Report on Growing Collaborative Christian Recovery Efforts Summit 2, Brentwood, California

Collaborative Christian Recovery Ideas and Plans
That Emerged from Our Recent California Visits:
Part Two

By Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved


Report on the North American Summit Conference Meeting # 2 of
the International Christian Recovery Coalition at
Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California
Saturday, September 24, 2011



The following is my report on the North American Summit Conference Meeting #2 of the International Christian Recovery Coalition that my son, Ken, and I attended and spoke at on Saturday, September 24, at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, (Northern) California.

The People Who Really Helped Make the Conference at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood a Strong Northern California Starting Point for
the International Christian Recovery Coalition

The Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California, hosted the second of the two North America Summit Conference Meetings in September 2011. Its invaluable support began with a Friday meeting convened by Rev. Matt Pierce, Recovery Pastor at Golden Hills Community Church, and David Sadler, where the church’s various recovery leaders met with Dick B. and Ken B. in a workshop on Friday evening, September 23, before the New Hope recovery meeting that followed.

On Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Rev. Matt Pierce, Recovery Pastor at Golden Hills Community Church, and his staff, provided a large conference room, musicians and worship music, ample sound and seating provision, and beverages.

During our stay in Brentwood from Thursday, September 22, through Monday, September 26, Karl Kramer, a long-recovered Christian leader, picked us up at the Oakland Airport, drove us when and where needed, and—with his lovely wife—provided us free with a large bedroom and bathroom in his beautiful, spacious Brentwood home. We had several great opportunities to review A.A. history with Karl, to hear of his plans for a fellowship hall in the area, and to learn of his vigorous 12 Step work in the area.

This second report will also cover those who spoke or were scheduled but unable to speak at the actual Northern California Summit Conference Meeting # 2 in Brentwood.

Dick and Ken B. delivered talks on the International Christian Recovery Coalition and its projects.

Scheduled but unable to make the panels were:
Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., Co-Chairperson of the International Christian Recovery Coalition, Pittsburgh, PA; Director, The Oasis Recovery Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Assistant Professor, Counselor Education—Chemical Dependency, The Pennsylvania State University; Teacher, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She was scheduled as a panelist but had to cancel because of Pennsylvania duties. She has chaired many of our events and spoken at many of our events on A.A. history and Christian Recovery.
Robert Turner, M.D., MSCR, of Charleston, SC--Co-Chairperson of the International Christian Recovery Coalition, Medical Director of the MUSC Medical Neurophysiology Laboratory; Associate Professor in the departments of Neurosciences, Pediatrics, and Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Epidemiology. Robert was asked to be a panelist but had to decline due to professional obligations, but he became one of several benefactors of our conference.
Jeff and Debra Jay, of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Both are skilled interventionists and authors. Their book, Love First, was discussed and on display. They were unable to attend, but they were sponsors of our conference.
Jean LaCour, Ph.D., President and Cofounder of the NET Training Institute, Inc.; serves with Christian leaders from seven nations on the leadership council of the International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition (ISAAC); Member of “Partners for Recovery,” a steering committee for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); former Faith Coordinator for Florida’s Access to Recovery (ATR) program. Jean was unable to attend but provided flyers on Christian recovery aspects and awarded Dick B. a Hero of Recovery Citation for presentation at the conferences.
David Powers, Christian leader at Rock Church, Rock Recovery Ministries, ABC Sober Living, and Soledad House (#1 and #2) in San Diego. David was asked to exhibit and be a panelist, but had previous recovery obligations in San Diego. As with Randy Moraitis--Executive Pastor of Ministry at The Crossing Church and overseer of its Lifelines meeting in Orange County--, David is a major spark plug in the huge recovery movement of the Rock Church in San Diego. He heads Rock Recovery Ministries and its sober living facilities and licensed treatment. These Christian recovery programs provide a warm and friendly attitude which involves residents having Bible studies, daily “Quiet Time” devotional texting, a bonfire meeting, orientation training, work opportunities, sober living, counseling, and solid support for A.A. activities they recommend.
Brother Wayne White, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Executive Director, Footprints/Alcoholics Victorious, Kansas City, Missouri, Co-Director, Bridge Organization Outreach. Wayne was scheduled as a panelist, but had to cancel due to a heart problem.
Rev. Jerry Liversage, Responding Recovery Ministries, Garden Grove, California. Jerry has a unique outreach due to his wide experience in the food industry and is able to provide food for recovering alcoholics and addicts and to serve at soup kitchens. Jerry attended our Conference in Orange County on Saturday, September 17 (after having also attended the pre-Conference workshop after my talk at the Lifelines meeting on Friday evening, September 16), and then met with us for more than 12 hours during the following week to plan with him for outreach. We had hoped for him to also be a panelist, but the speaker list was already full by the time we first met with him. We have already begun talking with Jerry about using SKYPE as a mode of outreach, and we are also talking with him about our writing an introduction to the next edition of an excellent workbook he has written. He has great ideas, and we expect he will be a great resource person for the International Christian Recovery Coalition.
Bob J. of Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, was unable to attend but has long been, and was at this Conference also, a major benefactor supporting A.A. history and Christian Recovery outreach.
Rev Cynthia Sloan, Program Associate for the United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV), did attend the North American Summit Conference Meeting #1 at The Crossing Church in Southern California, was an exhibitor and a speaker there, and was one of our major Conference benefactors on behalf of her denomination.
Rev. Bill Wigmore, Chaplain and retired CEO of Austin Recovery, came from Texas, was one of our Conference benefactors, and represented the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Recovery Committee.
Rick S. of San Jose was a panelist and also a major Conference benefactor. And we are working with him on a forthcoming Big Book Sponsor's Guide.
Hazelden Foundation provided us with an excellent group of its important recovery books like When Love is Not Enough; My Search for Bill W.; Ebby; and Bill W.: My First 40 Years; and The Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous (http://goo.gl/19t6W). Hazelden Foundation was an exhibitor and a Conference benefactor.
Dover Publications, on September 15, 2011 (two days before our North American Summit Conference #1!), released Alcoholics Anonymous: The Original 1939 Edition (http://goo.gl/4KATP), complete with all of the personal stories included in the first edition, the original reference to “spiritual experience,” and a 23-page introduction by Dick B. Dover Publications furnished us with a number of copies of the new release for our use, including some copies we were able to show and give away at the Conferences.
Taken together, these three resources--Hazelden's The Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous, Dover’s Alcoholics Anonymous: The Original 1939 Edition (with the Introduction by Dick B.!), and the planned Big Book “Sponsor’s Guide” on which we are working with Rick S.--will enable Christians who are also A.A. supporters to see the real development of A.A. from the original, seven-point, Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program, to the variant six “word-of-mouth” ideas often mentioned by Bill W., to the “multi-lith edition” (also known as “original manuscript”) of later 1938/early 1939, to the “printer's manuscript” form of the “multi-lith edition” (illustrating most of the changes made just prior to publication of the first edition), to the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the “Big Book”) published on April 10, 1939.
The aim of the International Christian Recovery Coalition--as exemplified by its mission statement, its Web site, its Facebook page, its blog, and its forums, as well as its conferences and “Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons”--is to show (from A.A.’s own origins, history, founding, original program, substantial changes, and successes) exactly how Christians in A.A. and others in A.A. seeking God’s help can tap into the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program, learn its real origins and changes, understand the problems of its later diversity, and still apply the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program principles among today’s varied group of believers and unbelievers.
The featured speaker at the Conference was Rev. Don Hall of Don Hall Ministries, Colfax, California. Don shared his many years of service in connection with David Wilkerson and the beginnings of Teen Challenge. He covered its work and growth and his role in its formation in California and Hawaii, as well as his experience with street drug and prison substance abuse problems. He has been involved in very substantial missionary recovery outreach in many nations. He left his listeners with an understanding of his lifetime of Christian ministry, recovery, YWAM, and Teen Challenge service, and outreach to the streets, youth, prisons, and those suffering in other countries.
The following were panelists at the North American Summit Conference Meeting # 2 at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood.
David Sadler, a leader involved with the Christian recovery work of New Hope at Golden Hills Community Church, one of our “Christian Recovery Resource Center Persons”, and strong Coalition supporter. He explained the broad Christian recovery programs existing or planned by Golden Hills Community Church as part of its New Hope ministry for reaching into the community and described a myriad of problems besetting the afflicted and affected.
Bill Boyles, of Wyoming, Delaware, a long-recovered Christian leader who heads the Won Way Out Ministries in Delaware. Bill first met me during my history seminars at the Wilson House in East Dorset, Vermont. At the time, he had a prestigious business position in Delaware and left it to form his Christian program. He substantially funded our Second Nationwide A.A. History Conference in Delaware, and has become a major donor of Dick B. A.A. history and Christian Recovery books throughout the recovery community in his state.
Roger McDiarmid of Huntington Beach, California, a businessman, a very active speaker for the International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau; a coordinator of our Christian Recovery work in Southern California, a person much involved with His Place Church in Huntington Beach, and an ardent A.A. history and recovery speaker. Roger was a panelist at both of the North American Summit Conferences—in Costa Mesa and in Brentwood.
Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor-elect of Oroville Church of the Nazarene, and leader of Serenity Group. Dale is also an active speaker for the International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau, an active proponent of expanding Christian recovery outreach to AAs and others in the Christian community and of alerting pastors to the need for collaborative Christian Recovery services. Dale conducts our “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” classes widely for many groups in his area. He is studying to become a licensed substance abuse counselor.
Wade Hess, Training Director for CityTeam Ministries, which has a dozen Christian-12 Step-residential programs on the West Coast and in Pennsylvania. I first met Wade when I did a four-day seminar at a CityTeam conference at Camp MayMac in Santa Cruz. I later worked with him a proposed annotated Big Book. I then spoke on his radio network. Next, I met with him at our May 2009 Conference at Mariners Church in Irvine. Then my son, Ken, and I spoke to a workshop of CityTeam leaders in San Jose that was led by Wade. We welcomed his attendance at our North American Summit Conference #2 in Brentwood. Wade shared the objectives of CityTeam’s work.
Dominic D., of Pleasanton, California, leader of Turning Point fellowship at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, a strong advocate of combined Christian and 12 Step recovery work. Dominic attended our major Conference at the Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine, California, in May 2009, and hosted two conferences at Cornerstone Fellowship—Livermore Campus at which Ken and I were the featured speakers. At the Brentwood conference, Dominic shared his experience with Christian-12 Step recovery efforts and about the Cornerstone Fellowship Christian Recovery program.
Karl Kramer, of Brentwood, California, who has attended all of our Northern California conferences in his area, graciously provided his home and his transportation resources to us for this conference. He is very much involved in establishing a memorial fellowship hall in his area which will be open to, and serve, recovery groups and meetings of all sorts—much as some sober clubs do today. Karl shared on his sponsorship experience, his 12 Step experience, and his forthcoming fellowship project.
Rick S. of San Jose, California. Rick was one of the original benefactors of a major recovery program, is a long-recovered 12 Step member, and is a talented speaker on Christianity and the Big Book program. He prefers to remain anonymous for the present and is devoting a great deal of time to producing a Big Book Sponsor's Guide--more details to be announced in the future.
The following are other strong supporters of International Christian Recovery Coalition with whom we had extensive meetings during the conference period.
Rev. Matt Pierce, Recovery Pastor at Golden Hills Community Church, who provided unending support and understanding as to the purpose and needs of the North American Summit Conference Meeting #2. Matt has very substantial plans for a large recovery facility in Northern California.
Mark Chilson, of Pleasanton, California. Both Ken and I spent a great deal of time meeting with Mark, discussing his personal interests in Christian recovery and 12 Step recovery. Mark offered a great many ideas to us as to effective indexing and search for the vast quantity of history and research materials on our many web presentations. He is a skilled professional in this field and gave freely of his time.
Karl Kramer and his wife shared meals and ideas with us at local restaurants during our period of staying at their home in Brentwood. See details above.
Preliminary meeting with Dale Marsh, Roger McDiarmid, and Bill Boyles prior to the opening of the conference. See details about them above.
Fr. Bill Wigmore, Bill Boyles, Dominic D., David Sadler and his wife, and others at a long luncheon break during the conference.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of the scene was the time available and time spent by so many speakers, panelists, leaders, and attendees during breaks, before and after the conference, and with us and each other. This networking built great enthusiasm for further programs and outreach among them—a much desired objective in holding the summit meetings. For these folks have all been long and faithful Christian recovery leaders over a number of years.

Dover Publications Just Released the new Alcoholics Anonymous 1st ed reprint with Dick B. Introduction

Dover Publications has just released a very reasonably priced complete reprint of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. It has a replica of the original circus cover. It has an extensive introduction by Dick B. explaining the importance of the First Edition, the personal stories (most of which have long been removed), the changes between this edition and later editions, and the things to look for and study in the original stories and original edition.

We will have many more comments after our return from the Christian counselors conference in Palm Springs on October 2nd.

This new First Edition was displayed, presented, and discussed at the two International Christian REcovery Coalition conferences on September 17 and 24 at Costa Mesa and Brentwood, California respectfully

Comments on the brief 12Step.com Article on origins of A.A. Twelve Steps

Here is my reply to an article by 12Step.com on the history and origins on the origins and development of the A.A. Twelve Steps:

Congratulations on the temperate quality of your short articles on A.A., the Steps, and the origins.

I would add only these more comprehensive caveats and comments.

1. Dr. Bob stated that the basic ideas for the Twelve Steps came from the study and effort in the Bible. See DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers and Dick B.., The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml and The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials www.dickb.com/JamesClub.shtml
2. If you take Bill Wilson at his word—and I do on this point—the Steps that he introduced in the Big Book four years after A.A. was founded (the Big Book in April 1939 to be exact), Bill stated that of the Twelve Steps, the first should be attributed to Dr. William D. Silkworth. The second and twelfth to Professor William James. And “the rest of it” to the Oxford Group as led in American writing and teachings by Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., chief OG lieutenant in America. See Bill’s Grapevine Writings in The Language of the Heart and Dick B., Twelve Steps for You www.dickb.com/12stepsforyou.shtml, and New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A. www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml.
3. Then there is the indisputable and commonly accepted journal kept by Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Ripley Smlth. www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml. Anne shared this journal (compiled between 1933 and 1939) with Bill and Bob, with early AAs, and regularly with the early AAs and their families who gathered at the Smith home each morning to participate in the Quiet Time meetings conducted on the porch of the Smith home by Anne Smith. You can find that, before the Steps were either contemplated or written by Bill W., the ideas are discussed extensively by Anne Smith and her journal.

Old School A.A. and Old School A.A. Groups Today

Old School A.A. and Old School A.A. Groups Today
Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved
Reflections and Suggestions about Pioneer A.A. that Could Help You! Utilize "Old School A.A." Approaches Today
There is no real substitute today for beginning with one-on-one sponsorship, fellowship, and witnessing
Right now, just about anyone can join a group, attend a conference, take a class, buy tapes, and study some materials on Pioneer A.A.'s biblical roots and program. But the next step is learning how to utilize and “pass it on.” You could learn the facts, understand them, and pass them on to someone else. But that's backwards. Start with A.A.'s personal sponsorship idea. As an individual, become a real, adequate, instructive, truly helpful sponsor first: You study. You learn. You share. You compare. Then you sponsor another, and serve your fellowship or group.
There is no substitute for learning the facts first. And beginning your study with A.A.'s General Service Conference-approved literature
Master the Big Book, Twelve Steps, and the Frank Amos Reports of 1938.
Read DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers for a sketch of what pioneer A.A. was really like.
Read A.A.’s Co-founders pamphlet P-53, particularly the last major address by Dr. Bob.
There is no real substitute for learning the six Biblical roots of early A.A.’s Christian Fellowship: (1) The Bible, (2) Quiet Time, (3) Anne Smith’s Journal, (4) the teachings of Rev. Sam Shoemaker, (5) the life-changing program of the Oxford Group, (6) and the religious books early AAs read.
Then, also becoming able to recognize how early A.A. Christian basics came under the non-biblical influence of (1) Professor William James and psychology; (2) the "new thought" writers such as Ralph Waldo Trine and Emmet Fox; (3) the self-made "higher power" “gods” that overwhelmed A.A. literature in the 1950's; and (4) the New Age “spirituality” of “not-god-ness” that emerged in the 1970’s.
And, finally, distinguishing the difference in origins, approach, content, and beliefs between "Akron A.A." and "New York A.A.": (1) Akron developed its ideas from the Bible in a Christian fellowship, with decisions for Jesus Christ, "old fashioned prayer meetings," Bible study, Quiet Time, daily devotionals, and Christian literature. That was a major factor in “Old School A.A.” (2) New York fashioned A.A.’s 1939 text primarily from ideas of Rev. Sam Shoemaker, William James, and the life-changing principles and practices of the Oxford Group. That factor might be called the revised “Big Book A.A.”
Next come your decision, mission, and work with others to tell the foregoing
Will you continue to be a student? If so, there’s a lot more to study.
Do you want to be a teacher? If so, there’s a lot more to learn and organize.
Do you want to be a speaker? If so, prepare to tell our whole story and all of the facts.
Do you want to be the leader of a group? If so, select the format, members, topics, and a cadre.
Now find a cadre of two or three who will join your efforts, will study, will learn, will help, and will eventually become leaders as your “Old School A.A.” group and approach grow
You can call your group or groups whatever you like—just don’t empower the naysayers by begging your local office to list you when they ask you to fill out a form for approval in New York or simply tell you that you can’t use a particular name. Just remember, early AAs wanted to call themselves “The James Club.” Dr. Bob did call them a “Christian Fellowship.”
What can your “Old School A.A.” Group be called? It could be called “The Old School A.A. Group,” “The James Club,’ a “Big Book/Bible Study Group,” a “Step Study/Bible Study Group,” an “A.A. Spiritual Roots Group,” a “Men’s and Women’s Study Group,” an “A.A. History and Origins Group,” and many many others. Lots are already being used.
Help others by helping them to learn–individually, as a cadre, and only then as a group
Suggested Resources You and Your Cadre can Acquire, Study, and Use
You can begin your work with one or more of my titles or groups of my titles. E.g.:
Use The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd, 2010 for a comprehensive overview of our spiritual history and roots, or
The Akron Genesis of A.A. for an accurate picture of how Pioneer A.A. took shape, or
When Early AAs Were Cured and Why to learn what they actually did.
To study each of our six major biblical roots: (1) [Bible roots] The Good Book and The Big Book, The Big Book-Good Book-Guidebook, The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials. (2) [Eleventh Step, Prayer, Meditation, Devotionals] Good Morning! Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A.) (3) [What Dr. Bob’s Wife Anne actually taught pioneer AAs] Anne Smith’s Journal-1933-1939, (4) [The role of Rev Sam Shoemaker as the “cofounder of A.A.” who taught Bill Wilson the step materials] New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.. (5) [The Oxford Group life-changing ideas that became the heart of the Twelve Step and Big Book program of 1939] The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous;, and (6) [Extensive literature read and circulated among the pioneers by Dr. Bob, his wife, Henrietta Seiberling, and the meeting tables of books] Dr. Bob and His Library, 3rd ed. and The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth, 7th ed.
For background: (1) By The Power of God: A Guide to Early A.A. Groups & Forming Similar Groups Today. (2) Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today (A Bible Study Primer for AAs and other 12-Steppers). (3) Utilizing Early A.A.’s Spiritual Roots for Recovery Today
My own suggestions for planning your group, studies, and purchases. and future work
Don’t start a group. Start first by learning, as an individual, with a sponsor, or with friends.
Purchase my entire 29-Volume Reference Set at the substantial discount of $289.00 plus $30.00 for shipping and handling. Then you can pick and choose your books for study, or
Purchase one of the books that interests you; or, preferably, if you know what you want to organize and study, select one or several titles as a group and receive these at the substantial group discount plus shipping and handling, or
When and if you start a group or gather as a group, you may purchase 10 or more of the same titles of your choosing at a 50% discount plus shipping and handling
Please don't hesitate to contact me for further details: Email: dickb@dickb.com; phone 808 276 4945, or 808 874-4876; or mail: Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837. To order now, you may buy on Amazon.com, or simply use our online book order forms (www.dickb.com/titles.shtml).

Revival of the First Edition of the A.A. Big Book Planned

A revival of the importance of the First Edition of the A.A. Big Book is in progress, and a conference is planned to inform you of resources.

There are three important historical contributions to A.A. history that need to be examined, discussed, and--where appropriate--utilized.

The first is the "Holy Grail" manuscript that Ken R. acquired for a little less than one million dollars and turned over to Hazelden which recently published this working "Printer's Manuscript." Lots of hype about it, and not much understanding of its real importance. A.A. and A.A. members will soon have that opportunity.

The second is the forthcoming reprint of the First Edition, in an affordable form - with lengthy introduction by Dick B. which will point up the importance of the long-abandoned personal stories and also the major changes in the program that occurred after the First Edition. A.A. and A.A. members will soon have the opportunity to learn and discuss and utilize.

The third is a work in progress by a talented, experienced A.A. old-timer who will present and publish a Sponsor's Guide to the First Edition - a further resource for learning and utilizing the historical, biblical, and experience roots of early A.A. today.

Finally, we hope soon to have a conference of speakers and others in Orange County, California where there can be brainstorming, thoughtful discussion, and effective planning about how these new A.A. resources can be used to help the alcoholic who still suffers. Today

Applying “Old School” A.A. in Today’s 12-Step Fellowships

Applying “Old School” A.A. in Today’s 12-Step Fellowships
Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

What the First, Original, Akron A.A. Program Was and Did

The Way the First 3 AAs – Bill W., Dr. Bob, Bill D. – Got Sober Before the Program. See The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010, pp. 57-59

No Steps. No Traditions. No Big Book. No drunkalogs. No meetings as we know them.
Each believed in God, was a Christian, asked God for deliverance, and received it.

The Summary by Frank Amos, Published in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, page 131

Five required points: (1) Permanent abstinence. (2) Surrender of one’s life to God. (3) Obedience to God’s will—eliminating sinful conduct, living love. (4) Growing in understanding through Bible study, prayer, seeking guidance, reading religious literature. (5) Helping others get well the same way. Two recommended points: (6) Social and
religious comradeship. (7) Attending a religious service once a week.

The Fourteen Practices of the Akron Pioneers, discussed in The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010, pp. 54-57

(1) Qualifying the newcomer. (2) Hospitalization. (3) Belief in God, accepting Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior. (4) Left hospital with Bible and instructions to “go out and fix drunks as an avocation.” (5) Most lived in residences of recovered Akron pioneers.. (6) Christian fellowship meetings every day. (7) Morning Quiet Time at Smith Home led by Dr. Bob’s wife. (8) “Regular” Oxford Group meeting each Wednesday with “real surrender.” (9) Extensive reading of Christian devotionals and literature. (10) Studying Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 stressed. (11) Instructions to reach out to newcomers. (12) Frequent socializing in the homes. (13) Members knew each other well, visited, phoned, kept address books. (14) Rosters kept of names, addresses, sobriety dates, relapses (if any), and successful pioneers.

The spiritual resources used in that first, original Akron A.A. Program – See Dick B., Real Twelve Step Fellowship History: The Old School A.A. You May Not Know, pp. 27-30, 85-92

(1) The Bible; (2) Conversion to God through Jesus Christ; (3) Anne Smith’s Journal; (4)
Background ideas from (a) Professor William James, (b) Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, (c) Dr. William D. Silkworth, (d) lay therapist Richard Peabody, (e) New Thought writings of Emmet Fox, (f) Writings of Rev. Sam Shoemaker; (5) Christian literature Dr. Bob circulated, (6) Quiet Time, (7) Daily Devotionals, (8) Oxford Group 4 Absolutes and restitution practices, (9) Biblical training and Christian upbringing of Dr. Bob as a youngster in Vermont.


The major Christian influences that impacted on the work and plans of the cofounders. See The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., pp. 8–26.

(1) Evangelists and revivalists like Dwight Moody and Billy Sunday, (2) The Gospel Rescue Missions, (3) YMCA lay workers, (4) The Salvation Army, (5) Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor, (6) Oxford Group books, (7) Writings of Rev., Sam Shoemaker, Jr.

Documented 75% success rate of the original, serious, real alcoholics who really tried. See The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., pp. 77-85

Dr. Bob’s own hand-written list of 1939, now in Rockefeller Archives, New York.

Where and What to Study and Learn

Bible – King James Version

The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches, Their Last
Major Talks
The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible
The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials
Why Early A.A. Succeeded (a Bible Study Primer)

Belief in God and the decision to come to Him through Jesus Christ

Hebrews 11:6, John 3:16, 14:6, Romans 10:9
The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Creator’s Role in Early A.A.
Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good Book as a
Youngster in Vermont
The Golden Text of A.A.: God, the Pioneers, and Real Spirituality
A New Way In: Reaching the Heart of a Child of God in Recovery with His Own,
Powerful, Historical Roots

The Teachings of Dr. Bob’s Wife, Anne Ripley Smith – “Mother of A.A.”

Anne Smith’s Journal 1933-1939: A.A.’s Principles of Success, 3rd ed.
Children of the Healer: The Story of Dr. Bob’s Kids

The Influence of Professor William James and Dr. Carl Gustav Jung – Spiritual experience and necessity for conversion

Real Twelve Step Fellowship History: The Old School A.A. You May Not Know
The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Creator’s Role in Early A.A.
“Pass It On”: The Story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. Message Reached the World,
pp. 381-286

Influence of William Duncan Silkworth, M.D. – Seemingly hopeless, “medically incurable”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., pp. xxv-xxxii
The Conversion of Bill W. More on the Creator’s Role in Early A.A.
The Liitle Doctor Who Loved Drunks: A Biography of William Duncan Silkworth, M.D

Christian Literature Circulated by Dr. Bob and at Meetings

Dr. Bob and His Library, 3rd ed,
The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth, 7th ed.

Quiet Time – Bible reading, Prayer, Seeking Guidance, Anne’s Journal

Good Morning: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation and Early A.A., 2d ed.
The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works, 2d ed.
Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Bible as a Youngster
In Vermont

Daily Devotionals

The Runner’s Bible by Nora Smith Holm
The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond
The Upper Room (quarterly of the Methodist Church)
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

The Four Absolutes – Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness and Love

The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous
Anne Smith’s Journal 1933-1939,

The History of the Early Program

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous
Real Twelve Step Fellowship History
Turning Point: A History of Early A.A.’s Spiritual Roots and Successes

Basic Ideas of Early A.A. Fully Available and Applicable Today as a Choice

Complete Abstinence from Drinking Alcohol of Any Kind

Qualifying the Newcomer

Hospitalization and possible detoxification

Surrender of one’s life to God, and becoming one of his children through Jesus Christ

Obedience to God’s Will – Eliminating Sin and Living Love

Growth in understanding: God, His Son, the Holy Spirit, Bible, commandments, salvation, healing, guidance, forgiveness, love, the renewed mind, dealing with the Adversary, prayer, thankfulness, fellowship, witness; and the return of Jesus Christ

Study of the Bible – particularly Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, James, 1 Corinthians 13
Individual and group prayer
Seeking God’s guidance from the Bible and from His revelation
Studying Christian literature on the Bible, prayer, thankfulness, love, forgiveness, healing

Intensive personal work helping others to get straightened out by the same path

Recommended social and religious fellowship and attending a religious service weekly

Making & Using Links Between the Founders & Present-Day A.A.’s Basic Text

Bible Basics: Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, Book of Acts

Overview: Shoemaker’s definition of spiritual awakening: prayer, conversion, fellowship, witness

The Solution: Establishing a relationship with, or finding or rediscovering God now!

More About Alcoholism: Conceding the one’s innermost self that he cannot drink at all

How It Works: [the abc’s, ending] God could and would if He were sought

Chapter Five – Surrender, Inventory, Confession, Conviction, Conversion, Amends,
Continuance in Step 10, Prayer and Meditation in Step 11, Witnessing and Practicing the principles from the Bible through Step 12.

“Taking” the 12 Steps as Clarence Snyder Taught Them

Reading the First Edition Personal Stories – almost all of which are now deleted

Understanding the importance of fellowship with like-minded believers, worship

Spiritual Tools Bill W. Had Before Him When He and Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker Expanded Bill’s 6 Word-of-Mouth Ideas to 12 Steps


The Bible references and the references to sources are based on the verses and the writings the early AAs actually used – not some fabricated thoughts about relevant verses or ideas

Step One: Dr. Silkworth’s view of problem of Alcoholism; and Psalms 23, 91; “O God Manage Me because I can’t manage myself” prayer used by the Oxford Group, Shoemaker, and Anne Smith

Step Two: Hebrews 11:6; God either is, or He isn’t; and Power greater than ourselves from Anne Smith and Shoemaker; and Bill’s statements that only God could restore us to sanity.

Step Three: “Thy will be done” – Matthew 6:10; James 4:7 Shoemaker

Step Four: Inventory of faults using the Four Absolutes – Matthew 7:1-5; Anne Smith, Oxford Group, Shoemaker

Step Five: Confession of Faults – James 5:16, Anne Smith: to God, ourselves, another

Step Six: Conviction of Faults – Oxford Group

Step Seven: Conversion – John 3:16, Romans 10:9, James 4:10 - Shoemaker

Steps Eight and Nine: Willingness and Restitution – John 7:17, Matthew 5:23-26; Shoemaker, Anne Smith

Step Ten: Continuance: Shoemaker, Oxford Group, Anne Smith

Step Eleven: Quiet Time – Psalm 5:1-3; Shoemaker, Oxford Group, Anne Smith

Step Twelve – Awakening (Matthew 7:20-29), Pass It On (Mark 16:15-20), Practice the Principles (Matthew 5:1-16, 38-48; Matthew 6:9-13, 33; 7:9-12, 16-20) – Shoemaker, Oxford Group. In summary: Ten Commandments, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Book of James, 1 Corinthians 13, Four Absolutes taken from Speer’s The Principles of Jesus.

Further Specific Suggestions for Christians and Those Who Want to Become Children of God in Today’s Fellowships

[The following are books by Dick B.; published by Paradise Research Publications, Inc.; described in www.dickb.com/titles.shtml; available through Amazon.com or Dick B.’s website www.dickb.com]

The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible

The Good Book-Big Book Guide Book

Twelve Steps for You: Take the Twelve Steps with the Big Book, A.A. History, and the Good Book at Your Side, 4th ed.

By the Power of God: A Guide to Early A.A. Groups & Forming Similar Groups Today

(Big Book, Twelve Step, and Bible Study Groups; James Clubs; Bible fellowships, Christian Recovery Fellowships, Prayer Groups, Retreats, and Churches)

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed. www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml

Dick B. and Ken B. “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery 4 DVD’s and Guides
www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml.

Dick B. with Ken B., The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers (available to those participants in International Christian Recovery Coalition who establish Christian Recovery Resource Centers http://bit.ly/erD3tW

The Dick B. Comprehensive 29 Volume Reference Set www.dickb.com

Christian Recovery Resource Centers Checklist

Christian Recovery Resource Center Guide and Checklist

Taken from

The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide
By Dick B., with Ken B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

What Those in Need May Not Find or Hear When They Cry Out for Help
and
How Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons May Inform and Assist Those in Need

The Importance of Stressing the Availability of Healing by the Power of God—A Fact That the Cofounders of A.A. Made Crystal Clear to AAs

The Bible is filled with accounts of healing in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts. Moreover, there are clearly-documented cases of healing by Christians in the centuries following. See Dick B., The First Nationwide Alcoholics Anonymous History Conference, 2d ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2006), 1-19, 25-33, 89-97.

A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson’s own experience and remarks attested to the fact that God healed him of alcoholism. And the trail to a cure began with his doctor, William Silkworth, and his old friend, Ebby Thacher: (1) Silkworth, Bill’s physician, had told Bill that the Great Physician (Jesus Christ) could cure him. [See Dale Mitchel, Silkworth The Little Doctor Who Love Drunks: The Biography of William Duncan Silkworth, M.D. (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2002), 33-35, 44,, 47-51.] Wilson confirmed Silkworth as “very much a founder of A.A.” [Mitchel, Silkworth, 107.] (2) Having received Silkworth’s advice about cure, Bill received a surprise visit from his old schoolmate and drinking friend, Ebby Thacher. Ebby told Bill a number of things that not only paralleled Silkworth’s advice, but demonstrated that Ebby too had believed in healing and had specifically sought it. (a) Ebby told Bill: “I've got religion;” (b) “Oxford Groupers had suggested that Ebby needed to call on God . . . to help him with his problem.” (c) “[T]hese fellows told me they had run into a group called the Oxford Group, and had gotten some pretty sensible things out of it based on the life of Christ, biblical times.” (d) They had lodged Ebby in Calvary Mission, operated by Rev. Shoemaker’s Calvary Episcopal Church. (e) “finally how he’d tried prayer just as an experiment and had found to his surprise that it had worked.” (f) Ebby had surrendered (made a decision for Christ at the Mission altar) on November 1, 1934, about a month before he called on Bill. (g) “that the desire [to drink] had been lifted right out of him. It had simply vanished. He no longer sat on a powder keg. He was released. He was free.” [See Mel B., Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W. (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 1998), 6-7, 10, 49-51, 58-59, 62, 64-65, 68.]

Several additional points about Bill and Ebby are discussed and documented elsewhere: (a) Ebby’s Oxford Group “sponsor” was Rowland Hazard. (b) Hazard had been treated
for alcoholism by the famous Dr. Carl G. Jung, but he had failed to recover. Rowland aligned himself with the Oxford Group; and, “In these surroundings, Roland [sic] did find a conversion experience that released him for the time being from his compulsion to drink.” [“Pass It On” (New York, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1980), 382-83.] Subsequent research established that Rowland had made a decision for Christ. Jay Stinnett conducted a workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland, on March 11, 2007, and titled it “AA Spiritual History Workshop: Why Our Lives Were Saved.” Material from that workshop that appeared on the Web, with a date of 10/26/07, stated the following: “1932 New York. Rowland [Hazard] returns and joins the Calvary Church, studies with Rev. Sam Shoemaker, and gives his life to Christ. His obsession to drink is removed.” (c) Stinnett also wrote: “September 1934, New York. Ebby Thacher made a decision for Christ at Calvary Mission, and his obsession is removed.” (d) In his visit with Bill W., Ebby “made the point-blank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself.” [Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed. (New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 2001), 11.]

Remembering Ebby’s report about his (Ebby's) decision for Christ at Calvary Mission, Bill decided to go to the Mission and see for himself what they did there. [Bill W.: My First 40 Years: An Autobiography by the Cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2000), 136.] Bill went to Calvary Mission and made his own decision for Christ at the altar. [Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Creator’s Role in Early A.A. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2006), xiv-xv, 60-62, 73-74, 88-95.] Echoing Ebby’s own words, Bill wrote: “I’ve found religion;” and shortly thereafter at Towns Hospital, Bill proclaimed, “I’ve found something” [Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W., 95.] Soon thereafter, Bill wrote: “For sure I’d been born again” [My First 40 Years, 147.] And, after Bill’s new birth at the altar, he got drunk, and went to Towns Hospital depressed and despairing. Remembering Silkworth’s talk with him about the Great Physician and cure, Bill thought to himself: “Yes, if there was any great physician that could cure the alcohol sickness, I’d better seek him now, at once. I’d better find what my friend had found.” On arrival at Towns Hospital, Bill said: “I remember saying to myself, ‘I’ll do anything, anything at all. If there be a Great Physician, I’ll call on him.'” Then Bill said, “I cried out, ‘If there be a God, let him show himself.’” His room “blazed with an indescribably white light.” He thought “You are a free man.” “I became acutely conscious of a presence which seemed like a veritable sea of living spirit.” “‘This,’ I thought, ‘must be the great reality, The God of the preachers.’” [My First 40 Years, 136-47.] Bill never drank again!

Bill’s firm confidence that he had been healed by the power of God is attested by three
documented events. First, Bill left Towns Hospital a free man. He immediately began looking everywhere for drunks to help—at the Mission, Towns Hospital, flea bag hotels, the Bowery, and even Oxford Group meetings. Second, as Bill sallied forth, “With Lois’s full support, he was soon walking through the gutters of the Bowery, into the nut ward at Bellevue Hospital, down the slimy corridors of fleabag hotels, and into the detox unit at Towns with a Bible under his arm. He was promising sobriety to every drunk he could corner if they, like he, would only turn their lives over to God.” [William G. Borchert, The Lois Wilson Story: When Love Is Not Enough: A Biography of the Cofounder of Al-Anon (Center City, MN:: Hazelden, 2005), 170.] Finally, Bill’s message was crystal clear as to his belief that he had been cured. That message is preserved to this day in Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed, page 191: “'Henrietta, the Lord has been so wonderful to me curing me of this terrible disease that I just want to keep talking about it and telling people.'”

With typical brevity and clarity, Dr. Bob simply wrote: “Your Heavenly Father will never
let you down!” Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., 181.

Dr Bob had a host of healing and prayer books in his library and among the books he circulated to early AAs and their families. One of these healing books reporting thousands of healings worldwide was James Moore Hickson, Heal the Sick (London: Metthuen & Co., 1924). A second was a review of biblical healings and personal healings: Ethel R. Willitts, Healing in Jesus Name (Crawfordsville, IN: Ethel R. Willitts, Publisher, 1931).

Possible Sources of Inquiries You Can Develop and
from Which You May Hear

ñ The Internet: Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Articles, Forums, Cross-links, your own Web site.

ñ Newspapers and magazines of all kinds.

ñ TV and radio shows.

ñ Word-of-mouth mention.

ñ Clergy, churches, pastoral and recovery counselors, physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists.

ñ Fellowships.

ñ 12th Steppers, sponsors, mentors, peer counselors.

ñ Counselors and social workers.

ñ Interventions.

ñ Chaplains.

ñ Call Centers and law enforcement.

ñ Conferences and recovery seminars, programs, meetings.

ñ Speakers and our own International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau.

ñ Study groups, Big Book groups, Step groups, Bible groups, prayer groups.

ñ Bookstores.

ñ Restaurants.

ñ Welcome and information centers.

ñ Hospitals.

ñ Treatment centers, rehabs, detox facilities, aftercare, alumni, and sober living programs.

ñ Community service agencies—veterans facilities, military facilities, the United Way, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, churches, welfare agencies, mental health agencies, community medical centers, the Red Cross, the Chamber of Commerce, service clubs, support groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls, coaches, teachers, schools, colleges, libraries, housing facilities, retirement centers, elderly care agencies, volunteer groups, and clinics.

Initial Inquiry and Interview

When a person who wants God's help with overcoming alcoholism and/or drug addiction (or someone else concerned about a family member, friend, employee, etc., who may want such help) contacts you or your group or your organization, we suggest you conduct a preliminary talk with that inquirer. A talk which, on your end, may be led by a recovered alcoholic, addict, or codependent A.A., N.A., or substance abuse worker. A leader who will tell the afflicted and the affected about healing and cure, about alcoholism and addiction, about signs of trouble, and about his or her own experience.

We suggest you ask the newcomer to tell you their personal story. Review with that newcomer the famous “Twenty Questions” originally published by Johns Hopkins. Review the “More About Alcoholism” chapter in the Big Book, and the suggested test on 44 of the Big Book. Find out if the newcomer has had enough misery and trouble; if he or she wants to quit drinking and abusing drugs for good; and if he or she concedes to his or her innermost self that he or she is an alcoholic and/or addict. Determine whether he or she is willing to go to any lengths—i.e., to do whatever it takes—to get well. Learn whether he or she believes in God and wants to seek God’s help. Find out whether he or she is born again; and, if not, whether he or she is willing to come to God through Jesus Christ His Son.

Assessment

Establish that the newcomer wants to pursue comprehensive Christian recovery.

Explain: (1) the option of seeing a professional, licensed Christian alcohol, drug, and codependency counselor; (2) what to read about Christian counseling if there is interest; and (3) how a Christian counselor might be helpful.

Help the newcomer determine whether immediate medical diagnosis, assistance, and/or detoxification are needed, and where to find medical help—even in the nearest Emergency Room.

Explain the option of an intervention by a skilled interventionist who will use love first—not just break down the patient or family—and will insure that a willing alcoholic or addict, or non-alcoholic or non-alcoholic family member of friend will also seek God’s help and be able to find it as the end result of the intervention.

Explain a comprehensive effective program elements in a Christian or Christian Track treatment program.

Provide Relevant Information about Christian Recovery

Show the person or persons interviewed why the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program founded in Akron in 1935—and its predecessors in the Young Men's Christian Association (the YMCA), the Salvation Army, Gospel rescue missions, revivals, and the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor—were so enormously successful through reliance on the help of God. Show them the “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class on four DVD’s, or enable them to procure and view the class at home or elsewhere. Explain how the first three AAs got sober; the original, seven-point, A.A. “Christian fellowship” program developed and followed in Akron, and documented in February 1938 by Frank Amos; and the 14 practices of the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program.

Make it clear that Christian recovery help will only begin if:

ñ The person in need: (1) believes that he or she is “licked”—i.e., fully concedes to his or her innermost self that he or she is an alcoholic and/or addict; (2) really wants help; and (3) is willing to listen and cooperate in order to overcome his or her alcoholism, addiction, and related self-destructive behaviors and life-controlling problems.

ñ The family, friends, relatives, employers, teachers, etc., of the afflicted alcoholic and/or addict don’t think that they can—by themselves—“fix” the person in need, or “force” or “persuade” the person in need to seek help; and that they recognize that they too may need counseling, and/or one or more treatment sessions.

ñ The afflicted alcoholic and/or addict concedes, through learning: (1) he or she is beyond his or her own help, or the help of others; (2) he or she has an uncontrolled alcohol and/or drug problem; and (3) that alcoholism and drug addiction get progressively worse and produce even more problems.

ñ The afflicted alcoholic and/or addict has decided to: (1) quit permanently; (2) get well; (3) end the misery; (4) do whatever it takes to overcome his or her alcoholism and/or addiction; and (5) discipline himself or herself to stick with the effort.

ñ The afflicted alcoholic and/or addict stops tolerating recidivism, relapse, and revolving door treatment; and that they “go for the gold”—complete recovery, hard-won, once and for all.

ñ The afflicted alcoholic and/or addict at least glimpses the idea that “nothing changes if nothing changes.” In other words, the afflicted alcoholic and/or addict, as well as those affected by them, all need new “playmates” (i.e., friends and associates)—not former tempters, dealers, failed quitters, or enablers. They need new “playgrounds” (i.e., places where they will not be readily tempted to drink or use)—not bars, or other dark and “slippery” places. They need completely new ideas and approaches to their problems. And they must acquire new tools to use to overcome temptation, guilt, shame, fear, anger, self-centeredness, dishonesty, and trouble.

ñ In our opinion, the afflicted alcoholic and/or addict:

◦ believes in—or is willing to believe in and seek—God;
◦ understands what it means to become a child of God by coming to Him through His Son Jesus Christ;
◦ understands the importance of appropriate and habitual prayer to God in the name of Jesus Christ;
◦ recognizes the need for Bible training and understanding;
◦ sees the necessity for keeping company with healthy, convicted, loving fellow-believers;
◦ wants to have fellowship with God, His Son Jesus Christ, and like-minded children of God;
◦ Understands that real, “old school” A.A. (i.e., the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program) was astonishingly simple; amazingly successful; and based on reliance on God, cleaning house, and helping others.
◦ Understands that “old school” A.A. can be followed within modern 12-Step programs today by those who want God’s help in recovery without “violating the Traditions.” This present-day opportunity still exists because A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature still in print and offered for sale by A.A. —e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, (the “Big Book”), DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, and other “Conference-approved” literature—do talk extensively about God, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, prayer, healing, religious growth, and church. This situation exists even though the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous today also now condones and welcomes people with other beliefs, with no beliefs, or reject God outright. No matter! The “support system” of modern A.A. can still be of great value if one knows the pitfalls in present-day literature, meetings, and chatter.
◦ Understands that there is idolatry; secularism; an array of “nonsense gods;” undefined “spirituality;” and a good deal of Christian-bashing, religion-bashing, and church-bashing in many parts of the United States and other countries within modern A.A. Consequently, the afflicted alcoholic and/or addict may find it necessary to leave A.A. And seek Christian churches, fellowships, and/or groups exclusively.

Referral Options and Possible Actions

Make sure that the afflicted alcoholic/addict understands that a comprehensive Christian recovery today may require committed utilization of all the following items (as well as the many just mentioned):

ñ Qualification of the afflicted alcoholic and/or addict as to whether he or she: (1) concedes he or she is helpless; (2) understands that determined and disciplined effort are needed to overcome his or her problems; and (3) has firmly resolved that all the former temptations, dangerous habits, slippery places, slippery people, dark activities, and the like must be dumped!

ñ Medical assistance or detoxification.

ñ Good vitamin, supplement, and nutrition habits; exercise; adequate sleep, filling lonely hours.

ñ Perhaps competent Christian intervention and referral.

ñ Early insistence on belief in God, and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

ñ Early introduction to: (1) the Christian origins of the recovery movement and the 12-Step groups that arose from it; (2) the history, founding, original program, successes of the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program; and (3) the changes that were made to the original Akron program, beginning with the publication of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous on April 10, 1939.

ñ Emphasis on reading the Bible and praying in one's personal life.

ñ Perhaps competent licensed or other lawful Christian counseling.

ñ Perhaps competent Christian pastoral counseling.

ñ Perhaps competent Christian chaplaincy in situations where a newcomer or patient may be located.

ñ Continued medical monitoring and possibly mental health treatment.

ñ Effective Christian residential or outpatient treatment.

ñ Contemporaneous and complimentary treatment for family, children, concerned others

ñ Participation at A.A. or 12-Step programs and meetings, and involvement in them, to the extent reasonable.

ñ Participation in Christian Recovery Fellowships—now proliferating around the world.

ñ Bible instruction and study.

ñ Prayer instruction and meetings.

ñ Individual “Quiet Times”—including prayer, Bible reading, reading of devotional literature, seeking guidance from God, and sharing.

ñ A.A., N.A., Al-Anon meetings, Christian recovery fellowships—meeting schedules.

ñ Regular contact and communication with a sponsor, mentor, or peer counselor.

ñ Regular communication with those in recovery and/or involved in Christian activities.

ñ Competent Big Book and 12-Step instruction for those pursuing A.A. participation.

ñ Christian Aftercare.

ñ Supervised Christian sober living.

ñ Church or Bible Fellowship.

ñ Unselfish, unremunerated, vigorous work with unrecovered alcoholics, addicts, and codependents. This is the missing link today. Such work may include sponsorship, speaking, making 12-Step calls, visiting hospitals and prisons, and conducting Big Book and Step studies. Workers involved in such activities may be called sponsors, peer counselors, mentors, “disciplers,” or Twelfth-steppers. They may be called compassionate recovered drunks or druggies who are servants. But the workers need to help others. They can help others. And because such workers are often absent in today's recovery scene, it is missing a major ingredient of the original recovery movement ideas and Steps.

ñ Assistance in obtaining help and resources in the community—for veterans; the elderly; children; the mentally-impaired; the disabled; the indigent; the homeless; those needing transitional housing; the abandoned; the incarcerated; those needing financial counseling and relief; those facing legal and criminal proceedings; those facing divorce and child custody matters; those needing marital and family counseling, and those needing psychiatric help.

ñ A plan for new dedication to serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ; turning to God for revelation as to details on salvation, healing, forgiveness, guidance, comfort and consolation, peace and love, the principles and teachings of Jesus Christ, and the results described in the Book of Acts regarding early Christianity.

Suggested Reading for Further Guidance

The Holy Bible, King James Version
The Runner’s Bible by Nora Smith Holm (NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913)
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 1st ed. (forthcoming Dover Publications paperback reprint with
Introduction by Dick B.)
DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.,
1980
The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches: Their Last Major
Talks
Jesus the Healer by E.W. Kenyon (Kenyon’s Gospel Publishing Society, Inc., 2000)
Heal the Sick by James Moore Hickson (London: Methuen & Co., 1924)
Healing in Jesus Name by Ethel R.Willitts (Crawfordsville, IN: Ethel R.Willitts
Publisher, 1931)
How It Worked:The Story of Clarence H. Snyder and the Early Days of Alcoholics
Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio, by Mitchell K. (Washingtonville, NY: AA Big
Book Study Group, 1997)
Our A.A. Legacy to the Faith Community: A Twelve-Step Guide for Those Who Want to
Believe by Three Clarence Snyder Sponsee Old-timers and Their Wives.
Compiled and Edited by Dick B. (Winter Park, FL: Came to Believe Publications, 2005)
The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Creator’s Role in Early A.A. by Dick B. (Kihei,
HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2006)
The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible, 2d ed., by Dick B. (Kihei,
HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 1997)
The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials, 4th ed., by Dick B.
(Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2005)
When Early AAs Were Cured and Why by Dick B. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research
Publications, Inc., 2006
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide: Historical Perspectives and Effective
Application, 3rd ed. by Dick B. and Ken B. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research
Publications, Inc., 2010
Love First A Family’s Guide to Intervention: Updated Tools and Techniques to Help
Loved Ones Heal from Addiction, 2d ed., by Jeff Jay and Debra Jay (Center City,
MN: Hazelden, 2008)
Understanding and Counseling Persons with Alcohol, Drug, and Behavioral Addictions:
Counseling for Recovery and Prevention Using Psychology and Religion, Rev and Enl Ed., by Howard Clinebell, PhD (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998)
Handbook for Christ-Centered Substance Abuse and Addiction Counselors, by Michael
Belzman, PhD, MDAAC, MRAS (Redlands, CA: Xulon Press, 2010)
The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers, by Dick B. with Ken B.
(Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2011)
As We Understand Him Meditations for Christians One Day at a Time through the Big
Book and the Bible by Cheryl Outman (Niceville, FL, 1985)

A.A. History - Dick B. Betty Ford Ctr Awareness Hour Talk Online

Alcoholics Anonymous History Talk by A.A.'s leading unoffician historian Dick B. which was delivered at the Betty Ford Center Awareness Program held at the Annenberg Center on the campus of the Eisenhower Medical Center, Ranch Mirage, California in February, 2011.

Dick B. was invited to speak, tell his own recovery story, and review his extensive travels, research, speaking engagements, publications, and reports on the origins, history, founding, original A.A. Christian Fellowship program of 1935, and its astonishing successes.

Dick was introduced by long-time Betty Ford Consultant and Counselor Jerry McDonald

You may now hear the entire talk online at http://dickb.com/ongoing-talks.shtml

International Christian Recovery Coaliltion Speakers Bureau

The International Christian Recovery Coalition

Announces the Establishment of

The International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau


We will have much more information for you soon. It will detail who the speakers are, what they can bring to you about the Christian origins, history, founding, original program, and great successes of early Alcoholics Anonymous. And what they can share with you about the subsequent changes in, and adaptability of, A.A.—particularly relative to the modern recovery arena. And especially what they provide in the way of facts about the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible have played in the recovery movement, and the role they can and should play today for those today who are afflicted with and affected by alcoholism, addiction, at-risk behaviors, and other life-controlling problems. There IS a solution through the power and love of God, and these speakers can tell you all about it.

Members of the International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau

David Powers, Leader of Rock Recovery Ministries, ABC Living, and Soledad House for the Rock Church of San Diego, Christian Recovery Resource Center, San Diego.

Rev. Robert Tucker, PhD, DMin, President of the New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc. treatment, counseling, and church center, Huntington Beach, California, Christian Recovery Resource Center, Huntington Berach.

Jim Gaffney, counselor, pharmacist, therapist, and former Recovery Pastor for Mariners Church in Irvine, California, Christian Recovery Resource Center, Nyack, New York.

Rev. James Moody, Manna House Ministries, Christian Recovery Resource Center, Jamestown, Tennessee

Chaplain/Pastor Leonard Grubb, Christian Recovery Resource Center, Mentor, Ohio

Wally Lowe, Christian Recovery Resource Center, Vero Beach, Florida

Dick B., A.A. writer, historian, Christian Recovery Resource Center Hqs, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Mark Galligan, Christian A.A. believer, Christian Recovery Resource Center, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada

Robert Turner, M.D., Association Professor Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.

Roger McDiarmid, Christian A.A. believer, Huntington Beach, California

A.A. Origins, A.A. Early History, A.A. Founding, A.A. Changes

There is a huge movement afoot. It is a movement to learn A.A.'s real, early Christian roots.

It grew out of the complete absence of reported history by A.A. itself, by writers, and by some dedicated A.A. historians.

There was no significant history emanating from A.A. until Bill Wilson finally wrote Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age in the mid-1950's. Even this account, was edited by two priests. It was written after A.A. Co-founder Dr. Bob and his wife Anne Ripley Smith were both dead. It left out the major elements that led to A.A., that involved the cure of the first three AAs, and that included the Bible, the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13.

Bill Wilson began to realize the vacuum in the 1950's when he began dictating his own story--that did not get published until years later. Bill began taping some of the founders and others who were present in the early days. This work did not bear fruit until the 1980's after Bill himself was dead and most of the pioneers were dead and gone.

Is all this important to A.A. today, to recovery today, and to those hungry for God's help today?

For twenty years, my son and I have researched piece by piece the various elements of the A.A. roots and A.A. history, tried to link them into a comprehensive whole, and challenged others to continue the quest for an accurate picture.

Importance? Of course. It highlights the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, history, founding, original program, and early successes. It highlights the substantial change of course in the last moments before the Big Book's publication in 1939. It highlights the actual cure and claims of cure by the early AAs for the first decade. It helps students to understand how to learn, appreciate, and apply the early contributions of the following:

Bill Wilson, Calvary Rescue Mission, and the forerunners (evangelists, Salvation Army, YMCA lay workers, rescue missions, and Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, and the Christian upbringing of A.A. founders as young men in Vermont).

Also, Dr. Bob Smith, Bob's wife Anne Smith, the Bible, the Christian Bible devotionals, Quiet Time, the Oxford Group life-changing principles from the Bible, the emphasis by Dr. William Silkworth on the Great Physician Jesus Christ, the emphasis of Dr. Carl Jung and Professor William James on conversion, and the practical approaches in hospitalization, surrenders to God, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, study of the Bible, prayer meetings, reading of Christian literature, use of Bible devotionals, and daily seeking of guidance from God.

There's much much more. But the following will chart the beginning steps for students and AAs alike:

1. The Conversion of Bill W. and Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous (www.dickb.com/titles.shtml)

2. The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous (www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml)

3. Anne Smith's Journal 1933-1939 (www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml)

4. Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A. (www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml).

5. Dr. Bob and His Library (www.dickb.com/drbob.shtml)

6. Real Twelve Step History (www.dickb.com/realhistory.shtml)

7. The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml)

8. The Oxford Group & Alcoholics: A Design for Living That Works (www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml).

9. New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A. (www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml)

10. The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide (www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml).

Those who tackle these roots--one-by-one--can then begin to put the facts together. They can and should also turn to important A.A. General Service Conference-approved books like Pass It On, DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, and Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th edition. If they do so, they will be able to carry a message that informs today, fills a void today, applies today, and serves today.

The reader will be starting his efforts to help newcomers with material so little heard or discussed or applied in meetings, groups, and conferences today. It is the material that produced the astonishing cures of alcoholics during the original Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship period from 1935-1938.

The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible

Read the book today that has shown thousands how the Bible influenced A.A.

You can find it discussed in detail on www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.

The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible is Dick B.'s most sought after book on Alcoholics Anonymous history.

It is available on Dick B.'s website and can be seen displayed and reviewed on amazon.com