CWSA - Guest: Pastor Jim V. (Pt. 2)CWSA - Guest: Pastor Jim V. (Pt. 2)
Christians with Secret Addictions
Pastor Jim V continues his story from violent addiction to pastoral ministry, sharing how the Bible and the 12 steps led him to a living relationship with Jesus. The conversation focuses on powerlessness, being chosen by Christ, and the belief that recovery and faith must work hand in hand.
13:51•2 Feb 2026
From "Jimmy Muscle" to Pastor: Faith, the 12 Steps, and Being Chosen
Episode Overview
- Combining the Bible and recovery literature can deepen understanding of God and the 12 steps.
- The first step on powerlessness is presented as the foundation that must be fully accepted.
- Addiction is framed broadly as obsessive, addictive, compulsive personalities, affecting everyone to some degree.
- Sobriety is described as incomplete without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Listeners are reminded that Jesus has already chosen them and is waiting for a decision today.
“Jesus said, you didn’t choose me. I chose you. That means you are all chosen out there.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This meeting-style episode of *Christians with Secret Addictions* brings back Pastor Jim V for part two of his story, moving from "Jimmy Muscle" the violent addict to a pastor who leans fully on Jesus Christ and the 12 steps. The conversation opens with Jim correcting a common assumption: he didn’t lose faith when his daughter died from addiction, but he admits that his understanding of God changed.
He describes obsessively combing through the Bible, highlighting every moment where "God spoke" and taking those words personally, saying he "continued to walk as someone in search of God" until he found a relationship with Jesus and recognised the Holy Spirit’s guidance. You’ll hear Jim and host Terry Hanna walk through the 12 steps in reverse, starting with step 12’s "spiritual awakening" and tying each step directly to scripture.
Jim stresses that the first step is the only one to take "100%", reframing addiction as "obsessive, addictive, compulsive personalities"—which he says applies to everyone. He firmly links recovery to a conscious decision to turn one’s will and life over to God, pointing out how often the "G word" appears in recovery literature. The heart of the episode is the insistence that sobriety alone isn’t enough.
Terry states, "You can get clean and sober by applying these principles to your life... But if you don’t have Jesus Christ in your life, you will be separated from God forever with your last breath on earth." Jim answers with one word: "Resurrection", explaining that Jesus’ death and rising again is the rescue plan, and that "you didn’t choose me. I chose you" means everyone listening is already chosen.
If you’re wondering whether faith and the 12 steps can genuinely work together, this candid, sometimes raw conversation may leave you asking: what step are you ready to take today?
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