Starting a Recovery Program
Focus on the Recovery Process
I first heard of the Journey to Wholeness12 Step Christ-centered recovery program at the Wimbish SDA church family in the summer of 2011 when Frank Sanchez, Southern Union Coordinator held an Awareness Sabbath. It was a tremendous blessing to the members and visitors. Several people expressed their interest in having a program established at the church.
After much prayer, discussion, and church board approval, the program got started on Wednesday, January 9th, 2013. The initial ARMin meeting was well attended with a group of ten individuals, six church members and four visitors. I volunteered as coordinator. I was motivated to start the program because of his own experience in overcoming my own twelve year addiction to crack cocaine. I gave a brief testimony to the participants sharing the power of Jesus Christ to overcome any addiction. The steps, I told the group, were exactly what I went through in my own walk from crack to Christ. Everyone was visibly encouraged and became more relaxed and open.
The evening continued with the explanation of how the meetings would be conducted with emphasis on the fact that everyone is strongly encouraged to participate; and participate they did. Attendees introduced themselves as, “I am a child of God, and I am struggling with….” A variety of issues, besides drug and alcohol, were shared. Individuals freely volunteered their personal experiences and admitted how unmanageable their lives had become because of their addictions. They expressed their appreciation for the program and vowed to continue to attend.
One attendee, a church member, admitted that his wife had been urging him for some time to read the book, Steps to Christ. He gleefully remarked, “I will certainly be reading it now”. Steps to Christ is of course one of the main resources of the program. The program plan is to do one step for four weeks followed by a testimony of one of the participants on the fifth week before moving on to the next step. Additionally, it is planned that a different participant would moderate each step.
Acording to the program outline, participants volunteered to individually read the Credo, Steps, and Traditions. Collectively the group repeated the Serenity Prayer, Pledge, and Promise. Most of the evening was spent talking about the First Step, recognizing the powerlessness and unmanageability of a life of addiction. Appropriate Bible passages were read as participants freely, sometimes emotionally, share their acceptance of this fact.
The Wimbish ARMin program is destined, by God’s grace, for great success as determined individuals overcome their struggles through the power of Jesus Christ. The ultimate goal of the program is not only to help with overcoming addictions; but developing a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Aubrey Duncan.
You can get more information on setting up a program at your church by visiting: http://www.adventistrecovery.org/ or send an email to adventistrecovery@nad.adventist.org