CMS: Setting Captives Free from Addiction

From Pakistan to Manchester to your own neighbourhood, the scourge of addiction is keeping countless souls in one of the most pernicious forms of bondage: slavery to desire and fear.

It is not just about heroin users in poor, developing countries; it’s about shopping in Sheffield or texting in Totnes. As Jackie Pullinger points out, understanding addiction begins with understanding ourselves.

In the run-up to next year’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade, the Church Mission Society has been highlighting modern forms of slavery with its ‘Setting Captives Free’ campaign.

Two years ago, the campaign spotlit child soldiers enslaved by rebels in northern Uganda. Last year, we tackled the trade in trafficking people from the poorest communities in Bangladesh to the brothels of India.

This year, the story comes closer to home, as we shine a light onto the subject of addiction.

For six years, CMS has been working with Izhod - meaning ‘Exodus’ - a radical Christian drug- rehabilitation network, which grew out of the experiences of Sergei Oshchepkov in Russia.

When Sergei, a hardened drug baron, suddenly became a Christian, those around him were so astounded at the transformation that had occurred within him that they started taking steps to share in his renewed lifestyle.

From that small community, Exodus has grown into an organisation which, to date, has freed over 4,000 people from their addictions. They are all living fulfilled lives: some as pastors, some as car mechanics or builders, while others have become rehabilitation workers passing on their knowledge of grace and hope to today’s addicts.

In Luke, chapter 4, Christ says he has come “to set captives free”. CMS believes that work such as that being done by Exodus and the other ‘rehab’ groups with which we work is driven by the Holy Spirit to fulfil that mission.

The CMS Addiction study pack is an introduction to the ‘Setting Captives Free’ campaign and seeks to inspire YOU to get involved in whatever way you can.