The 15th Dick B. YouTube Presentation Script - The Summit Conference Sept 24

The Dick B. Channel on YouTube

The History of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Christian Recovery Movement

Video 15

The North American Christian Recovery Summit, September 24, 2011

This is the fifteenth presentation of the Dick B. Channel on YouTube. The subject was to have been a continued discussion of the Christian upbringing of A.A. cofounders Bill W. and Dr. Bob as a youngsters in Vermont.

But we interrupt the series to tell you about the first North American Summit of the International Christian Recovery Coalition at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California, on Saturday, September 24, 2011. This is the first major summit meeting of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, newcomers, and the public, since the Coalition was formed in July 2009 just following the conference at Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine, California, in May 2009.

This summit is free. No registration is required. The public is invited. And it will be the first gathering of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, of newcomers, and of the public, where we will be hearing: (1) how Christian recovery has been moving; (2) how it is incorporating the “old school” Akron A.A. and Cleveland A.A. Fellowship programs; (3) what leaders are doing now and suggest for steps forward. If you are one of those who wants: (1) to stay in existing 12 Step and other recovery programs; (2) to stress the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible have played in the recovery movement; and (3) to apply those “old school” A.A. principles in recovery today, then this is a great opportunity you will not want to miss.

We here present the program of the North American Summit of the International Christian Recovery Coalition on Saturday, September 24, 2011, at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California, as it has tentatively been arranged:

The Theme:

Using Principles of the Akron-Cleveland Christian Recovery Model

to Enhance Substantially Today's Christian Recovery Efforts

The Tentative Northern California Meeting Program Schedule

Friday Evening, September 23: (We'll announce place and time when speakers and panels set)

            Possible workshop meeting with International Christian Recovery Coalition Participants

Saturday, September 24, 9:00 AM. Admission Free! No Registration. Be early for best seats!

            Pre-meeting music, program literature, exhibit tables, and hospitality

            Commencing prayer

            Welcome by Matt Pierce, Pastor of Recovery Ministry, Golden Hills Community Church

            Theme presentation by Dick B., Exec. Dir., International Christian Recovery Coalition

                        “Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons” Worldwide—on the Move!

                        Learning about the Astonishing Success of the Original Akron A.A. “Christian                              fellowship” Program and How to Apply Its Principles and Practices Today

                        How the Early Cleveland Program Built upon the Original Akron program and

                                    Set the Stage for Christian Recovery Opportunities Today

            Break and Music

            Vision presentation by Ken B.

                        The International Christian Recovery Coalition and “Christian Recovery Resource

                                    Centers and Persons”: Supplying Critically-Important, Missing Pieces in

                                    Modern Christian Recovery Efforts

            Lunch Break (We're told there are about 75 eateries within a 5 minute walk from church.)

            Featured Christian, Recovered Speaker: Don Hall of Colfax, California

            Break and Exhibit Tables

            First Speakers Panel:

                        David Sadler, Recovery Ministry, Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood

                        Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Serenity Group, Church of the Nazarene, Oroville

                        Wade Hess, Training Leader, CityTeam Ministries, San Jose, CA

                        Dominic DiBlasio, Turning Point, Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore, CA

                        Jeff Holt, recovery fellowship, Church of the Nazarene, Auburn, CA

            Break and Music

            Second Speakers Panel:

                        Ken Jones, Pastoral Counselor, Melbourne, FL

                        Bill Boyles, President, Won Way Out, Wyoming, Delaware

                        Craig G., Christian Recovered AA, Rohnert Park, CA

                        Danny W., founder, A.A. Roots Revival Group; Clarence S. (Cleveland) sponsee

            Dinner Break

            International Christian Recovery Coalition Future Plans: Dick B. and Ken B.                    

            Christian Music Concert

            Closing Prayer

Our Conference Reward

for Those Who Want God’s Help and Can Learn the Facts

The last 21-plus years of research and learning about the real “old time” A.A. of 1935-1940 in Akron and Cleveland, and how it developed, has produced a rich treasure of facts about how the early AAs achieved astonishing success. The simple, seven-point program outline by Frank Amos on page 131 of the A.A. General Service Conference-approved book DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers acquainted early AAs with their problem and defeat due to alcoholism. It then stressed surrender to God by coming to Him through Jesus Christ and obeying God's will. It encouraged spiritual growth through prayer meetings, Bible study, “Quiet Time,” reading Christian literature. And it encouraged early AAs to focus on love and service to others in need.

By learning these simple facts, and how the Akron approach was further refined in Cleveland A.A. beginning in May of 1939, those in recovery need no longer: (1) Wallow in the talk of nonsense “higher power” gods that abounds in today’s recovery scene. (2) Try to fathom the mystical “spirituality” which is little understood and poorly articulated by those who advocate it. (3) Fruitlessly rely on meetings and group strength to get well, rather than believing that God could and would relieve them if He were sought.

Early A.A. principles and practices are being used by the few that know them in today’s 12 Step and Christian recovery fellowships. And these principles and practices appear to hold great promise of making possible successful recovery today similar to that achieved by earlier Christian recovery pioneers.

This fifteenth presentation has covered the North American Summit of the International Christian Recovery Coalition we hope you will attend on Saturday, September 24, at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California. The next program--our sixteenth--will cover the remaining two Christian evangelists of importance--F.B. Meyer and Billy Sunday—that impacted on the Christian upbringing of A.A.’s cofounders as youngsters in Vermont.

I close by giving you pictures of three of my books which more fully detail the facts about the “old school” A.A. programs in Akron and Cleveland in the late 1930’s. The first is The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous. The second is The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials. And the third is Real Twelve Step Fellowship History.