Alcoholics Anonymous History
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide
Third Edition
(Kihei, HI: Paradise
Research Publications, Inc., 2010)
(eBook/“digital
download” version)
By Dick B. and Ken B.
© Anonymous 2010. All rights reserved
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B. (157 pages, 8 ½” x 11”) is based
on Dick B.’s lifetime of Bible study, legal scholarship and training, 26 years
of continuous sobriety, active participation in the A.A. Fellowship, experience
sponsoring more than 100 sponsees, 22 years of historical research, and 44
published titles.
This edition is the
product of one year of conferences, meetings, and personal talks by the authors
(Dick B. and Ken B.) with Christian recovery leaders and others from the United
States and Canada. It is based on their needs, their suggestions, their
responses, and the compelling need for “A New Way Out” for Christians in the
recovery arena who are not, and don’t want to be, alone. It can be used as a
guide by 12-Step members, sponsors, counselors, facilitators, Christian
recovery pastors, Christian recovery groups, clergy, study groups, and those
engaged in carrying the story of early A.A.’s
Christian fellowship, simple program, and astonishing successes to
fellowships, treatment facilities, prisons, homeless, veterans, military, and
hospitals.
(The 3rd edition of
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide was substantially revised and expanded in conjunction
with the production of the “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery”
class by Dick B. and Ken B. on four DVD's in March 2010.)
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide is intended as a supplementary resource. It does not aim to
change the fundamental nature of any existing Christian recovery or approach.
Rather, it presents an attractive, appealing, helpful, and effective
segment—primarily historical and introductory in nature—that all can use: (1)
to bring to their respective audiences accurate historical information about
the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the
astonishing, documented successes of early A.A.; and (2) to enhance
substantially the effectiveness of their Christian recovery efforts by
employing the successful, relevant techniques and lessons from the original
Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program in helping those who still suffer
with alcoholism, substance abuse, and other self-destructive behavior and
life-controlling problems.
Suggested Additions
to Christian Recovery Programs Proposed in This Guide
First, a concise,
accurate, historical element containing discussions of:
•
Christian treatments that were effective in dealing with
alcoholism prior to A.A.'s founding;
•
The Christian training of A.A.’s founders as youngsters in
Vermont;
•
The Christian beginnings of A.A. in Akron and New York,
including discussions of how the first three AAs got sober;
•
The founding of early A.A., its actual practices, and the
"original" Akron “Christian fellowship” program;
•
The astonishing 75% overall success rate early A.A. claimed
and Cleveland's documented 93% success rate;
•
Alterations of the original Akron program that made their
way into the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous ("the Big Book")
published in April 1939;
•
Ways to enable a newcomer to utilize the early Christian
A.A. precepts in the present-day 12 Step programs; and
•
Means by which Coalition
leaders and workers in the recovery arena can adapt and apply this (new)
information to their own approaches and still underline the importance of God,
His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in Christian recovery efforts today.
Second, a
"package" of proposed approaches tailored to the needs, ideas, and
programs of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, as well as
Christians in recovery.
Third, a discussion
of present-day approaches that downplay reliance on the power and love of the
one true God in favor of (over) emphasizing the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions
alone, “higher power” language, pseudo “spirituality,” self-made religion, and
actual unbelief; and often criticizing church, religion, reliance on God, and
even the mention of Jesus Christ or the Bible by those in today's recovery
fellowships.
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide also introduces the International Christian Recovery Coalition
(www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com) as a means, through common effort, of
expanding your Christian efforts in the recovery arena.
Table of Contents
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide, 3rd ed.,
by Dick B. and Ken B.
(April 2010)
Introduction (by Dick
B.)
Miraculous Healings
Are Recorded in the Bible and Are Still Occurring Today
Effective Christian
Work with Alcoholics Before A.A.
The Background
Factors from Dr. Bob’s Youth in St. Johnsbury (1879-1898)
The Background
Factors from Bill Wilson’s Youth (1895 to 1913) and Later
The Akron Genesis of
Alcoholics Anonymous
The New York Origins
The Crucible at the
Smith Home in Akron During the Summer of 1935
The
Highly-Successful, Original Akron A.A. Program, as Summarized by Frank Amos and
Quoted in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers
14 Specific Practices
Associated with the Original Akron A.A. “Christian Fellowship” Program Bill W.
and Dr. Bob Developed
The Verification of
Early A.A.'s Astonishing Success Rates
Documenting the
Successes of the First 40 Pioneers
Helping the Newcomer
with a Full Kit of Spiritual Tools
Some Suggested Tools
with Which to Arm the Nestling about to Be Flung out of the Nest
Helping a Christian
to Begin Recovery Today
"A New Way
Out"
An Emerging Picture
of Proposals and Potential Service from the California Meetings with Dick B.
and Ken B. July 12-21, 2009
Address by Dick B. at
the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ACADC) Conference in
Palm Springs, August 29, 2009
Conclusion
Obtain The Dick B.
Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., eBook/ “digital download” edition
right now!
$14.95
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