The Uncovery: Understanding the Power of Community to Heal Trauma

by Brit Eaton; George A. Wood; Lacey Sturm

Publisher:

Whitaker House

, 2022

Overview

When it comes to Christ-centered recovery, we, the church, have work to do.

Our legalistic, box-checking, one-size-fits-all programs produce astonishingly high failure rates—which means far too many people are left to fight addiction, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts on their own.

This begs some critical questions of the church:
•      Do we really believe transformational recovery and healing is possible?
•      Do we really have the right systems and structures to support struggling people?
•      Do we really carry a kingdom responsibility to restore people gently?
•      Do we really take time to ask God what more He would have us do in the recovery space?

This book is for anyone who can’t offer a resounding yes and amen to each of those questions.

With hearts that beat for those struggling with addictions and mental health issues, authors George A. Wood and Brit Eaton present:
•      A critical reframing of the word “recovery” and an invitation to answer God’s call for more spirit-led, trauma-informed ministry
•      Deeper exploration into the origins of addiction, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts—and the church’s responsibility to bring God’s healing
•      Powerful supernatural testimonies and stories of hope, healing, and life restoration as a result of embracing The Uncovery
•      Practical strategies to help Christ-centered recovery leaders bridge the gap between spiritual and scientific communities to better serve struggling people
•      A loose and helpful framework for embracing The Uncovery message
•      Inspiration for recovery leaders to love and lead in a more inclusive, sacrificial, and Christlike manner while maintaining healthy self-care

The goal of The Uncovery is to help the church—and the world—see recovery through a grace- laced, gospel lens. Some say recovery is the civil rights movement of our generation because believe it or not, recovery is for everyone. And if that statement bothers you? Recovery might be for you, too.

Every single one of us has some trauma or issue from our past that may still be affecting our life today. This book offers readers a not-so-subtle nudge to go deeper in the recovery space for a transformative encounter with Father God to heal from those wounds and lead the promised land life He has planned for us.

Praise for The Uncovery

The Uncovery is a Jesus-centered approach to dealing with addiction, mental health, and suicide that actually works because it leads us to the Father. George tells his story and the stories of those he has walked alongside with a raw, vulnerable edge that is eye-opening and deeply moving. Anyone who has ever struggled, hurt, or felt hopeless will be able to relate with his authenticity. This radical book lays out a solid framework for reflecting Jesus in culture while walking alongside those struggling or learning how to walk themselves without burning out or compromising truth in the process. Thank you, George and Brit, for “killing the noise” and saying what needs to be said in the recovery space. The Uncovery will not only change lives, I think it has the potential to help change the church as we know it.

After reading through this book on recovery, I put it down, sighed in relief, and said out loud, “Finally, this book exists.” It walks a tightrope between a fully faith-based approach to recovery with practical steps and perspective, and I really do think it’s going to help many of you who read it or have family and friends who need language and tools who are recovering. I thought of different times over the years that I have had addicts live with me, and I attended rehab meetings with them to try and help them on their journey. I have always felt like there are big missing pieces in the narrative of recovery organizations, but I am so grateful that so many are working in this field. Along comes this book and the authors who wrote it together to inspire a new way of thinking that I believe will spark many models of recovery. It is a Christian message that gives hope for true healing and restoration, not just management of issues. I highly recommend this book and I pray that God uses it in a precious way.

The Uncovery is written by a man who’s been through so much pain, addiction, and heartache. George shares his emotional story with a sense of humility and grace, never playing the victim but revealing victory through all the hell he’s been through in his life. George Wood relates to the hurting and hopeless. No matter what you’re going though in life, The Uncovery will bless you immensely!

With a background of abandonment and a broken family, Pastor George Wood writes with wisdom and deep experience in what it means to be set free. The Uncovery will uncover your heart and expose you to His ways of love and healing. The principles George shares transform lives. How I wish the church world would embrace and adopt all that is contained in this book. It is a manual to living abundantly, a resource for leaders and counselors, and a gift to the body of Christ. Read it and be changed! And make sure you get a copy for a friend—they will thank you for it!

The journey of recovery from things that keep us bound is at the very heart of the gospel. With refreshing honesty, George Wood and Brit Eaton invite all of us to understand and participate in discovering God’s original design for our lives. The Uncovery is a powerful account of discipleship for those recovering from addiction, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts. Their teaching and George’s firsthand experience of leading others into wholeness foster an ability to understand and implement discipleship in Jesus. The Uncovery respectfully challenges the church to embrace her calling as a community where all are invited into the transformative grace of Christ. The multitudes are coming, and we must prepare for those who are hungry to know the true and loving Father.

If you care about helping people recover from addiction, mental health issues, and suicidal thoughts, you simply have to read this book. George and team have figured out a model for recovery that works exponentially better than the status quo. Their extraordinary results demand your attention. I can’t say enough about this proven, gospel-centric approach to recovery. Read, learn, and then go and do likewise!

The Uncovery is such a timely and necessary book, not just for those who are in recovery circles, but for all who follow Christ. Wood and Eaton lay out a compelling and heartfelt invitation to do the hard, yet rewarding inner work—digging into our stories and opening ourselves to the tender, life-changing love of God. This invitation is not just for those who struggle with substance use. It is not just about getting sober. The Uncovery calls forth a new vision for the church to truly be a safe place for hurting people, which includes all of us. The lifetime journey of recovery is one of holistic transformation that requires community. Thank you for this sacred offering.

When it comes to recovery, it seems like we’ve seen the best that man can do. In this refreshing book, we are invited to see the best that Jesus can do by His scandalous grace. With honesty, insight, fresh language, and compassion, The Uncovery asks and answers some important questions for the church to see people made whole.

At a time when disconnection and isolation seems to be a trend, George and Brit point out the importance of community, making this a vital resource not just for people struggling with addiction, but those called to lead and walk with them.

As I set this book down, one sentiment echoes in my mind: “Hurt people don’t just hurt other people. They hurt themselves, too.” It is an honest assessment of real life, and that is just what this book is—real. George Wood bore his chest, scars, and soul in this refreshingly authentic book, and nothing at all is sacred. His mistakes are our lessons, his sins are unabashedly on display, and yet his victories give us hope and stand to prove that we too can overcome.

The Uncovery is a must-have, go-to manual for everyone familiar with the broken road of addiction, hopelessness, and depression. In this riveting and compelling tell-all book, authors George Wood and Brit Eaton share their lives with complete vulnerability and transparency, unleashing fresh insight into healing and freedom. The Uncovery is a journey of pain becoming purpose, a story of a lost road becoming a roadmap for others still struggling on their journey. This book will stir you, move you, enlighten you, inspire you, and change you. You will be compelled to take it back to your community of fellowship/discipleship and watch it transform others.

This book removes the stigma of therapy (biblical Greek word therapeuō, Strong’s Concordance G2323) by combining a practical approach to healing with a biblically strong foundation. The Uncovery represents the powerfully gentle way of how Jesus heals us all.

As a life coach working with young women struggling with abuse and mental illness, The Uncovery is a lifeline to my practice! Brit Eaton and George Wood boldly articulate the need for our understanding of addiction and mental illness, and then go on to show what the church and her leaders can do about it. We all know God’s timing is perfect. The Uncovery has come at the perfect time. I am inspired by every word and recommend that anyone working with those who struggle with addiction, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts grab their copy today! Let’s work together to redefine what recovery looks like. I am so grateful that Brit and George answered the call to write this book. It is so needed!

Some ideas, maybe the best ones, are forged in the fire of experience. George and Brit have put into words what it takes decades of life, loss, and love to learn. The Uncovery is not just a way forward for those in search of sobriety; it is a real hope for all of us looking for community where we feel isolated and freedom where we feel bound.

George Wood is the boldest of the bold, tackling the most difficult problems of our inner cities—mental health, addiction, and suicide. He does so with an unbelievable level of commitment and selflessness. His story is personal and rooted in deep loss and grief but is an inspiration for many of us who have similar stories with family and friends. George and Brit now bring this message to the world so that recovery may truly be for everyone. Only one way he survives to write this book and that is with Jesus as his guide and rock. A must-read.

I love George’s story. Our church used the Timothy Initiative to help build our coffee shop, so I’ve seen this ministry in action in real life. This book is not just another recovery book; it gets into the nitty-gritty of what George defines as the Uncovery. He does an amazing job of giving us tools to help others around us and get healthy ourselves because as he says multiple times, “Recovery is for everyone!”

I heartily commend The Uncovery simply because it works in the real world where we all live. George Wood lives and loves in the real world. The Timothy Initiative and the Sober Truth Project both open the door to sobriety for broken men in the real world. The Uncovery is all about receiving the gift of fullness of life in the real world. Success in the real world, but how? Authentic family. Treasured communities. Following Jesus passionately. Uncomfortable vulnerability. Shocking honesty. Christ-focused. Holy Spirit-empowered. Abba-infused identity as beloved sons. Real revival, not the hype of running from one event to the next, but the deep embrace of life transformation. Jesus. Zoe life. Overflowing with grace and truth. Winning in the real world. Eternal life means to know and experience You, Abba, as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ as the Son whom You have sent! Yay, God! Real life in the real world comes through real process. Enjoy your spiritual journey through The Uncovery and beyond.

After knowing George Wood for the past few years, I can verify that every word in this book is lived out in his daily life. That’s not the only reason I highly recommend this book. Being the leader of The Resting Place Church in Tampa, Florida, and seeing the men of the Timothy Initiative attend on a weekly basis, I can personally tell you that the process and approach described in this invaluable book works. I believe this offering is vitally necessary for the church of Jesus Christ today and the scientific community alike. The Spirit-breathed yet practical steps outlined within will challenge and equip you toward leading yourself and others into true recovery, the kind that the kingdom of God is looking for, the kind George and his community are truly living out. Read this expecting a deep conviction toward action, or don’t read at all.

Product Details

• Title: The Uncovery: Understanding the Power of Community to Heal Trauma
• Authors: Brit Eaton, George A. Wood, Lacey Sturm
• Publisher: Whitaker House
• Print Publication Date: 2022
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 224
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781641238540, 9781641238533, 1641238534, 1641238542
• Resource ID: LLS:9781641238540
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T21:40:11Z

About the Authors

George A. Wood is an ordained minister, pastoral care counselor, recovery ministry founder, and recovery activist. 

A former addict and suicide survivor, George has dedicated his life to radically grace-laced, Christ-centered recovery for people struggling with addiction, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts.
He works tirelessly to bridge the gap between the spiritual and scientific communities to help people see recovery differently and build a new baseline for trauma-informed care.

A highly charismatic and sought-after teacher and preacher, George has become a nontraditional recovery authority through his radically divergent Timothy Initiative and Sober Truth Project ministries.

The Timothy Initiative is a faith-based ministry and open-ended program that works with men in addiction by providing safe housing and work opportunities. The Sober Truth Project aims to reshape how the world views addiction, mental health, people with suicidal thoughts, and the roles that faith, science, and trauma play in recovery to develop a more empathetic and loving society.

George studied business management at Binghamton and Morresville State universities in New York and mental health and Christian life coaching with the American Association of Christian Counselors. A certified addiction specialist, he is an ordained pastor and pastoral care counselor with Cornerstone Mission Family Church.

George lives in the inner city in Tampa, Florida, with his wife Julie and a community of brothers and sisters living out the gospel in a radical way. He has seen how the power of community can heal the trauma that causes addiction, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts and is focused on mobilizing a generation of believers to go deeper into the Uncovery.

To connect with George, visit www.georgeawood.live.
*  *  *
Brit Eaton is a content strategist, writer, speaker, discipler, and all-around pursuer of the kingdom of God. She helps corporate, nonprofit, and ministry leaders find the words to say to move people to action.

An eager apostle and strong advocate for nontraditional recovery and women in ministry, Brit ministers in diverse, spirit-filled environments committed to unity in the body of Christ.

In addition to The Uncovery: Understanding the Power of Community to Heal Trauma, inspired by and developed with George Wood, she co-authored Reckless Grace, a book inspired by and developed with Bill Vanderbush.

Brit received a B.A. in Visual Communication from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where she serves as an adjunct professor of business and marketing. She received her M.S. in marketing and communication, summa cum laude, from Franklin University. She also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Brit lives in a log home on ten wooded acres in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with her husband Mike and daughter Bella.

To connect with Brit, visit www.briteaton.com.