Sunday, July 8, 2012

What About the International Christian Recovery Coalition


The International Christian Recovery Coalition



Welcome. And Here’s Who We Are



Dick B.



The International Christian Recovery Coalition was established in July, 2009, after a large conference of Christian Recovery Leaders was held in the Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine, California in May of 2009.



Its main website is www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. And that site contains our mission statement, a list of all participants as well as leaders and outreach directors. We have a blogsite and a forum site. Our main office is located in the County of Maui Salvation Army building in Kihei, Hawaii; and our Orange County office is locating on the premises of New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., in Huntington Beach.



The Coalition is an informal world-wide fellowship of participants who are Christian Recovery Leaders, workers, newcomers, and concerned members of the public. There is no cost for being listed as a participant. The mission is to disseminate information about the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the origins, history, founding, original AA Christian Fellowship in Akron, and its astonishing successes. And to enable what we call "old school" A.A. Christian Fellowship principles and practices to be applied  in all aspects of the Christian recovery arena  today. We freely declare "We Christians in the recovery arena are not alone." Also that our meetings and supporters' activities are "A.A. Friendly, Bible Friendly, Recovery Friendly, Newcomer Friendly, and Friendly Friendly.”



We are content providers for all the varied forms of Christian recovery work today. That includes the activities of churches, clergy, Christian recovery fellowships, Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step fellowships, detox facilities, interventionists, treatment programs, counseling, therapy, after care, alumni work, transitional housing, sober living, and social agencies enabling return to a full life in society. It welcomes and  supports the work of Christian leaders such as clergy, recovery pastors, Christian counselors, Christian interventionists, program directors, Christian Fellowship leaders, chaplains, physicians, psychiatrists. psychologists, researchers, historians, and efforts directed at helping the homeless, the imprisoned, jobless, ailing, and mentally ill people in hospitals, rehabs, treatment, veterans facilities, military facilities, failed professionals and businesspeople and laborers, and those who have been abandoned or abused. God's ability to help those who seek Him, want His help, and will go to any lengths to get  it is unlimited. Those who become His children by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior can look for healing, forgiveness, power, guidance, comfort, love, peace, kindness, a prosperous and healthy life, an abundant life, and eternal life. And they found it in old school A.A.



To that end, we have, and expect to continue to have, a great many projects to help the seemingly hopeless, broken, miserable, and lonely folks afflicted with or affected by excessive use of alcohol and drugs, or dealing with life-controlling problems. We try to show leaders what they may be missing in the history of Christian help or needing to enhance their own areas of expertise and endeavor. In other words, participants are usually those who are already busy helping the sick, wish to pursue the programs they have developed or are developing, and want to enhance their effectiveness with historical facts, principles, and practices. In fact, the hoped for result is the incorporation of the daily principles and practices of the early Christians as recounted in the Book of Acts. Early A.A. was considered by many observers to be First Century Christianity at work. And recovery can incorporate that today.



Features that are growing rapidly our coalition include the following, among others:



Christian Recovery Radio.com (www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com) where viewers and listeners have access on the internet  to videos, audios, a radio show, a radio interview show, YouTube, and recorded talks of leaders in the Christian recovery field.



A Speakers Bureau



Christian Recovery Resource Centers have been established by many participants, and details are on the website.



Frequent conferences, networking, communicating, and meetings are occurring wherever  the seed has been planted. And now our list of participants includes those in almost every state as well as a number of other countries.



Free distribution to those who want help is often available as to  our history and recovery talks, videos, audios, books, and articles.



Libraries that show the facts about Christian recovery successes are now present at Bill Wilson's birthplace in East Dorset, Vermont; Dr. Bob Smith's family  church in St. Johnsbury, Vermont; Dr. Bob's last church in Akron--St. Paul's Episcopal Church; Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker's  Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh; and the Stan Hywet Hall  and Gardens where Bill and Bob first met due to the  kindness of Henry Buckler Seiberling who lived on the estate in its Gate Lodge which is now open to the public.



From time to time, this blog will provide ongoing information about what the Coalition is doing, who its participants are, which leaders are being interviewed on radio, where its meetings are being held, and how you can get in touch with Christians in the recovery arena who may be able to help you directly or refer you t o a participant known to have something to offer in the way of help.



July 7, 2012



Dick B., Executive Director of International  Christian Recovery Coalition



Writer, Historian, Retired attorney, Bible student, CDAAC, and active recovered member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous--who has published 44 titles and over 1000 articles on Alcoholics Anonymous History and the Christian Recovery Movement.



dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com; 808 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837



Gloria Deo

No comments:

Post a Comment