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After years caught in a cycle of substance use, Sullivan Rhoads found healing through music, faith and community at The Salvation Army’s Seattle Adult Rehabilitation Program.
Music had always been a central part of Sullivan Rhoads’ life, but he hadn’t performed in years.
The first time Rhoads sang in front of a crowd again, it wasn’t on a large stage or in a theater; it was at a talent show inside The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Program (ARP) in Seattle.
When he returned to the stage, he sensed a shift.
“I could feel the Holy Spirit within me,” he said. “From that moment, everything started to click in a new way.”
From childhood choirs to theater, music had long given him a sense of purpose and a way to express his faith. After high school, his passion for performing led him to a job in entertainment at a large theme park, where he was exposed to bad influences and substance use.
Over time, he became reliant on drugs and alcohol, ultimately costing him his dream job.
“My addiction eventually took priority over doing that kind of stuff,” he said. “I found it difficult to find a way back to what I enjoyed most.”
In the 15 years that followed, Rhoads worked a series of jobs in restaurants, coffee shops and other service roles, as substance use continued to take a toll on his life.
“I kept trying to fill the hole inside of me,” Rhoads said. “Drugs, alcohol, relationships and none of it worked. The emptier I felt, the worse it got.”
As career opportunities slipped away and relationships with family grew distant, he decided to make a change. In March 2024, he returned home to Washington state and tried two recovery programs before entering the Seattle ARP.
“My story isn’t only about where I was. It’s about what God can do when you finally ask for help.”
Sullivan Rhoads
“I started hearing more about The Salvation Army ARP and realized it’s where God was leading me,” he said.
The ARP’s six-month residential recovery program focuses on counseling, spiritual development, community service and 12-step recovery, providing participants dealing with a variet of spiritual and social issues, including substance abuse, with the time and structure necessary to rebuild their lives.
For Rhoads, the ARP helped him see a path forward for the first time in years.
“The consistent schedule and being surrounded by guys going through the same thing made a huge difference,” he said. “I didn’t feel alone anymore.”
Administrator of The Salvation Army Seattle ARP Captain Kyna Kelley has seen the change in Rhoads firsthand.
“One of the most inspiring parts of his journey has been watching him rediscover the gift that once brought him life—music,” Kelley said.
Through the ARP’s worship and music program, Sullivan began singing for others again. What started as worship during a talent show soon turned into an essential part of his healing.
Recognizing his talent, Kelley encouraged Rhaods to join weekly praise and worship at the ARP, helping lead Sunday service alongside a few other program participants.
“He embraced counseling and the recovery process fully and never looked back,” Kelley said. “His love for music and worship is infectious.”
For Rhoads, who grew up in the church, it felt like coming home.
“I hadn’t sung in a long time in front of people,” he said. “Then I just kept doing it every week, and now I can’t imagine it any other way.”
After graduating from the ARP in September 2025 and moving into nearby sober housing, he now uses his experience in recovery to help others find their way forward.
He remains involved with the program, helping lead a weekly men’s singing group, the “Sound of Men,” where he encourages men in the program to find their voice, just as he did.
He also mentors participants through the 12 steps, reminding them he’s there if they need someone to talk to.
“I live a life of gratitude today,” he said. “Every day I turn my will and my life over to God. Recovery gave me my life back.”
Looking ahead, Rhoads plans to return to school to pursue certification as a Substance Use Disorder Professional, continuing to walk alongside others as they begin their own journeys.
And as music and performing have returned to his life, he hopes to begin auditioning for choirs and theater again.
“My story isn’t only about where I was,” he said. “It’s about what God can do when you finally ask for help.”
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