Christian
Churches “Friendly” to God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, Recovery, Newcomers,
Alcoholics, Addicts, AAs, Steps, and Big Book
Dick
B.
©
2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
On Christian Recovery Radio.com, broadcast from Maui
Hawaii this evening, we will discuss and name informally a number of Christian
Churches who have opened their doors to our talks; most of whom have a recovery
pastor or director of care or director of recovery ministry; and in whose
facility we have spoken. Were found by us personally to be friendly to
alcoholics, addicts, AAs, NAs, Christians, believers who want God’s help,
Bible, Jesus Christ, Big Book, Twelve Steps and who have supported our work in
many ways. In a number of cases, their pastors and recovery leaders are recovered,
clean and sober, former alcoholics and addicts:
Rock
Church, San Diego, California – largest church in the city
where thousands regularly attend
services on Sunday, are often residents of one of the small Christian
residential recovery houses, who attend an orientation meeting as recovery
begins, the bonfire meeting, the Bible study, A.A. meetings, sometimes coming formerly
from their Christian treatment facilities. And then there is their Rock
Recovery Ministries morning quiet time texting, and prayers. A wonderful model
led by a vigorous young, married Christian who keeps this in the mode of a
daily Christian recovery program friendly also to Alcoholics Anonymous.
His
Place Church, Westminster, California—a fast growing
recovery oriented Christian church pastored by two married Christians who are
recovered alcoholics and addicts. Every Friday, they have a large and growing
meeting—always announcing, “The Bible and the Big Book are the basic texts at
this meeting.” Why not take the Bible as one of the two texts? Early AAs did.
Why not take the Big Book as the other. That’s the way to utilize old school
A.A. in today’s diverse recovery arena. Prayers, helpful sharing, and important
outreach through International Christian Recovery Coalition and 12 Step or
Christian recovery programs largely in the Orange County area. One of their
team is a member of the Speakers Bureau of our Coalition.
The
Crossing, Costa Mesa, California—a Christian church noted
for its vigorous executive recovery pastor who leads the heavily attended
Lifelines meeting on Fridays. There, each week, there is a top speaker usually
on a Step; there is a “chip” meeting largely for newcomers from nearby
fellowships, programs, and the church itself. Conducts small groups after the large
meeting. It has a growing outreach to homeless and to young people. Has hosted
International Christian Recovery Conference and welcomed Dick B.’s talks. From
this we can learn how large, expertly taught, lively meetings focused largely
on newcomers can then be brought into small groups for discussion. And then
become the catalyst for homeless and youth service as well.
Cornerstone
Fellowship, Livermore, California—two meetings a week on
the Bible, the Steps, and recovery from alcoholism and addiction. The meetings are led by two men who are
experienced, recovered, Christian AAs. Has hosted large Christian recovery
meetings where we have spoken. Is preparing a play on what the early Akron AAs
did in their Christian Fellowship meetings; has acquired and distributed a
large number of Dick B. books on Alcoholics Anonymous History and the Christian
Recovery Movement. What’s the lesson? Teachers! Teachers like old school A.A.
where the Bible, the Steps, and Christian recovery are melded in a thoroughly
supported church effort to help the still suffering alcoholic and addict
establish a relationship with God.
Golden
Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California. A large
Christian church with a large recovery staff and meetings with music, prayer,
Bible, Big Book study, and community outreach. We have spoken there numerous
times. The church supports a Fellowship Hall and our work. It has undertaken an
important Christian residential recovery facility to be known as Bethesda, in
the town of Rescue, California. Many leaders and participants in International
Christian Recovery Coalition have spoken at Christian recovery conferences
there. The lesson? Direct leadership of residential Christian recovery and of
church recovery fellowship meetings where recovered AAs and NAs carry the
message. Opinions are not the standard. Helping others receive God’s help is!
Oroville
Church of the Nazarene, Serenity Group; Oroville, California,
led by a vigorous recovery pastor who is in touch with many of our supportive
churches, speaks in their pulpits or meetings and reciprocates. He’s a
long-sober veteran as sponsor, teacher of Steps and Big Book, and witnessing
Christian who can and does lead hungry AAs and NAs to God through accepting
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.Very strong on networking among Christian
Churches which have strong and friendly outreach. Has a regular outreach to
recovery-oriented Christian churches in the Northern California Area. Its
recovery pastor is on the Speaker’s Bureau of International Christian Recovery
Coalition.
Calvary
Church, Los Gatos, California. This Christian Church
has provided its recovery pastor with a special building devoted to Christian
recovery fellowship meetings. It has acquired many First Edition Big Books and
many of Dick B.’s books. Its recovery pastor is in close touch with other
Christian recovery fellowship churches in Central California and has their
leaders speak at Calvary. Their emphasis is on First Century Christianity and
the old school practices and principles of the early Akron A.A. Christian
Fellowship which was often called “First Century Christianity at Work.” The
recovery pastor is one of those fairly rare Christian AAs who knows the Bible,
the Big Book, the Steps, and the Way to a relationship with God for those
needing and wanting God’s help.
First Presbyterian Church of Miami, Florida.
Special facts about this church and its recovery outreach are these: (1)
CROSS-FLORIDA is a rapidly growing conference of Christian leaders from many
areas. (2) We have spoken there and traveled from Hawaii to do so. (3) It has a
broad outreach in the Southern Florida area. (4) Its major sparkplug is a top
speaker (attorney Russell S.) who is invited more and more often and more and
more widely to speak at Step meetings that pull no punches when it comes to
Conference-approved literature, the
Bible, Jesus Christ, and A.A. history. Russell’s tapes are so important that we
broadcast them on www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com.
They show the appeal, success, and utility of old school A.A. in recovery
today.
New
Life Spirit Recovery, headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. Its
leaders are Dr. Robert T. (pastor, trainer of counselors, leader of New Life
Spirit Recovery, Inc. program; and his wife Stephanie who specializes in
treating and publishing on codependency.) Dr. Robert and his wife video taped
first Dick B. and Ken B. educational presentation on A.A. roots, the A.A.
Fellowship, 12 Step Christian origins, the original program, and pertinent
literature of ours. It is used at his treatment program and elsewhere by Dick
B. and Ken B. He is president of the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug
Counselors Institute; speaks widely on Christian recovery, treatment, and
counseling, and provides an Orange County office for International Christian
Recovery Coalition. Dr. T. speaks widely in Southern California in addition to
pastoring his church and the other recovery activities mentioned.
Christian
Recovery Fellowships and Treatment Programs Scheduled for Mention
Calvary Ranch, Lakewood, California
Neighborhood Alcoholics for Christ, Escondido,
California
The Hideaway, North Hollywood, California
Freedom House, Costa Mesa, California
CityTeamInternational, San Jose, California
WonWay Out, Wyoming, Delaware
Episcopal Diocese of Texas Recovery Committee,
Austin, Texas
Came To Believe Retreats, Steve F., Winter Park,
Florida, Chief Shepherd
Three James Clubs, Norco, California
Manna House Ministries, Jamestown, Tennessee
Dr. Bob’s Core Library, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
located on Main Street at North Congregational Church where all the Smiths
attended and participated regularly.
Shoemaker Room, Calvary Episcopal Church,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Griffith Library to which our benefactors donated
over 30,000 books and historical materials in East Dorset, Vermont
Youth with a Mission Addictive Behavior School,
Kona, Hawaii
dickb@dickb.com.
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