International Christian Recovery Coalition: August 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Please help us obtain free copies of Pamphlet P-53 and DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers to distribute free at our conferences

Please Help Us Obtain Copies of
The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (P-53) Pamphlet and of
DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers
for the North American Summit Conference Meetings

By Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

For many years, we have been emphasizing the importance of A.A. General Service Conference-approved publications—two in particular:

1. The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches: Their Last Major Talks (New York, NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1972, 1975) [Item # P-53]
http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-53_theCo-FoundersofAA.pdf

2. DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (New York, N.Y.: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1980) [Item # B-8]

They should play a vital part in any study of the origins, history, founding, original Akron program, and later “Big Book” program of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Neither item is seen very often on A.A. Meeting literature tables. But both of these items provide tremendous information, much provided by A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob himself, about the biblical foundations of Alcoholics Anonymous.

At our two North American Summit Conferences of the International Christian Recovery Coalition in California next month—the first on September 17 at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, and the second on September 24 at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood (Northern California)--much of our focus will be on the early A.A. program and how to apply its highly-effective principles and practices in modern Christian recovery efforts. And it is particularly important to start with A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature, as well as the extensive research I have done over the past 21 years on the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in early A.A.'s astonishing successes.

Our goal is to have at least 500 copies of The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlet at each Conference and as many copies of DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers as possible available for free distribution to Conference attendees.

If you would be willing to purchase and make available for free distribution a significant quantity of new P-53 pamphlets (say, 50 or more) and/or to purchase and make available for display or free distribution one or more copies of DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, please let me know. Thank you!

God bless,

Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Email: DickB@DickB.com
International Christian Recovery Coalition: www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Ken B.'s cell: (808) 276-4945

Gloria Deo

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Need many many copies of A.A. Pamphlet P-53 for Cal Conferences. Please help

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I need help in receiving and distributing at our Cal Conferences A.A. Pamphlet P-53

For many years, we have been emphasizing the importance of several A.A. General Service Conference-approved Literature publications. These are a vital part in any study of A.A. origins, A.A. history, A.A. founding, A.A.'s Original Akron Program, and subsquent changes.

Pamphlet P-53 is titled "The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks." This pamphlet is often not seen on the literature tables of the many A.A. meetings I attend. But the pamphlet has much important information about A.A. in the words of its Co-founders.

Much of the Bible background, of which Dr. Bob spoke, spilled over into and was expanded in A.A. General Service-Conference Approved "DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers." This too is often not found on literature tables.

At our two conferences in California on September 17 and September 20, much of our focus will be on the early A.A. program and how to apply it today. And it is particularly important to start with several of A.A.'s own pieces, as well as the extensive research on history in the last 30 years.

Please send to me, and/or bring to the conference, as many P-53 Pamphlets as fit within your budget. These will be distributed free at the Conferences.

God Bless, Dick B. PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Posted by Dick B. at 11:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: A.A. General Services Conference-approved Pamphlet P-53, Need for many copies of P-53 to distribute free

The Link for the flyer of The James Gang of Georgia

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ji1eVSPPCrDorIdiHnGyS3upVNZLCzNnEgqZsepdj-0/edit?hl=en_US

AA - 12 Step - James Club Study Groups: A Terrific Boost from Georgia

Here is a terrific boost for study groups, for the idea of James Clubs,
and for more and more information about the early A.A. emphasis
on the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and
1 Corinthians 13. Many thanks to The James Gang in Georgia

Dick B.

Be sure to take a look at the flyer. It's great!

From:
Date: Aug 30, 2011 6:42 AM
Subject: The James Gang - Flyer
I've shared The James Gang - Flyer

Message from kurt.igoglobal@gmail.com:
FYI.......

Click to open: [You will need to contact Kurt until and unless I can transmit the actual flyer]

The James Gang - Flyer

Google Docs makes it easy to create, store and share online documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Our banners for you, your website, links, facebook, posts, forums.

http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/images/banners/index.shtml

Sunday, August 28, 2011

The Documented 93% Success Rate of Early Cleveland A.A.

The Documented(!) 93% Success Rate in Cleveland, Ohio
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

The first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio, was held on May 11, 1939, one month and a day after the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the “Big Book”) was published on April 10, 1939. Writing to a member trying to get A.A. started in a new city, Bill Wilson said:

I explain this at some length because I want you to be successful with yourself and the people with whom you work. We used to pussyfoot on this spiritual business a great deal more out here [in New York City] and the result was bad, for our record falls quite a lot short of the performance of Akron and Cleveland, where there are now about 350 alcoholics, many of them sober 2 or 3 years, with less than 20% ever having had any relapse.”

An even greater, 93% success rate was reported in Cleveland A.A., whose first group was founded in May 1939, shortly after the Big Book was published in April of that year. Clarence Snyder (Dr. Bob's sponsee and founder of A.A. in Cleveland) is quoted as saying in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers:

Clarence said . . . "I think A.A. was more effective in those days. Records in Cleveland show that 93 percent of those who came to us never had a drink again. When I discovered that people had slips in A.A., it really shook me up."

Mitchell K., Clarence Snyder's biographer, reported as to the 93% success rate in Cleveland:

Two years after the publication of the book [i.e., of Alcoholics Anonymous (the "Big Book") in April 1939], Clarence made a survey of all of the members in Cleveland. He concluded that, by keeping most of the "old program," including the Four Absolutes and the Bible, ninety-three percent of those surveyed had maintained uninterrupted sobriety.

Three of Clarence Snyder sponsees wrote: "Of the first 260 people who came into A.A. in Cleveland, ninety-three percent never drank again!" These Cleveland groups grew from one to thirty in a year.

16 Specific Practices Associated with the Original Akron A.A. "Christian Fellowship" Program

16 Specific Practices
Associated with the Original Akron A.A. “Christian Fellowship” Program
Bill W. and Dr. Bob Developed
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Here are 16 actual practices of the original Akron A.A. “Christian Fellowship” during the period from June 10, 1935, to the publishing of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the "Big Book") in April 1939:

1. Qualifying the newcomer. Newcomers—and often their wives—were interviewed by Dr. Bob (and other pioneer AAs) to determine: if they had conceded that they had an uncontrollable alcoholism problem; if they had shown a desire to quit permanently; and if they had committed themselves to go to any length to stay sober.

2. Hospitalization was a must. Newcomers were hospitalized for a period of some five-to-seven days. They were medicated to prevent seizures and other problems. During this time, Dr. Bob would visit extensively each day, other sober alcoholics would tell the newcomer their stories, the Bible was the only reading material allowed, and Dr. Bob would offer the newcomer the opportunity to "surrender" before release.

3. “Surrender” by the newcomer before discharge after his five-to-seven-day stay at the hospital. Before the newcomer was discharged from the hospital, Dr. Bob would conduct his final visit and require that the newcomer profess a belief in God—not “a” God, but God. Then the newcomer would get out of his bed, get down on his knees, and pray with Dr. Bob, accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in the process.

4. Upon leaving the hospital, in the case of Clarence Snyder at least, Clarence was taken to his first Oxford Group meeting at T. Henry’s house, given a Bible by Dr. Bob, and told by Dr. Bob to “go out and fix drunks as an avocation.” This practice of telling the newcomer, at the time he surrendered to God, that he must go out and help other drunks was consistent from the very first.

5. Most went to live in the Smith residence or in the residences of other Akron people like Wally G. and Tom L. They stayed as long as needed in order to get steady in their path.

6. There were Christian fellowship meetings every day, with Dr. Bob, Anne, and Henrietta Seiberling. These included group Bible study, prayer, and Quiet Time observances.

7. In addition, each morning, alcoholics and their family members gathered at the Smith home for a Quiet Time conducted by Anne, with prayer, Bible reading, seeking guidance, and discussion of portions of Anne’s personal journal.

8. There was one “Oxford Group” meeting each Wednesday at the home of T. Henry Williams—a meeting unlike any other Oxford Group meeting. These meetings scarcely resembled conventional Oxford Group meetings. Oldtimers Wally and Annabelle G. said they had read a lot about the Oxford Group meetings being held at the Mayflower [in 1933] but that “it wasn’t until later that they realized the meeting at T. Henry’s was 'sort of a clandestine lodge of the Oxford Group.'” Dorothy S. M., wife of Dr. Bob's sponsee, Clarence S., observed in 1937 that the meeting was “a regular old fashioned prayer meeting.” Dr. Bob’s son, Robert R. (“Smitty”) Smith, in a telephone conversation with me from his home in Nocona, Texas, described the meetings as “old fashioned revival meetings.” Author Nan Robertson quoted Dr. Bob's son, Smitty, as follows: “It was kind of like an old fashioned revival meeting.” Some called the group itself “the alcoholic squad.” Frank Amos referred to the group as the “self-styled Alcoholic Group of Akron, Ohio.” Dr. Bob called the group a “Christian Fellowship.” Frank Amos declared, “Members did not want the movement connected directly or indirectly with any religious movement or cult; they stressed the point that they had no connection whatever with any so-called orthodox religious denomination, or with the Oxford Movement. (Obviously, Amos meant the Oxford Group).” Bob E. stated:

Dr. Bob and T. Henry “teamed” the meeting; T. Henry took care of the prayers with which the meeting was opened and closed. “There were only a half dozen in the Oxford Group. We [the alcoholics] had more than that. Sometimes, we’d go downstairs and have our meeting, and the Oxford Group would have theirs in the sitting room.”

9. The “real surrender” by each newcomer at a “regular” meeting on Wednesday. And at these weekly meetings, there was a time in which newcomers were required to make a “real surrender” with Dr. Bob and one or two others upstairs. There the newcomer, on his knees, accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, asked that alcohol be taken out of his life, and asked strength and guidance to live according to cardinal Christian teachings. The elders prayed with him after the manner of James 5:16.

10 There was extensive reading of Christian devotionals and literature provided by Dr. Bob, or recommended by Dr. Bob or his wife, and/or distributed or made available at meetings.

11. There was particular stress on study of the Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and 1 Corinthians 13.

12. Meetings concluded with invitations to reach out to newcomers in the hospital and elsewhere, and then closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

13. There was frequent socializing in the homes, particularly on Saturday evenings.

14. The little group of members and wives knew each other well. They frequently phoned one another. They frequently visited the homes of each other. They gathered for parties, dances, covered-dish suppers, and picnics. They prayed together. And they frequently had meals together.

15. Keeping track of names, addresses, phone numbers, and sobriety information about each member was commonplace as evidenced by their address books and rosters. They kept little address books with the names, phone numbers, and street addresses of the pioneers. Also, this data was listed on some of the rosters which they kept and which are discussed next.

16. The easy to find, extant rosters they kept, make it equally simple today to name and document the successes, relapses and returns, and failures among the original AAs. Particularly evidenced by the hand-written memo and roster kept by Dr. Bob and on file in the Rockefeller Archives today. Other rosters of the names and addresses, sobriety dates, and relapses, if any, were kept and still exist today. Richard K. of Massachusetts—author of four major works on early A.A. history, including studies of the “First 40” cures, about early articles about A.A., and about statistics relating to A.A.—has discussed these rosters. Richard spent several months with me in Maui reviewing the rosters and materials I had, as well as materials he obtained from A.A. General Services in New York and elsewhere. He carefully examined photocopies of original documents, newspaper accounts, and extant lists of the early A.A. members and their sobriety records. His work is the most important study of early A.A. successes, cures, and announcements written to date. There are also my own copies of the pioneer member rosters which were acquired by me from several A.A. historians such as Earl Husband, George Trotter, Sue Smith Windows (Dr. Bob’s daughter), and Ray Grumney (former long-time archivist and member of the managing board at Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron). Their value became particularly valuable when other evidence was reviewed and clearly disclosed that early AAs commonly kept address books—many of which contained names, addresses, phone numbers, sobriety information, and relapse and death notations. As a group, these rosters enable an accurate evaluation of the successes of the original 40 pioneers surveyed by Bill W. and Dr. Bob in November 1937. And they provide important evidence relating to the 75% and 93% successes rates (overall, and in Cleveland, respectively) early A.A. claimed. Recently, an anonymous friend from New Jersey supplied me with a copy of a roster in Dr. Bob’s own hand, written on his medical office stationary, and listing all the successful original members, giving names, drinking history, relapses if any, sobriety dates, and age. It came from the Rockefeller Archives in New York. I now possess one I secured from those archives. It is a vital, new piece of evidence apparently unknown to those who have disputed the early A.A. successes or temporized about the reason for them.

The Original, Seven-Point, Akron A.A. Program--to be quoted and discussed at our California Summit Conferences

The Original, Seven-Point, Akron A.A. Program

In February 1938, before work began on the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., dispatched his agent, Frank Amos, to Akron to investigate what Amos referred to as the “self-styled Alcoholic Group of Akron, Ohio.” In his report to Mr. Rockefeller on the results of his investigation, Amos included a description of the original, seven-point, Alcoholics Anonymous program that Bill W. and Dr. Bob began developing over the summer of 1935. The following is a discussion of that Amos report, including the description of the original Akron A.A. “Program,” found on pages 130-31 of the A.A. General Service Conference-approved book DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (New York, N.Y.: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1980):

In meeting with a number of the men, their wives, and “in some cases, their mothers,” Mr. Amos heard varying stories, “many of them almost miraculous.” He noted, however, that when it came to recovery, they were all remarkably alike in “the technique used and the system followed.” He described the “Program” as follows:

“1. An alcoholic must realize that he is an alcoholic, incurable from a medical viewpoint, and that he must never drink anything with alcohol in it.
“2. He must surrender himself absolutely to God, realizing that in himself there is no hope.
“3. Not only must he want to stop drinking permanently, he must remove from his life other sins such as hatred, adultery, and others which frequently accompany alcoholism. Unless he will do this absolutely, Smith and his associates refuse to work with him.
“4. He must have devotions every morning—a “quiet time” of prayer and some reading from the Bible and other religious literature. Unless this is faithfully followed, there is grave danger of backsliding
“5. He must be willing to help other alcoholics get straightened out. This throws up a protective barrier and strengthens his own willpower and convictions.
“6. It is important, but not vital, that he meet frequently with other reformed alcoholics and form both a social and a religious comradeship.
“7. Important, but not vital, that he attend some religious service at least once weekly.”

Mr. Amos said, “All the above is being carried out faithfully by the Akron group, and not a day passes when there is not one or more new victims to work on, with Smith as their leader by common consent.”
Stressing Dr. Bob's importance in the work at Akron, Frank Amos went on to note that even though there were other able men in the group, they all looked to Dr. Bob for leadership.

Yuma Christian leader latest to become participant in Coalition

Here is a new listing as a participant in International Christian Recovery
Coalition:

Jerry Bunte, Founder & President Living Free Recovery Ranch
LIVING FREE MINISTRIES INC., 11447 E. 25th Place, Yuma, Arizona 85367
Jerry Bunte, President & Founder 928-366-8683 or 928 345 0982
livingfreerecovery@yahoo.com .
LIVING FREE RECOVERY RANCH
7200 E. County 14th, Yuma, AZ. 85365, 928-366-8683

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Complete Program for the Sept 24 Christian Recov Summit in Brentwwood, CA

The International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Presents

The North American Summit Conference Meeting #2

Saturday, September 24, 2011, 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM

Golden Hills Community Church—Brentwood Campus
2401 Shady Willow Lane, Brentwood, CA 94513
(925) 516-0653
http://goldenhills.org/

Theme

Using Akron-Cleveland Christian Recovery Model Principles
to Enhance Substantially Today's Christian Recovery Efforts

Contact: Dick B., Executive Director
International Christian Recovery Coalition
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Email: DickB@DickB.com
Cell: 808 276 4945
The Program

Summit Conference Meeting #2
Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, CA

Friday Evening, September 23, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (** We hope you can make this meeting, too)

Workshop meeting with International Christian Recovery Coalition Participants: Details soon!

Saturday, September 24, 9:30 am to 8:00 pm:

Pre-meeting music and hospitality

Commencing prayer

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

Theme presentation by Dick B., Executive Director, 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 (10 minutes)

Vision presentation by Ken B.

“Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons”:
Supplying Critically-Important, Missing Pieces in Modern Christian Recovery Efforts

Lunch Break (1 hour)

Featured Speaker: J. Donald Hall, Don Hall Ministries, 23365 Barnes Lane, Colfax, CA 95713

Long-recovered wayward youth and drug addict
Missionary evangelist and Bible teacher--18 years, serving with Youth With a Mission and
others in over 60 nations; conferences, seminars, retreats, and mission
services –also community programs in schools, prisons, and civic clubs
Graduate of Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA (B.A. Degree)
Graduate of California Graduate School of Theology (M.A. Degree)
Founder and former Executive Director of Teen Challenge in Southern CA and Hawaii
for sixteen years
Cited by the Governors of California and Hawaii for his leadership in the fight against
drug abuse and crime among America’s Youth
Senior Pastor of Calvary Assembly, San Jose, California, for eight years
Recent ministries: South Korea Outreach; Sri Lanka Ministry; Singapore; Gulf Disaster Relief

Break and Music (10 minutes)

Speaker Panel 1:

Jeff A. Holt, Men’s Recovery Fellowship, Auburn Church of the Nazarene, Auburn, California

Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Oroville, California; International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers’ Bureau

Dominic DiBlasio, Turning Point Recovery Ministry, Cornerstone Fellowship—Livermore Campus, California

Roger McDiarmid, International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers' Bureau, Huntington Beach, California

Wade Hess, Training Director, CityTeam Ministries, San Jose, California

Break and Music (10 minutes)

Speaker Panel 2:

Mark Galligan, Leader, “Akronite” Recovery Group, Ontario, Canada

David Sadler, Christian recovery leader serving Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California

Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., Prof. of Counseling an Chemical Dependency, Director of Oasis Center, Pittsburgh, PA

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

Wayne White, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, President/CEO, Footprints/Alcoholics Victorious,
Kansas City, Missouri

Dinner Break (1 hour)

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

Christian Music Concert

Closing Prayer

Our Sponsors and Endorsers

Christian Denominational Recovery Programs

United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence

Rev. Cynthia W. Sloan
Program Associate,
United Methodist Special Program on
Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV)
New York Office location: 475 Riverside Drive, room 338
New York, NY 10115
phone: 212-870-3699, fax: 212-870-3932
North Carolina Office location:
325 Meadowbrook Drive
Matthews NC 28104-4309
phone: 704-882-0282
email: csloan@gbgm-umc.org
website: http://www.umspsarv.org
Become a “Fan” on SPSARV’s Facebook page
SPSARV Advance Number: 982598

Episcopal Diocese of Texas Recovery Committee

Fr. Bill Wigmore, Chaplain & Former President
Austin Recovery
8402 Cross Park Drive
Austin, TX. 78754
Tel: 512.697.8674
Email: RevBillW@gmail.com
website: www.AustinRecovery.org

Individual Benefactors

Bob J., Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Philanthropist and long-time Christian recovery and A.A. history collector and benefactor

Rick S.

Long-recovered Christian recovery work supporter
Rick is preparing a sponsor's guide to Alcoholics Anonymous, using the first edition text.
The guide will be published in paperback and on the Internet; and it will have accompanying audio talks of Rick's taking people through the Big Book.

Robert P. Turner, M.D., M.S.C.R.
Associate Professor of Neurosciences, Pediatrics, and Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, & Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

Christian Churches

The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California, Host, September 17, 2011, Conference

Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California, Host, September 24, 2011, Conference

Endorsing Christian Recovery Libraries and Archives

Griffith Library, The Wilson House – birthplace of Bill Wilson, East Dorset, Vermont

Bonnie Burke (formerly, Bonnie Lepper), President

23,000 historical items donated by Dick B., A.A. meetings, Quiet Time, seminars.
Conducted Tours at East Dorset, Vermont (Wilson House, Griffith Library, East Dorset
Congregational Church—where both the Wilson and the Griffith families and
Bill W. attended—and nearby cemetery where Bill and Lois Wilson are buried)
Conducted Tours to St. Johnsbury, Vermont (Dr. Bob’s birthplace and boyhood home,
North Congregational Church—where all of Dr. Bob’s family attended,
The Athenaeum—the village library containing many historical records,
St. Johnsbury Academy—where Dr. Bob attended, his father was an Examiner,
and his mother had been student, teacher, school historian & Exec. Comm. member)

Dr. Bob Core Library—North Congregational Church (UCC), St. Johnsbury, Vermont

Jay Sprout, Pastor

The entire family of Dr. Bob attended this church and was active in its affairs.
North Congregational Church sponsors this Conference in the context of housing the “Dr. Bob Core Library.”

Ray G., Newton Falls, Ohio, and Seminole, Florida

Traveling archives; and, for 21 years, the Archivist and a Managing Board Member, Dr.
Bob’s Home, Akron, Ohio; A.A. speaker and exhibitor of A.A. historical Items all over the United States and Canada, and on sobriety cruises

The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Library, Akron, Ohio

Mark Pruitt, Rector

This is the church in which Dr. Bob became a communicant before his death.
Its former rector, Dr. Walter Tunks, was a major figure in the beginning Akron days of A.A.
The library is a source of A.A. historical materials.

Christian Intervention, Treatment, Recovery Ministries, Counseling, Sober Living

Sponsors

New Life Spirit Recovery

Robert T. Tucker, Ph.D., D.Min., Registered Addiction Specialist, MCA & M-RAS)

Founder and Executive Director, New Life Spirit Recovery Christian Treatment Center; President, Association of Christian Alcohol & Drug Counseling (aka: ACADC Institute)
18652 Florida Street, Suite 200, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 841.1906 or Call Toll Free (866) 543.3361
http://www.newlifespiritrecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html

Rock Recovery Ministry, ABC Sober Living, Soledad House

David Powers, Rock Church recovery leader

810 Emerald Street
San Diego, CA 92109
Contact: david@abcsoberliving.com
619.925.1879
http://www.rockrecovery.org/

Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands, California

Pastor Mike Belzman, Ph.D., Chairman and Founder

Jeff Jay and Debra Jay, Grosse Point, Michigan

Nationally-known authors, lecturers, interventionists,
Authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide To Intervention—Updated
Tools and Techniques to Help Loved Ones Heal from Addiction, 2d ed., rev & exp.
(Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2008)

Publishers

Sponsors

Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services, division of Hazelden Foundation
Center City, Minnesota, www.Hazelden.org; publisher of recovery books, including:

The Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous
Bill W.: My First 40 Years
Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks

Dover Publications

publisher of many books, including Alcoholics Anonymous: The Original 1939 Edition,
with an Introduction by Dick B.: http://store.doverpublications.com/0486480593.html

Our Exhibitors and Displays

United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV)
http://www.umspspserv.org

New Light Spirit Recovery, Huntington Beach, California
http://www.newlifespiritrecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html

Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands, California

Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services, division of Hazelden Foundation
www.Hazelden.org

Our Featured Speaker and Panelists

Featured Speaker: J. Donald Hall, Don Hall Ministries, Colfax, California
(See details in this program about his education; his work with Teen Challenge and Youth With A Mission, his pastoring of churches, his work as a Missionary Evangelist and Bible teacher, and his speaking engagements in 60 nations.)

Speaker Panel 1:

Jeff A. Holt, Men’s Recovery Fellowship, Auburn Church of the Nazarene, Auburn, California

Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Oroville, California

Dominic DiBlasio, Turning Point Recovery Ministry, Cornerstone Fellowship—Livermore Campus, California

Roger McDiarmid, International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers' Bureau, Huntington Beach, California

Wade Hess, Training Director, CityTeam Ministries, San Jose, California

Speaker Panel 2:

Mark Galligan, Leader, “Akronite” Recovery Group, Ontario, Canada

David Sadler, Christian recovery leader serving Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California

Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., Prof. of Counseling an Chemical Dependency, Director of Oasis Center, Pittsburgh, PA

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

Wayne White, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, President/CEO, Footprints/Alcoholics Victorious,
Kansas City, MO

Acknowledgments

Our Conferences could not have taken place without leadership and help from:

Randy Moraitis, Executive Pastor of Ministries, The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, CA

Matt Pierce, Pastor of Recovery Ministry, Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, CA

David Powers, Rock Recovery Ministries Leader, Rock Church, San Diego, CA

The Lifelines Band, Costa Mesa, CA

The Musicians at Golden Hills Community Church

Roger McDiarmid, Huntington Beach, California

David Sadler, Lafayette, California

Karl Kramer, Brentwood, California

Our Sponsors

Our Endorsers

Our Exhibitors

Thank you!

For Further Participation in and Support of the Projects of International Christian Recovery Coalition

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010

http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-guide.shtml

The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class by Dick B. and Ken B.

http://dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml
(The class includes four DVD's, a class instructor's guide, a student's guide, and
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed.)

“Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons” Worldwide

http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-resource-centers.shtml

The 29-volume “Dick B. A.A. History and Christian Recovery Movement Reference Set”

http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml

The International Christian Recovery Coalition Web site:

www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

The International Christian Recovery Coalition Blog

http://internationalchristianrecoverycoaliti.blogspot.com/

International Christian Recovery Coalition Forums Website

http://www.christianrecoverycoalition.com/forums/

Other Christian Recovery and A.A. Historical Resources

FREE: Over 650 articles by Dick B.: http://www.dickb.com/articles.shtml

FREE: Over 175 recorded audio talks by Dick B.: DickB.com/Audio-talks.shtml.

FREE: Follow Dick B. on Facebook, on Twitter, and on the Dick B. Blog.

FREE: The “Dick B. FYI Message” newsletters: To subscribe, please go to the bottom of the center column of the www.DickB.com front page.

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Complete Program for the Sept 17 Christian Recov Summit in Costa Mesa, CA

The International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Presents

A North American Christian Recovery Summit Conference

Saturday, September 17, 2011, 9:00 AM to 1:45 PM

The Crossing Church
2115 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 645-5050
http://www.thecrossing.com/

Theme

Using Akron-Cleveland Christian Recovery Model Principles
to Enhance Substantially Today's Christian Recovery Efforts

Contact: Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com; DickB@DickB.com;
Cell: 808 276 4945

The Program

The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California

[Friday Evening, September 16, 7:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. (** We hope you can make these meetings, too)
Address by Dick B. at the Lifelines Meeting of The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, CA
Workshop meeting with International Christian Recovery Coalition Participants]

Saturday, September 17, 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Pre-meeting music, signing in, viewing exhibits, and hospitality

Commencing prayer

Welcome by Host Church

Theme presentation by Dick B., Executive Director, 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 (10 minutes)

Vision presentation by Ken B.

“Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons”:
Supplying Critically-Important, Missing Pieces in Modern Christian Recovery Efforts

Lunch Break on the Premises (30 minutes)

First Speakers Panel:

John Barton, Historian, Writer, Orange, New Jersey
Randy Moraitis, Executive Pastor of Ministry, The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California
Russell Spatz, attorney, Alive Again, Miami, Florida
Bobby Nicholl, Director of Admissions and Interventions, Celebrate a New Life at Hope by the Sea,
San Juan Capistrano, California
Jerry McDonald, Interventionist, Certified Counselor, long associated with the Betty Ford Center,
Rancho Mirage, California
Danny Whitmore, A.A. Historian, former leader of Roots Revival Group, and of Clarence Snyder
Retreats in Southern California

Break (10 minutes)

Second Speakers Panel:

Roger McDiarmid, International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers' Bureau, Huntington Beach,
California.
Robert Tucker, Ph.D., Exec. Dir., New Life Spirit Recovery, Huntington Beach, California;
President, Association of Christian Alcohol & Drug Counselors
Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Oroville, California
Wally Lowe, Christian Recovery Resource Center Satellite Office, Vero Beach, Florida
Jeff McLeod, Executive Director, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier, California

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

Our Sponsors and Endorsers

Christian Denominations

United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence

Rev. Cynthia W. Sloan
Program Associate,
United Methodist Special Program on
Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV)
New York Office location: 475 Riverside Drive, room 338
New York, NY 10115
phone: 212-870-3699, fax: 212-870-3932
North Carolina Office location:
325 Meadowbrook Drive
Matthews NC 28104-4309
phone: 704-882-0282
email: csloan@gbgm-umc.org
website: http://www.umspsarv.org
Become a “Fan” on SPSARV’s Facebook page
SPSARV Advance Number: 982598

Episcopal Diocese of Texas Recovery Committee

Fr. Bill Wigmore, Chaplain & Former President
Austin Recovery
8402 Cross Park Drive
Austin, TX. 78754
Tel: 512.697.8674
Email: RevBillW@gmail.com
website: www.AustinRecovery.org

Individual Benefactors

Bob J., Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Philanthropist and long-time Christian recovery and A.A. history collector and benefactor

Rick S.,

Long recovered Christian recovery work supporter
Preparing to publish his Alcoholics Anonymous, 1st Edition Sponsor’s Guide publications, website, and recorded talks

Robert P. Turner, M.D., M.S.C.R.
Associate Professor of Neurosciences, Pediatrics, and Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, & Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

Christian Churches

The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California, Host September 17 Conference

Golden Hills Community Church, California, Host, September 24 Conference

Endorsing Christian Recovery Libraries and Archives

Griffith Library, Wilson House – birthplace of Bill Wilson, East Dorset, Vermont

Bonnie Burke, formerly Bonnie Lepper, President
23000 Dick B. History Items, A.A. meetings, Quiet Time, Seminars
Conducted Tours at East Dorset, Vermont (Wilson House, Griffith Library, East Dorset
Congregational Church—where both the Wilson and the Griffith families and
Bill W. attended, and nearby cemetery where Bill and Lois Wilson are buried)
Conducted Tours to St. Johnsbury, Vermont (Dr. Bob’s birthplace and boyhood home,
North Congregational Church—where all of Dr. Bob’s family attended,
The Athenaeum—Village Library containing many historical records,
St. Johnsbury Academy—where Dr. Bob attended, his father was an Examiner,
And his mother had been a student, teacher, school historian, Exec. Committee.

Dr. Bob Core Library – North Congregational Church (UCC), St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Jay Sprout, Pastor
The entire family of Dr. Bob attended this church and was active in its affairs
North Church sponsors this Conference in the context of housing the Dr. Bob core library.

Ray G., Newton Falls, Ohio, and Seminole, Florida

Traveling Archives, and 21 years the Archivist and a Managing Board Member, Dr.
Bob’s Home, Akron, Ohio, A.A. Speaker and Exhibitor of A.A. Historical Items all over the United States and Canada and on sobriety cruises

The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Library, Akron, Ohio

Mark Pruitt, Rector
This is the church in which Dr. Bob became a communicant before his death.
Its former rector, Dr. Walter Tunks, was a major figure in the beginning Akron days of A.A.
The library is a source of A.A. historical materials.

Christian Intervention, Treatment, Recovery Ministries, Counseling, Sober Living

New Life Spirit Recovery

Robert T. Tucker, Ph.D., D.Min., Registered Addiction Specialist (MCA) and (M-RAS)
Founder and Executive Director, New Life Spirit Recovery Christian Treatment Center
President, Association of Christian Alcohol & Drug Counseling (aka ACADC Institute)
18652 Florida Street, Suite 200
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 841.1906 or Call Toll Free (866) 543.3361
http://www.newlifespiritrecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html

Rock Recovery Ministry, ABC Sober Living, Soledad House

David Powers, Rock Church leader
810 Emerald Street
San Diego, CA 92109
Contact: david@abcsoberliving.com
619.925.1879
http://www.rockrecovery.org/

Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands, California

Pastor Mike Belzman, Ph.D., Chairman and Founder

Jeff Jay and Debra Jay, Grosse Point, Michigan

Nationally known authors, lecturers,
interventionists, authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide To Intervention—Updated
Tools and Techniques to Help Loved Ones Heal from Addiction, 2d ed., Rev & Exp.
(Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2008)

Publishers

Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services, division of Hazelden Foundation
Center City, Minnesota, www.Hazelden.org

Dover Publications – publisher of First Edition Reprint, Alcoholics Anonymous
with Introduction by Dick B.

Our Exhibitors and Displays

United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV)
http://www.umspspserv.org

New Light Spirit Recovery, Huntington Beach, California
http://www.newlifespiritrecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html

Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands, California

Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services, division of Hazelden Foundation
www.Hazelden.org

Our Panelists

First Panel:

John Barton, Historian, Writer, Orange, New Jersey

Randy Moraitis, Executive Pastor of Ministry, The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California

Russell Spatz, Attorney, Frequent Speaker, Alive Again, Lost Sheep Fellowship, Miami, Florida

Bobby Nicholl, Director of Admissions and Interventions, Celebrate a New Life at Hope by the Sea, San Juan Capistrano, California

Jerry McDonald, Interventionist, Certified Counselor, Long Associated with the Betty Ford Center, Rancho Mirage, California

Second Panel:

Roger McDiarmid, International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau, Huntington Beach, California

Robert Tucker, Ph.D., Executive Director, New Life Spirit Recovery, Huntington Beach, California; President of Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute.

Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, International Christian
Recovery Speakers Bureau, Oroville, California

Wally Lowe, Christian Recovery Resource Center Satellite Office, Vero Beach, Florida

Jeff MacLeod, Executive Director, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier, California

Acknowledgements

Our Conferences Could Not Have Taken Place Without The Following Leadership and Help

Randy Moraitis, Executive Pastor of Ministries, The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, CA

Matt Pierce, Pastor of Recovery Ministry, Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, CA

David Powers, Rock Recovery Ministries Leader, Rock Church, San Diego, CA

The Lifelines Band, Costa Mesa

The Musicians at Golden Hills Community Church

Roger McDiarmid, Huntington Beach, California

Our Sponsors

Our Endorsers

Our Exhibitors

For Further Participation in and Support of the Projects of International Christian Recovery Coalition

The Dick B. and Ken B. The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010

http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-guide.shtml

The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery Class’

http://dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml
4 DVD presentations by Dick B. and Ken B.
Instructor’s Guide
Student’s Guide

Christian Recovery Coalition Centers and Persons Worldwide

http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-resource-centers.shtml
Dick B. with Ken B., The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers

The 29 Volume Dick B. A.A. History and Christian Recovery Movement History

http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml

The International Christian Recovery Coalition Website

www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition..com

The International Christian Recovery Coalition Blog
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6025837827646017677

International Christian Recovery Forums Website
http://www.christianrecoverycoalition.com/forums/

Other Christian Recovery Resources
FREE: Over 500 articles by Dick B.:www.DickB.com/Articles.shtml.
FREE: Over 175 recorded audio talks by Dick B.: DickB.com/Audio-talks.shtml.
FREE: Follow Dick B. on Facebook, on Twitter, and on the Dick B. Blog.
FREE: The Dick B. Newsletters. If you would like to subscribe, you can find the
details at the bottom of the center column in this website: www.dickb.com

FREE: Programs on the DickBYouTubeChannel, http://goo.gl/rCtH6

Dick B. Channel on YouTube.com: Special Conference Announcement video for North American Summit Conf. Mtg. #2, in California

Here is the URL shortened that will lead you to the Dick B. announcement in a special progam on the Dick B. YouTube Channel. It will tell you the purpose, theme, program, and details about our summit conferences in California in the month of September:

Dick B. Channel on YouTube.com: Special Conference Announcement video for North American Summit Conf. Mtg. #2,

http://goo.gl/1Qe3l

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Published.com listing of all Dick B. books - concise, illustrated, informative

http://published.com/published-search.aspx?catid=&searchstr=Dick%20B.

Monday, August 22, 2011

A Growing List of Sponsors and Exhibitors at the Two California Summit Conferences

Sponsors and Exhibitors
at
The North American Summit Conference Meeting #1 and Meeting #2
presented by
The International Christian Recovery Coalition

September 17, 2011
The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California
September 24, 2011
Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California

Christian Denominations

United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence

Rev. Cynthia W. Sloan, Program Associate
General Board of Global Ministries/SPSARV
1914 J.N. Pease Place
Charlotte, NC 28262
704-919-3553 or 866-944-3330 (toll free)
http://www.umspsarv.org/

Episcopal Diocese of Texas Recovery Committee

Fr. Bill Wigmore, Chaplain & Former President
Austin Recovery
8402 Cross Park Drive
Austin, TX. 78754
Tel: 512.697.8674
Email: RevBillW@gmail.com
website: www.AustinRecovery.org

Individual Benefactors

Bob J., Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Philanthropist and long-time Christian recovery an A.A. history collector and benefactor

Christian Churches

The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California, Host September 17 Conference

Golden Hills Community Church, California, Host, September 24 Conference

Recovery Libraries and Archives

Griffith Library, Wilson House – birthplace of Bill Wilson, East Dorset, Vermont

Bonnie Burke, formerly Bonnie Lepper, President
23000 Dick B. History Items, A.A. meetings, Quiet Time, Seminars
Conducted Tours at East Dorset, Vermont (Wilson House, Griffith Library, East Dorset
Congregational Church—where both the Wilson and the Griffith families and
Bill W. attended, and nearby cemetery where Bill and Lois Wilson are buried)
Conducted Tours to St. Johnsbury, Vermont (Dr. Bob’s birthplace and boyhood home,
North Congregational Church—where all of Dr. Bob’s family attended,
The Athenaeum—Village Library containing many historical records,
St. Johnsbury Academy—where Dr. Bob attended, his father was an Examiner,
And his mother had been a student, teacher, school historian, Exec. Committee.

Ray G., Newton Falls, Ohio, and Seminole, Florida

Traveling Archives, and 21 years the Archivist and a Managing Board Member, Dr.
Bob’s Home, Akron, Ohio, A.A. Speaker and Exhibitor of A.A. Historical Items all over the United States and Canada and on sobriety cruises

Christian Intervention, Treatment, Recovery Ministries, Counseling, Sober Living

New Life Spirit Recovery

Robert T. Tucker, Ph.D., D.Min., Registered Addiction Specialist (MCA) and (M-RAS)
Founder and Executive Director, New Life Spirit Recovery Christian Treatment Center
President, Association of Christian Alcohol & Drug Counseling (aka ACADC Institute)
18652 Florida Street, Suite 200
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 841.1906 or Call Toll Free (866) 543.3361
http://www.newlifespiritrecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html

Rock Recovery Ministry, ABC Sober Living, Soledad House

David Powers, Rock Church leader
810 Emerald Street
San Diego, CA 92109
Contact: david@abcsoberliving.com
619.925.1879
http://www.rockrecovery.org/

Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands, California

Jeff Jay and Debra Jay, Grosse Point, Michigan nationally known authors, lecturers,
interventionists, authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide To Intervention—Updated
Tools and Techniques to Help Loved Ones Heal from Addiction, 2d ed., Rev & Exp.
(Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2008)
Publishers

Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services, division of Hazelden Foundation
Center City, Minnesota, www.Hazelden.org

Dover Publications – publisher of First Edition Reprint, Alcoholics Anonymous
with Introduction by Dick B.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

International Christian Recovery Coalition Summits in Sept - Sponsors and Exhibitors

Christian Evangelist--Salvation and Healing--Ethel Willitts--Dr. Bob of A.A

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGJ84SRws60Eixn86eU2Tb1QBHigiAE49hsQTVTVUIoZoy3JOsdyxNtkYrnUvHnZuIf9E4bii4nTxiTSdoRZoSDi0WzMFtEbbfHhDppUzZ-QyDixHK1nOlERgJcnoHDaJilyiQ1aeY6UE/s1600-h/biglove.jpg

A large gathering to hear Ethel Willitts in Detroit.

See Ethel Willitts, "Healing in Jesus' Name" a book owned by Dr. Bob.

A.A.-Dr. Bob-Christian Evangelist Ethel Willitts-Akron healings-Our New Search

Dick B.: The Real "Power" Behind Alcoholics Anonymous: A.A. Christian Evangelist, Her Book "Healing in Jesus' Name," Her salvattion and healing meetings in Akron, the possible link to Dr. Bob and Early A.A. healings.

Check our blog: www.mauihistorian.blogspot.com, and see how you can help us investigate the possible link betwwen Christian Evangelist Ethel Willitts, salvation and healing meetings in Akron after A.A. was founded, Dr. Bob's ownership of her book "Healing in Jesus' Name," and Dr. Bob's strong and long connection with study of healing by the power of God

Friday, August 19, 2011

Dick B. YouTube Program 15 Now Running: "AA History & Christian Recovery"" Quiet Time/F.B. Meyer

"Dick B. 15 AA History & Christian Recovery: Quiet Time FB Meyer"

http://goo.gl/y50Yy

Sponsors and Exhibitors at North American Christian Summit Conference Meeting # 1

International Christian Recovery Coalition

The List as of August 17 of Sponsor/Exhibiters at the Summit Conferences in California

The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California

Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, California

Episcopal Texas Diocese Commission on Recovery, Austin, Texas

United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence, New York New York

Rock Recovery Ministries, ABC Sober Living, Soledad House, San Diego, California

New Life Spirit Recovery, Huntington Beach, California

Bob J., Philanthropist and recovery benefactor, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Association of Christian Alcohol & Drug Counselors Institute, Redlands, California

Others Contacted and Considering

Celebrate a New Life at Hope by the Sea Treatment Program, San Juan, Capistrano, California

Roman Cucina Restaurants, Orange County, California

And Others Still Being Contacted.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

An Answer to a Courteous Jewish A.A. Who Wonders If A.A. had a "blind period"

Thank you for (1) Writing. (2) Your courteous remarks – because I don’t answer the other kind. (3) Your thoughtful exposition of how a Jew of your convictions looks at A.A.

I don’t care to debate with you. I do think you need to consider some important points and then ponder them and use them for yourself.

First, there was no “flying blind” period in Alcoholics Anonymous. Try that on Bill W., Dr. Bob, and Bill Dotson and the pioneers who voted to let Bill write a totally different book and progrram. That is a product of the secularism you so wisely observe. I would never call “blind” a period such as the one summarized in the Frank Amos report and covered in detail in several of my books (including The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous and The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials). That “blindness” expression was coined by some paid, well-known A.A. writers of the 1980’s. And they are welcome to their view—unsupported as it is. Read page 191 of the latest edition of the Big Book (2001)

Second, in your zeal to take umbrage at the unquestioniable and thoroughly documented “cures” and successes of early A.A., you have allowed yourself to fall into the trap of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The “baby: is God – Not Jesus Christ, but Yahweh. Check out your Big Book which refers to God, to Creator, to Maker, to Heavenly Father, etc. You appear to worship God. So do I. But you totally miss the historical quest that started my research and writing 21 years ago. I did not start out trying to “prove” anything. I started out trying to establish what had not been even closely or accurately or comprehensively reported—the roots of A.A., its origins, and what it looked like before the Great Compromise in 1939 when God was deleted from Steps 2, 3, and 11.

Third, as a practicing Jew you probably want Jews to be comfortable with Yahweh, with reliance upon Him, and with the freedom to do so in A.A. Why not! I have sponsored several Jews, taken them through the Steps, and impressed upon them the abc’s and the “May you find Him now” that have never been deleted or removed or superseded..

Fourth, today, A.A. and many members are pumping out the nonsense that you can pray to a Pumpkin, you can corrupt religion into New Age spirituality, and you can ignore the ruling of a great majority of courts that A.A. is a religion and that the “spiritual but not religious” nonsense doesn’t alter the clear facts.

Fifth, (and I doubt this) if you are advocating that dedicated Christians and Jews in A.A. are to surrender to a light bulb, to worship a chair, to pray to “Something,”, and to peddle the idea – now widely voiced in new A.A. literature – that you don’t have to believe in anything at all, you would be describing the A.A. of today and not the successful A.A. of the “early years.” You seem to overlook the fact that when Cleveland A.A. was founded in May of 1939s, it embraced the Bible, the Four Absolutes, the Big Book, and the 12 Steps. It grew from one group to thirty in a year, was the fastest growing area in the country—bar none, and had a documented 93% success rate. They weren’t blind. They were highly and demonstrably successful. And even Jews and Roman Catholics could be found among them.

Sixth, I have published 42 titles and over 650 articles; and until you have digested the origins of A.A., the history of A.A., the founding of A.A. when the first three AAs -- all believers in Almighty God, all Christians, and all totally successful with continuous sobriety, then I really wouldn’t care to discuss this further. But if you cover the first three and also learn the Akron program, the Cleveland program, the success rates, and the great compromise of 1939 when a committee of four removed God from the Steps, then you will be on a firm footing in believing what you believe, reading what you wish, practicing whatever religious ideas you have, and witnessing to your successes. And not condemning the dedicated work of another AA.

I am one of those dudes who has attended and/or served honorably in the Boy Scouts, the Army, college, law school, the Rotary Club, and the Stanford Law Review. Never did I dispute what someone else said or believed or practiced concerning himself. I just served where I was, I believed what I believed. And I tried to heed the injunction found in both the Old and the New Testaments that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as yourselves. You will also find it in the Big Book. And you won’t find it among the “bleeding deacons” who want to tell everybody else what they must believe in order to be a Boy Scout, a soldier, a university student, a lawyer, a Rotarian, and a Law Review Editor. I found many Christians, Jews, Roman Catholics, and humanists in all these outfits. I didn’t call them “blind.” And I ddn’t leave any of them. I merely drank too much before I successfully joined A.A. over 25 years ago, maintained continuous sobriety, and helped more drunks and addicts than I can count.

God bless,

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The History or The Mystery in A.A.

A.A. History or A.A. Mystery
A Series with Answers

Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

A.A.’s own resources:

A.A.’s Pamphlet P-53 reports the complete talk Dr. Bob gave at his last major address in 1948, emphasizing A.A.’s roots in the Bible—Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7), the Book of James, and 1 Corinthians 13.

Bill W. wrote some “fragments” that became available in Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age ( 1957), and, in an article published in The Language of the Heart: Bill W.’s Grapevine Writings, Bill sketched out the source of the 12 Steps as Dr. William D.
Silkworth, Professor William James, and Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.

It was not until the 1980’s that A.A. published DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (1980)
which recorded the Original A.A. program in Akron (from 1935-1938); and not until 1984 that A.A. published “Pass It On” – a partial biography of Bill’s life with most of Bill Wilson’s shortcomings frankly conceded.

What was missing:

There was no complete, accurate, or informative material on the Christian upbringing of
Dr. Bob in Vermont. There was no complete, accurate, or informative material on Bill W.’s Christian upbringing in Vermont Nor on the solution that Dr. Silkworth gave Bill—the cure through Jesus Christ. Nor Ebby Thacher’s new birth at Calvary Mission Nor Bill’s decision for Jesus Christ at Calvary Mission. Nor his original witnessing with a Bible under his arm and his testimony that the Lord had cured him of his terrible disease.

There was no mention of Bill W.’s autobiography which lay dormant in Stepping Stones for years and years.

It took a bid at auction for slightly less than one million dollars to result in Hazelden’s publication in 2010 of the drastically changed printer’s manuscript of the First Edition
of Alcoholics Anonymous.

There was no publication for years and years of anything accurate about the personal
Journal that Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Ripley Smith had kept from 1933 to 1939, which
laid out the basic principles of the A.A. program, and from which she shared each morning at the Smith home in Akron with pioneer AAs and their families.

There was no significant information published about the excellent training that Dr. Bob said he had had in the Bible as a youth. There was no significant information published about Bill’s Bible study with his grandfather and with his friend, or the four-year Bible study Bill undertook at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont.
There was no adequate report on the many Christian conversions and cures that Professor William James recorded in his Varieties of Religious Experience that both Dr. Bob and Bill owned and studied.

There was no adequate report for years and years on the prescription of conversion as a cure for alcoholism that Dr. Carl G. Jung prescribed before A.A. was founded. And that Dr. William D. Silkworth had specifically mentioned to Bill Wilson on Bill’s third visit to Towns Hospital as a patient.

There was no report or documentation of the twenty-eight Oxford Group principles that so strongly influenced Bill W.’s writing in the Big Book and Twelve Steps.

There was no public report of the “Bedford” Manuscript that Bill dictated to Ed B. in the 1950’s when Bill recorded a version of A.A. history that was later used by Robert Thomsen (Bill’s first biographer) and even by the authors of “Pass It On” – but no apparent or recognizable opportunity for the public to see and analyze the report itself

There was no report of the hundreds of articles in newspapers and magazines and even books where early AAs told how they had been “cured” of alcoholism. And eventually
A.A. literature (except for page 191 of later Big Book editions) simply obliterated the idea that alcoholism could be cured, that Bill Wilson had said so, but and had also specifically attributed the cure to Jesus Christ in a story about Cleveland that has
now been removed from the Third Edition of “Alcoholics Anonymous.”

There has been no presentation of the more than 400 pages of Big Book manuscript materials – containing Christian and biblical materials – that were discarded before the Big Book manuscript was published. And there has been no presentation of the “dogma” that Bill wrote had been learned from the churches and missions that had helped AAs.

The price paid and the mystery created by the omissions

Writers put out books like “Not-God,” “Slaying the Dragon,” biographies of Bill, and reflections by hundreds of later A.A. members on what A.A. had given them or not given them in the way of “spiritual experiences” or “Something saves” if they even acknowledged the existence of such novel recovery interpretations..

The “solution” that had made Bill and A.A. famous—Bill’s own story of conversion to God through Jesus Christ and called a “spiritual experience” was changed to speak of a “spiritual awakening” and finally a “personality change.”

Every mention of the Bible was omitted from the Big Book main text.

Every meaningful mention of Jesus Christ was omitted from the Big Book main text.

Significant mention of God as Creator, Maker, Heavenly Father, and Father was mixed with Bill W.’s self-made “Czar of the Heavens,” “Universal Mind,” “Spirit of Nature,” and “Creative Intelligence,” and other human appellations seemingly derived from New Thought writers.

A few dogged anti-A.A. Christian writers began publishing untruths about A.A. and
Spiritualism, A.A. and “spirituality,” A.A. as being “spiritual but not religious,” A.A. and Masonry, and absurd names for “a god” like higher power, light bulb, radiator, chair, table, Gertrude, Ralph, Santa Claus, the Great Pumpkin, and Something.

A few A.A. apologists began trying to equate the biblical roots and expressions of early A.A. with Bible verses the mention of which in early A.A. was simply not documented.

A large number of AAs and the A.A. hierarchy began pushing the idea that one didn’t need to believe in anything at all in order to recover in the A.A. program.

A.A. Traditions and A.A. “Conference Approved” barriers were manufactured by people in the rooms to bar books, to suppress mention of the Bible and Jesus Christ, and even to exclude from recognition those groups that studied the biblical and Christian roots of A.A.

The “wisdom of the rooms” with its psychobabble and self-made religion gained much more usage by members than the Bible verses and Christian ideas that dominated the early A.A. of Akron. Phrases like “this too shall pass,” “turn it over,” “acceptance is the answer,” “just play with the cards that are dealt you,” “don’t drink and go to meetings,” and “go to meetings – go to meetings – go to meetings” predominated over reading the Bible, having Quiet Times, holding prayer meetings, affirming belief in Almighty God, accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and talking about “religion.”

Worship of some “higher power” began to be widely accepted as a remedy instead of being rejected or ignored as an “absurd name for God” which Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. had warned against in A.A. conferences and literature.

The possibility that someone could and can be a participant in a 12 Step or A.A. program or fellowship and still be a Christian caused some writers to concoct interpretations of the Bible and fearful condemnations of those who dared to be Christian and A.A.

A.A. History or A.A. Mystery?

One who is an AA and Christian is often left with several misunderstood or seemingly unacceptable choices: (1) Believe the “wisdom of the rooms.” (2) Misuse A.A. tools like “Conference-approved” and the “Traditions” to suppress reading and meeting talk. (3) Read the volumes of later published literature promoting A.A. as a “broad highway,” a place where those of any belief or no belief could flourish in their discussions of A.A. and its Steps. (4) See himself vocally and in writing condemned for expressing his views about God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, the Bible, religion, and church.

God has not left A.A. Nor has the Christian history of A.A. disappeared. Jesus Christ has not vanished from the beliefs of thousands and thousands of AAs. The Bible has not been burned—as with Nazi German and other historically reported book-burnings. Idolatry has not been acclaimed by Christians. “Higher Powers” are not proven vehicles of healing or understanding or worship or belief. They are bogus crutches for those who have heard and believed a rumor, “forgotten where they came from” and never learned how it is that the original believing AAs (40 in number) had a 75% success rate—which is far far far from the success rates of those in A.A. who don’t believe or those who rely on frequent rotating “rehabs” and “treatment” programs.

The “mystery” perhaps is just how long the perpetrator of unbelief, the victims of unbelief, and the publishers of unbelief will continue to dilute and perhaps even destroy the desperate hopes for healing, outcries for help, and solid reliance on God that still cause the formula to be published in A.A.’s Big Book – “God could and could if He were sought.”

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Guide for Recovery Study Groups Patterned on Early A.A. in Akron

A Suggested Guide for Recovery Groups and Meetings Patterned on Early AA
Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved
August 11, 2011
P. O. Box 837
Kihei, HI 96753-0837
(808 874 4876)
email: dickb@dickb.com
URL: http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml

Introductory Comment

For the past three of four years, and particularly in 2011, scarcely a day goes by that someone does not phone, fax, email, or mail me with the following questions: How to (1) Start a Big Book/Bible Study Group in AA; (2) Hold an old-time, early AA meeting, (3) Organize a recovery group organized in connection with a church, a para-church, or a Christian recovery fellowship in the church; (4) Organize a group of AAs and NAs who want to focus on the early AA Christian Fellowship, and its reliance on the Creator, coming to Him through Jesus Christ, Bible Study, and the old fashioned prayer meetings as they were frequently called, and Quiet Times.

Each communicant has a different agenda, a different point of origin, and a unique 12 Step, recovery group or church community background.

Hence, before beginning with answers and suggestions, I have found it helpful to have each person supply me directly with the following:

1. Their name, mail address, phone number, email, and website, if any.

2. A brief statement of their alcoholism or addiction story.

3. The length of their continuous sobriety or freedom from addiction.

4. Their religion, church or group, and religious beliefs.

5. Whether they believe in the Creator, have accepted Christ, and are willing to lead.

6. Their familiarity with the Big Book, taking the Twelve Steps, and a fellowship

7. Their familiarity with the Bible, and which version

8. The name, address, religion, and faith beliefs of their pastor or priest, if any.

9. The number of people they plan to reach at the beginning.

10. The immediate financial resources they have for acquiring start-up literature.

11. Whether they have read my books, and, if any, the books they’ve read.

When the foregoing have been answered by phone, email, or other communication, I welcome personal calls by phone to discuss moving forward and initial guidance.

Specific Suggestions

Suggested Format for Recovery Group Meetings

Open the Meeting as Follows:
This is the regular meeting of the (i.e.) “The James Club of Maui” or
“The Shoemaker Twelve Step Study” or the “Good Book/Big Book
Study Group”
My name is xxx, and I am your secretary
We will open the meeting with a moment of silence to do with as you wish

Followed by a prayer; and the secretary or chosen person prays (i.e.)
“Heavenly Father. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ for your blessing on this meeting of those who are here to overcome their life-controlling problems such as alcoholism, addictions, and other dependencies. We ask that your wisdom and guidance show us your will for our lives, your way to victory, and how we may glorify you in all that we do here.”

This group patterns its work after that of the first Alcoholics Anonymous Group, which was formed in Akron,
Ohio, The early A.A Christian Fellowship in Akron; stressed the Bible; was known as AA Number One; was a Christian Fellowship; and relied on the Creator to overcome the problems of the members. To the same end, we’ll review several verses from the Bible that guided them in their work:

God’s love: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life@ (John 3:16)

God’s will: Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth (1 Tim 2:4)

God’s word of faith: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved (Rom 10:9)

His Word is truth: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17)

Faith in God: But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him: (Heb 11:6)

Obeying God: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promises (Heb 10:35-3 6)

God’s Two Great Commandments: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets (Matt 22:37-40)

Forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy
diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Who satisfieth thy mouth with
good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:3-5)

The Gospel: And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shalt they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover: (Mark 16:15-18)

Early AAs believed that the solution to all their problems was in the Good Book--the Bible.

The Book of James was their favorite. In fact, A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob declared that James, Jesus’ sermon on the mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 were all considered absolutely essential. The original A.A. Society considered it vital that they seek, find, know, and establish a relationship and fellowship with God. Also vital that they study the Book of Acts to see what Christians could and should do by reason of
the teachings and accomplishments of Jesus Christ before he ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of his Father, Yahweh, the Creator.

Tonight’s session will be divided into three parts.

First, I will select someone to read one or several chapters from (i.e.) the
Sermon Mount that Jesus gave and which is reported in Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7

Second, I will select someone to read the guide prepared for us by A.A. historian
Dick B. concerning or more of these chapters and the A.A. program.

Third, I’ll open the meeting briefly for comments and discussion on these items.

We will then have a period where each of us in the group may pray to God and to
seek His guidance and healing in respect of our own lives.

And now, we ask that newcomers raise their hands so that we can get to know you.
Please talk to someone after the meeting, give them your name and phone number,
and get theirs so that you may call them for prayers, help, and support. During the
period you are working with our particular meeting group, keep company with believers
whether in shopping, recreation, sports, church, meetings, movies, games, schools,
meals, and so on. See Acts chapters 1 through 4 for what they did in the First
Century that sustained their believing and carried their message of salvation.

For those who have not yet been born again of God’s spirit, please either see your
pastor and do so with that person if you wish, or see me after the meeting; and
we will have a brief ceremony where individually you can confess Jesus as your
Lordand confirm in your heart that God raised him from the dead. This was called
a “real surrender” in early A.A. It enabled a newcomer to be born again and thus
become a child of the living and true God.

Literature is available for purchase or order at the table in the rear. Be sure to
read your Bibles and pray each day.

Our next meeting will be on _____________.

We will close the meeting by joining hands in a circle and saying the Lord’s Prayer, which will be led by __________. Thank you all for coming. Please join us again.
____________________________________________________________________

Suggestions for Members of the Group

With these suggestions for the individual to follow daily:

Abstain. Under no circumstances, indulge in your temptation problem - alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, lust, over-eating, etc.

Be sure to seek medical help for withdrawal, sweats, shaking, etc.

Thank God for all his blessings, name them and for all blessings that you already have.

Ask God in the name of Jesus Christ to heal you of your illnesses, to guide you away from temptations, to forgive you for your mistakes, to guide you and instruct you to safe habits, friends, places, and activities.

Determine that you will change your life by following God’s commandments as they are set out in the Bible.

Renew your mind in your reading, thinking, speaking - filling it with simple ideas
such as those in Philippians 4:8, 1 John 4:8, and Ephesians 1:19.

Call other believers for prayers, company, joint reading, activities, recreation, meals.

Begin immediately finding someone you can help even if it is by phoning them,
giving them rides, joining them for an activity, reading the Bible with them, or simply keeping fellowship with that person. Urge them to come with you to our group meeting among other meetings.

Don’t give up! Don’t give in. Read James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

With these suggested readings for individuals or the group:

Read slowly, bit by bit, the Gospels, Acts, and go on with Romans, etc.

Read

Dick B.’s Why Early AAs Succeeded (a Bible study guide)
Use it, beginning at Chapter 4, for individual Bible study or
Group Bible study.

Dick B.’s The James Club: The Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials

Dick B.’s New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.

Read Psalms such as 23, 31, 56, 91; Proverbs 3:5-6.

With suggestions for filling your hours:

A job, volunteer work, exercise, sports, wholesome recreation, school, reading,
coffee and or meals together, fairs and amusement parks, museums and
exhibits, arranging your affairs, your business, your house, and your yard,

Heed the old AA adage: Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.

Get a Sponsor: Ask someone who has a sound Christian life to be your contact and sponsor. Keep in touch. Share your problems as long as your contact provides
you with suggested prayers, Bible segments to read, and positive solutions - not just the “wisdom of the rooms,” sympathetic listening, or some secular experience or solution. Study the Bible, the Big Book, and take the “Steps” with him

Other Meetings Your Group Can Hold

First, consult the Creator for guidance as to content and leader.
Remember that in early A.A. and among the early Christians,
there were daily fellowships.

Then you might consider establishing or going to
. 1 meeting a week resembling the above original AA meeting

1 meeting a week on early AA History
1 meeting a week simply reading the Bible - using the Bible study primer
1 meeting a week teaching the Big Book chapter by chapter
1 meeting a week studying a step and its origins (using my Twelve Steps for You Book)
1 meeting a week on Steps 10, 11, 12, particularly explaining what is involved in
a real Quiet Time and: (1) Born again of God’s spirit. (2) Reading from the Word.
(3) Prayer to God with thanksgiving, praise, seeking guidance, seeking healing,
seeking forgiveness, asking help for others. (4) Asking for revelation from God
for any message He wishes to give. (5) Using devotionals like The Upper Room,
The Runner’s Bible, My Utmost for His Highest.. Read the Big Book instructions on Steps 10 and 11

As to Step 12,

(1) Note that the original spiritual experience was acceptance of Christ
(Romans 10:9), being born again of the Spirit (John 3:1-8), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-8). Then walking by the Spirit of God and not the flesh.

(2) Note that the message that was to be passed on was: God has done for me what I could not do for myself.

(3) Note that the primary principles to be practiced are those specified in
1 Corinthians 13, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the two Great
Commandments love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:28-31);
Serving (Mark 10:42-45); and witnessing (Matthew 28:18-20).

Dr. Bob cited all the foregoing verses. He emphasized that the steps could
be simmered down to their essence - love and service. He concluded his personal story by assuring AAs that “Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!”

Twenty-five years later (after A.A. was founded, Rev. Sam Shoemaker was addressing A.A. conventions and declaring that a A spiritual awakening involves four things: (1) Conversion. (2) Prayer. (3) Fellowship, and (4) Witnessing.

Suggested Resources Your Group Should Acquire

1. As many copies of the Big Book (4th ed.) as there are members
Plus at least one reprint of the 1st Edition, and Poe’s Concordance to the Big Book.

2. As many Bibles (preferably King James Version) as there are members Plus Young’s Concordance to the Bible.

3. A reference set of the Dick B. 29 Titles - with discounted price.

4. As many of the following Dick B. titles for each as there are members (available at a 50% discount plus s & h)

The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible.

Why Early A.A. Succeeded (Bible study primer)

When Early AAs Were Cured. And Why.

Good Morning: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation

Twelve Steps for You

The James Club and The Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials

New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.

Dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com

Gloria Deo

Celebrating All Aspects of Christian Recovery in California in Two September Summits

Celebrating Recovery in California with Christians in Recovery

Two September Recovery Summits Reaching Far Beyond Churches, A.A., N.A., Teen Challenge, Celebrate Recovery, Interventions, Treatment Programs, Counseling, Christian recovery fellowships, Prisons, Homeless shelters, Sober living, and Interventions

Dick B.

A call for broadening your search for God’s help by attending our summits in California and learning how concerned recovery workers are joining complete our worldwide efforts to address all aspects of Christian living beyond affliction and affection.

The next important summit for Christians in recovery will be held Saturday, September 17, 9:00 AM to 1:45 PM at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa. This will be followed by a summit for Christian recovery Saturday, September 24, 9:30 AM for balance of day.

Open. Free. No registration required. Important.

Audiences will hear from speakers and panelists worldwide who will be telling how the new Christian Recovery Movement reaches far beyond churches. Leaders network with other leaders in assessment, detox, referral, Christian counseling, intervention, Christian treatment programs, Christian after care, Christian sober living, Christian recovery fellowships, prayer groups, Bible study groups, chaplaincy, prison outreach, mental illness, homelessness, and restoration to the abundant life in society that Christians and others--affected and afflicted-can receive relief from God through His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible if they want it.

We are A.A. friendly, Bible friendly, Recovery friendly, and Friendly friendly. And we believe those who want and need help from God should seek all the help they can get. Look to God--whether in A.A., N.A., Alcoholics Victorious, Celebrate Recovery, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Salvation Army, Teen Challenge, treatment, sober living, or other professional help.

We believe all of these efforts need to be keyed to the power of God and how to receive it. They need to be keyed to God’s healing, forgiveness, love, guidance, and purpose. They need to be keyed toward alcoholics and addicts who are suffering, toward those afflicted by their behavior, and toward those who have had enough of higher powers, spirituality, and nonsense gods.

Be sure to come to California during national recovery month in September. The summits will have Music. Prayer. Speakers. Food, Penelistss, Exhibits, Fellowship.

See www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. Contact dickb@dickb.com.

Christian Recovery Summits in California - September - And for All!

The next important summit for Christians in recovery will be held Saturday, September 17, 9:00 AM to 1:45 PM at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa. Open. Free. No registration required. Important. Audiences will hear from speakers and panelists worldwide who will be telling how the new Christian Recovery Movement reaches far beyond churches. Leaders network with other leaders in assessment, detox, referral, Christian counseling, intervention, Christian treatment programs, Christian after care, Christian sober living, Christian recovery fellowships, prayer groups, Bible study groups, chaplaincy, prison outreach, mental illness, homelessness, and restoration to the abundant life in society that Christians and others--affected and afflicted-can receive relief from God through His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible if they want it. We are A.A. friendly, Bible friendly, Recovery friendly, and Friendly friendly. And we believe those who want and need help from God should seek all the help they can get--whether from A.A., N.A., Alcoholics Victorious, Celebrate Recovery, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Salvation Army, Teen Challenge, or professional help --- all of which need to be keyed to the power of God and how to receive it. Be sure to come. Music. Prayer. Speakers. Food, Penelistss, Exhibits, Fellowship. See www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. Contact dickb@dickb.com.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Reviewing Who We Are and What We Do

International Christian Recovery Coalition
Reviewing Who We Are and What We Do
Our members: They read the statement. They provide a listing of their choice. They become participants. The fellowship is informal and free. We undertake projects:
A growing number of participants located all over the U.S. and abroad
A listing on our web of leaders, outreach folks, speakers, and participants
Christian Recovery Resource Centers
Websites, blogs, Facebooks, Twitter, Christian Forums, Social forums, Digg, Tumbler, Stumble Upon, Google Buzz, Google reader, Goarticles.com, SearchWarp, Hub Pages, Self Improvement Experts, Amazon, Bing, Rings, Links.
Encouraging networking, cooperation, and referrals among participants
Distributing books and literature on the origins, history, founding, original Christian A.A. program, its successes, the changes in recovery, and adapting today’s methods to “old school” Christian techniques.
Including as participants: Christian leaders, Christians in recovery, Christian recovery programs and pastors, clergy, detox and interventionist specialists, Christian counselors, treatment programs, after-care, sober living, bridge groups, authors, publishers, AAs, NAs, and Twelve Step people, sponsors, sponsees, study groups, prayer groups
Our Two-Part Mission Statement
"To glorify God by making known the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the astonishing 75% and 93% success rates (overall, and in Cleveland, respectively) early A.A. claimed among ‘seemingly-hopeless,’ ‘medically-incurable,’ ‘real’ 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."
"To glorify God by helping Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena substantially improve their effectiveness in reaching those who still suffer by including accurate information about the original, highly-successful Akron A.A. program, its principles and techniques, and its historical setting into their recovery efforts."
The Theme of our September 17 and 24 California Christian Recovery Summit Meetings
“Using Akron-Cleveland Christian Recovery Model Principles to Enhance Substantially Today's Christian Recovery Efforts”
Gloria Deo

4 Dick B. Books on A.A.'s Bible roots now in electronic form

This is one The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (www.dickb.com/good book.shtml) is one of four books written by author Dick B. to document A.A.'s very clear roots in the Bible. The four are: (1) The Good-Book Big Book Guidebook. (2) The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible. (3) The James Club and the original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials. (4) Why Early A.A. Succeeded (a Bible study primer). All four are now available in electronic form.

For descriptions of all 4, see www.dickb.com/titles.shtml

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Quick Access to Programs for the Two California Christian Recovery Summits in September (17 and 24)

There are two North American Christian Recovery Summit Meetings in California in September (17th in Costa Mesa - The Crossing Church; 24th in Brentwood - Golden Hills Community Church)

Here is the short URL that will lead you to the complete programs
http://mcaf.ee/0y56e

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center Invitation to those in Need

This notice or something similar will be posted at our office in the Salvation Army building in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii:

Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center
in Partnership with
County of Maui Salvation Army
Meeting the Afflicted or Affected by Appointment

Office Inside

Tuesday: 10:00 A.M. through 5:00 P.M.

Thursday: 10:00 A.M. through 5:00 P.M., and 7:30 P.M. through 9:30 P.M.

Saturday: 2:00 P.M. through 5:00 P.M.

Make an Appointment by Phoning Dick B. at (808) 874-4876 or
Ken B. at (808) 276-4945; or by Emailing dickb@dickb.com

What We Do

Assess: Meet with, and assess the need and willingness to seek help of, those suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or uncontrolled at-risk behavior. And learn as much about them as possible. OR meet with and assess the need and willingness to seek help of those affected by an alcoholic, addict, or otherwise at-risk person and willingness to recognize behavior that worsens their pain, and often encourages continued excesses by alcoholics or addicts causing it.
Inform the afflicted and affected about: (1) Behavior, common denial, and mindset of those needing help. (2) Varied needs of the suffering, including: (a) court dates, legal defense, jail, prison, probation, parole, and re-entry; (b) loss of reputation; (c) loss of financial resources and housing; (d) homelessness and lack of shelter; (e) medical problems; (f) loss of job, family, support from loved ones; (g) lack of education, vocational training, and job skills; (h) depression and mental problems (i) lack of finances; (j) legal problems stemming from criminal charges, domestic difficulties, custody matters, (l) indebtedness or bankruptcy; (m) loneliness, despair, despondency, fear, anger, dishonesty, and selfishness; (n) lack of incentive and purpose; (o) lack of information about Veterans assistance, family assistance, food, housing, clothing, and welfare; (p) regaining licenses, insurance, registration; (q) detox, treatment, counseling, sober living, wholesome recreation and companions; (r) filling the hours; (s) Twelve Step and anonymous programs; (t) God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, prayer, Quiet Time, Christian literature & devotionals, church, Christian recovery fellowships, and pastoral care; (u) intervention; (v) CityTeam, Alcoholics Victorious/Footprints, Teen Challenge, Overcomers Outreach, Alcoholics for Christ, Celebrate Recovery, Salvation Army ARCs, and YWAM. And (w) hospitalization.
Refer: We have Christian contacts in the U.S. and other countries to whom we can, on a non-professional basis, refer you for the kind of help they offer. They have or know about the resources you need. They really care about and want to help the afflicted and affected. And they know and stress the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins of the recovery movement and can play today.

Thankful for the history of Christian Upbringing of A.A. Cofounders Bill and Dr. Bob

These days there is more "wisdom of the rooms" in A.A. than there is accurate reporting of the most important aspects of A.A. itself. And I appreciate the moderator's letting my article be posted enumerating some of the major A.A. History points.

Some of the many items that led us ordinary drunks astray are the many times that the spelling of names of some of our early pioneers is wrong. Thus the correct spelling of the names of these folks is "Rowland Hazard," "Ebby Thacher," "Anne Riipley Smith" (Dr. Bob's wife), "Henrietta Seiberling."

Some of the highly significant missing historical pieces that enable us to learn how A.A. came about are:

(1) The younger days of Dr. Bob in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. There his birthplace was the family home at 20 Summer Street (number of address has been changed, but the house is still there). (2) North
Congregational Church of St. Johnsbury where Dr. Bob's father was a Deacon, Sunday school superintendent, and Sunday school teacher, as well as a member of the Executive Committee, and ex-officio member of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor in which Dr. Bob was active. The father's name was Judge Walter P. Smith. Dr. Bob's mother was head of a large school in the church, Sunday school teacher, head of the women's group, singer in the choir, and church historian. Her name was Susan H. Smith. The entire Smith family was active in the church: Judge Smith, Susan Smith, Susan's mother, Dr. Bob, and his foster sister Amanda Northrup. (3) The church sermons and Sunday school lessons made it clear that families were to teach their children about salvation and the Word of God, and that many a sermon was tuned to the same subjects. (4) Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor had a program "For Christ and For Church" which had all the elements that were incorporated in the original Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship program: conversion meetings, converting members to God through Jesus Christ; Bible study meetings; prayer meetings; a Quiet Hour program; discussion of topical Christian literature and Bible passages; and a motto that Dr. Bob repeated in A.A.: "love and service." (5) The Y.M.C.A. of which Dr. Bob's father was president during Bob's high school years, and it participated in Bible studies, Sunday evening church events, and activities at St. Johnsbury Academy where Dr. Bob studied. The YMCA building was located just a block and a half from Dr. Bob's birthplace and boyhood home. (6) St. Johnsbury Academy--Congregational to the core. There Dr. Bob's father was an examiner. His mother had been a student there, a teacher there, and later an Academy historian and member of its alumni executive committee. Dr. Bob himself attended daily chapel, weekly church service, weekly Bibe study, and took courses that had a Christian aspect. Bob was a fraternity member, debater, president of the Glee Club, and class orator on graduation. These facts are virtually unmentioned either in A.A.literature or the writings of A.A. historians. Yet Dr. Bob said plainly that he had had excellent training in the Bible as a youngster.

(7) The Wilson House where Bill Wilson was born and which stands today as a memorial in East Dorset, Vermont. Both sets of Bill's grandparents were active in the little East Dorset Congregational Church on the green between Wilson House and the home of the other grandparents--the Griffiths. (8) Bill's drunken grandfather Willie Wilson was cured of alcoholism when he cried out to God for help on Mount Aeolus next to his home on the other side of the little church. Willie rushed to the church, announced he was saved, and never had a drop of liquor in the remaining 8 years of his life. (8) The Wilsons owned Pew 15 in the Church. (9) Bill's grandparents--the Wilsons and the Griffiths--belonged to and attended the East Dorset Congregtional Church, as did Bill himself. Bill's parents were married in that church. And Sunday school records and sermons reveal that salvation and study of the Word of God were as much a part of the East Dorset Church as they were the North Congregational Church. (10) Bill studied the Bible with his grandfather Griffith and his friend Mark Whalon. (11) Bill enrolled in the Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. The school was run by Congregationalists. There Bill Wilson took a four year Bible study course, attended daily chapel, attended weekly church services at the Manchester Congregational Church, and was president of the school YMCA.

(12) Years later, on his third hospitalization at Towns Hospital for alcoholism, Bill was told by his physician Dr. William D. Silkworth that the "Great Physician" Jesus Christ could cure Bill of his alcoholism. (13) Very soon, Bill's long-time friend Ebby Thacher visited Bill - sober - and told Bill he had made a decision for Jesus Christ at Calvary Rescue Mission where he lived; and Bill noted that Ebby had been born again. (14) Bill then decided that he too should go to the mission and there be helped by the Great Physician as he saw Ebby had been. (15) Bill went to the altar at Calvary Rescue Mission, made a decision for Jesus Christ, soon wrote that he had been born again, staggered drunk to Towns Hospital for his last visit, decided he should call on the "Great Physician" for help, cried out to God, had a "white light" experience he likened to that of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Bill sensed the presence of God and remarked "So this is the God of the Scriptures." Bill was instantly cured and never drank again for the rest of his life.

There is much more to the Christian origins of Alcoholics Anonymous, and we will talk about it elsewhere. Primarily in Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous by Dick B. and The Conversion of Bill W. by Dick B.