This opening blog is to announce that I certainly have faith in Alcoholics Anonymous (aa). In this blog, I simply define that faith as a belief, based on my own experience, that Alcoholics Anonymous enabled me - more than 18 years ago - to dredge myself out of seemingly overwhelming life difficulties. Because the experience was within the rooms of A.A., my focus was on quitting drinking for good. That phase of the experience began at once and has continued every since. I believe the basis for the faith and for the successful experience was, initially, diving into the A.A. program from every possible angle: (1) Incessant meetings. (2) Treating the Big Book as containing "the" program. (3) Recognizing that the phrase "rarely have we seen a person fail" had a second part "who has thoroughly followed our path." (4) The path meant learning how to "take" the Twelve Steps. (5) Procuring the help of a sponsor. (6) Making the A.A. fellowship the principal activity of my life - meetings, outings, comradeship, birthday parties, dances, retreats, camp-outs, commitments to service, seeking out newcomers to help, enlarging my knowledge through Big Book seminars and all kinds of A.A. conferences and seminars. (7) Making the finding of a newcomer to help and sponsor into recovery the main reason for my intense involvement. (8) Eventually realizing that all these busy-busy activities were filling my hours, keeping me away from sordid places, putting me in a fellowship of people who neither judged your past nor considered drinking anything but trouble, and giving me a purpose in life which seemed to have slipped through the cracks.
That's the September 1, 2004 post. Your own comments and experiential posts are welcome. And it's only a tiny part of the "faith" discussion that will come.
God Bless, faithinaablog
2 comments:
A Nationwide Recovery Conference with Dick B.
Southern California, May 15 and 16, 2009
Friday and Saturday
Mariners Church - Community Center
5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603
Hosted by Pastor Don Fugate, Senior Pastor, Grace Way Fellowship Ministries, Yuma, AZ
Coordinator: Pastor Jim Gaffney, Counselor, Consultant, Ministry Catalyst, Newport Beach, CA
Boots on the Ground: Jeff MacLeod, Exec. Dir., Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier, CA
Hospitality Chairperson: Vivian Eisenecher, Author, San Diego, California
Ladies in Waiting: Angela Eren Capp of Venice, California; Virginia Sullivan, Irvine, California
Area Contact Person for Directions: Frank Braggiotti (818 994 7849)
Conference Theme: “A New Way Out”
“We Christians in the Recovery Arena Are Not Alone”
No registration required; admission free; guest book for those attending
Hospitality, Fellowship, Food, & Beverages,
Literature Table, and Historical Books and Displays
Music at the Conference by Santos of Santos Ministries
Special Exhibits: Special reprints of the Big Book, 2d ed., with “Pathway to a Cure” Cover published by Ken R.; Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers manuscript; Anne Smith’s personal journal manuscript copy; Dick B.’s review of the Clarence H. Snyder Bible; Our Legacy to the Faith Community Workbooks by Three Clarence H. Snyder sponsees and their wives; Richard K. studies of the “First 40” cures and early A.A. statistics; copies of rosters of pioneer members; copies of the Frank Amos reports; copy of Carl Jung-Bill Wilson letter; Yale Summer School Lecture by Bill in 1945; books on St. Johnsbury Academy and Burr and Burton Academy; and others historical finds!
Availability of Dick B. and Ken B. for personal visits before and after the Conference days
at the Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, California 92660; (866) 840-8402, on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday; If you would like to schedule a pre-conference meeting or post-conference meeting, contact Dick B., dickb@dickb.com. for assured meetings at available times by appointment
Friday, May 15, 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Mariners Church – Community Center
5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603
Synopsis of Friday Program (Details follow below)
Friday is a Pre-Conference Workshop Day with opportunity for presenters and “ambassadors” to share in round-table and one-on-one discussions of their programs, literature, conferences, centers, archives, forums, guidebooks, websites, radio, TV, and meetings. Here’s where you can meet experienced like-minded believers, make new contacts, and share your own work.
Theme: “Here’s what we are doing. Here are the problems we encounter. Here’s how we are dealing with them. Here’s how we can help others present recovery history, Christian roots, and helping others establish a relationship with God, recover with God’s help, and pass it on.”
Saturday, May 16, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Mariners Church – Community Center
5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603
Synopsis of Saturday Program (Details follow below)
Saturday features a full day of presentations by nationwide recovery facilitators, fellowship group leaders, with addresses by Dick B. on the theme of the conference, the need for learning and disseminating the Christian history and roots of the recovery movement, and the essence of those sources, principles, and practices that have applicability today.
Complimentary literature on a first-come, first served basis for all attending the Saturday Conference: A New Way Out Guidebook by Dick B. and Ken B.; An A.A. History Book written by Dick B.; Program and supplementary literature.
Lots of exhibits brought by presenters, speakers, sponsors, endorsers, and conference participants.
Available for purchase: Tapes by Santos, titles by Dick B.
Note about accommodations and food: There are a number of lodging facilities and places to eat within easy distance of Mariners Community Center in Irvine. Sandwiches, fruit, and beverages will be provided free or at nominal cost at Mariners Community Center itself so that conferees need not leave the area during sessions.
Note about possible changes: There may be additional speakers and changes depending on the calendars and resources of those already booked or who would like to be booked. If those not named are not listed above, they will be presenting at the Friday workshop.
For further details, see the new Conference website: www.ANewWayOut.com.
Dick B.: dickb@dickb.com; 808 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Published: March 2009
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A New Way Out
Explanation of the Path and of the Objective
Our mission, beginning in 1991, has been to find out what role, if any, God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible had in early Alcoholics Anonymous. Having completed more than 18 years of research, our objective now is to show people the power and love of God present in the early A.A. Christian Fellowship program in Akron, Ohio; and to report the astonishing success rate in pioneer A.A. among seemingly-hopeless, medically-incurable, real alcoholics who went to any lengths to establish (or reestablish) their relationship with God and to be healed. Finally, our present desire is to bring that same power and love of God to those who still suffer from life-controlling problems and self-destructive behaviors, and to those who have the heart to serve and help those still in need.
Purposes of Our Forthcoming Guide and May Conference in Irvine, California
To provide Christian recovery leaders and Christian recovery fellowship members, groups, and agencies with a guide in the recovery field that enables them to learn, utilize, add, and incorporate a history element in their particular endeavors. To facilitate their own growth in fellowship with their Heavenly Father. To enable them to help the afflicted receive healing and deliverance from the one, true, living God by coming to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. And to assure that Christian recovery leaders and other Christians active in the recovery arena know, are fortified with, are guided by, and are emboldened in their witnessing through, the accurate historical details as to effective Christian approaches to recovery in the past. Approaches such as those of the YMCA, Christian Endeavor, the Salvation Army, Gospel Rescue Missions, the Oxford Group, evangelists, and early Akron A.A. pioneers themselves. Approaches that employed Christian techniques of personal work to offer a way out of the power of darkness through salvation and coming unto the knowledge of the truth.
The Core Ideas in Our Guidebook That Will Provide the Full and Accurate Roots and Historical Sources of Effective Recovery You Need to Know
• The Religious Training and Background of A.A. Cofounders Robert Holbrook Smith and William Griffith Wilson as Youngsters in Vermont
• The Christian Organizations and Leaders That Contributed to the Original Pioneer Program of A.A. in Akron
• The Basic Ideas from the Bible That Were Translated to Akron A.A.
• The Early A.A. Christian Fellowship Founded in Akron on June 10, 1935, and the
Exact Program of Recovery Its Members Followed
• The Documented, 75% Success Rate That Was Achieved in Akron by Following That Pioneer Program
• The Actual Cures and Recoveries the Early A.A. Members Achieved
A Birdseye Summary of the Original A.A. Program Founded on June 10, 1935
• Abstinence
• Reliance on the Creator and coming to Him through Jesus Christ.
• Obeying God’s will and eliminating sinful conduct
• Growing in fellowship with God, His Son, and other believers through
Bible study, prayer meetings, Quiet Time, and reading Christian literature
• Helping other alcoholics get straightened out by these same means
• Recommended social and religious fellowship with other believers
• Recommended attendance at a religious service of choice each week
[Program Details as they stand as of March, 2009]
A Nationwide Recovery Conference with Dick B.
Southern California, May 15 and 16, 2009
Friday and Saturday
Mariners Church - Community Center
5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603
Hosted by Pastor Don Fugate, Senior Pastor, Grace Way Fellowship Ministries, Yuma, AZ
Coordinator: Pastor Jim Gaffney, Counselor, Consultant, Ministry Catalyst, Newport Beach, CA
Boots on the Ground: Jeff MacLeod, Exec. Dir., Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier, CA
Hospitality Chairperson: Vivian Eisenecher, Author, San Diego, California
Angela Eren Capp of Venice, California & Virginia Sullivan or Irvine, California
Conference Contact Person in the Area: Frank Braggiotti, Van Nuys, California
Conference Theme: A New Way Out
For Christians in the Recovery Arena
No registration required; admission free; guest book for those attending
Hospitality, Fellowship, Literature Table, Luncheon Snacks, Beverages, Historical Books & Displays
Music at the Conference by Santos of Santos Ministries
Special Exhibits: Reprints of Second Edition Big Book with “Pathway to a Cure” Cover; “Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers” Manuscript; “Anne Smith’s Journal” manuscript copy;” Review of Clarence H. Snyder Bible; Richard K. Studies of First Forty, Cures, and Early A.A. statistics; Copies of Original Membership Rosters; Copies of Frank Amos Reports; Copy of Carl Jung-Wilson letter copy; Yale Summer School Lecture by Bill in 1945;Books on St. Johnsbury Academy and Burr and Burton Academy; and others historical finds!
Availability of Dick B. and Ken B. for Personal Visits Before and After the Conference Days
At Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday
Appointments Needed to enable us to fit in the visitors.
Other Conference Period Opportunities: (1) At previous conferences, Dick and Ken had lunches, meetings, visits, and dinners at their hotel and elsewhere with many interested in Christian outreach; and that is how this conference came about. We invite and encourage such exchanges with us individually and as groups, and among others attending. (2) If you volunteer to help pass out literature, man the exhibit tables, be a greeter, pass the baskets, help serve drinks, and/or be a contact person, you will have added opportunity to bless and be blessed. (3) Dick will be speaking at the James Club group in Norco, California on Thursday evening, and some may want to contact John Sorrells to see if they may come and enjoy that meeting. (4) You may arrange meetings, lunches, dinners, or meetings with others during the pre-and post conference periods, including Saturday evening in the Irvine area.
______________________________________________________________________________
Friday, May 15, 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Mariners Church – Community Center
5002 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603
Outline of Proceedings
2:30 PM to 3:00 PM – Hospitality and Exhibit Visiting
Santos Music during this time
3:00 PM – Introduction to the Workshop Conference by Pastor Don Fugate of Yuma, Arizona
Prayer
Details as to Conference times, agendae, exhibits, restrooms, food, programs
Special thanks to Mariners, Pastor Jim Gaffney, Santos, Overcomers Outreach, sponsors,
endorsers, presenters, helpers, and those who have brought literature
Introduction of Dick B. for Opening Remarks
3:15 – 3:45 PM – Dick B. – Opening Remarks, Conference Mission, Thanks to conferees, Friday
objectives, and Friday workshop plans.
3:45 – 4:00 – Pastor Don asks those to stand who will make remarks and/or have brought their
materials for display
4:00 – 4:15 – Santos music and stretch break
4:15 – 4:20 – Pass the baskets
4:20 – 5:30 – Pastor Don opens the roundtable meeting for anyone to share:
5 minutes each to share about his or her program, his or her accomplishments and group, his or her problems encountered, suggestions for future outreach, what he or she will do in distributing literature, posting on websites, organizing list-serves, setting up conferences and seminars, organizing study groups, and other suggestions.
5:30 – 5:45 – Santos music and stretch break
5:45 – 6:45 – Question and Answer Panel – Questions Addressed to Dick B., Chair, Answered
by panel: Dick B., Rev. Pat Robertson, Michael Liimatta, Ray Grumney, Larry Webb
6:45 – 8:00 Break for Food on premises, music, networking, exhibits
8:00 – 9:00 – 3 minute open sharing by conferees on any relevant topic. Chaired by Pastor Don
9:00 – 9:10 – Music and stretch break
9:10 – 9:30 – Closing Remarks by Dick B.
9:30 – Lord’s Prayer
9:30 – 10:00 – Opportunity to meet, visit exhibits and tables, network, fellowship, exchange information
10:00 PM Conference adjourns
Summary of the Foregoing Friday Pre-Conference Objectives
A place and opportunity for some motivated, experienced, believers in the love and power of God and the value of recovery fellowship work today. With one-on-one discussions of individual programs, literature, conferences, centers, archives, forums, guidebooks, websites, radio, TV, and meetings
Theme: “Here’s what we are doing. Here are the problems we encounter. Here’s how we are dealing with them. Here’s how we can help others present recovery history, Christian roots, and helping others establish a relationship with God, recover with God’s help, and pass it on.”
Agenda will cover: (1) Hospitality and introductions of those present. (2) Opening remarks. (3) Display of key conference exhibits and workshop materials. (4) Music. (5) Food and beverages. (6) Roundtable period for presenters and “ambassadors” to share, report on works-in-progress, raise questions, propose outreach approaches and solutions. (6) Opportunity for those present to express themselves. (7) Panel for Q & A period. (8) Closing program ideas. (9) Time for personal talks, meetings, exchange of introductions.
______________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, May 16, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Mariners Church – Community Center
5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92604
Outline of Proceedings
9:00 – 9:30 AM – Hospitality, Music by Santos, Viewing Exhibits, Exchanging Handshakes
Complimentary Guide Book, one free history book, program materials at the door
9:30 – 9:45 AM – Pastor Don Fugate, Conference Chair, opens the conference
Prayer
Thanks to Mariners Church, Pastor Jim Gaffney, Santos, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Hospitality Crew, Sponsors, Endorsers, Exhibitors, and Conferees
Details on Exhibits, Restrooms, Food, Donations, Events
Introductory Material by Pastor Don Fugate, Grace Way Recovery Ministries, Yuma, Arizona, Conference Chairman, and Introduction of Dick B. and Ken B.
9:45 - Rev. Ken B.: Reading 1 Corinthians 13—one of the three Bible segments believed
by the Akron A.A. old timers to be “absolutely essential” to their program [from the New
American Standard Bible]
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a
clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all
faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. does not act
unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does
not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth;
“Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are
gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it
will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial
will be done away.
“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a
man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know
in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
9:50 – 10:00 Remarks by Dick B., “We Christians in the Recovery Arena are not alone.”
Brief music interlude
10:00 – 10:50 AM: Address by Dick B.: The Historical Success Factor and the Pressing Need for “A New Way Out.”
10:50 – 11:00 – Pass the Basket, Music, Stretch
11:00 – 11:15 - Brief Story/Presentation by Mike Lewandowski, Lamb of God Ministries, Okeechobee, Florida
11:15 – 12:50 - Christian Recovery Presenters and Leaders: 10-minute presentations or longer if the church extends our time up to about 6:00 PM
• The Bridge Group: Pauline Bartosch & Jeff MacLeod, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier, California
• Residential Ministry: Rev. Pat Robertson, President, CityTeam Ministries, San Jose, CA.
• Clergy Approach: Pastor Don Fugate, Grace Way Fellowship Ministries, Yuma, Arizona
• Church Approach: Pastor Jim Gaffney, Counselor, Consultant, Ministry Catalyst, Newport Beach, California
• Urban Ministry: Rev. Michael Liimatta, City Vision College, Kansas City, MO.
• International Addictive Behavior Counseling: Darvin Smith, M.D., ISAAC, YWAM
• Treatment: Fr. Bill Wigmore, Austin Recovery, Austin, Texas
• Walter Santos: Christian Treatment at Calvary Ranch, Lakeside, California
• The Practice of the Crucified Life: George McLauchlin, M.A., Tampa, Florida
• “Footprints” Alcoholics Victorious, Brother Wayne White, Kansas City, Missouri
12:50 – 2:00 Food on the premises, Santos Ministries: Music; Networking, Exhibits, Literature
2:00 – 3:30 Recovery Fellowship Members and Fellowship Activities: 10-Minutes presentations or longer if the church extends our time to sometime up to 6:00 PM
• Historical Locations, The Wilson House, East Dorset, Vermont: Bonnie Lepper
• Historical Locations, Dr. Bob’s Home, Akron, Ohio: Ray G., Archivist (ret.), Dr. Bob’s Home
• Mark Galligan, “Akronites,” Collinwood, Ontario, Canada
• James Club Groups: John Sorrells, Norco, California
• Focus on the newcomer: Keith Walters, Kona, Hawaii
• Focus on the newcomer: Scott Craven, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Big Book/Bible Study Groups: Larry Webb, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
• Community outreach groups: Russell Spatz, Attorney, Miami, Florida
• Recovery Radio and How to Get It Done, Monty Meyer, Albany, Oregon
3:00 – 3:10 – Pass the Basket, Music interlude, stretch break
3:10 – 3:30 - Concluding Remarks: Dick B.
3:30 – 4:00 – Closing activities (hopefully extended to 6:00 PM)
Rev. Ken B.: Reading from the New American Standard Bible: Hosea 4:1, 6: “Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. . . . My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. . .” Jeremiah 2:13: “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.” Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Acts 17:11: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed . . .” James 1:19-22: “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
Lord’s Prayer
Fellowship, Hospitality, Introductions, Music
Time for Examining Exhibits, tables, and securing literature, books, and tapes
______________________________________________________________________________
Free for the taking: Complimentary literature on a first-come, first-served basis for all attending the Saturday Conference: (1) A New Way Out Guidebook by Dick B. and Ken B.; (2) One A.A. History Book by Dick B.; (3) Program material and supplementary literature on tables.
.
Free for viewing: Lots of exhibits brought by presenters, speakers, sponsors, endorsers, and conference participants.
Free for viewing: A table with the large number of historical manuscripts and materials
Available for purchase: Tapes by Santos; titles by Dick B.
____________________________________________________________________________
What should you bring with you to the meetings?
• A Bible (King James Version preferred since that was the book pioneers used)
• Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., 2001
• Your own program workbooks, literature, flyers, pamphlets, exhibits
__________________________________________________________________________
Accommodations in Irvine near Mariners Community Center
Ken and I are booked into the Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel from Wednesday to Monday afternoon. I’m told the hotel is located about 3 miles from Mariners. We booked through hotels.com, and received a reasonable rate. Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92660, (866) 840-8402
Note about accommodations and conference food: Recent donations have made it probable that our hospitality ladies can provide sandwiches, fruit, coffee and tea, and (carbonated drinks for $1.00 each) so that conferees can enjoy them on the campus without need to leave the campus during sessions, disrupting continuity, and missing time slots. However, there are a number of inexpensive eateries, and also reasonable lodging facilities within easy distance of Mariners Community Center.
Note as to pre-conference and post conference opportunities: Dick and Ken B. will be staying at the Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel nearby from Wednesday through Monday afternoon.
Note about possible changes: There may be additional speakers and changes depending on the calendars and resources of those already booked or who would like to be booked. If those not named are not listed above, they will be presenting at the Friday workshop. The length of the Conference will, we hope, be extended to 6:00 PM on Saturday to allow more time for speakers.
For further details, see the new website, “A New Way Out”: www.ANewWayOut.com
Dick B.: dickb@dickb.com; 808 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Published: March, 2009
__________________________________________________________________
Special Thanks to Those Who Have Funded and/or Endorsed the Conference Thus Far
Sponsors Who Have Funded the Conference
Grace Way Ministries of Yuma, Arizona
Overcomers Outreach, Inc., of Whittier, California
Calvary Ranch of Lakeside, California
Charles P. Mau of Manhattan Beach, California
Austin Recovery of Austin, Texas
Ken Roberts of Daphne, Alabama
James Club of Norco, California
Larry Webb of Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Mark Galligan of Collinwood, Ontario, Canada
Bob J. of Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
Steve Foreman, Came to Believe Retreats, of Winter Park, Florida
La Hacienda Treatment Center, Hunt, Texas
Ch. Farris Robertson, Springfield, Missouri
Those Who Have Endorsed the Conference
The Wilson House and Griffith Library at East Dorset, Vermont
North Congregational Church of St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Ray G., Retired archivist, Dr. Bob’s Home, Akron, Ohio
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Dr. Bob’s church) in Akron, Ohio
Shoemaker Room Archives at Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Karen Plavan, Ph.D., Contact Person
James Club of Glendora, California
James Club of Norco, California
Santos Ministries of Carlsbad, California
Calvary Ranch of Lakeside, California
Bob Noonan, Stepping Out Recovery Ministry of Orange, California
Austin Recovery of Austin, Texas
Chris Raymer, La Hacienda Treatment Center of Hunt, Texas
CityTeam Ministries of San Jose, California
Charles P. Mau of Manhattan Beach, California
Bob J. of Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
Scott Craven of Honolulu, Hawaii
Keith Walters of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Ken Roberts of Daphne, Alabama
James Moody, Manna House Ministries, of Jamestown, Tennessee
Tracy Davis of Franklin, Tennessee
Daxton and Jessica Lyon of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Bishop Rich Skolnik of Jamestown, New York
David Zailer of Orange, California
Pastor Don Fugate of Yuma, Arizona
Pastor Jim Gaffney of Newport Beach, California
Tom Thompson, Recovery Pastor, Lake Forest, California
Joey Delgado, James Clubs, of West Covina, California
Mark Galligan of Collinwood, Ontario, Canada
Cameron Freeman of Toronto, Canada
Came to Believe Retreats of Winter Park, Florida
Lamb of God Ministries of Okeechobee, Florida
Yet Not I of Tampa, Florida
Russell Spatz, Alive Again, of Miami, Florida
Jean LaCour, Ph.D. of NET Training Institute for Addiction Studies, Orlando, Florida
Karen Plavan, Ph.D., Pittsburgh Recovery Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
City Vision College of Kansas City, Missouri
Footprints – Alcoholics Victorious of Kansas City, Missouri
Ch. Farris Robertson of Springfield, Missouri
Overcomers Outreach, Inc. of Whittier, California
Pauline Bartosch of Whittier, California
Bobby Gee of Sherman Oaks, California
Frank Braggiotti of Van Nuys, California
Vivian Eisenecher of San Diego, California
David Powers, RockRecovery Ministry of San Diego, California
Angela Eren Capp of Venice, California
Virginia Sullivan of Irvine, California
Take Twelve Radio, KHLT, of Albany, Oregon
Dan Frye of British Columbia, Canada
L. Priebe, Biblical Recovery Resources, Virginia
Mel Schulstad, Col., USAF Retired, Seattle, Washington
Gene McLendon of Morehead City, South Carolina
Dan Murphy, Last Call Radio Program, Washington, Utah
Joanne Barnett, Addictions Counselor, Lebanon, New Hampshire
Additional Sponsors, Endorsers, Donors Still Welcome
There is still need for additional sponsors, endorsers, and donors. The more funds we receive, the more we will be able to bless those interested in the conference. To contribute: You may send your check to Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837, or phone Dick B. at 808 874 4876.
In addition, there has been a tremendous inflow of interest in this conference from people all over the United States and Canada; and we welcome endorsements by those who share our mission. The more endorsements, the more likely it is that others will find the conference of interest and a possible event to plan on attending.
Gloria Deo
Would you like to know the real "Power" behind Alcoholics Anonymous? After a year and a half of intensive travels, conferences, and individual meetings in both Southern and Northern California and on the Island of Oahu, we have found many Christians who are hungry for an answer. The answer can actually be found in A.A.'s own Big Book on page 60. It is the last of three pertinent ideas; and it says: "that God could and would if He were sought." In other words, the real power behind Alcoholics Anonymous is the power of God.
There are some who would tell you it is some "higher power;" but A.A.'s own literature and also the chatter in meetings is that your particular "higher power" can be a tree, a chair, a radiator, the Big Dipper, Ralph, Gertrude, an A.A. group, the Great Pumpkin, Good Orderly Direction, a Group Of Drunks, a light bulb, a door knob, or a rock. But just try praying to any of these. Just try to get help in overcoming alcoholism or addiction by asking wisdom, strength, and healing from any of these.
To understand the puzzle, you have to realize that early A.A. sprang from Christian origins--the evangelists, rescue missions, YMCA, Salvation Army, and United Christian Endeavor. Its cofounders both believed in God, received good Christian and Bible training as youngsters in Vermont, and were raised to understand that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that a person could be born again of God's spirit by coming to Him through Jesus Christ--Romans 10:9.
All of the first three AAs--Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob Smith, and Bill Dotson--believed in God, had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, had finally turned to God for healing, and were cured--permanently.
When the three founded the first A.A. group (Number One) in Akron, it was a Christian Fellowship. There was no Big Book. There were no Steps--Twelve or Six or at all. No Traditions. No drunkalogs. And no meetings of the kind seen today.
So how did these pioneers in the first program get well? They decided to quit drinking permanently. They turned to God for help and decided for Christ. They tried to obey God's commandments. They grew in understanding and fellowship through prayer, Bible study, seeking guidance, and reading Christian literature and Bible devotionals. Then they helped others get straightened out the same way. And what was the "Power" that they relied upon? God!
Even when Bill Wilson wrote the basic text four years later, he was still saying that alcoholics needed to find God; that they were hopeless without Divine Aid because they could not help themselves and could not be helped by any human power. So, wrote Bill, they concluded "that God could and would if He were sought."
And He could. He did. And He still can and will.
The nonsense gods that have grown up in the last seventy-five years have waxed and waned in A.A. popularity. Many now think you don't have to believe in anything at all. And A.A. literature tells them that.
But there are tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of Christians in A.A. today. And they too need to know that God can and will help them if they seek Him. For that's the real "power" behind A.A. Still! God Bless, Dick B.
www.dickb.com
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