Hello
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and ordained minister, John has been serving individuals and families as a social worker, counselor and pastor for nearly two decades. Having worked as a national director for one of the largest faith-based recovery programs in the world, John has helped hundreds of churches throughout the country start and grow recovery ministries. John currently works as a therapist, and serves as the director for Recovery ALIVE!, a Christ-centered 12 step program he founded in 2020.
John lives in North Carolina with his wife of 23 years and his four beautiful daughters.
My Story
From brokenness to bold purpose, John Eklund’s story is living proof that no life is beyond restoration.
John grew up in a world marked by instability, rejection, and pain. After his parents’ divorce, he moved from place to place, never staying long enough to feel safe. Abandonment became a familiar theme—at home, in school, and in his heart. As a young boy, he learned to disappear, to shape-shift, to survive. But deep inside, he was losing himself.
The pain of his past eventually pulled him into a dark season of depression and alcoholism. Feeling completely alone and convinced his life had no value, John came to the edge—both literally and spiritually. In one final act of desperation, he cried out to God.
And God answered.
What happened next wasn’t just a moment—it was the beginning of a miracle. That cry for help turned into a journey of recovery, healing, and calling. John began rebuilding his life—one decision, one step, one act of surrender at a time.
He became a husband. A father. A pastor. A leader. But more than anything, he became a man on a mission: to create a safe place for others to heal, just like he did.
That mission became Recovery Alive—a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery movement that now reaches across the country. Through it, John helps people discover the power of vulnerability, the beauty of community, and the freedom that comes from real, lasting transformation.
Today, John continues to walk the recovery journey himself. He’s honest about the struggles, passionate about the process, and full of hope for those still in the fight. He’s not just teaching recovery—he’s living it.
Through his work with Recovery Alive and the Living on Incline podcast, John is helping people everywhere know the truth: your pain doesn’t disqualify you. It prepares you. And healing is possible—one step at a time.