Purpose Church, led by pastors Ashley and Josh Harrison, has proudly become the first church in Missouri to receive the Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW)designation.
Becoming a RFW means an organization will promote employee well-being by supporting substance use recovery and reducing stigma. This milestone reflects their ongoing commitment to the well-being of their congregation and the wider community.
Ashley and Josh have been pastors of Purpose Church for the last 2.5 years and have been ministering together for the last 17 years. Their church is growing! As a way to better connect to the community they made the intentional decision to become Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) designee on March 19th, 2025.
Although they were already implanting many foundational elements from RFW they wanted to formalize their commitment to the wellbeing of their congregation by aligning with their core values of compassion, support, and inclusion.
“It is really important for us to come alongside those who are struggling and bridge the gaps in our community,” said Ashley. “We want to remove stigma and be a welcoming, judgment free place for the community.”
Purpose Church is devoted to continuing learning more about how to best serve their community and to have other churches join the RFW network.
Community Health Engagement and Outreach’s Sarah Barks in southeast Missouri helped Purpose Church through their designation and awarded them with the certificate.