of openness and healing throughout the congregation.
Practical Steps for Starting a Recovery Ministry
Roz encourages churches to assess the specific needs of their community and find ways to integrate recovery into their existing ministry efforts. He suggests that churches start small, perhaps with a weekly gathering or fellowship that emphasizes community and support. The key is to build a team, and he advises that at least one member of the team should have one year of sobriety, ensuring they are grounded in their own recovery before leading others.
Roz’s ministry at Fighting Chance Recovery emphasizes practical actions that remove barriers to participation. These include offering meals (which removes one practical concern for attendees) and providing childcare. He also mentions the importance of offering transportation, particularly for those who may be unable to attend due to logistical issues.
A Call to Action for the Church
Roz’s ministry exemplifies the power of integrating recovery with discipleship. By recognizing the 12 steps as a pathway to spiritual transformation, churches can offer healing that goes beyond mere behavior modification. This holistic approach to recovery and discipleship provides a model for how churches can serve their communities while transforming their own spiritual lives.
“The opposite of addiction is connection. When we’re addicted, we’re not connected to people, and that’s where healing begins.”
It is through authentic relationships and a commitment to healing that individuals experience true freedom. The church, then, becomes not just a place of refuge but a source of renewal for all.
Actionable Takeaways:
- Assess the recovery needs in your community and start small.
- Build a team that includes both people in recovery and those committed to supporting them.
- Focus on creating a welcoming environment through practical actions like providing meals, childcare, and transportation.
- Integrate recovery into the broader ministry of the church to foster transformation in both the recovery community and the congregation at large.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways have you seen addiction or compulsive behavior affect your community?
- What do you think the 12-step framework can teach us about discipleship?
- How can we create spaces in the church where people in recovery feel truly welcomed and supported?
- What are the barriers to starting a recovery ministry in your church, and how might you overcome them?
- In what ways can we be more intentional about healing broken relationships within the church?
