Chris P. of CA in Toronto Explains How Their Large Following Uses Bible
and Christianity for Recovery and Offers Help
Dick B.
© 2013 Anonymous. All
rights reserved
No group has been more fervent
in Toronto than the CA people Chris P. describes in this message. And they have
maintained their integrity, stand for God—Jesus Christ—and the Bible—despite efforts
to silence them. These folks assembled the evidence of the wide variety of
agnostic and other groups in the 12 Step community. They overcame an almost unanimous
vote in the area level that they couldn’t be listed in the directory because
of their belief in and mention of God,
Jesus Christ, and the Bible in their
meetings – and more! When push finally came to shove, they were victorious and
believed their example will be of great help to the hundreds of other groups
who have had similar blockage and wonder what to do. Here is Chris P.’s letter:
And Chris will be a speaker and participant in The First International
Alcoholics Anonymous History Conference September 6-7, 2013 in Portland, Maine.
He is also a participant in International Christian Recovery Coalition.
Guys,
This is the current meeting and business format that we are
currently using at our local C.A. meeting -
Recovered With Life in Toronto. Supporting our introductory efforts ( to
Christ ) at the meeting, we have a men’s
and women’s bible study – so that those that are interested, can learn how to
walk with Christ.
As you know, we currently won a decision at C.A. Area to
keep our biblically based format meeting on the C.A. meeting list. The
ramifications of this decision has spread across the world, and it has had a
major impact on C.A. – and will have a ripple effect on all of the twelve step
fellowships in the very near future.
We strongly believe that it is important to articulate and
present our case to the Christian Recovery movement, so that others can do what
we have done, if they desire to do so. We will be preparing more information
around the particulars, and events at a later date.
The meeting has been progressing at a steady pace, and the
threat from Area has dissipated – for now. This meeting format is now being
used by other groups, and one of members that speaks at C.A.conventions
globally has been instrumental in assisting these groups with the
implementation of this format ( as an example there are now groups in the U. K.
that are using this meeting format ).
The group member that I referenced earlier, speaks regularly, and you
can hear one of older talks on X.A. speakers, her name is Layla N. Layla N is one of the only, real…….
biblically based Christian women that that exists in C.A. today ( in Canada )
that has been sober for many years, is a student of the big book, of the bible,
that works with others ( and has done so for years ). She has had a lot of
experience with and in, delivering the afflicted from many forms of evil – and
she has personally been involved in many deliverance prayer sessions, were
Christ has used her to lead the afflicted many forms of addiction and alcoholism,
all forms of self indulgence and……..demon possession…….. to being, saved by
God, through his son…..and then, leaning to obey and serve him – to honor, and glorify him.
Layla was instrumental in introducing Dick B’s work ( and
this current format ) to C.A. in the U.K. , and as a result they are now well
versed in the truth.
We are currently working on a website for Recovered With
Life that should be ready by the fall. This website will have many helpful
resourced listed for all to utilize.
It is important for Christian to know, that God will not be
replaced, mocked, or “willed” out of our 12 step fellowships – and what I have
listed above, supports that truth – it’s a beautiful thing.
God Bless,
Chris
______________________________________________________________________________
Here is the Format
the Toronto Group Uses
Recovered With Life
Founded January 12th
2007
Step Study / Speaker
Meeting Format
1. Welcome to The Recovered With Life
Group of Cocaine Anonymous.
The sole purpose of
our group is to show other cocaine addicts and anyone else suffering from any
manifestation of untreated addiction, precisely how we have recovered from a
seemingly hopeless state of mind, body and spirit, through surrendering to God through
Christ, by following God’s word and his teachings in the Bible and by
practicing the 12 steps, as described in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Our group does not speak for or represent CA as a whole, as no individual,
group or committee has the authority to speak for or represent CA as a whole.
There are many other CA meetings that do not use the Bible – that you are
welcome to visit!
This is a 12 step
study group, in which we will read a step out of the Serenity 12 step companion
book and share on what has been read.
I’m a recovered
addict and your chairperson, and my name is__________.
Are there any other
addicts present? Welcome! A special welcome to guests and newcomers.
2. We open our meeting with a moment of
silence followed by the Serenity prayer. May we take that moment now please.
2. b) To read the
original version of the serenity prayer I have asked ________.
3. The Chairperson
briefly qualifies.
4. Cocaine Anonymous
is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience and knowledge with
each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover
from addiction. We are not an organization in the conventional sense of the
word. There are no fees or dues whatsoever. The only requirement for membership
is an honest desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering
substances.
5. How do we recover?
In our group we use
the 12 steps within the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Bible. The
clear-cut directions that are given showing how we recovered are found in the
Big book and in the Bible. We use this program of recovery because it results
in developing a loving and direct relationship with God, required to recover
and to be permanently delivered from addiction.
To read the twelve steps I have asked _________.
6. How can Cocaine
Anonymous stay whole and survive?
These questions are
best answered by the 12 traditions of Cocaine Anonymous. To read the 12
traditions I have asked__________.
7. What is a sponsor?
To read the Big
Book’s answer to that question, I have asked ________.
8. To give out clean
time key tags, I’ve asked _________.
9. We will now hear
from our Group Secretary.
10. Tonight is a step
study in which we will be using the Serenity 12 step companion book. What did
the early AA’s do to recover before the steps, before the Big Book was
published, before there were formal meetings, during the times that they
experienced close to a 90 percent success rate? They admitted defeat, they
surrendered to God through Christ, they then turned their will and life over to
God, they took inventory, they made amends and they helped others – they also
prayed together and sought the wisdom and guidance necessary to live, from
God’s word – The Bible.
There are copies of
the Serenity 12 step companion book on or under your chairs so that you can
follow along with us.
We use this book to
help us stay focused on the 12 steps and on God’s word. As the chairperson for
tonight I will read about the step we are on from the Big book as well as what
the other contributors to the Big book said about the step in Our AA Legacy To
The Faith Community: A 12-step Guide For Those Who Want To Believe. I will then
ask the assigned readers to read the Bible readings that coincide with the step
we are on. We will then open the floor for the sharing part of the meeting
If you get lost or
confused, let me know and we’ll help you get back on track!
NOTE to CHAIRPERSON:
it is your responsibility to recap where we are in the step study, spend no
more than a few minutes talking about what we covered last week, and where we
are, so that everyone, especially newcomers, understands where we are at.
11. We are now at the
sharing part of the meeting. If you are taking the steps and developing a
relationship with God, please take a moment now and share with us your
EXPERIENCE with the steps and how your life is being changed by working this
spiritual program of action. No matter how little experience you have in the
solution, if you are IN the solution, please share that with us. If you’re new
or confused and have any questions about the material we covered tonight,
please wait until after the meeting to ask those questions.
Please remember and
respect that this is not a discussion meeting or group therapy, if you have a
problem, or are struggling, wait until after the meeting for an opportunity to
share with us and visit with us, but this is not the time to do that. If you
do, as the Chair person I will kindly stop you.
12. Our time is up.
It is our group’s custom to read an excerpt from the chapter “A Vision For You”
beginning on page 151 in the Big book –To read that tonight I have
asked___________.
13. That concludes
the formal portion of our meeting. Please remember to visit our Librarian’s
table for free copies of the meeting list of CA that will direct you to other
meetings that use different literature, if that is what you are looking for.
Please stick around for fellowship and to have any questions answered. We are
here to help.
Please stand so that
we may close our meeting with a moment of silence followed by the Lord’s
Prayer.
CHAIRPERSON, YOU ARE
REQUIRED TO SUPERVISE THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE ROOM AND THE STORAGE of
SUPPLIES. Do not leave until this is completed!!!!
Secretary’s
Announcements
My name is _________
I'm a recovered addict and I am this group’s secretary.
Welcome to the
Recovered with Life meeting of Cocaine Anonymous. We meet here every Friday
night at 7:30p.m. This is a twelve step study group, where we use the Big book
and the Bible to watch the original recovery process come alive 3 Fridays of
the month. The last Friday of every month is a speaker meeting.
While the
announcements are being read I’ll ask you to please remain quietly seated and
we’ll practice the 7th tradition. The 7th tradition states: “Every C.A group
ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions” Your
contribution is completely voluntary. The money collected pays for this meeting
space and coffee.
NEWCOMERS ARE NOT
OBLIGATED TO CONTRIBUTE.
Are there any out of
town guests who would like to tell us their name and where they’re from?
If you would like to
join our group, please see me after the meeting and I will take your first name
and your telephone number for our group list. Our Group Conscience meeting is
held three times a year on the last Friday of January, May and September at
8:30 pm in this room. Group members are asked to attend.
Not to embarrass you,
but so that we may get to know you better, would those of you in your first 30
days clean, please raise your hand...welcome!
Welcome to new
members: ___________.
If you or someone you
know is celebrating a medallion this month in C.A, please come and let me know
after the meeting, so that I can add it to my announcements next week.
If you have
information that is related to any committee or event within C.A, or are
interested in getting involved in that type of service, you may see me after
the meeting or visit the Librarian’s table.
Our C.A. library
table includes meeting lists and pamphlets which are free, conference approved
literature and copies of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous which are sold to
you at cost.
We also have our
group member’s library table which includes copies of the Serenity 12 step
companion book as well as additional literature and devotionals that may be of
interest to you. If you need a Bible or devotional but can’t afford one right
now, please see me after the meeting and I will give one to you.
Also, the church asks
that bicycles are to be locked up outside and not to be brought inside the
building. The coffee and tea are free
and are located in the kitchen just outside this room.
What is a Sponsor?
A sponsor is a
recovered addict who is best described on page 18 of the Big Book of Alcoholics
Anonymous as quote:
“But the ex-problem
drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about
himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few
hours. Until such an understanding is reached, little or nothing can be
accomplished.
That the man who is
making the approach has had the same difficulty, that he obviously knows what
he is talking about, that his whole deportment shouts at the new prospect that
he is a man with a real answer, that he has no attitude of Holier Than Thou,
nothing whatever except the sincere desire to be helpful; that there are no
fees to pay, no axes to grind, no people to please, no lectures to be
endured--these are the conditions we have found most effective. After such an
approach many take up their beds and walk again.” end of quote
We the members of The
Recovered With Life Group suggest that you get a sponsor now.
Key Tags
Cocaine Anonymous
gives out key tags, for the purpose of showing newcomers The Truth, that
permanent recovery is possible, if we precisely follow our 12 step recovery
program. The key tags symbolize number of days, months or years, free from
cocaine and all other mind altering substances, today or in the last week.
Will those of you
with 30 days, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you
with 60 days, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you
with 90 days, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you
with 6 months, please come up and get a key tag…..
Will those of you
with 9 months, please come up and get a key tag…..
Will those of you
with one year, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you
with 18 months, please come up and get a key tag…..
Will those of you
with multiple years, please come up and get a key tag….
From the Chapter
“there is a Solution” and I quote:
“The tremendous fact
for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way
out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly
and harmonious action.”
End of quote. If
you’re new, or just coming back, and would like to learn about the common
solution which many of us have found, please come up and get a newcomer key
tag.
I would now like to
ask, that all those who have recovered as a result of taking all 12 steps and are developing a
relationship with God, please raise your hand, so that those who are new and
without a real solution, will know who to approach. Thank you.
Recovered With Life
Group Conscience
1) Any motion that proposes to alter the
meeting format in any way will be automatically tabled for three consecutive
group conscience meetings, before any discussion takes place.
2) Any motion that proposes to change the
group conscience in any way will be tabled for three consecutive group
conscience meetings, before any discussion takes place.
3) Only group members who have attended
three consecutive group conscience meetings can make motions and vote at the
group conscience meetings.
4) All joining group members are strongly
urged to participate in the group’s Bible study groups.
5) The speakers chosen are to be recovered
addicts, alcoholics, or those that have overcome other addictions, that have
been saved by God’s Grace, though his Son; chosen with consideration of our
primary purpose, and that our format be fully understood and adhered to by the
Chairperson.
6) All Chosen Chairpersons and group
leaders must be chosen by a unanimous group vote
7) Any motion that proposes to alter the
group conscience or group format must be passed with a unanimous group vote.
(Known as the
Business meeting)
Recovered With Life
Group
GROUP CONSCIENCE
MEETING FORMAT
Welcome to the Recovered With
Life Group Conscience Meeting, held the last Friday
Of every January, May and
September.
May we open this
meeting with a moment of silence followed by the serenity prayer.
Before beginning the
official meeting spend 20 minutes in prayer and Bible reading as a group (The
Book of James/psalms/Jesus’ Sermon on the mount/ etc.)
The 12 Traditions are
our pathway to unity and will be read by: _________________.
Pass the dated
attendance sheet around the table….
The purpose of this
meeting is to develop and determine the collective informed conscience of the
group membership, always mindful of our “primary purpose”, stated in tradition
5 and “our ultimate authority being a loving God”, stated in tradition 2.
Our group is a
spiritual entity separate as much as possible from the material and thus we
NEVER conduct commerce in our open meeting and strive to keep discussions of
money and property in our group conscience meetings to a minimum as directed in
tradition 6.
Tradition 7, “fully
self-supporting” phrase is defined as “the costs of our group services and
other expenses of services of our area organization are to be totally
liquidated by our group contributions.” The Recovered With Life Group's monies,
in surplus to our needs, will be contributed to our area organization to
achieve this objective.
We further affirm the
following:
The term “informed
group conscience” implies that pertinent information has been studied and all
views have been heard before the group votes.
Unanimity on an issue
should be achieved before action is taken.
Tradition 12, placing
principles before personalities, implies that our group be wary of dominant
personalities and strive for a well-informed group before arriving at
decisions.
Group conscience
rests on more than a “yes” or “no” count—precisely because it is the spiritual
expression of the group conscience. Our group works slowly on sensitive issues,
discouraging formal motions until a clear sense of our collective view emerges.
The group secretary
will now read the previous Group Conscience meeting’s minutes.
Business arising from
the previous minutes.
Secretary’s
announcements.
Treasurer’s report.
Librarian’s report.
G.S.R’s report.
Coffee report.
Coffee person
nomination for the month.
Medallion’s for this
month. Ask if it will be a celebration or just receiving.
Medallion’s for next
month. Ask if it will be a celebration or just receiving.
Chair dates: Before
electing any chair person, for the speaker meeting every last Friday of the
month, or to be the Study leader, our group conscience will be read: This group conscience states that the
speakers chosen are to be recovered addicts, alcoholics, or those that have
overcome other addictions, that have been saved by God’s Grace, though his Son;
chosen with consideration of our primary purpose, and that our format be fully
understood and adhered to by the Chairperson. The Chairperson is also required
to be at the church by 7:00 pm, and stay until 9:00pm, being responsible for
the set up and breakdown of the meeting.
The chairperson to
lead the Study will be responsible for the entire duration of the study from
step 1-12. It will be their responsibility to get another trusted member to
cover for them, if they are unable to attend.
All Chairpersons must
be voted in with substantial unanimity by the group.
Old Business.
New business:
Before new Business
is to be discussed, our group conscience will be read regarding New Business:
Any motion that proposes to alter the meeting format in any way will be
automatically tabled for 3 consecutive group conscience meetings (1 year),
before any discussion takes place, during which time there should be a lot of
thoughtful consideration and prayer before bringing forth any motion.
Any motion that
proposes to change the group conscience in any way will be tabled for 3
consecutive group conscience meetings (1 year), before any discussion takes
place, during which time there should be a lot of thoughtful consideration and
prayer before bringing forth any motion.
Only group members
who have attended 3 consecutive group conscience meetings can make motions and
vote at the group conscience meetings.
Any motion made that
proposes to alter the group conscience or group format must be passed with a
unanimous group vote, or no go!
Business to be held
over.
Motion to close
meeting.
Close with the Lord’s
prayer.
Chapter 11 (Page
151-153)
A VISION FOR YOU
FOR MOST normal
folks, drinking means conviviality, com-panionship and colorful imagination. It
means release from care, boredom and worry. It is joyous intimacy with friends
and a feeling that life is good. But not so with us in those last days of heavy
drinking. The old pleasures were gone. They were but memories. Never could we
recapture the great moments of the past. There was an insistent yearning to
enjoy life as we once did and a heartbreaking obsession that some new miracle
of control would enable us to do it. There was always one more attempt-and one
more failure.
The less people
tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from life itself. As we became
subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling
vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened, ever becoming blacker.
Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship
and approval. Momentarily we did-then would come oblivion and the awful
awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen - Terror, Bewilderment,
Frustration, Despair. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand!
Now and then a
serious drinker, being dry at the moment says, "I don’t miss it at all.
Feel better. Work better. Having a better time." As ex-problem drinkers,
we smile at such a sally. We know our friend is like a boy whistling in the dark
to keep up his spirits. He fools himself. Inwardly he would give anything to
take half a dozen drinks and get away with them. He will presently try the old
game again, for he isn’t happy about his sobriety. He cannot picture life
without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine life either with alcohol
or without it. Then he will know loneliness such as few do. He will be at the
jumping-off place. He will wish for the end.
We have shown how we
got out from under. You say, "Yes, I’m willing. But am I to be consigned
to a life where I shall be stupid, boring and glum, like some righteous people
I see? I know I must get along without liquor, but how can I? Have you a
sufficient substitute?"
Yes, there is a
substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics
Anonymous. There you will find release from care, boredom and worry. Your
imagination will be fired. Life will mean something at last. The most
satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead. Thus we find the fellowship, and
so will you.
"How is that to
come about?" you ask. "Where am I to find these people?"
You are going to meet
these new friends in your own commu-nity. Near you, alcoholics are dying
helplessly like people in a sinking ship. If you live in a large place, there
are hundreds. High and low, rich and poor, these are future fellows of
Alcoholics Anonymous. Among them you will make lifelong friends. You will be
bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will escape disaster
together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey. Then
you will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and
rediscover life. You will learn the full meaning of "Love thy neighbor as
thyself."
Come to The First
International Alcoholics Anonymous History Conference September 6-7, 2013 in Portland, Maine. Learn the
freedom you have to help those who still suffer, do so in Twelve Step Fellowships,
and believe what you wish to believe about the role that God, His Son Jesus
Christ, and the Bible played in old school Akron A.A.’s Christian Fellowship
and its astonishing successes. And can play today.
Gloria Deo
