By Mallory Mattingly
In 2020, Passion City worship leader Kristian Stanfill gave up alcohol for good, a decision that’s changed his life.
“After a couple years of being in the recovery world and the sobriety conversation, I started realizing, man, there’s so many people who feel alone,” he told Crosswalk Headlines of why he talks about getting sober.
He added: “They feel so isolated, and they think…[that] no one in the church is talking about this openly. And I would sit across from other guys, and we would talk about sobriety, and all these other guys would say, ‘Man, me, too.'”
Ultimately, that’s what made Kristian Stanfill open up about his journey.
“I was looking around the landscape, going, ‘Man, everything looks so slick. Everything looks so put together and shined up.’ And if I could help bring some humanity to what it looks like to follow Jesus, then I wanted to do that,” he explained.
He shared more about this in a 2022 Instagram post, which marked two years sober.
“I read somewhere that ‘when we struggle in silence, we suffer alone.’ Owning our brokenness and being honest about our humanity helps us heal and helps others heal, too. SOBRIETY IS A WE,” the worship leader urged. “I have taken every step of this journey WITH people. My wife, close friends, pastors, counselors…it takes a village! Community and connection is where we experience the power of Grace and begin to heal. If you’re addicted and hurting, the first step toward change is reaching out to someone and asking for help. We can’t do this alone.”
The second reason Kristian Stanfill speaks about sobriety? It’s “worth it.”
“Somebody needs to hear that sobriety isn’t just possible, but it’s also worth it. My life is not perfect, and the last 730 days have not been easy, but I am happier and healthier than I ever was with a drink in my hand,” Stanfill explained. “My head is clear and my relationships are real. My heart is ON and I’m dreaming again. I’m checked in to reality and I’m fighting to be present to every moment. This is the good life. Beauty from ashes. Something worth fighting for.”
“I hope this is encouraging for someone,” he concluded. “I don’t have it all figured out and I have not arrived. This is a process and I’m committed to it. one step at a time, one day at a time, until I see Jesus face to face and the struggle ends.”
This past November, Kristian Stanfill celebrated four years of sobriety.
“[4 years] …since my last drink! And it just keeps getting better, y’all! I have to testify to the real joy, true peace, and higher calling I’m living in these days,” he wrote. “Jesus is so close and we’re taking every step together. Some days are a fight, but I do not fight alone. I’ve got the King in my corner and great friends at my side. Praise God!! This is the good life, and it’s worth it!”
Though breaking an alcohol addiction can seem unattainable, Stanfill’s testimony is living proof that, with God’s help and a supportive community, sobriety is possible and life becomes so much richer on the other side.
Read Next: Dry January: How a Month of Sobriety Improves Your Health
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