Sunday, September 11, 2011

Reply to inquiries from a Christian substance abuse counselor about his role

Dear Don: I was very pleased to receive your letter as you are about to work

In the very field we are trying so hard to catalyze. I may write a couple of

Emails in order to avoid too many things in one place. But here are my

Preliminary thoughts:


  1. Your experience both with A.A. and with Celebrate Recovery is a common one, but certainly

Not daunting. Many have seen that Celebrate Recovery does not have the 24/7 one-on-one

Work with alcoholics and addicts that is needed for sustained recovery and growth. As to

A.A., the point we make is that we are “A.A. Friendly, Bible Friendly, Recovery Friendly, and

Friendly Friendly. Which is to say that we try not to knock any of the diverse efforts which

Have something for Christians but need to know and apply more about the Christian origins of the

Recovery movement and of A.A. in its earliest days. We are very clear that there are tens

Of thousands of Christians in A.A. who have been intimidated and hindered by several

Elements—the Adversary, the drift away from God we see all over, and ignorance of the

True, documented, effective beginning Christian A.A. Fellowship in Akron.


  1. We have gone through several phases since International Christian Recovery Coalition

Was founded in May, 2009 by a wide variety of Christian recovery leaders, workers,

Newcomers, and professionals who first were asked to define the problems they were

Having. And they did. Much as you have done.


  1. The last two and a half years have seen a large growth in our move toward a Christian

Solution that embraces the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played

In the origin, history, founding, original program, and astonishing successes of the

Early A.A. Christian Fellowship of Akron founded in 1935. You probably know that

When we began in 1990, there were very few AAs who knew these facts, very few

Who didn’t believe they died with the Big Book, very few who knew the monstrous

Compromise that was made in 1939 to appease atheists, and agnostics, and the

Difficulty that opening the door to people of all faiths, no faith, and unbelievers

Brings about. To mention just a few, people haven’t realized the dangerous effect

Of talking about “higher power,” “spiritual but not religious,” and nonsense gods

Like a rock, Santa Claus, and light bulbs. We now know from the experience of

Many in the ensuing period that there are huge numbers of Christians in A.A., in

Treatment, in counseling who are bereft of information yet hungry for a solid

Base in recovery today with the power and love and guidance of God at their

Right hand. Properly armed with facts, they can utilize the 24/7 strength of

A.A. as well—just as I did over 25 years ago when I entered those rooms.


  1. I hope you will consider coming to one of our two summit conferences in

California because you can meet and hear from some long-sober, Christian

Fellowship leaders, and experienced AAs who have got a leg up on the solution.


  1. While I am preparing and getting ready to send my second email, I am going

To ask my son Ken to send you some of the materials we recommend as a

Guide for efforts like yours.




God bless,
Dick B.
Author, 42 titles & over 650 articles on A.A. History and the Christian Recovery Movement
(808) 874-4876
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837

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