The Uncovery goes beyond the traditional recovery and promotes a whole-life transformation . From George Wood, who knows all about the impulse to relapse, and Brit Eaton, an eager apostle and strong advocate for non-traditional recovery and women in ministry, comes the book The Uncovery. The whole-life transformation is based on loving people as Jesus did during His ministry.

Wood and Eaton offer an honest analysis of what is and isn’t  working in recovery. They explore how the church may be missing the mark by valuing mere sobriety over life transformation and assuming addiction is always a sin.

Instead, they offer a three-part Uncovery framework for representing Jesus well, which includes:

1. Asking the right questions.
2. Listening to the Holy Spirit.
3. Helping to identify the right next steps in their lifelong recovery journey.

Can you share your story about what led to the book The Uncovery?

George: I’ve always had a book in me. But I’m a pastor and activist, not a writer—so you can imagine how excited I was to meet my co-author, Brit. We were both speaking on a Zoom panel about trauma during Covid and after talking to a few mutual friends, I knew I had to reach out. Twenty minutes into our first meeting, we knew—we had a message about recovery that was going to change the church and theworld forever.

Brit: Yeah, George’s testimony blew me away. I was always a recovery advocate—I’d walked my own healing journey and served in recovery leadership for years, but I knew there had to be more. And then I met George and he showed me how real, lasting recovery is done.

What does breaking the mold mean to you when it comes to recovery?

Brit: Studies show that eight out of ten people in traditional recovery programming will “fail out” in year one. We think that’s unacceptable—and we’ve found a grace-laced way that flips that recovery statistic on its head.

What role does trauma play in our struggles?

George: Not everyone who experiences trauma will struggle; but people who struggle always have trauma to uncover and heal from. Trauma isn’t what happens to you on the outside; Trauma is what happens to you on the inside because of what happens to you on the outside. Each recovery journey is as unique as the person braving it, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach to recovery rarely works.

Why does the church find it hard to talk about mental health and suicide?

George: It’s hard to admit it when we don’t have all the answers. It’s even harder to admit that we, the church might have been doing recovery—and Christianity, for that matter—wrong for generations. Lives and souls are at stake, so I’m going to let go of what’s not working.    

Brit: Yep. It’s sad that we see more pastors who will to shame you away from suicide with a threat of hell than pastors who will invite you into an abundant life that’s worth living. We can be part of that change.

What do you think about the “just keep praying” advice Christians give when it comes to mental health and suicide?

George: It’s horrible advice! That was never the way of Jesus. It’s going to take more than prayers and platitudes. It’s going to take Holy Spirit-led intervention.

Brit: If we’re not willing to advocate for hurting people and help them discern the right next steps, we’lllose more than church members—we’ll lose lives.

How can the church, with its Spirit-led ideology, join with the scientific community to understand trauma?

George: Science is not the enemy—it’s a kingdom tool for healing. We need to create safe spaces where spiritual and scientific leaders can learn from one another without agenda.

Brit: Bridging the gap between Spirit and science will take humility. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and. It’s OK to have Jesus and a therapist, too.

What are the recovery world’s all–or–nothing standards and how are they detrimental to recovery?

George: Our obsession with sobriety keeps people from experiencing recovery as a lifelong journey.Relapse is not only possible, but probable—so it’s time we start viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Brit: You can get sober without Jesus. We’re going after the total life transformation that comes with encountering a good-Father God—a promised-land life you want to stay sober for.

You say, “Recovery is the civil rights movement of our generation.” What do you mean by that?

George: Recovering people experience marginalization and discrimination at unprecedented levels. Race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, political, and denominational labels make matters even worse.

Brit: We need to stop asking why people can’t stay sober and start asking why they’re addicted in the first place. It’s time to destigmatize the struggle.

Is there anything else you want readers to know about the book and recovery in the church?

George: Recovery is for everyone!

Brit: And if that statement bothers you, recovery is for you too.

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Find The Uncovery and pre-order here!

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