Alcoholics Anonymous History and the Bible: Christian Recovery Beginnings on January 1, 2010

The last year-and-a-half was a great period of conferences, personal meetings, outreach, articles, learning, and preparation. The International Christian Recovery Coalition (www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com) has grown worldwide by leaps and bounds. And many of its supporters have put their shoulders to the wheel and opened the door to a very exciting number of projects which are starting right away. The details will appear in a series of future newsletters. But the items can be summarized now as follows:

The Dick B. “Historical Treasures”: Mark Galligan of Ontario, Canada, has gathered together an altruistic group of believers who have almost completed raising the funds for them to acquire, preserve, and then place copies in Canada, West Virginia, Vermont, and allow them to be viewed worldwide on the Internet.

The Dr. Bob Core Library, St. Johnsbury, Vermont: After several research visits to St. Johnsbury (in October 2007 and again in June 2008) and other Vermont historical repositories (in June 2008), and after asking for funding to complete and place the work, we have shipped off to the host North Congregational Church, St. Johnsbury, a large number of boxes which will tell a largely complete Dr. Bob story through the books, documents, photos, and other materials that will be lodged there. The task is about complete and will, eventually, also embrace the treasures that the Mark Galligan group will be processing.

A Biography of Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounder Dr. Bob: After many years of research into the life, beliefs, practices, and program of this wonderful man (and his wife, Anne Smith), we have completed a major draft of a biography. There will be nothing like it in the A.A. history scene of today. And it will have the usual, thorough, comprehensive footnotes, bibliographic references, and explanations that will document the story most in today’s recovery just don’t know.

A Multi-faceted Project with Father Bill Wigmore, President and CEO of Austin Recovery. For a number of years, this hard-working Episcopal priest and treatment professional has pursued many many facets of A.A. and 12-Step recovery. His particular interests have included the Bible, the Oxford Group, Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., Bill W., Dr. Bob and Anne Smith, Quiet Time and devotionals, and the importance to recovery of the Eleventh Step. We will be working with him on this valuable effort which he will incorporate in his own “affordable recovery” ministry in Austin, Texas, as well as possible uses for treatment programs, university research, and seminary education.

A Major Introduction to A.A. Audio/Video/Power Point/Manuscript Presentations in Conjunction with Robert Tucker, Ph.D., D. Min., CDAAC, and President of New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., at Huntington Beach, California: For many months we have worked in conferences and in Maui to produce a four-part introduction to the A.A. recovery program that will enable counselors, churches, pastors, therapists, 12 Step groups, treatment programs, prison outreach, hospitals, and homeless workers to start people in recovery with where they came from—Christian roots, a Christian Fellowship in Akron, and a highly-successful and simple program summarized (but all but forgotten) on page 131 of A.A.’s own “Conference-approved” DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers book. Dr. Tucker is a hands-on trainer and practitioner who focuses on Christian recovery and trains Christian counselors, clients, and others in how to get well with God’s help. His efforts provide detox, treatment, counseling, and even visiting residential accommodations. And Dr. Tucker is providing us with the equipment to put our materials together and get them widely known and used. He houses the California office of International Christian Recovery as well.

A Twelve-Step Historical and Treatment Module for Christian Counselors trained by the Association of Drug and Alcohol Counselors Institute, headed by Rev. Mike Belzman, Ph.D., D.Min., and with other degrees. Pastor Mike honored my son, Rev. Ken B., and me with appointment to the Curriculum Advisory Committee. And he charged us with preparing an informative segment on A.A. Christian roots and history that will become a part of Christian counselor training and information. The outline of the module is already in place.

We will continue to encourage the formation of study groups, James Clubs, history conferences, and Christian conclaves that will advance knowledge of the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the astonishing early A.A. success rates among “seemingly hopeless,” “medically-incurable,” “last-gasp case,” “real” alcoholics who went to any lengths to find or rediscover God, turn to Him for help, and be cured.

Until at least January 1^st, we will continue to request contributions that will enable us to ship cases of our titles free to those who really want God’s help and will be blessed.

Finally, we encourage the formation of libraries all over the world by individual groups, agencies, Christian recovery fellowships, churches, treatment centers, hospitals, and prisons. In the past few years, we have fostered and furnished the establishment of some major A. A. history libraries at well-known historical locations: (1) The Griffith House Library (near The Wilson House in East Dorset, Vermont); (2) The Dr. Bob Core Library in St. Johnsbury, Vermont; (3) The Shoemaker Room (at Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh). (4) An early A.A. history section (at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron “where it all began”). Others have gathered materials on their own. Some--like Alcoholics Victorious--have established libraries. So too the Manna House Ministry in Tennessee. And, to some extent, Rock Recovery in San Diego; Turning Point Fellowship in Livermore; His Place Church in Huntington Beach; CityTeam locations primarily on the West Coast; The James Club of Norco; and Calvary Ranch in Lakeside, California. Many of the Clarence Snyder retreats have collections of our history books. And many groups are acquiring and distributing our history books on their own.

We Would Like to Have You Join Us and Help with Our Ongoing Efforts

This is not a solicitation letter. But we know from this past year-and-a-half that there are oodles of self-less recovered folks who are eager to tell others what God has done for them and how He can still help those who want his help.

Here are some areas where you might find a niche or niches that will fit your dreams, your witnessing, your service orientation, your Christian mission, and your desire to help other alcoholics and addicts get well by the power and love of God, just as the early AAs did: (1) Join the no-cost International Christian Recovery Coalition (www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com). (2) Acquire boxes of books and distribute them free to those who want and will use them. (3) Help with the three Dr. Bob projects nearing completion—the historical treasures project, the Dr. Bob Core Library project, the biography of Dr. Bob project. (4) Acquire some key books, stock them, and start a lending or distribution library for your group, your fellowship, or your program. (5) Post widely on your websites, and in your emails and flyers, the work that we are doing and encourage others to join us. (6) Urge a history meeting for your group, center, program, outreach, or church. (7) Keep those cards and letters coming, and add your own voice to the many forums, blogs, and review spots where your ideas can bear fruit.

Have a Happy, Prosperous, Healthy Year in 2010

and

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness . . .”
Matthew 6:33