CMS has been involved in working in the drug-rehabilitation field for more than 20 years.

Drug addiction stills presents a major global challenge with diverse mission opportunities for CMS to serve people facing life-controlling problems created through drug-related issues.  Many of these people and projects keenly demonstrate the CMS mission values: being faithful, relational, pioneering and evangelistic.

They also engage with all of the five CMS mission contexts: working on the margins, in contexts of multi-faith situations, mega-cities (urban mission) and materialism, and with the millennium generation (youth and children).  These partners, projects and people operate a diverse mixture of the CMS emphases: Presence, Proclamation, Praxis and Power.

As part of the International Substance Abuse and Addictions Coalition (ISAAC), CMS participates in these activities at different levels.   Many drug-rehabilitation projects have strong discipleship and innovative income-generation programmes (‘business as mission’ opportunities). They are creating Christian communities, churches and movements around the world.

If seen from a global overview, then Christian drug-rehabilitation projects represent a major, diffuse mission movement.  These leaders are having a significant influence not just in the field of addiction but also in mainstream churches.  Indeed, the Recovery movement is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world.

CMS plays a significant part in this movement and recognises the need to remain supportive and involved in the addiction field.  This is part of a wider ministry of social transformation, which is so aptly summarised in Jesus’s manifesto:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4.18-19)

International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition (ISAAC)
ISAAC is a Christian-based organisation that is committed to having an impact on the escalating problem of addiction, which is destroying the lives and potential of people on a global scale.  ISAAC encourages and supports people working in the addiction arena to maximise their effectiveness through networking, training and professional development.

At present, the majority of ISAAC’s members and associates are primarily involved in work with those who are addicted, or at risk of addiction, to either drugs or alcohol.

ISAAC currently has affiliated networks in Europe (the UK, Russia and Ukraine), North America (USA), Asia (Pakistan), Australia and, more recently, in Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Ghana and Mozambique), although it is open to developing relationships in other regions of the world.  It also has key leaders in the drug-rehabilitation field on the Leadership Council from other countries such as India and Malaysia.  It is increasingly gaining respect across the world as a vital network.

CMS functions as one of the strategic drivers within ISAAC, helping to shape policy, direction and networks.  It is valued and respected.   CMS is a core member, with staff sitting on the Board of Trustees and Council of Reference.  CMS also contributes financially.

ISAAC has a significant network of members, committed leadership, and facilitates initiatives that are free or low cost at the point of need, non-controlling, relational, cost-effective, Christian-based, ecumenical, and collaborative rather than competitive.  It supports a diverse range of approaches from initial small, grassroots initiatives to highly developed professional concerns.

ISAAC’s main activities are:
•  building relationships — this is at the heart of everything;
•  networking — ISAAC champions working together to share information/resources, provide spiritual/practical support and encouragement, and facilitate the development of best practice;
•  conferences — international congresses, regional conferences, and consultations to engage membership out beyond ISAAC’s constituency, speaking at conferences organised by others;
•  training — ISAAC facilitates training opportunities for its members to benefit from the expertise of others the better to help those they are called to serve;
•  peer evaluation — helping members to maximise their resources and adopt best contextual practice;
•  prayer — to underpin everything;
•  advocacy — generating awareness of drug-related issues among churches, Christian rehabilitation networks, communities and governments and international bodies.