July 2005

Group Leaders:
If you would like to receive email from AC regarding news between the newsletters and have not yet submitted your email address to the AC office please send it to:
al4christ@globalbiz.net

Group Leaders and Table Leaders:
The Elders understand that not everyone was able to attend the Training Seminars on May 14, and June 11, 2005.
If you were unable to attend and did not
receive a packet in the mail please contact the office.

“It matters not what the outer surroundings are or were palace or prison, temple or tabernacle. When my Presence is truly sought and found, My glory fills the heart......and that is enough"

Echoes of Eternity---Listening to the Father-----Volume One Hal Helms Paraclete Press

There comes in all people’s lives bitter-sweet moments. Some are seemingly more bitter in heart, but sweet in mind. This is one of them.

Ken Horan, who was a Monumental Force in the alcoholics for Christ Ministry for almost as long as it’s been in existence, passed away (into glory we might add) On Saturday July 2nd. Our Lord does everything, and everything He does is significant. The significance: Mary Ann (Ken’s wife) passed into glory last year on August 16th. Ken missed her, ever so much, but he knew the Lord was taking care of her. On their first anniversary after Mary Ann passed away (July 2nd), Ken went to join her. How great is our Lord! We will all greatly miss our dear Advisor, Elder and much loved brother.

Who Is This Man?
Who is this man we have known for oh so many years
This Jewel among the sands
I the Lord have plucked him up to heaven
As I hold him in my hand for all eternity to see
This Jewel among the sands
If anyone cry out my name through Christ
You will be jewels among the sands
Now here is my beloved and his name is Ken Horan
And now and forever I have known you Pepsi Man.
Mike Anderson –Traverse City

Greetings from Hattiesburg, We are now going on our 4th week and the momentum is growing. The Lord's favor is overwhelming! 1st, the city of Hattiesburg's drug court, where abusers are sentenced to outcare and 12 step programs has approved us as a choice for those who are ordered to go to group meetings. If they choose AC, the court will purchase their workbooks! This is awesome! 2nd, we now have the endorsement of the nurses association. 3rd, we have now been approved by members of a secular residential treatment program –The Board of Directors is going to allow those wanting to attend AC, to be picked up with our van. 4th, Catholic Social Services, run by a Ms. Green, has accepted AC as a resource she now offers to those who ask/need help in the areas AC provides. 5th, WDAM channel 7 here in Hattiesburg will be doing a short piece on "of public interest" shows. It airs twice a day once from 6am-7am and again in the afternoon. The host will be going into a in- depth understanding of AC in Hattiesburg. Do I hear an AMEN? Amen! We've had a modest start,5 people came to the first meeting,7 to the 2nd,12 the 3rd, and our 4th meeting is tomorrow night. We've been putting up flyers in poverty apartment complexes in the area and using the yellow pages to inform all the places people might call for help. Our goal is for AC to be another resource. Ms Tillman, who runs the meetings with me has been on fire. She brings the news to every AA/NA groups she has been involved with during the last 2 yrs. She is definitely being lead by the Spirit of God with co leading our meetings here. We now have a very gifted piano player committed to the worship/singing. Everyone who has attended AC so far do not want the meetings to stop! Ms Tillman and Myself are considering extending the meeting from 1-1/2 hrs. to 2-2 1/2 hrs long. I moved here from Detroit last July. I did attend AC meetings while I lived in Michigan with a good friend Wayne Short. When I first moved to Mississippi no one had heard of AC. I began to plan through the church to start a Chapter. This is the first AC chapter here in Mississippi. AC allows all to hear the Word of God, birthing faith and leading them to Salvation. Amen & amen!! I do other ministries as well, a re-entry program for parolees, an outreach-resource- missions building operation in a poverty community, and a bike ministry for kids to name a few. I'm in full time ministry at Mt Olive Baptist Church, There is such a great need here! There is a need to get souls on the right path and upper most on my list is to bring them to a decision of asking Jesus into their heart. I thank God for AC and your help! During my networking with other groups and churches, I always find the opportunity to share AC and give them our website link! God Bless, MS Chapter, Alan


.Greetings, Praise the Lord, all you Saints! Do you know that the Bible says we are Saints if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, it does. Be encouraged and keep on Praising the Lord in good times and not so good times. Our meeting was started at the request of the Pastor at Christ Covenant Church. They had been praying for a meeting for substance abusers. Our group began in January 2004 and has been growing little by little. When you are faithful over little, the Lord will bring the increase. Many nights there were no members at the meeting, except myself. Some of those nights, one of the members from the church might wander in and I would answer any questions that they might have or just lend an ear to hear a concern. God uses us in many ways, we lean not on our own understanding. I acknowledge God in all that he puts my hand to do. He knows just what I can be used for and it is not always in great things, but he does great things in the little seeds sown. My Pastor and his family would keep telling me not to despise small beginnings. I trust the Lord and I know that he will bring the increase as he sees fit. We have had up to two tables from time to time. One for the substance abusers and one for the family members. We really have freedom when we share in the liberty of the Lord. Eyes are opened and hearts can be mended. Comfort and peace settle in and I see the women growing. I also see more confidence in the eyes of the substance abusers as they lean on the Lord and the self-condemnation comes off. I appreciate those of you that have come to our meeting to share your testimony or to lead a table. Please be welcome and come back anytime. It is good to be together with all the Saints and we all need each other. You are the hands and feet of the Lord. We need to minister one to another. No one understands quite like another recovering addict or family member. Sister Patti from the Utica Wednesday Night Meeting of Alcoholics for Christ at Christ Covenant Church, Utica, MI.


The AC Spring Retreat was held at Liberty Church in Warren MI. Anita Goulet was our MC and kept us on track during the day. Esther Baxter, Betty Bridges and Caroline Carodine blessed us with music. The music brought us into God’s presence. Laurie Tatters taught on Boundaries. Her presentation taught us what good and bad boundaries are and what we can personally do to change our unhealthy behaviors. We learned that God is working each day in us and how much He loves us. We were blessed with a great lunch and time of fellowship. The afternoon brought a skit on Boundaries. Rose, Lara, Barb and Debbie played in the skit. The skit gave us an example of good and bad boundaries and how we can change them. It was fun and enlightening to see the boundaries at work in the skit! There was a time of discussion after the skit. We ended the day with Communion and Prayer. The Retreat Committee would like to thank everyone who helped to make the Retreat possible. We had a total of 61 women present. Some came from as far away as Canada, Ohio, Traverse City, and Indiana. God Blessed us and opened our eyes and showed us how we can be better equipped women for Him.

Just a reminder the AC Women’s Fall Retreat is Oct 15 &16th, 2005. Our theme is
“Heartfelt Forgiveness” We will be working Step 5 and the Scripture is 1 John 1:9

“ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” NIV

Hope to see you at the Fall Retreat! Sharon Terry

More meetings opening in Hamilton Canada

Thank you AC! Over thirty years attending, AA and other support groups, I felt that something was missing. Well people, that missing link was found and come to light when my mother asked me to go to a meeting with her. I really didn’t know what kind of meeting it was to be. During this meeting called Alcoholics for Christ I acted like I really didn’t give a care. But I found what I wanted, Lord Jesus. Thank you Mom. Please do believe what I am writing about, I have found my true sponsor Jesus Christ. This sponsor stays with you and in your being. For awhile I had different kind of relapses and that I was running away or turning from the real help provided. I was too proud and shameful to admit that I was wrong. Seven months I was away and another 5 months with job training. I had kept in contact with Alcoholics for Christ and read our book. Really fellow brothers and co-alcoholics do believe our Lord Jesus is with us. Thank you for giving us Alcoholics for Christ. Thank you AC. For years in trying to achieve sobriety in attending AA and other support groups I needed something else to aid me. I found our Lord Jesus Christ through AC. Praise the Lord. Glen Jackson—Group Leader—Mount of Olives Church - Hamilton, Ontario

STEP 12

This is about my very first 12 step call.—Praise the Lord that He believed in me! A man had called a prayer line for help with his drinking problem from a motel room in Burlington, Ontario. They had led him to the Lord in prayer. The prayer line called Alcoholics for Christ to go and help this man. So Chuck & I were chosen to go the motel where he was and we talked about our alcoholism and our recovery and the steps and how the Lord Jesus can set you free by living in Him and the use of these tools provided by the Lord. We prayed with him and then poured out all the beers. He then agreed to go to Detox. Praise God. At first they didn’t have any room but after we prayed in the van they came back out and said that they would admit him. It was a blessing to be able to assist Chuck to help someone. It was just 8 months ago I was just like him but for the grace of God I am set free. I praise God for my new life in Christ. Scott Dunlop— Crossfire Assembly—Group in Hamilton, Ontario.

Judge Not But Take to Heart

About 6 months ago I began to observe that the recovery group I belong too had an almost zero recovery rate. In fact, It was more like a social club. Or at least that’s the way it seemed to me. What was once so clear to see was now blind to me. Leaving me discouraged, resentful and wanting to give-up attending. Even though I had obligations to the group. But God had blessed me with a number of gifts that held me in place. A husband who has a willing ear to listen to my complaining and the ability to help me see more clearly, although he was sick of hearing the same old thing week after week. A sense of duty and responsibility, even if I wanted too walk away I couldn’t. Not without finding someone to take my place. And friends to offer up prayers for me, even when I couldn’t or wouldn’t do it for myself. Then what seemed “suddenly” to me. What was hidden became revealed. People with a year or more clean time started to step-up with testimony that would touch the hardest of hearts. Along with “things to think about” from other special people, things like….we’re not here to judge but too help. ….if you’re looking for results look somewhere else. To practice patience, faith and love I Cor.13 This is not just a praise report but an 8th step. Asking for forgiveness in my judging and attitude toward them. Reminding myself of the time, patience and love spent on me. Not just in the chemical healing, but in the over-haul of my personality (which is still in progress). Your sister in Christ, Marie B. Fraser, MI

 

COMING EVENTS

Music in the Park- Saturday-August 27th -Annual AC Picnic -Green Acres Park 620 W. Woodward Heights Hazel Park, MI -Bring: a lawn chair, your own beverages and a dish to pass.

Fall Training– Sept 24th, 2005

Women’s Retreat—Oct 15 & 16, 2005

Men’s Retreat—Oct 28 & 29th, 2005

Call the office for more details.