International Christian Recovery CoalitionThe Blooming, Booming Responses and Expanded Plans of the Christian Recovery Movement

Dick B., Executive DirectorCopyright 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Just since our visits in Southern California in January of this year, we have had an increasing volume of messages from those wanting to participate in our planned meetings this Spring. So the following is the way things are going and being planned as of February 29th.

The Basic Approach is Announced in the Following New Guidebook Title

How to Conduct “Old School” 12-Step Recovery Meetings Using Conference-approved Literature: A Dick B. Guide for Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery ArenaBy Dick B. and Ken B. (2012)

There is No “One Size Fits All” Plan

An A.A. or N.A. meeting listed with a local office may conduct and adopt a “Group Conscience” stand and also then establish a regular meeting founded on “Conference-approved” literature. A Christian recovery fellowship may choose to reach out to alcoholics, addicts, prescription drug abusers, and others with life-controlling problems. A Christian, Christian Track, or other type of treatment program—limited by expense and time constraints—may decide to prepare “graduates” for the long haul beyond the discharge date. Groups like Teen Challenge and Celebrate Recovery may recognize and plan for the “daily” or “24/7” or Christian fellowship after-care needs of its Christian graduates or weekly meeting attenders in order to keep all of them in full bore recovery or recovered mode; continuing service to others; and sustained spiritual growth loop—all being often-accepted components of real, life-long, Christian healing, abundance , and ultimate salvation. Detox programs, interventionists, counselors, after-care facilitators, alumni gatherings, and sober living operators and managers may emphasize a variety of ways in which recovered “clients” or “students” can build on the strength of First Century Christian and Early Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship principles and practices.

A Program Content Which Each Servant Can Adopt, Adapt, and then Apply as Desired

The emphasis here is on fostering long-range deliverance, sustained fellowship and service, and effective and continued reliance on the power, love, forgiveness , guidance, healing, and will of God “in all our affairs.” Early Christian outreach extended first to the Jews. Then to the Gentiles. Then to both as members of the “body of Christ.” And then to the lost, the poor, the sick, the deaf and blind, and even to the very dead who were still being raised—just as Jesus had raised the dead.

The Present Plans for Implementing This “Old School,” First Century Christianity Success Story in Forthcoming Hawaii and California Gatherings This Spring and Summer

And Here Is Where We Will be Listening, Assembling, Teaching and Facilitating With You[Details Still Need Further Attention and Firming, But This Will Show You the Plans]

For Maui, Hawaii:

County of Maui Salvation Army Partnership with our Coalition: to learn the existing 24/7 program at the Lahaina OutPost, The Salvation Army, 131 Shaw Street, Lahaina, Hawaii, 96761 (Initial two-hour meeting at our Kihei Office, Friday, March 2 Noon-2:00 PM)

Speaking on the Second Step and A.A. roots at a regular A.A. “old school” meeting in Kihei: followed by old school A.A. meeting plans thereafter, Saturday, March 3, (7:00 AM)

For Oahu, Hawaii:

An evening meeting in Honolulu, Thursday, March 22 (6:00 PM) evaluating and
initiating Christian Recovery Movement hands-on outreach to alcoholics and addicts
in three different Christian recovery efforts: (1) The long-standing men’s outreach to
alcoholics and addicts led by an NA oriented Christian skilled men’s group leader. (2)
The plans of this leader’s pastor who is extending outreach in Oahu as well in China,
Japan, and the Pacific Rim. (3) The current work of an Oregon-based faith -centered
Christian fellowship pastor in Germany and Europe. All three are looking for ways to
utilize First Century Christian practices, to adapt early A.A. old school fellowship
techniques, and to present 12-Step approaches with individuals needing direct help and
structured practices with long-term recovered Christian living as the aim.

For Cornerstone Fellowship—Livermore Campus, Livermore, California

Workshop/Participation/Study Meeting for all (Thursday, March 29, evening).

For Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California

Workshop/Participation/ Study Meetings with Leaders and public (Friday, March 30,Afternoon and evening).

For San Francisco Bay Area, California –

Dialogue with leaders of recently renamed CityTeam International and its ministry to the“lost” in Nicaragua and West Africa (Either morning, March 29, or on March 31).

In Kihei, Maui, Hawaii –

A meeting of several days with Rob W. from Utah (April 2-6) – Planning and funding

In Southern California: We will be in Orange County, California (Arrive on Sunday, May 13 and
depart on Monday, May 13). Quartered at the beginning and end at The Costa Mesa Marriott,Hotel, and during the week at a private home in Orange County. The agenda for any and all
includes the following planned:

Individual meetings with:

Rev. Michael Liimatta, City Vision College, Kansas City, Missouri
Wally Lowe, Christian businessman, Vero Beach, Florida
Russell Spatz, Christian attorney and speaker, Miami, Florida
Robert Turner, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Gary Martin, Mariners Church, Planning regular “Old School” training meetings, Irvine, California
Pastor Joe Furey and Roger McDiarmid, His Place Church, Westminster, California (the location of our May 18-19 major conferences)
Rev. James Moody, Manna House Ministry, Jamestown, Tennessee
Bob Noonan, Marriage and Family Counselor, Orange, California
Danny Simmons, Sons of Thunder and Book Distribution, Costa Mesa, California
Rev. Bill Wigmore, Chairman of Episcopal Diocese of Texas Recovery Committee, Austin, Texas
Gary Moates, attorney, Houston, Texas
Richard Skolnik, Recovery Historian and believer, Nesconset, New York
Rick S. of San Jose, California
Other local and out of area visitors and speakers

Conference on Friday evening, May 18 and all day Saturday, May 19, at His Place Church, Westminster, California: focused on participation, panels, workshop, classes, programs, questions and answers, and full leadership sharing

[Orientation, Leader presentations, Panel, and Q and A – Friday evening;Main Conference – Saturday all day – Music, prayer, Orientation by Dick B. and Ken B., lead speaker, orientation, leader speakers, and panel with Q and A.]

Working with individual and group Christian Recovery leaders on formats and content for regular meetings, Guides, Films, Conference-approved literature, and other resources on how best to employ all these to help directly those suffering alcoholics and addicts rely on God for help today; to learn the First Century Christianity practices in Acts of the Apostles; to learn how early “old school” A.A. practiced these principles with such great success; and to suggest how these foundations can be or are being used today hands-on.

The Actual Programs We Will Be Outlining, Discussing, Formatting, and Planning

• A program of your own fashioning on How to Train, Teach, Cooperate, and Disseminate Christian programs, conference information, and media—programs that will emphasize God’s power and Christian recovery efforts.

• Sample suggested programs suitable for and tailored to each particular Christian, treatment, sponsorship, and supportive approach and area

• Training the Trainers so that others may pick up the torch and move it forward.

• Distributing free literature through benefactors

• Continuing dissemination by blogs, forums, newsletters. Films, radio, audio, conferences

Coming Shortly: Dates, Places, Times, Contacts, Programs, Subjects, and Resources

To produce effective results, in the most compact way, we will welcome your phone calls and emails in advance; welcome any literature or suggestions you have; welcome your donations to help defray expenses; and welcome any particular approach you wish to take with your own program, practice, fellowship, and church.

dickb@dickb.com

Gloria Deo

Author's Bio: 

Writer, Historian, Retired attorney, Bible student, CDAAC, and active recovered AA with more than 25 years of continuous sobriety. Published 43 books and over 800 articles on A.A. History and the Christian Recovery Movement.