#369 - The McMurry Family: Celebrating Church Planting | Mark E. Shaw#369 - The McMurry Family: Celebrating Church Planting | Mark E. Shaw
The Addiction Connection Podcast
Dr Mark E. Shaw celebrates C.J. and Misty McMurry’s move into church planting, linking their calling with addiction ministry and gospel hope. The episode stresses faith, suffering, and eternal life in Christ as central to meaningful recovery.
9:43•6 Jul 2026
A New Calling: The McMurry Family, Church Planting and the Heart of Addiction
Episode Overview
- Recovery is presented as more than sobriety, centred on the gospel and eternal life through Jesus Christ.
- C.J. and Misty McMurry are described as stepping into a holy calling to plant a church in Iowa.
- Leaving a home church and existing ministry is acknowledged as a real loss and a form of suffering for the gospel.
- Believers are urged to fan into flame their God-given gifts and not be ashamed of the testimony about Jesus.
- Listeners are reminded that there is only one life to live and are urged to repent and trust Christ alone for salvation.
“We want to proclaim the good news of the gospel, which is, you’re a sinner, but there’s a saviour, and his name is Jesus.”
Curious about how others manage their sobriety journey while following a strong sense of calling? This short but heartfelt episode centres on C.J. and Misty McMurry as they step into a new chapter: planting a church in Iowa while remaining deeply connected to addiction recovery. Host Dr Mark E.
Shaw shares his excitement and gratitude for C.J., founder and programme director of The Refuge residential addiction ministry, and Misty, as they prepare to leave their home church and begin this new work. He reminds listeners that this move isn’t driven by ambition or human effort, but by “God’s purpose and God’s grace” and a “holy calling” rooted in Jesus Christ.
Using 2 Timothy 1 as his guide, Mark talks about fanning “into flame the gift of God” and challenges anyone affected by addiction to think beyond simply getting clean and sober.
For him, the heart of recovery is the gospel: “We want to proclaim the good news of the gospel, which is, you’re a sinner, but there’s a saviour, and his name is Jesus.” He connects this message directly to eternal hope, explaining that Christ “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Mark also reflects on the cost of obedience. He acknowledges that C.J.
and Misty “are going to suffer in some ways, a lot of loss,” yet they are stepping out in faith, trusting the Holy Spirit rather than their own strength. The episode offers encouragement for anyone facing change in recovery or ministry, stressing that there is “only one life to live” and urging people to repent and turn to Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.
If you’re wondering how faith, calling, and addiction recovery can fit together, this warm tribute to the McMurry family might prompt you to ask: what step of faith is God putting in front of you today?
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