Another New Participant - Pastor David Voss 4/29

David Voss, Pastor, Recovery Fellowship Church, Tacoma, Washington
has just become a participant today (April 29, 2011) in the International Christian Recovery Coalition. You could be next! Just check out www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

Texan man and wife become 3rd and 4th Coalition participants in one day

The Brunkows of Texas Become Third and Fourth New Coalition Participants Today.
Thursday, April 28, 2011 may turn out to be a banner day in the rapid growth of International Christian Recovery Coalition.

Earlier, the new participant from Sydney, Australia, and the new participant from Waretown, New Jersey expressed their wish to be listed in and participate in the growing international number of participants in International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

Just as we were retiring tonight in Maui, we received the following listing for a husband and wife team in Texas. And here are the details:

Shawn and Valecia Brunkow, responsible members of Alcoholics Anonymous, located at First Baptist Church of Hitchcock, residing at 214 Sycamore Street, Hitchcock, Texas 77563--"where we also attend church and serve in the community to those still suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. We have distributed (free of charge) over 20 copies of "The Good Book and The Big Book" in the last week, to fellow members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank You for your generosity! Sir. And making it possible for us to serve the Lord in this manner. Valecia and I have been born again Christians since 1989, we are graduates from Abundant Life School of Ministry in La Marque Tx. we have ministered in Honduras and Bolivia. We now reside at 214 Sycamore street in Hitchcock Tx. 77563."

Wow. Four new participants in just one day--one from Australia, one from New Jersey, and two from Texas. And that is the growth that is taking place.

In His Service, Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition, dickb@dickb.com

For those thinking of participating, just read our mission statement at www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com; and if you concur, then provide a listing like the ones Shawn and Valecia just provided: "Shawn and Valecia B , responsible members of Alcoholics Anonymous, Hitchcock, Texas 77563"
Posted by Dick B. at 8:19 PM

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Christopher Yax of NJ is Another New Coalition Par...

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Christopher Yax of NJ is Another New Coalition Par...: "New participants are joining the International Christian Recovery Coalition Fellowships each day - sometimes several in a day. The latest ne..."

Christopher Yax of NJ is Another New Coalition Participant

New participants are joining the International Christian Recovery Coalition Fellowships each day - sometimes several in a day. The latest new participant is

Christopher Yax
Recovered Christian
Waretown, NJ
yax08758@yahoo.com
cell: 215-262-0514
Founder of a solution-based AA meeting ~ "there is a solution" group, saturday nights, 8:00pm, open/speaker, bayside chapel, 965 west bay avenue, barnegat, nj. i attend services at bayside chapel (non-denominational, 1st century christianity church) on sunday either 9:00am or 11:00am. bible study tuesday nites and wednesday nites 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and saturday mornings 8:00am to 9:00am.

Nathan Haley of Sydney, Australia, has Just Become a Participant in our Coalition

Nathan Haley, Recovered Christian, Member of C3 Pentecostal church in Sydney Australia, has just become a participant in the International Christian Recovery Coalition. And his participation from Australia underlines the truly international growth of the Christian Recovery Coalition's world outreach.

Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition,
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

What Cristians Can Learn From Alcoholics Anonymous

The following is an article I wrote on the foregoing subject, and the reply from the commentator who asked the question:

> Article: What Christians Can Learn from Alcoholics Anonymous
> Name: Dick B.
> Email: dickb@dickb.com
> Link: http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=what-christians-can-learn-from-alcoholics-anonymous&bookmark=true#comments
>
> Comments: The most important thing Christians can learn from Alcoholics Anonymous today is the history of the Christian recovery movement that began in the late 1900's and provided the source material for A.A.'s Christian cofounders and the founding of the A.A. Christian Fellowship in Akron in 1935.
>
> A.A. today is not a Christian Fellowship, but there are tens if not hundreds of thousands of Christians in A.A. and other 12 Step Fellowships. Because of the diversity, Christians in A.A. need to expect all sorts of idolatrous names for some strange "higher power" that they are told can be a rock, a tree, a light bulb, Santa Claus, a door knob--and you name it. Coupled with this, they need to expect a mixture of "spirituality" and Bible roots and few who know the difference. They also need to know that some "New Thought" ideas crept into the A.A. structure.
>
> Once so buttressed, a Christian in A.A. today can then stand on his or her own faith, principles, practices, Bible study, prayer, and Quiet Time and apply James 4:7.
>
> A.A. has lots to offer a Christian. And it offerred lots to me as a Christian when I became immediately clean and sober 25 years ago and did so primarily by relying on God just as the first three AAs did.
>
>

Take 12 Recovery Radio ~ www.take12radio.com

Take 12 Recovery Radio ~ www.take12radio.com. That's the recovery radio we strongly recommend. Dick B.

Pastor Mike Romano Becomes Participant in Coalition

Richard G Burns
Pastor Mike Romano of Centerreach Bible Church in New York has just been listed as a participant in International Christian Recovery Coalition.

Pastor Mike Romano, Centerreach Bible Church, PO Box 204, Centerreach, NY 11720;
631 922 6232; mikeromano1@aol.com

Welcome Pastor Mike
Richard G. Burns, J.D., CDAAC, Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Announcement! Get Ready for Dick B. on You Tube

Announcement!

The New Dick B. YouTube Channel

By Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved


Get Ready for Dick B. on YouTube

We are not media, TV, computer, or graphics pros. But we want to use every means possible to research, articulate, and report the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the Christian recovery movement and can play today for those who want God’s help.

The following have been and still are our outreach tools:

 Web sites—particularly www.dickb.com
 Email from dickb@dickb.com
 Phone calls to and from 808-874-4876
 Mail to and from PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
 Our main blog www.mauihistorian.blgospot.com
 Facebook: Richard G. Burns (Dick B.)
 Twitter – Maui Historian http://Twitter.com/#!/DickB_Maui
 Articles on Go Articles, Articles Base, Self Improvement, Search Warp, In the Rooms, and elsewhere
 Comments on social forums such as Cyber Social Recovery Ministries, Christian Recovery Social Ministries, Daily Strength, Recovery Internet Fellowship
 Comments on various other Web sites
 Regular “Dick B. FYI Messages” newsletters
 Audio talks and audio blogs
 Free distribution of cases of new Dick B. history books
 The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class on four DVD's by Dick B. and Ken B.: www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml/

But this is the busy information age. Folks are not even reading newspapers. They are glued to TV, cell phones, texting, and all the other info briefs.

So, it's time for us to inaugurate “The Dick B. Channel” on YouTube. Our messages will be brief, anonymous, without face ID, but with illustrative books and photos. You may see them on “The Dick B. Channel” on YouTube. And you will soon be able to access these messages from any device from which you access the Web: e.g., your computer, TV, iPod, cell phones (e.g., iPhone, Android, Blackberry), Facebook, and Twitter.

Again. The videos will be brief. They will capsulize A.A. history. They will capsulize the Recovery Movement’s Christian origins and biblical roots. And they will provide updated Christian Recovery Movement developments, resources, and news. Briefly!

In the future: Forums for courteous comments and questions. Webinars for groups. Skype capability for individual and other talks.

Disclaimer

Our presentations on “The Dick B. Channel” on YouTube are copyrighted. They are the property of Paradise Research Publications, Inc. Neither Dick B., Paradise Research Publications, Inc., nor Good Book Publishing Company speaks for, is affiliated with, is endorsed by, or is in any way associated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., The AA Grapevine, Inc., A.A. General Services, or any A.A. Conference, Fellowship, Group, or Meeting. Content is documented and, where appropriate, includes attributions. The effort is non-profit. The presentations are by experienced, hands-on, Christian workers with alcoholics, drug addicts, affected others, and those at risk with life-controlling problems. Materials are distributed through the participants, volunteers, centers, and projects of the International Christian Recovery Coalition.

We Plan Soon to Begin YouTube Presentations and
to Announce Plans Widely as They Develop

Gloria Deo

A.A., Emmet Fox, Jesus, Salvation, John 3:16

Emmet Fox, The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life, pp. 4-5:

The “Plan of Salvation” which figured so prominently in the evangelical sermons and divinity books of a past generation is as completely unknown to the Bible as it is to the Koran. There never was any such arrangement in the universe, and the Bible does not teach it all. What has happened is that certain obscure texts from Genesis, a few phrases taken here and there from Paul's letters, and one or two isolated verses from other parts of the Scriptures, have been taken out and pieced together by divines, to produce the kind of teaching which it seemed to them ought to have been found in the Bible. Jesus knows nothing of all this.

4/25 Updated Names and Programs of Coalition participants and Resource Centers

Both the number of participants in the International Christian Recovery Coalition and programs established under its Christian Recovery Resource Center Worldwide project since January 1st have been updated to and including April 25, 2011.

Those wishing to identify, know, and communicate with the Leaders, Outreach Directors, and Participants in the International Christian Recovery Coalition can find the information as of April 25, 2011 on www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

Those wishing to locate, identify, network with, and obtain information resources from the new Christian Recovery Coalition Centers Worldwide can do so by clicking on the navigation bar on www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

It costs nothing to be listed as a Coalition participant. All it takes is a look at the mission statement and projects listed on the Coalition website, and then an email to Dick B., dickb@dickb.com, providing a simple listing such as "John
Doe, Christian Counselor, Nome, Alaska"

Once listed as a Coalition participant, applicants need to read the instructions on Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide on the www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com website. Applicants can then supply the information about themselves and send their one-time donation of $500 (to cover expenses)to Dick B. And, upon receipt, they will be listed, announced widely, and provided with the "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" Class with its Instructor and Student Guides www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. They will also then receive a copy of The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010 www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml. And they will receive the new The Dick B. Christian Recovery Resource Center Handbook and a free case of one of Dick B.'s A.A. history books. They may also be listed as on the Speakers Bureau if they feel qualified and are able to speak from experience on this origins, history, founding, original fellowship, successes and changes of A.A., as well on their own particular program or service, and the resources they can provide to their community and others.

Inquiries, suggestions, and information can be sent to Dick B. or Ken B. at 808 276 4945 or via email to dickb@dickb.com.

Richard G. Burns, J.D., CDAAC, Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition.

The Christian Recovery Movement Today—Growing or Going?

The Christian Recovery Movement Today—Growing or Going?

By Dick B.
2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Consider the Origins

In two of our recent books, Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous and The Conversion of Bill W., we covered the seemingly-forgotten-yet-very-important origins of Alcoholics Anonymous in five groups of people and organizations, primarily of the mid-to-late 19th century.

Though critics of A.A., within and without, have often sidetracked discussions of origins by pointing to the Washingtonians and the Oxford Group, they have almost-uniformly failed to research, report, and discuss the real Christian roots of the recovery movement. And, of late, some of those critics tend to bypass A.A.’s documented Christian roots and misapply Scriptural principles and segments by claiming no Christian should be involved in today’s recovery movements.

Briefly, those Christian roots consisted of the following large Christian movements of the mid-to-late 19th century:

1. Evangelists like Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey, F. B. Myer, and Billy Sunday. These brought tens of thousands of drunks and derelicts to Jesus Christ long before the Oxford Group or Alcoholics Anonymous were even thought of.

2. The Gospel and Rescue Missions, spurred by the highly-successful efforts of Jerry McAuley, H. H. Hadley, and the Water Street Mission. The testimonials still available show the huge number of alcoholics and derelicts who went to and were helped by many such missions.

3. The work of the Young Men's Christian Association (“YMCA”) lay leaders during the 1870's—especially those of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont—who cooperated with churches of various denominations and held huge conversion meetings that changed thousands of lives. And the greatest record of the beginnings is found in the “Great Awakening of 1875” in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where A.A.'s Dr. Bob was born.

4. The Salvation Army’s unique, early outreach in the slums of London and elsewhere, touching the lives of drunks and criminals; bringing them to Jesus Christ; and, upon their transformation, persuading them to help others by joining “God’s Army.”

5. The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor. At its peak, it had a worldwide membership of 4.5 million. It was founded in Maine in 1881, and it reached the Town of St. Johnsbury about 1887—with Dr. Bob and his parents involved in it at North Congregational Church, St. Johnsbury. It laid out a pattern of conversion meetings, Bible studies, prayer meetings, Quiet Hours, topical discussions, and reading of literature that found place in the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” founded in 1935 by A.A.'s cofounders, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith.

Consider the Changes between 1939 and about 1985

Bill Wilson fashioned a new A.A.—far different from the highly-successful, original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program begun in 1935—at the time Big Book was published in 1939. This new A.A. was accompanied by an increasing growth of welcome to atheists and agnostics, people of non-Christian beliefs, and people of no belief at all.

The new era saw the emergence of “higher powers.” These substitutes for the power, love, and healing of Almighty God, the Creator, took on strange names and idolatrous forms. They were called “the Group,” chairs, light bulbs, door knobs, trees, Santa Claus, Ralph, Gertrude, Somebody, Something, “It,” “not-god-ness,” and just about any concept a fellowship member wanted to choose.

The higher power era was marked by a growing attempt to delete references to Christianity, religion, and church by calling A.A. “spiritual, but not religious.” And this baffling “spirituality” has given rise to equally-strange names and idolatrous practices including devil worship and spiritualist practices. Not that these have received acceptance by court decisions or most Christians in A.A. But they have frequently moved fellowship meetings, speeches, and members far far away from the original “Christian fellowship” of A.A. founded in Akron in 1935.

Consider the Interesting Christian “Awakening” That Began Thereafter

During the Big Book period just discussed, treatment centers, insurance companies, therapists, counselors, academics, historians, and writers began to treat A.A. as secular and to attempt to bar any talk of religion or God or church from “treatment.”

But whatever the merit of such attempted “cleansing,” there followed a Christian regurgitation. Perhaps it began with such organizations as Teen Challenge, Alcoholics Victorious, Alcoholics for Christ, Overcomers, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., and others. And, except for a few, these tended to try blending A.A., its Steps, and its “spirituality” with biblical verses and Christian precepts.

This changing picture was seized by Christian publishers who pumped out and sold tens of thousands of what I will call “Christian Recovery Bibles.” Well-known Christian publishing houses like Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Baker Book House, and others filled the pages of Bibles with notes, annotations, Big Book and Step references, and won a large audience of Christians.

There were other, less-widespread Christian publishing efforts in the form of Christian Twelve Step Guides which tended to link each A.A. Step with one or more Bible verses thought to be relevant to the Step or an understanding of its Christian roots or application.

In one form or another, these Christian recovery efforts survive today.

Consider the Heavy Impact of Celebrate Recovery and “Christian Treatment Programs”

Not satisfied with the “higher power” idolatry in Twelve Step fellowships, there followed a huge growth of church-sponsored and church-related imitative 12 Step recovery programs. And at the top of the list was and still is Celebrate Recovery—emanating from Saddleback Church.

With secular treatment programs and ideas changing and/or failing, many treatment program efforts were turned toward Christian Treatment Programs, Christian-Track Treatment Programs, and Christian residential treatment programs—along with others.

Also, counselors and therapists began to emphasize “Christian” alcohol, drug, and substance abuse counseling. And this too is still in the works.

Consider the Gap and the Emerging Change for the Worse

More and more Christians in A.A. and Twelve Step Fellowships were taking flight. Some went to the organizations and programs above. Many seemed to relapse. Many became part of the growing anti-A.A. community. And a few sought refuge in the anti-Christian A.A. community peopled by “Psychoheresy” and similar individuals and groups who regularly lambasted Christians who went to A.A. and issued dire Scriptural warnings about their going to “destruction”—perhaps a synonym for just plain hell

Good News!
The Pendulum is Swinging Toward Effective, Comprehensive Christian Recovery Today

We invite readers to look at the International Christian Recovery Coalition Web site, projects, literature, and “Christian Recovery Resource Centers.”

They stemmed from a large gathering of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, as well as other concerned professionals, treatment people, and Twelve Step Fellowship members. The gathering was held in the Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine in May 2009. And its focus was on the hard times Christians in recovery and others were having because of A.A. opposition to Christianity, Christian opposition to A.A., and lack of what I call “A.A.-friendly, Bible-friendly, Christian-friendly, history-friendly” recovery efforts.

Without usurping the next article on “growing” Christian recovery efforts, suffice it to say that there is a worldwide effort today to bring before those who want God’s help the much-needed resources and programs and opportunities that the Christian community provides. And that it is not supplying as a united effort with common goals today. We have begun a major effort to fill many of the “gaps” in Christian recovery efforts by encouraging Christian individuals, groups, and organizations to become “Christian Recovery Resource Centers”—a project of the International Christian Recovery Coalition.

The need is great. It is spelled out on the Coalition's Web pages. And it includes all facets of successful and abundant Christian life after recovery. And it is based on the idea that Christian alcoholics, addicts, and affected others can be healed and transformed by the power and love of God, and given a new life in Christ.

It involves primarily efforts by Christians: initial interviews, assessments, and providing of basic information; possible intervention; possible counseling and therapy; possible referrals; genuine, comprehensive, Christian treatment that involves something more than a Bible study and a chaplain, Christian recovery after-care and alumni groups, Christian residential and outpatient treatment options; Christian sober living; Christian recovery fellowships, study groups, Bible studies, “James Clubs,” Big Book studies, Step studies, and retreats.

It involves reaching into prisons, jails, hospitals, rehabs, half-way houses, homeless situations and communities. It involves addressing veterans’ needs, military needs, family needs, health needs, economic needs, and other elements of successful Christian living.

And then entry into the community in fellowship with like-minded believers who can provide honest and wholesome access to vocational education, school education, higher learning, opportunities in trades, technicians, industrial, service, sales, teaching, military, government, and social atmospheres. Accompanied by awareness of and chances to acquire medical, nutritional, mental, fitness, recreational, sports, psychological, and religious training.

Consider That It Is Happening Now—And Growing, Not Going

In the next article, we will name the many efforts of the International Christian Recovery Coalition, and of other Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, among those we know and among those we would like to get to know and have our readers search out and learn.

Gloria Deo

Oroville Church of the Nazarene Esrtablishes Christian Recovery Resource Center

The Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Serenity Group, Dale Marsh leader, 2238 Monte Vista Avenue, Oroville, California 95966 has just established a Christian Recovery Resource Center. Leader Dale Marsh has been hard at work for months spreading the mission, class, and projects of the International Christian Recovery Coalition in the Northern and Central California areas.

This new Center makes the 24th program to establish a Center since the project began on January 1, 2011

A.A. "Conference Approved" Extract from aabibliography.com

Not long ago, Glenn Chesnut, who publishes Hindsfoot Foundation items, wrote an article on why the A.A. "Conference Approved" shibboleth does not, cannot, and should not bar freedom of expression in A.A. Chesnut is also the moderator of the so-called aahistorylovers. And it was Chesnut who recently barred from his forum aabibliography which published the following article - one that generously mentions Chesnut's position.

Here is the extract on censorship - taken from www.aabibliography.com

What “Conference Approved” Literature Means


"Please post this much needed article from Pete's Stuff. It incorporates the long-ignored Box 459 article that GSO said it couldn't find. If you want to see an excellent and much longer discussion of this, go to the Hindsfoot Foundation site where Professor Glenn Chesnut lays it all out in terms of its importance. I receive questions about this all the time; and people at conferences, Central Offices, and meetings are confronted with the conference approved nonsense with great frequency. Any AA can read anything any time anywhere for any purpose. There is no Tradition that says otherwise. There is no Tradition that can or should or will censor or censure what is presented at a meeting. And if someone thinks they've found the mythical tradition, tell them the Traditions are not laws, are not binding on anyone, and were never intended to prohibit free speech or freedom of religion by AAs or others. Those who suggest otherwise just don't know A.A. Nor do they know that early Alcoholics Anonymous was a Christian Fellowship, studied the King James Version of the Bible, read all kinds of literature--Protestant, Roman Catholic, New Thought, medical, and otherwise, and put out reams and reams of pamphlets and guides as the years went by. Included were pamphlets from many Central Offices and Intergroups--including the long-running Cleveland Central Bulletin, the four Akron AA pamphlets, The Four Absolutes, Then there were other writers mentioned below and not mentioned below--Clarence Snyder, Sister Ignatia, Marty Mann, Father Pfau, Richmond Walker, Ed Webster, and on-and-on.Not to forget over 500 Oxford Group and Sam Shoemaker books and pamphlets that were read and circulated byDr. Bob himself. And let's not forget that the most ignored and suppressed writing of all - Anne Smith's Journal - contained the heart of early A.A. and was discussed almost every morning at the Smith home Quiet Times.
Take off the shackles, and use your mind! Better still, see what someone else has had to say. Particularly, the Creator in what He revealed in His Word. Our basic ideas came from there.
My recent title Making Known the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous specifically identifies hundreds and hundreds of writings that have contributed to the origins, history, founding, principles, and practices of A.A. in just the few years it has been in existence: http://www.dickb.com/makingknown.shtml
God Bless, Dick B. http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml; http://www.dickb-blog.com; http://aa-history.com/bookstore.
dickb@dickb.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What “Conference Approved” Literature Means


GSO Box 4-5-9 1978
(Volume 23, No 4)
Any literature that pertains to the principles of AA or is approved by a Group Conscience - is perfectly acceptable to be read by any AA member or in an AA meeting.


You hear it in meetings, “…we have AA Approved Literature available for sale at cost…”

You hear it in group conscience meetings “…we should only allow readings from AA Approved Literature…”

You hear non-group members crosstalking in a meeting when someone reads from Richmond Walkers’ 24 Hours a Day, Emmet Fox’s Sermon On The Mount, or one of Ralph Pfau’s Golden Books –“You can’t read that in an AA meeting – it’s NOT AA Approved Literature…”

Factually, unlike Alanon, there is no such thing as AA Approved Literature. The early AA’s read from the Bible, the Upper Room, Oswald Chambers, Cecil Rose, Leslie Weatherhead, Sam Shoemaker, Emmet Fox, Richmond Walker, Ralph Pfau and many others – a simple visit to Dickb.com will bear this out. As Dick B. aptly points out “Whatever some may think, A.A. has no index of forbidden books.”

In the 1950’s AA World Services took over WORKS publishing’s rights to publish the Big Book and began publishing other books as well. In the course of the next 40 years AAWS began to publish more books but eventually lost the copyright on the first two editions of the Big Book. Until 1993 books which were owned and printed by AAWS were identified by the use of a Circle/Triangle Symbol bearing the three legacies.

On May 21, 1993 , an AA World Service Ad Hoc committee released an unsigned document titled: Follow-up Statement Regarding Use of the Circle/ Triangle Symbol. In it, AAWS stated that Alcoholics Anonymous will phase out the 'official' use of the circle and triangle symbol in and on its literature, letterheads and other material. That document was issued without a conference action or a group conscience.

The term “Conference Approved” literature now replaces the Circle/Triangle Logo to merely “identify” (AAGV Vol. 50-7 1993) the books solely owned and published by AAWS and not as a predetermined list. The most definitive illustration of this is that the public domain first edition of the Big Book is NOT “Conference Approved”. “Conference Approved” in no way constitutes a list of any written documents of which an AA body approves or disapproves. (Please see the ad hoc committee Final Report of the 1993 General Service Conference)

A formal statement concerning the Conference, the G.S.O, and what AA members read was issued by the General Services Office of AA in 1978.


“WHAT CONFERENCED-APPROVED MEANS”

GSO Box 4-5-9 1978
(Volume 23, No 4)

AA’s General Service Office said:

“It does not mean the Conference disapproves of any other publications. Many local A.A. central offices publish their own meeting lists. A.A. as a whole does not oppose these, any more than A.A. disapproves of the Bible or any other publications from any source that A.A.’s find useful.

What any A.A. member reads is no business of G.S.O., or of the Conference, naturally.” "

Another thank you for cases of books distributed free

Cheryl Outman
Hi Dick! I recieved my 3 cases of books this week! Thank you!! LOVE them. I've started reading all 3 and can't decide which one I like better. They are all so good! I've been praying that the Lord will give me opportunities to give these books to people that are interested in furthering His Good News. I appreciate you!
9 hours ago ·LikeUnlike · · See Friendship



Richard G Burns Thanks Cheryl. This has been our wish. And the shipments took lots of time - unloading from storage, taping, labels, loading into truck, unloading at PO, processing the mailing one-by-one and then sending by media mail. And only as we could get the men to assist. So now the news is coming in, and we are delighted. Dick

One of many thank you's for the free cases of books

Dick & Ken,

Thank you so much for the case of your new book "Turning Point". Although I have not read it, yet, I am confident of the information and testimonies you will present.
I offered them at my home group this morning. The response was overwhelming, as I gave away all but one, for myself.
My question is, how do I get more. What would my cost be?
On another sidebar, I have a sense that the Lord is telling me to move boldly into the AA arean with the message of His grace upon alkies. I see myself as a voice ,to the secular recovery, sharing about who God is and what He has done for us. I am speaking at two large meetings next month and am asking for boldness and courage to speak the truth in love.
Your ministry and research is proving to a part of the solid foundation upon whcih I stand . Thank you for your dedication to the roots of AA.
Tomorrow, we celebrate the Risen King, in whom we place our hope. Rejoice in His glorious name.

God Bless you both,






KARL L. KRAMER

992 Redhaven Street
BRENTWOOD,CA .94513
925-759-2412 Cell

A.A. and the Twelve Steps

A.A. and the Twelve Steps

The First of a Series of Helpful Studies to Guide You

Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

The key reference for these articles is Dick B., Twelve Steps for You: Take the Twelve Steps with the Big Book, A.A. History, and the Good Book at Your Side, 4th ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2005); ISBN 1885803 98 2; (www.dickb.com/12StepsforYou.shtml); Price $21.95

Twelve Steps for You is one of a kind—a unique and compelling value. It discusses fully the many sources from which the Twelve Steps were drawn. It discusses each of these sources and its particular contribution. Then it discusses where, in each step, one by one, the particular source input can be seen. It gives you a clear statement of how you can “take” the Twelve
Steps following the instructions in the Big Book. And it shows how those Steps can, one by one, better be understood and practiced—taking into account the various materials from which the
particular Step had been drawn.

Readers are urged to look at the Steps as Dr. Bob did. Dr. Bob said he didn’t write the 12 Steps and had nothing to do with the writing of them. He said the basic ideas had come from their study and effort in the Bible. Bill Wilson did not mention the Bible in the Steps or his Big Book, Bill eventually conceded some of the sources from which he had drawn the Steps—the principal ones, said Bill, being Dr. William D. Silkworth, Professor William James, and Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., the Episcopal rector of Calvary Church—Shoemaker being the one
to whom Bill gave the most credit. Both Silkworth and Shoemaker were Bible Christians; and William James was long dead when Bill framed the Steps. And there were many other sources, including the Bible, Quiet Time, the writings of Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith, the ideas of Dr. Carl Jung and Richard Peabody, the religious literature AAs read, and the New Thought ideas from Emmet Fox. Without knowing all the sources, too many readers and writers and historians have erroneously focused on one or two, led AAs and others on a merry chase of evaluating such sources and either learning them or criticizing them, or concocted theories about steps involving higher powers, illusory spirituality, half-baked prayers, and self-made religion.

That is not what Dr. Bob did. Dr. Bob and Bill never publically disagreed. For example, in places other than the Big Book, Bill conceded the importance of the Bible—particularly the Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. Bill specifically mentioned Jesus Christ, and his guarded remarks can be found in the Big Book Third Edition and on page 191 of the present-day Fourth Edition. Bill frequently used words describing God—Creator, Maker, Heavenly Father, Father of Light, and God—that came directly from the Bible. Bill credited the Bible-Christian Rev. Samuel Shoemaker as being the source of most of the Step ideas. Bill specifically mentioned that the Christian message of the Oxford Group had saved his life. Bill’s original drafts of the Big Book appear to have had some 400 pages of Christian and Bible materials that were later thrown out—primarily because of heated arguments between the Christian AA (John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo) and Bill’s atheist or money-oriented partner Henry Parkhurst.
.
And Bill used a number of Bible phrases in his Big Book—Thy will be done; Faith without works is dead; love thy neighbor as thyself. He said that Dr. Bob was far ahead of him in such matters, particularly in the area of prayer.
What did Dr. Bob do? Publically, Dr. Bob said he thought the Steps were fine, but he always went on to discuss his “Heavenly Father,” the “Master,” “Christ,” and the essential source material in the Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. And when Bill and Bob were on the stage together speaking, there was never an argument or contradictory statement between them. Bill discussed Divine Aid and prayer. Bob discussed prayer and the Bible. And the records of the transmission to Bob of Bill’s Step drafts indicated Bill’s writings—at the early stages—were “warmly received” and usually returned without comment.

Whatever the differences in their religious views, principles, practices, and affiliations, these two men seemed to understand quite well that one could help drunks in a fellowship and rely on God for healing without throwing stones, harboring resentments, or hindering the common goal.

And that is the backdrop from which we will discuss the Twelve Steps in several articles. Readers can check out our titles which detail source materials (www.dickb.com/titles). They can find our latest documented research and writing in The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010 (www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml). And they can learn visually and audibly from our new foundational class—“Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” (www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml).

dickb@dickb.com

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Christain Recovery Resource Centers - Member Updat...

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Christain Recovery Resource Centers - Member Updat...: "Christian Recovery Resource Centers – Worldwide As of January 1, 2011, this web page will be used in part for publishing contact (and other..."

Christain Recovery Resource Centers - Member Update 4/22/2011

Christian Recovery Resource Centers – Worldwide
As of January 1, 2011, this web page will be used in part for publishing contact (and other relevant) information about individuals, groups, and organization which become “Christian Recovery Resource Centers” affiliated with the International Christian Recovery Coalition. Here are our current affiliates. Please contact them if you would like to know about Christian recovery resources—such as Christian and Christian-track treatment programs, Christian sober living, Christian Counseling, and Christian recovery fellowships—in their area (or in their state, in their country, and/or elsewhere in the world through the International Christian Recovery Coalition):

Manna House Ministries, James Moody, President, Jamestown, Tennessee
http://MannaHouseMinistries.com/ (931) 752-7075

New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., Robert Tucker, Ph.D., President, Huntington Beach, California http://www.NewLifeSpiritRecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html
(866) 543-3361

Rock Recovery Ministries-ABC Sober Living-Soledad House, David Powers, San Diego,California
http://www.TheRockSanDiego.org/Ministries/RockRecovery/
David Powers: (619) 925-1879

Recovery Ministry, Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California
http://www.goldenhills.org/about/staff.html
c/o David Sadler, 3220 Surmont Drive, Lafayette CA 94549
David Sadler (925 382 6070)

Bruce A, Aspgren, Rocking A. Ministry, Caldwell, Texas Bruce Aspgren
PO box211
Caldwell, Texas 77836-0211

Paul Popiel, A.A. believer, Pacifica, California 504 Manor Drive, Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 359 6794

Christian Recovery Resource Center Satellite Office, Wally Lowe Vero Beach, Florida 7835 1st Street SW. Vero Beach, FL 32968 Wally Lowe
(O) 772 794 2485; (C) 954 395 2743

Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center in Partnership with County of Maui Salvation Army Main Office, Dick B. and Ken B., Kihei, Hawaii
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837(C) 808 276 4945

Christian Community Missions, Chaplain/Pastor Leonard Grubb, Painesville, Ohio 773 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, Ohio (C) 216 496 0406

Mark Galligan, A.A. Christian Believer, 13 Telford Road, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada 13 Telford Road, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada L9Y545
Office: 705 445 9135
Home: 416 453 6250
MagicJack: 716 240 5243
Skype: mark,galligan1

Robert P. Turner, MD, MSCR Associate Professor of Neurosciences and Pediatrics Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Associate Researcher, MIND Research Institute
Basic Science Building, Room 344J Charleston, SC 29425
Office: 843-792-3307; 843-792-1351
Paging: 843-792-2123
Facsimile: 843-792-3220 or 792-8626

Grant Sharp, Quest Ministries, United Kingdom 24 Rushley Drive Sheffield, 5 Yorks S173EN United Kingdom Grantsharp7@hotmail.com

Roger McDiarmid, A.A. Christian believer, Salesman, Huntington Beach, California 19771 Estuary Lane, Huntington Beach, California 92646
949 836 4214

Won Way Out Ministries Treatment Center William Boyles 327 Martin Street
Dover, Delaware 19901 (302) 674-8036

Alcoholics For Christ, Neighborhood Church Gary Seymour 1001 W. Country Club Lane Escondido, California 92026 www.neighborhoodafc.com

Ken Jones, Pastoral Counselor, Melbourne, Florida 2526 Ventura Circle, W. Melbourne, FL 32904 1 321 501 2014 kjones79@cfl.rr.com
http://www.aprodigalreturn.com/

Steve Foreman, Chief Shepherd, "Came To Believe" retreats 2211 Lee Road, Suite 100Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 862-5900
Steve@CameToBelieve.org
www.CameToBelieve.org

The Oasis Recovery Center of Western PA (Oasis Institute)
Dr. Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., CEO/Executive Director
960 Penn Avenue, Suite 105 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
412 281 8364 http://www.oasisrecoverycenter.org

Celebrate A New Life, Bobby Nicholl Director of Admissions, Celebrate A New Life 27382 Calle Arroyo San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675(800) 708-3173
http://www.celebratedrugrehab.com

Randall Minchew, StepCloser.Inc, Columbia, Missouri Randall Minchew (randysnetwork@gmail.com) 4001 Meadow Veiw Columbia, MO 65201
http://stepcloser.ning.com/

Richard Skolnik, Addiction Counselor Assistant, Nesconset, New York
P.O. Box 955, Nesconset, NY 11767

Wayne White, CASAC; CEO of Footprints, Inc.; Heroes Home Executive Director of Alcoholics Victorious 4509 Troost, Kansas City, Missouri 64130
Hisprints@aol.com 815 561 0567

Jim Gaffney, former Recovery Pastor Mariners Church, former pharmacist
Current NY CASAC intern & Grad student obtaining Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, 206 Hilltop Lane, Nyack, NY 10960
(845) 598-4957
pastorjimgaffney@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jimgaffney

Tom and Laura Howell, Amazing Grace Fellowship By The Sea 1103 Misty\ Lea Houston TX 77090 832-971-8997 Telephone Amazing Grace Fellowship By The Sea 900 Meters East of Roxana Central (Ebais) "Solo Gringos" Cristiano Campmiento ((Direche)) On the right! Rio Santa Clara River Front Roxana De Guapiles De Pococi De Limon , Costa Rica 011 506 2 763 4972 Telephone

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Thank you notes for the 350 free cases of Dick B. ...

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Thank you notes for the 350 free cases of Dick B. ...: "We began distributing 350 free cases of new Dick B. history books on January 1, 2011. By March 31, the distribution was complete. The purp..."

Thank you notes for the 350 free cases of Dick B. Books

We began distributing 350 free cases of new Dick B. history books on January 1, 2011.

By March 31, the distribution was complete.

The purpose was to enable distributees, in turn, to give the books away to those who would be blessed to have them.

Also to enable distributees to establish a history library for their A.A. group, Christian recovery fellowship, or recovery program.

And also to use the books for the many Big Book/Bible/History study groups that are now proliferating around the world.

And more and more recipients are writing to tell us they appreciated the cases and are already distributing them to individuals.

In His Service, Dick B., Executive Director www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Why Establish a “Christian Recovery Resource Center”?

Why Establish a “Christian Recovery Resource Center”?

By Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Five Values from, and Reasons for, Your Participation

Increased resources: Your own knowledge, program, and service to others will be substantially enhanced by the additional, comprehensive resources you will have in your own location.

Increased referral service to the addicted and otherwise-afflicted: In addition to conducting your own program, you can help others in your community find Christian and other resources such as assessment, intervention, detox, counseling, treatment, sober-living, homeless, public aid, job and educational help, and veterans assistance—things you may not now have or do.

Increased ability to refer to other centers which can provide help in an area you don’t serve: Already, there are many “Christian Recovery Resource Centers” established in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom—with more to come. You will know about these.

Increased networking ability with us and with other “Christian Recovery Resource Centers”: And this means by phone, email, and other means of communication; as well as by personal meetings, conferences, and seminars with experienced Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena you will get to know and can trust.

New emphasis on overcoming the present Christian recovery barriers: Our resources that document the Christian origins of the recovery movement, the Christian upbringing of A.A.’s cofounders, and the highly-successful original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” recovery program; that provide a positive refutation of the propriety of nonsense gods and phony spirituality prevalent in recovery today; and that provide an ability to reach newcomers and their helpers with success information emanating from their own turf.

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Favorable Comment on Chuck Huckaby's Christian Rec...

International Christian Recovery Coalition: Favorable Comment on Chuck Huckaby's Christian Rec...: "Chuck: It is refreshing and important to see your posts and interviews on Christian recovery. There is a vast and growing Christian Recovery..."

Favorable Comment on Chuck Huckaby's Christian Recovery Talks and Work

Chuck: It is refreshing and important to see your posts and interviews on Christian recovery. There is a vast and growing Christian Recovery Movement today. And it is centered on International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. It faces many obstacles: (1) AAs and 12 Step fellowship folks who don't know their own Christian roots in the Bible and in the organizations that fed the origins, history, founding, original program, and astonishing successes of the Akron A.A. Christian fellowship founded in 1935. Those roots were not Oxford Group. They were evangelists like Moody and Sankey, Gospel and Rescue Missions, YMCA lay workers, the Salvation Army, and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. In that backdrop, A.A. cofounders Wilson and Smith had their Christian upbringing in Vermont and took the principles and practices of successful healing of alcoholism into their own deliverances and then into the program. The roots were in existence and learned long before either the Oxford Group or A.A. were thought of. (2) AAs and 12 Step fellowship folks who have been fed on the nonsense gods (higher powers that are light bulbs, Santa Claus, radiators, and chairs), strange "spirituality" that is not defined, and the idea that one need not believe in anything at all to utilize the A.A. program. (3) The secular scientists, academics, professionals, and historians who have called A.A. everything from "not-god-ness" to New Thought to the "spirituality of imperfection" to lacking in evidence-based proof. (4) A small cadre of Christian writers who quote a Bible verse or two for the proposition that a Christian dare not put his foot in the fellowship of A.A.. (5) The courts who define A.A. as a religion and therefore preclude court-ordered A.A. attendance. (6) The proliferating A.A. "imitators" like Celebrate Recovery who develop their own "steps," their own definition of a "higher power," and their own interpretation of Bible verses thought to be supportive of A.A. ideas.The bottom line is that much still is needed to fill the information gap. God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played a critical role in the whole movement to overcome alcoholism with the power, love, and healing of God. And, if people don't know where A.A. came from, and persist in attributing to it roots it didn't have, failing movements which didn't influence it, and biblical ideas which never saw the light of day in the simple basic biblical ideas of early A.A. and the dominance in it of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the Book of James, 1 Corinthians 13, Quiet Time, Anne Ripley Smith's Journal, and many of the ideas later of the Episcopal Rector Rev. Samuel Shoemker.Even more, people need to know that Jesus Christ and the Bible were deliberately dumped in recognition at the last moment in 1939 before the Big Book went to press. Yet God and biblical ideas and actual verses remained prolific despite the attempt to soften them when Steps Two, Three, and Eleven were altered to remove "God." They also need to know that there are tens if not hundreds of thousands of Christians in A.A., 12-Step fellowships, and recovery situations who are delighted to hear that they are free to believe what they choose, worship God in a way of their choice, and pursue Christianity in the church of their choice.A big challenge, Chuck. And the best vehicle for meeting it today is the internet and its accompanying techniques-- that enable information to be dispersed. These include facebook, twitter, blogs, forums, chats, U-Tube, radio, podcasts, TV and a host of others yet to be seen, learned, or even developed.Carry the torch of truth, Chuck. And congratulations for your effort and role

"Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" The Class and Details

“Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery”
A Four-Session Class on DVD

By Dick B. and Ken B.


As you may know, about 20 years ago—just prior to the International A.A. Convention in Seattle in 1990—a young Christian man involved in A.A. approached my dad (Dick B.) and asked him the following question:

Did you know that A.A. came from the Bible?

With three-plus years of sobriety with no relapse, attendance at perhaps 1,000 meetings or more, and a number of sponsees “under his belt,” my dad replied:

I've never heard anything like that.

The young man replied:

Why don't you read DR. Bob and the Good Oldtimers?

The reading of that A.A. General Service Conference-approved book—still in print and available from A.A. in New York, but largely unknown to most AAs—launched my dad on a 20-year quest to discover what role, if any, God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the astonishing 75% success rate early A.A. claimed for the period of the summer of 1935 until the publishing of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the “Big Book”) in April 1939 among "seemingly-hopeless," "medically-incurable," "last-gasp-case," "real" alcoholics who thoroughly followed the original Akron A.A. "Christian fellowship" program developed by A.A. cofounders Bill W. and Dr. Bob.

The Power and Love of God Present in Early Akron A.A. Are Still Available Today
to Alcoholics, Addicts, and Others Still Suffering with Life-Controlling Problems

The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class on four DVD's not only summarizes Dick B.'s 39 published titles, many recorded seminars and audio talks, and hundreds of published articles, but also brings to light many newly-discovered facts about the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the miraculous cure of “medically-incurable” alcoholics claimed by early A.A. (and its Christian predecessors, such as the Young Men's Christian Association, the Salvation Army, the rescue missions, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Christian evangelists and revivalists, and others). The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” (“IFCR”) class was filmed and edited by Dr. Robert Tucker and his wife Stephanie in March 2010 at their New Life Spirit Recovery facility in Huntington Beach, California. They have also begun running the IFCR class at their Christian treatment facility.We are making available the "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" ["IFCR"] class in two forms.
Form #1
The IFCR Class for Individuals

The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” (“IFCR”) class for individuals is for their personal/private use (and NOT for public presentation). It has two (2) components. The first component is comprised of four DVD's with the following content:

Class 1/Session 1: The Founding, Activities, and Summary of the Original Akron A.A. “Christian Fellowship” Program

Part 1: How the First Three A.A. Members Got Sober and Were Cured
Part 2: The 14 Practices the Early Akron AAs Used to Achieve Astonishing Successes
Part 3: The Original, Seven-Point, Akron A.A. Program Summarized by Frank Amos for John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Class 2/Session 2: Christian Organizations and People That Shaped the Recovery Ideas of the Original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program before It Began

Part 1: Seven Pre-A.A. Organizations and People That Fed to A.A. the Necessity for Salvation and the Word of GOD
Part 2: The Extensive, Christian, Biblical Training Bill W. Received in East Dorset and and Manchester, Vermont
Part 3: Dr. Bob's “Excellent Training” in the Bible as a Youngster in St. Johnsbury, VT.

Class 3/Session 3: The Manner in Which the A.A. Society Came about, Beginning about 1931

Part 1: The Relevant Events in Bill W.'s Life, Including His Early Friendship with Ebby Thacher.
Part 2: The Relevant Events in Dr. Bob S.'s Life, Beginning in the Early 1930's in Akron
Part 3: Bill W. and Dr. Bob Meet at the Home of Henrietta Seiberling on May 12, 1935.

Class 4/Session 4: The A.A. Program Changes Between June 1935 and April 1939

Part 1: The Akron Program Successes between June 1935 and November 1937
Part 2: The Change of Course Bill W. Began to Take
Part 3: Work on the Big Book Between the Spring of 1938 and April of 1939
Part 4: Battles over Big Book Content and Language
Part 5: The Closing Phases of the Altered Akron Program

The second component of the IFCR class for individuals is a 23-page Class Guide for Students in 8 1/2" x 11," spiral-bound, "hard copy" format, which presents many of the key points in written form which are made in the DVD's. This Guide allows a student to read along and make notes while watching the DVD's.

The license fee amount for one (1) unit of Form 1 of the IFCR class for a single individual (for their personal/private use only) is:

$99.95, plus Shipping

[** Note: If you decide to secure a “license” for the IFCR class for individuals, we strongly encourage you also to purchase The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B. (2010), which was revised in conjunction with the production of the IRCR class and provides extensive documentation for many of the historical statements made in the IFCR class. (It is included as part of the package in the "site license" forms of the IFCR class for groups.) The price is US $30.00.]
The order total will be $111.45 [= $99.95 (IFCR class materials) + $10.70 (USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate box--FRB2--13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8") + $0.80 (Delivery Confirmation) for shipment to a U.S. destination]. Or, $141.45 (= $99.95 + $30.00 + $10.70 for shipment to a U.S. destination), if you order The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., at the same time. * Please contact us for shipping to destinations outside the U.S. *]

Form #2
The IFCR Class for Groups and Organizations

The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” (“IFCR”) class for Groups and Organizations is the "site license" form. It includes a non-transferable, non-exclusive, limited-use, "site license" permitting duplication of the materials for use solely at the location(s) covered by the "site license." This form of the IFCR class has four (4) components:

1. The four "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" class DVD's whose contents are described briefly above;
2. The 23-page Class Guide for Students;
3. An 89-page Class Instructor's Guide; and
4. The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B. (2010)

the “Site License” Fee for
the IFCR Class for Groups and Organizations

$199.95, plus Shipping

The order total will be $211.45 [= $199.95 (IFCR class materials) + $10.70 (USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate box--FRB2--13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8") + $0.80 (Delivery Confirmation) for shipment to a U.S. destination]. Order Total: $211.45). * Please contact us for shipping to destinations outside the U.S. *]

We are able to accept payment securely online by credit card, debit card, and by PayPal. We prefer to accept those forms of payment through the "Buy Now" button in the center column of the front page of the www.DickB.com web site. {We can also accept those forms of payment by phone [1-808-276-4945 or (808) 874-4876] or split over two (or even three) email messages for security.} The place to find the relevant "Buy Now" button on the www.DickB.com front page center column looks like this:

Major Christian Recovery Resource #1
The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” (“IFCR”) class
by Dick B. and Ken B. on four DVD's
Using VISA, MasterCard, or PayPal would be the fastest way to get the "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" class to you.We also accept payment by money order or check, but please keep in mind that there is the time in the mail and the time for the check to clear involved with your using (and our processing) a check. Money orders and checks are to be made payable to "Dick B." and mailed to:

Dick B.PO Box 837Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Gloria Deo

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed - Comprehensive Details

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide
Historical Perspectives and Effective Modern Applications
Third Edition (March 2010)

Based upon
Dick B.’s lifetime of Bible study, legal scholarship and training, 24 years of continuous sobriety, work with more than 100 sponsees, 20 years of historical research, and 39 published titles.

By Dick B. and Ken B.
© 2009, 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

"Glorifying God by making known the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the astonishing success rates early A.A. claimed (75% overall and 93% documented in Cleveland) among "seemingly-hopeless," "medically-incurable," "last-gasp-case" alcoholics who really tried to follow the original recovery program developed by A.A. cofounders Bill W. and Dr. Bob in Akron, Ohio, beginning in the summer of 1935."

"Glorifying God by helping Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena substantially enhance their effectiveness in reaching those who still suffer by including accurate information about the original Akron A.A. 'Christian fellowship' program, its principles and techniques, and its historical setting into their recovery efforts."

Prepared for
the International Christian Recovery Coalition
July 2009
(revised in August 2009 and March 2010)

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide was a major focus of:

l Our pre- and post-Conference meetings with Christian leaders and workers as individuals and small groups in Southern California during the week of July 13-19, 2009;
l Our video taping work with Bob Noonan in a professional television studio on July 16, 2009;
l “A New Way Out Leadership Conference with Dick B.!” on Saturday, July 18, 2009;
l Individual proposals, and common approaches and projects, of the International Christian Recovery Coalition; and
l International outreach efforts designed to bring a new, accurate, historical element (with modern applications) to churches, clergy, and recovery pastors; Christian recovery programs and Christian track programs; Christian support groups; Christian recovery efforts in correctional facilities, hospitals, homeless programs, and detoxes; 12 Step and recovery fellowships; VA and military facilities, and other government programs; Christian counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians; sober clubs and sober houses; and archivists, historians, and speakers.

(The 3rd edition of The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide was substantially revised and expanded in conjunction with the production of the “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class by Dick B. and Ken B. on four DVD's in March 2010.)

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide is intended as a supplementary resource. It does not aim to change the fundamental nature of any existing Christian recovery or approach. Rather, it presents an attractive, appealing, helpful, and effective segment—primarily historical and introductory in nature—that all can use: (1) to bring to their respective audiences accurate historical information about the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the astonishing, documented successes of early A.A.; and (2) to enhance substantially the effectiveness of their Christian recovery efforts by employing the successful, relevant techniques and lessons from the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program in helping those who still suffer with alcoholism, substance abuse, and other self-destructive behavior and life-controlling problems.

Suggested Additions to Christian Recovery Programs Proposed in This Guide

First, a concise, accurate, historical element containing discussions of:

l Christian treatments that were effective in dealing with alcoholism prior to A.A.'s founding;
l The Christian training of A.A.’s founders as youngsters in Vermont;
l The Christian beginnings of A.A. in Akron and New York, including discussions of how the first three AAs got sober;
l The founding of early A.A., its actual practices, and the "original" Akron “Christian fellowship” program;
l The astonishing 75% overall success rate early A.A. claimed and Cleveland's documented 93% success rate;
l Alterations of the original Akron program that made their way into the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous ("the Big Book") published in April 1939;
l Ways to enable a newcomer to utilize the early Christian A.A. precepts in the present-day 12 Step programs; and
l Means by which Coalition leaders and workers in the recovery arena can adapt and apply this (new) information to their own approaches and still underline the importance of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in Christian recovery efforts today.

Second, a "package" of proposed approaches tailored to the needs, ideas, and programs of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, as well as Christians in recovery.

Third, a discussion of present-day approaches that downplay reliance on the power and love of the one true God in favor of (over) emphasizing the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions alone, “higher power” language, pseudo “spirituality,” self-made religion, and actual unbelief; and often criticizing church, religion, reliance on God, and even the mention of Jesus Christ or the Bible by those in today's recovery fellowships.

Table of Contents

Introduction (by Dick B.)

Miraculous Healings Are Recorded in the Bible and Are Still Occurring Today

Effective Christian Work with Alcoholics Before A.A.

The Background Factors from Dr. Bob’s Youth in St. Johnsbury (1879-1898)

The Background Factors from Bill Wilson’s Youth (1895 to 1913) and Later

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous

The New York Origins

The Crucible at the Smith Home in Akron During the Summer of 1935

The Highly-Successful, Original Akron A.A. Program, as Summarized by Frank Amos and Quoted in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers

14 Specific Practices Associated with the Original Akron A.A. “Christian Fellowship” Program Bill W. and Dr. Bob Developed

The Verification of Early A.A.'s Astonishing Success Rates

Documenting the Successes of the First 40 Pioneers

Helping the Newcomer with a Full Kit of Spiritual Tools

Some Suggested Tools with Which to Arm the Nestling about to Be Flung out of the Nest
Helping a Christian to Begin Recovery Today

"A New Way Out"

An Emerging Picture of Proposals and Potential Service from the California Meetings with Dick B. and Ken B., July 12-21, 2009

Address by Dick B. at the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ACADC) Conference in Palm Springs, August 29, 2009

Conclusion

An Important, New Way to Expand Your Christian Recovery Outreach

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide also introduces the International Christian Recovery Coalition (www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com) as a means, through common effort, of expanding your Christian efforts in the recovery arena. We suggest, for example, that you and/or your organization enhance your outreach and your service by participating in such proposed Coalition projects as sponsoring:

l The completion of the "Dr. Bob Core Library" in St. Johnsbury, Vermont;
l The production of Quiet Time and study group guides;
l The work of distributing Dick B.'s books and Coalition literature free of charge internationally;
l The establishment of an International Christian Recovery Coalition resource center—perhaps even a "Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., Memorial Center";
l The placement of the "Dick B. Historical Treasures" in a location open to the public which will enable interested parties to verify for themselves the substantial evidence of the roles of God, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Bible in the early A.A.'s astonishing successes; and
l The utilization of TV, radio, DVD’s, the Internet, panels, seminars, conferences, and interviews to carry the message of "A New Way Out" both nationally and internationally.

Just as we have been blessed to have the specific sponsorship of Overcomers Outreach, Inc., in the publication of A New Way Out Guidebook by Dick B. and Ken B., and the sponsorship of Celebrate a New Life at Hope by the Sea in our present Conference and promotional flyer, we sincerely believe your participation in these Coalition efforts will advance both the objectives and the worldwide service potential of the International Christian Recovery Coalition leaders, sponsors, and other participants.

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B., (150+ pages in spiral bound, 8 ½” x 11” format) is available for purchase for US$ 35.50 for shipment to the 50 states of the United States ($30.00 plus $5.50 for USPS Priority Mail shipping). The Guide is available for US$ 41.00 for shipment to Canada and Mexico, and for US$ 43.00 for shipment to countries other than the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. (Shipment to countries outside the U.S. is via USPS International Priority Mail.)

To purchase the new, third edition of The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide (2010) by Dick B. and Ken B., please Click Here to go the center column of the front page of the http://www.dickb.com/index.html#Resource3 web site.
For further information, please contact Dick B. by email at DickB@DickB.com or by telephone at 1-808-874-4876 (keeping in mind the time difference between the mainland and Hawaii).

Gloria Deo

3 New Christian Recovery Leaders Join Our Ranks

International Christian Recovery Coalition is delighted to announce that three new, dynamic Christian Recovery leaders have joined us in the capacities listed below: Daxton Lyon, Christian, CEO of Uniti; Marine Vet; VMI alumnus; Businessman; and student in business at Hawaii Pacific University; has agreed to serve as one of the three directors of Freedom Ranch Maui Incorporated, the non-profit educational corporation which established the International Christian Recovery Coalition and, in turn, Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide. Daxton lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is married to Jessica Wiseman Lyon. Wayne White, CASAC, Christian, and Veteran, is the CEO of Footprints, Inc. - an outpatient substance abuse center; and CEO of Heroes Home - a facility for homeless veterans. He is also Executive Director of Alcoholics Victorious. Wayne lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where all three facilities are headquartered. He has just established a Christian Recovery Resource Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Rusty Warner, of Smile God Loves You Media, has long been a Christian friend, ardent recovery worker, conference taper of some of my talks and at many other conferences. He has long supported my own A.A. history research, books, and conferences. Rusty has his headquarters in Peoria, Arizona. He has just become a participant in International Christian Recovery Coalition. These three leaders have joined as participants during this weekend where we held meetings in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii with Daxton Lyon and his wife and also with Wayne White. April 15-17, 2011 Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition"We Christians in the Recovery Arena are not alone"www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com; dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com

The Problem with So-called psycho-heretics who battle Christian AAs, NAs, and 12 Steppers

You have been more than generous in including my comments. And I won't repeat here what I have documented so many times about the Bible, Dr. Bob, the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, and the daily Bible studies and prayer meetings of Akron A.A. I do want to underline and reply to the continuing ad hominem assaults on the idea that A.A. has biblical roots. There are about six writing groups I have seen who persistently and erroneously say that DR. Bob and Bill W. were not and could not be Christians. Same for A.A. Number Three who had been a long-time deacon, Sunday school teacher, and church-goer. Did all three drink too much? Of course. But that didn't erase their new birth. Did all three have Christian upbringings, Bible studies, church attendance, and YMCA connections? Of course; but that didn't vanish from their lives when they finally decided to get sober. Is A.A. Christian today? Of course not. A new path was taken when the Big Book was published in 1939 and three of the Twelve Steps replaced the word "God." The door was opened. Opened to atheists, agnostics, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and ublievers. Drunks of all belief and unbelief and denominations eventually flooded in. And today you have a mixture of Christians, nonsense god admirers, and uninformed newcomers and oldtimers.Not to mention the hordes who, today--unlike their A.A. forbears--would rather be involved in a non-drinking society with huge numbers of meetingsd and lots of chatter, as well as the Big Book and hordes of new literature A.A. itself is pouring out. What is A.A. today? Certainly not Christian. Certainly not able to deny its own very clear Christian origins, history, and original Christian fellowship program where belief in God, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and Bible study were requisite to admission. And certainly not, today, able to claim that its Christians give a fig for the nonsense gods, the "higher powers," the light bulbs, the spurious "spirituality" that have crept in under the auspices of the Adversary and those who are ordered in by the courts, bussed in by the treatment centers, and abandoned to A.A. by professionals who don't follow through or worry about the diversity. Can a Christian belong to A.A.? Of course. If he belongs, can the Bobgans, the Lanagans, the Rapture Ready folks and others suddenly declare that the Christians have become "unsealed" with that Holy Spirit of promise? Of course not. And today there is a vast, growing movement of Christian leaders, workers, newcomers, and others who-whether involved in prisons, hospitals, the VA, military, mental wards, A.A., counseling, sober living and the rest--are 100% for A.A. Friendly, Bible friendly, History friendly, Christian friendly fellowships which believe in the vital role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible have played and can play in recovery. I won't argue with the self-styled psycho-heretics who seem to have endless funds to pour out anti-A.A., anti-Christian, anti-recovery literature which is filled with falsehoods and absurd purported biblical refutations. But my 42 titles and 500 articles are just a start in helping those alcoholics, addicts, at-risk, and affected sufferers to get help if they want to seek God's help. Dick B., Kihei, Hawaii

The Real Picture of Christian Recovery Work in California

The following is a response to an article that focused on only one area and one Christian recovery group: The difficulty with the foregoing article is not its theme of Christian recovery in the "South Bay." It is that it scarecely touches the surface of the vast number of Bible based Christian recovery activities in Orange County and in the Southern California area. We devoted some 25 conferences and visits to the organizations and areas I am about to mention. And we now know there is a growing Christian recovery movement under way. It is not just about Celebrate Recovery. Nor is it just about Teen Challenge and Salvation Army ARCs. And the reader will do well to get in tune with what is really happening and has been prompted by the last two years of growth since a large Christian recovery leader and worker conference at Mariners Church in Irvine, California. Out of that large assemblage of Christian recovery leaders and workers from all over the United States and Canada came a new and different approach. Call it A.A. friendly, Bible friendly, History Friendly, and Christian friendly friendly. It seeks to learn and disseminate not some particular Christian approach, but rather to encourage individuals, fellowships, groups, recovery groups, treatment programs, counselors, sober living facilities, clergy and churches to learn and embrace the real theme that put early A.A.'s Christian fellowship on the map. That is the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origin, history, founding, original program, and astonishing successes of the 1935 A.A. Christian Fellowship in Akron. The progression of this massive Christian recovery backdrop deals with far more than A.A. And let's look at the progression. In the 1850's, five strong groups set the pace for successful Christian recovery by alcoholics and addicts. They were: (1) Evangelists like Moody, Sankey, Meyer, and Folger and later Billy Sunday. (2) Gospel and Rescue Missions founded by Jerry Mc Auley and his Water Street Mission. (3) The Salvation Army. (4) YMCA lay workers and their revivals and conversions throughout New England. (5) The Young People's Christian Endeavor Society - in which A.A.'s cofounder Dr. Bob and his family were active in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The next step had to do with the Christian upbringing of both A.A. cofounders when they were youngsters in Vermont. See Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous www.dickb.com/drbobofaa.shtml and The Conversion of Bill W. www.dickb.com/conversion.shtml. Both young men went to Congregational churches and Sunday schools. Both were involved with the YMCA. Both had intensive Bible study experience. Both saw and knew the stories of the conversions that cured alcoholics. Both attended Academies (St. Johnsbury Academy and Burr and Burton Academy, respectively) which were dominated by the influence of Congregational Church leaders and daily chapel. The next step was the experience of Bill Wilson that few know: (1) Bill's grandfather Willie had been cured of alcoholism in a conversion experience in East Dorset, Vermont. (2) At his third hospitalization, Bill was told by his physician William D. Silkworth, M.D., that Jesus Christ could cure him. (3) Almost immediately Bill was witnessed to by his old drinking friend Ebby Thacher who had been born again at Calvary Mission in New York and gotten sober - to Bill's amazement. (4) Bill himself then went to the altar at Calvary Mission, gave his life to Jesus Christ, and wrote that he had been born again. (5) Bill then decided to call on Jesus Christ for help. (6) Bill cried out to God, had a white light experience, was healed, and never drank again. (7) Bill's message became: "The Lord has cured me of this terrible disease and I just want to keep talking about it and telling people (Big Book page 191). There is much much more: How the first three AAs got sober as Christians, Bible students, and believers in God before there was a fellowship. How early A.A.'s Christian fellowship in Akron required belief in God, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, daily Bible study, daily old fashioned prayer meetings, and Quiet Time with God. We have covered this in a four hour (4 DVD) series "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" www.dickb.com/IFRC-Class.shtml, and in our The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml. Also in brief form in "Real Twelve Step Fellowship History" www.dickb.com/realhistory.shtml. The groups we have visited in California and which have heard and embraced the foregoing information or been willing to incorporate it into their programs are these: Rock Recovery Ministries, San Diego Calvary Ranch, Lakeside Neighborhood Alcoholics for Christ, Escondido Celebrate a New Life at San Juan Capistrano Pacific Hills Treatment Centers, San Juan Capistrano Several James Clubs (BigBook Bible Study Christian groups) in Norco, Glendora, Covina His Place Church, Hungtington Beach New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., Huntington Beach, Lifelines at The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa Steppin Out, Glendora Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier CityTeam Ministries, San Jose and up and down the Coast Golden Hills Community Church, Antioch Cornerstone Fellowship, Turning Point Group, Livermore Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Serenity Group, Oroville Auburn Church of the Nazarene, Men's Group, Auburn Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands And a host of individual Christian recovery leaders located in San Diego, Lakeside, Carlsbad, Sunset Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Venice, Claremont, and elsewhere in the Southern California area. The point here is that 12 Step Fellowships contain tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of Christian leaders and Christians in recovery who want God's help and are gathering together for fellowships, prayer, music, Bible study, Big Book study, Step study, Quiet Time, and other successful recovery efforts of the Akron Christian Fellowship of 1935. The next point is that these participants in the new Christian recovery movment are banding together worldwide to foster the principles just mentioned. Their movement is International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition. And is has already established a speaker's bureau and 22 Christian Recovery Resource Centers to meet the growing need for information, direction, and referral to Christian recovery facilities. The aim is not to splinter and go their own way. The aim has been to unite in supporting the single Christian idea of helping alcoholics and addicts get well in whatever situation they begin or find themselves - prison, treatment, hospitals, mental wards, A.A., N.A., VA, military, counseling, sober living, church or Christian recovery fellowships and Christ-centered recovery fellowships. See the mission statement and details: www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com In His Service, Richard G. Burns, J.D., CDAAC, Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition, Kihei, HI

9 New Participants in International Christian Recovery Coalition

Tuesday International Christian Recovery Coalition Participant Campaign Begins. New names to be listed: Bob Bowling, Bible Ministry of Lakeside California, 13189 Old Barona Rd, Lakeside, Ca 92040 619-987-9627 Dan Hosch, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Call to Recovery 12-Step Addiction Anonymous Groups (M/W/F), Athens, Texas 75757, cell 903-360-2613, office 903-597-1351 ext. 7317, e-mail dhosch@andrewscenter.com Jason Gutierrez, Calvary Chapel Mid-Valley Worship Ministry, Reseda, California Johanna Maria, participant of the ICRC, Heusden-Asten in The Netherlands Mark Tolomei, Recovered Christian Believer, Lake County, California Mr. Chris Estus – Leader. Pioneer Group Big Book/Bible Study Every Friday Night Since 2001 San Antonio, Texas, 210-213-9867 Rev. Don Allen, Jr. PhD (cand), LICDC, Through HIM Ministries, c/o Milford Assembly of God 1301 State Route 131, Milford, Ohio 45150 Stephen Krank, Director of Conferences, Vincentian Support Services, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, Pittsburgh, Califonia.

Personal Invitations to Participate at No Cost Being Issued Now

Personal invitations to participate in International Christian Recovery Coalition are being sent out by email to those we believe are concerned about emphasizing the role that God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible played and can play in recovery. To others: please see www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com, and contact me by email dickb@dickb. if you wish to be invited. Dick B. Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition, Kihei, Hawaii

12 Step Denial of God to Save Face: A Response Article

Does this article about denial to save face apply to present-day denial techniques in 12 Step Fellowships today? Here are some facts that can't be denied (but often are): Early A.A. took its basic ideas from the Bible. The ideas were honed and applied by five successful Christian organizations that preceded A.A. by many years and helped thousands of drunks. They were: Evangelists, Gospel and Rescue Missions, YMCA lay workers, the Salvation Army, and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. Early A.A. required a belief in God; a decision to make Jesus Christ one's Lord and Savior; daily Bible study; daily Quiet Time; and frequent old fashioned prayer meetings. Early A.A. had a docuented success rate of 75% in Akron, Ohio, and soon a 93% success rate in Cleveland. The numbers were small, but the success rates were astonishing. But, in 1939, a great face-saving effort took place. "God" was removed from the Second, Third, and Eleventh Step. Strange New Thought and other "gods" were inserted in A.A.'s text - Czar of the Universe, Spirit of the Universe, and others. Soon AAs themselves were inventing their own conception of "a" god. At first they called "it" a "higher power." Soon the "higher power" was often called a tree, a rock, Something, Somebody, Ralph, a light bulb, and a host of other ridiculous monikers. Why? To sell books, that's for sure. To increase membership, that's for sure. To make the door so wide and the road so broad that anyone, anyone at all, could join as long as they said they had a problem with alcohol. Treatment centers followed suit. Scholars, writers, and publishers followed suit. The face-saving? Make up a "god" that anyone will accept. The denial? Deny reverence of and the necessity fo Almighty God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible - the sources of the very power that had made early A.A. so successful. Will this change? Not as far as the Fellowships are concerned. But it can change and is changing as far as members and non-members are concerned. There are tens if not hundreds of thousands of Christians in 12 Step Fellowships today. They are learning about early A.A. They are learning about the role that was played and can still be played in recovery by the Creator, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible. They are learning that the nonsense "higher power" is just that -- nonsense -- a devilish thought planted in minds that are vulnerable to some "easy way out." What is changing? There is a huge and growing Christian recovery movment that is not hostile to A.A., nor to God, nor to the Bible, nor to unbeliever members in recovery. The movement simply seeks to assure Christians that they can belong; they can believe what they like; and they needn't surrender to save face. Dick B.

A.A. - How to Study, Understand & Take the 12 Steps

AAA.A.: How to Study, Understand, & Take the 12 Steps

by Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

The Bible;
Dr. William D. Silkworth (“The little doctor who loved drunks”);
William James (The Varieties of Religious Experience);
Anne Smith (and her personal journal which she kept between 1933 and 1939);
The Oxford Group (also known as “A First Century Christian Fellowship”); and
Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.

KEEP IT SIMPLE:

To learn about those key sources for material in the 12 Steps, I suggest you study:

Dick B., Twelve Steps for You: Let Our Creator, A.A. History, and the Big Book Be Your Guide (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2006):

The sources of the 12 Steps and the “taking” of the Steps to completion

Dick B., By the Power of God: A Guide to Early A.A. Groups & Forming Similar Groups Today (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2000):

Details for study and for study groups

Dick B., The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2006):

Relating Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the Book of James, and 1 Cor 13 to the Big Book

Three Clarence Snyder Sponsee Old-timers and Their Wives, Our A.A. Legacy to the Faith Community: A Twelve-Step Guide for Those Who Want to Believe (Winter Park, FL: Came to Believe Publications, 2005)

A 12 Step Guide for Retreats, Groups, and Individuals that also includes A.A. history

FOR: AAs, 12 Steppers, Sponsors, Speakers, Writers, Bible students, Christian recovery groups

TO ORDER:

You may read more about and order Dick B.'s titles here: http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml

You may order the Our A.A. Legacy book here: http://www.cametobelieve.org/

Christian Recovery Resource Ctr Established Oroville, CA

Recovery Pastor, Dale Marsh, who leads the Oroville Church of the Nazarene Serenity Group in Oroville, California, announced a new project yesterday. The Oroville approach has approved the establishment of a Christian Recovery Resource Center in Oroville. Dale Marsh is a participant in the International Christian Recovery Coalition. He is also a member of the resource centers' Speakers Bureau. For many months, Dale has been presenting to recovery groups the "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" Class (www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml). Dale has also been working with other communities to establish Christian Recovery Fellowships. He recently hosted a tour of a number of these fellowships in Northern and Central California where Dick B. and Ken B. were speakers..

How to Become, and Help Us Serve Through,

How to Become, and Help Us Serve Through, a Christian Recovery Resource Center Dick B. and Ken B. © 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved The new plan to launch Christian Recovery Resource Centers worldwide is now the major project of the International Christian Recovery Coalition: http://ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com/Christian-Recovery-Resource-Centers.shtml Here's what has been happening: First, both the need and the solution emerged from our two years of travel throughout California and Oahu (over 25 meetings and conferences). We have been learning about and studying the Christian recovery resources currently available. We found them in churches, Christian recovery fellowships, Christian counseling work, Christian treatment centers, sober living facilities, bridge groups, study groups, and “James Clubs”—even in A.A. groups and meetings. And we found the Christian recovery efforts to be effective, attractive, full of enthusiasm, and definitely growing as to appeal, membership, and attendance. We also found them to be “Bible-friendly, prayer-friendly, history-friendly, and A.A.-friendly"—a welcome situation amidst the growing tolerance—and even encouragement—of idolatry (e.g., “your higher power can be a light bulb”) among many recovery workers and fellowships today. Second, as we prepared and circulated two items, we learned and published much more. The carefully researched and presented findings are: The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B. (2010). (Please see http://www.DickB.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml. The substantially-revised-and-updated third edition contains a very thorough study, with footnotes and bibliography, of the origins, history, founding, original program, successes, and changes in the Christian recovery movement that led up to and developed from Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. This Guide is detailed. It is authoritative. It is now widely available. And it is now in widespread use among Christians and others in recovery. The "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" (“IFCR”) by Dick B. and Ken B. (2010) on four DVD's: www.DickB.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. In addition to the four DVD's and IFCR Class Guide for Students included with both available forms of the IFCR class, the IFCR class for Groups and Organizations “site license” also includes the IFCR Class Instructor's Guide, The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., and limited duplication rights. The IFCR class shows the real origins and development of the Christian recovery movement and A.A. Third, at the recent 2010 annual conference of the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, November 19-21, in Palm Springs, California, I was a major speaker on the topic of establishing Christian Recovery Resource Centers—particularly those which included and enhanced the role of licensed Christian alcohol and drug counselors. The idea of establishing Christian Recovery Resource Centers met with wide interest and approval among the large number of people attending. Fourth, we returned to Maui to formulate and launch the plan for establishing centers—primarily by sending out newsletters that covered the following: Five surveys which asked Christians and others in recovery what they were doing now; how they would respond to setting up a Christian Recovery Resource Center, what counselors and chaplains would do; what their position was on important Bible concepts; and if they would support such centers. Then we formulated and published several different articles that covered what a Christian Recovery Resource Center is; What it can and should do; Who can serve—individuals and entities—in this way; How to establish a center; Whether they would incorporate important biblical ideas and practices; and Whether they would include all of the services needed for newcomers—whether by way of assessment and referral, providing resource information, or actually engaging in counseling, treatment, fellowships, and so on. Now we are preparing The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide by Dick B. and Ken B. It will incorporate all that is needed for an individual, a program, a center, or an agency to establish, maintain, and implement a Christian Recovery Resource Center. Accordingly, we have revised and updated the International Christian Recovery Coalition web site (www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com) so that it gives a picture of what is involved in establishing and maintaining a Christian Recovery Resource Center, what can be accomplished, who can run one, and how to do it. And we are sending out newsletters; we are making announcements on Facebook, Twitter, and our blog; and we are posting articles on web sites. We will continue to fill in the details, reporting the names and programs of those who jump on board. 5. How can you participate: Join the no-cost International Christian Recovery Coalition by providing Dick B. (its Executive Director) with your name, ministry or outreach, city, and state; and you will be listed on that website as a participant. If you have a website URL, we will place that on the links page so that others can click directly to your site. Provide us with some information about yourself: Name, contact person, address, Logo, literature, newsletters, email, URL address, Facebook page address, Twitter page address, blogs, your statement of purpose, and detailed material on what you do. This is a very important way by which we can inform inquirers of exactly what you do, how to reach you, and what your mission and purpose are. It will also help insure that others in the International Christian Recovery Coalition are given substantial information about you, your program, your location and outreach, and special facts you want them to know. Tell us exactly what Christian recovery resources you now provide; those you outsource; and those to which you need access and about which you need information. Agree to be a resource information provider to your own clients or patients or fellowship members, and to the community at large as to how to proceed with a full and effective Christian recovery program—from initial assessment to life-long follow through. The degree to which you choose to reach out in the community can enhance your own program, serve others in the community, and help the worldwide coalition of centers to grow and be more effective. Agree to network with other Centers worldwide so that this information and these resources are widely available to Christians in recovery and others wanting God's help. This does not impose a burden on you. It simply means, again, that the more you inform other Centers, the more you contact them with referrals, the more you contact them for referrals, the more the people who will be served—including you. Make a one-time donation of $500.00 to Dick B. to cover our expenses of establishing the resources, issuing information, publishing our class and books, and working with you. In exchange for the donation of $500.00, we will send you: · The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class for Groups and Organizations (www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml); · The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide by Dick B. and Ken B. in Microsoft Word 2003 .doc file format as an attachment to an email message when it becomes available—upon request; and · A case of brand new Dick B. books for your library via U.S. Postal Service Media Mail—upon request. We are available by phone and email and regular mail for continued work with you to enhance the effectiveness of this program. And are also available as consultants for those who want specific and unique help in establishing and growing their program and the outreach to Christians in need—whether they are affected by or afflicted with alcoholism, drug abuse, at-risk behavior, and other life-controlling problems. These include domestic, criminal, legal, mental health, and social problems they may not have a solution for. For further information about the new Christian Recovery Resource Centers sponsored by the International Christian Recovery Coalition, please contact Dick B. by email at DickB@DickB.com; by phone at (808) 874-4876; or by regular mail at: Dick B. PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837. Donations may be made by credit card, PayPal, check or money order. Along with the donation, we will also need your name, ministry or outreach, mailing address, telephone number, and email address. To register to become a Christian Recovery Resource Center and make your donation, please contact Ken B. on his cell phone at (808) 276-4945 or by email at kcb00799@gmail.com. Gloria Deo

Two New Christian Recovery Coalitiion Participants Sign On

Richard Skolnik of Nesconsett, New York has just become a participant in the International Christian Recovery Coalition.

International Christian Recovery Coalition "Summit" Plans for 2011

International Christian Recovery Coalition “Summit” in Planning Stages for the Summer of 2011 Many Christian recovery leaders; many Christian recovery fellowships; and many “Christian Recovery Resource Centers” have emerged since our major conference in May 2009 at Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine, California. There is in progress a global, Christian, recovery movement. The participants include Christian pastors (including recovery pastors), Christian recovery fellowships, Christian counselors, Christian treatment programs, Christian sober living facilities, “Christian Recovery Resource Centers,” and lots of individual Christians who are active in the recovery community. There is no one program. There is no one structure. There is no one set of rules or regulations. There is a mission statement. It may be found on the front page of the International Christian Recovery Coalition Web site: www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. We have posted the mission statement so that Coalition participants may view what we are trying to do to emphasize two things: (1) The role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, history, founding, and enormous successes of the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program of 1935. (2) The role that the power, love, forgiveness, guidance, healing, and promises of God can and should play in the recovery movement today. Since it was founded in July 2009, the Coalition has enjoyed a steadily-increasing number of participants worldwide. It has fostered many conferences and meetings in California and Hawaii. It has established “Christian Recovery Resource Centers” worldwide. It has caused 350 cases of free A.A. history books to be distributed free to those who want to learn more. And it has established a Speakers Bureau. The time has come to bring together at an open-to-the-public meeting those who are leading the charge, those who want to get started, those who have suggestions and questions, and those who want to share the programs and efforts they have been conducting. We want to do this in a place where our reception has been particularly welcome and effective. That place is California. And, since we have begun, strong groups have flourished in Southern, Central, and Northern California. But we discovered at the Mariners Church event that leaders were willing to come from around the U.S. and Canada to share and get things going. The Planning Stage First, we need a large and free area—preferably at an “A.A.-friendly” Christian church—where our friends can congregate and participate. Second, we need music, and we have several talented Christian musicians in mind. Third, we need an outstanding, recovered, Christian speaker who can inspire us all. Fourth, depending on the interest, we may need two conferences—one in the Southern California area, and one in the Central or Northern California area. Fifth, we will require a small registration fee of about $30.00. Sixth, we may permit sponsors to display exhibits for a charge like we did at Mariners Church. Seventh, we would like to provide food and beverages as we have done at so many of our past conferences, with attending folks donating funds to cover the cost. Eighth, we would like to have a “round table” workshop where we can receive suggestions, questions, and reports of what has been done, can be done, and will be planned. Ninth, we would like to have a time for limited individual sharing. Tenth, we would like to have the event—or events, if there are two—take place on a Saturday between June 1 and October 2, 2011. Please let us hear from you about dates and locations and other background information that you believe would help us determine when and where to hold this/these “Summit(s).” Thank you. Offers of Assistance, Facilities, Food, Setup, and Attendance Will Be Welcome Now We would like to hear from you as soon as possible: Please contact Dick B. at 1-808-874-4876 or DickB@DickB.com; or Ken B. at 1-808-276-4945. Gloria Deo