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February - March 2005
Group Leaders:
If you would like to receive email from AC regarding news between the
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office please send it to:
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POWERLESS
The world appears to be spinning out of control fear; death and pain are
all around us. People are crying out for something or someone to help
them, so often they do not want to hear about Jesus or about recovery.
Life can be so hard and in these times we can wonder, “ Where is God?”
Two days before Christmas my ex-brother in law passed away unexpectedly.
As I watched my young niece and nephew’s deal with the death of their
father, I realized nothing I could do would take their pain away. The
family dynamics came into play. Those old spirits of anger and
bitterness reared their head. For a few days I was sent back in time to
those old feelings of hopelessness and frustration. Why is it so
difficult for my family to get along? Watching and listening as the
insanity began to unravel, I nearly got hooked into it. Nearly escaping
the grasp of it I began to work my own recovery. Starting with the first
step and admitting how powerless I am, powerless over others, powerless
over the hate, anger, bitterness, sadness, un forgiveness, feelings of
rejection, abandonment, loss, fear, and lack of trust etc. At one time I
spent many years trying to patch up the relationships with all the
emotional baggage attached. Spending my precious time working on the
best way to solve the problems of other’s. When I first came into
recovery I heard some new concepts. Like admitting I was powerless over
others, feelings, behaviors etc. I remember hearing things like. “To
let go does not mean to stop caring, it means you can’t do it for
someone else. “To let go does not deny but accepts reality”
Accept what reality is and not what I want it to be. “ To let go is
to fear less and love more” So I began praying and looking to see
what part I play in these family dynamics. I took a step back and what a
relief to know I was not reeled in too far. Over the years I have
learned tools. I have learned about boundaries, detachment, and
enmeshment. So I gathered myself and I came back to my family with
freedom and began to love them where they are. To accept that right now
many of them are not ready to leave the fire, and I am not ready to take
on all the needless pain. All I can do is pray, that I can leave them
with some insight and maybe the best thought of all. “What is so
different about her?” I can point them to Jesus and forgiveness through
example. The road is sometimes long and hard and many times
discouraging. God calls us to persevere even when we don’t understand it
all, no matter what we are feeling. He calls us to stay on that narrow
road. If we step off that road for a season we can know that God’s
mercies are “New every Morning”. A New Year gives us an opportunity for
new beginnings! New commitments to Him, and the relationships God has
placed us in! New beginnings with the calling on our life to serve and
love Him! May He bless us with newfound strength, wisdom and courage to
face the world we live in,
“To let go of the fear and to love more.”
A sister in Christ
TAKING FLINT BY FORCE
We are spiritually honored of how God has blessed Central Assembly of
God, Flint MI, AC Chapter in our first eight months of service. Our
meeting has been successful since the very first assembly with 13 people
attending. We now minister to all; the addict, family member and adult
children. We intend to add the Prison Ministry in 2005. The group has
ministered to over 60 different people and in the past few weeks our
average attendance is 20 or more. Jesus is to be praised! Our success,
(favor of the Lord), is the first attributed to Pastor Steve Turner.
Pastor Turner not only wanted AC in his church but, prayed many months
in advance for a leader to surface (it is his fault I am in Flint).
Pastor Turner preaches recovery and consistently mentions the ministry
from his pulpit. He encourages his sheep to attend. I am grateful to
serve under his leadership. A second reason for success is the combining
of the food ministry with AC. Anyone who wants to receive a food basket
must attend a meeting. I cannot express in words the success of this
implementation. We are seeing lives of people in this group changed
dramatically. A third reason is Terry Libbey. My armor bearer,
co-leader, and friend never stops talking to people about AC. After
coming out of prison on January 10th 2004, Libbey picks up people and
drops them off every week. He lives and breaths helping people. He is a
dynamic force in Flint. Our mission is simply stated: WE ARE TAKING
FLINT BY FORCE. This group is going out and bringing people in. We are
in a drug-infested, low-income area and are staying there. We will
succeed in taking the neighborhood by winning house by house and street
by street for the Lord. We have formed a leader Board, consisting of
myself, Libbey, Cindy, Harvey and are making plans for 2005. We aim to
get everyone involved in this ministry in some capacity. We plan to have
fund-raisers, which will be done by those in need, to help them be apart
of their own economic recovery. We are going to find businesses to
partner with so we can direct people in need of jobs, we want to have
people in charge of contacting those who have not shown up in awhile and
to do group activities such as bowling or whirly ball to strengthen our
relationships. We also want to reach out to other churches to share the
message of recovery. I believe in my spirit, we will start a second
meeting with all three tables in the next few months. Be in prayer that
other churches will get involved. Please pray for us and our group We
are on the offense and we need a covering. God Bless you all, Richard
Hava, Flint Group Leader
A Note from California
Dear Craig, in Knoxville, TN I want you to know I am praying for you and
your group and also for
Rhamat in India. I was an alcoholic for many years. I know many
alcoholics and recovering alcoholics in this area. I’ve been going to
A.A meetings. I received some information on the AC meetings and I am
determined to start a chapter next January. I’m still researching and
praying so I can stay addiction free for one year before I can start a
chapter here in Ventura, part of Las Angeles County CA. I am looking
forward to starting out small and with God’s intervention to grow! Pray
for opportunities to be used by the Lord and for me that I will have
more patience with myself and others and for more love for myself. We
are going to take back what the devil has stolen and claim it for the
Lord. I believe God will give us many from around the Nation and World.
This work has been a blessing for many. Many are being changed every day
through intervention. I enjoy reading the newsletters and want to thank
all of you for your testimonies. Every day is a special day for all the
addicts. You can join us in prayer from 7:00AM-8AM. Pray for love,
peace, faith, wisdom and hope. I will be praying for all of you. In His
love, Debra – CA
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to my AC family and a
special hello to Robin in Canada! It is hard to believe another year has
come and gone. I praise God for all He has done and continues to do. The
Saturday night AC meeting is a complete success thanks to the commitment
and hard work of people like Mary, Jeri, John, Mike, Ray, Fred, Tom, and
Gary. I would also like to give special thanks to all those who helped
make this year’s Christmas party an awesome event! There were
approximately 230 people that attended the Christmas party. It was such
a blessing to see all those people and we had such a great time! Jim and
Dave thank you for some great music! The AC Brother’s Band had people
dancing in the isles! If you like down home Gospel music, good coffee,
Krispy Creme doughnuts, and excellent tables come and join us on
Saturday Night’s. We would love to see you!
Keep up the good work, Jerry- Madison Heights group
God is really moving in our midst and blessing the AC meetings. I would
say that on average we had 2 or 3 in attendance. Now, we are averaging 8
to 9 people in attendance and 3 of those are new. Our meetings have been
extremely good and deeply spiritual . I would be willing to say that God
has been in our midst. We are really learning some wonderful truths and
precepts from God's Word. We have been experiencing some good sobriety
as God is allowing us to see some really neat things about how His Word
relates to that simple kit of spiritual tools, the 12 steps. God is
really moving, people are staying sober and this is something to praise
God about as it is to His glory. We started out with 1 meeting per week,
now we meet 3 times per week which is really wonderful. Thursday was our
original night and now we also meet Monday and Sunday as well. Kevin
Siefken with Alcoholics for Christ in the little town of: Huron, South
Dakota Praise the Lord!
Prison Ministry
This area of Ministry is continuing to grow and we are seeing some good
things happen. Lives are being changed! We have two meetings in the
Oakland County Jail on Thursday nights. One is for the men the other for
the women. The two meetings attendance ranges between 12 and 20 each
week. The men are always excited to see me pull up in my truck on
Thursday nights. They tell me that they watch for me out the window. As
we work the steps I can see some real growth in many of the men. We are
blessed to see many of them come to personally accept the Lord.
Especially when we get to step 3 which says;-Made the decision to turn
from the things of the past and invite Jesus Christ to be the Lord and
manager of our lives.
One of the good things about going into the prisons we are seeing some
of the men that attend the AC meetings in the jail hook up with AC
meetings when they get out of jail. God is opening doors for this area
to continue to grow. The problem is we don’t have enough people to serve
in this area. If you are interested in serving in this area, please call
the office. I am going to do a training soon and the date is still to be
determined.
Person’s interested in becoming involved in the Prison Ministry must be
free from any Misdemeanors or felonies for five years and be working the
steps in their own lives. Please pray about your involvement in this
area of Ministry and if you are interested contact the AC office.
Prison Director, Jim Bridges
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will
succeed.”
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Alcoholics for Christ is a 501 C 3 Non-Profit Organization supported
by individual donations and money that is collected at AC meetings.
Donations to the ministry are tax deductible..
The office has many expenses such as:
Rental of our building, two employees, Website costs, Telephones ,
Literature costs from purchasing the paper & ink to printing workbooks,
flyers, handouts and newsletters, Postage costs etc.
The Alcoholics for Christ office is in the process of updating the
office . The status of AC depends on your continued willingness,
sacrifice and generosity to give. May our Lord bless and strengthen all
the faithful giving people in the AC Ministry.
The AC annual Picnic is coming up again this summer.
If you are interested in helping with the picnic
Please call the office for more details.
We are in the process of forming the Committee.
Pray about becoming involved in the Picnic.
COMING EVENTS
Ladies One Day Retreat– April 9, 2005 Warren, MI
Men’s Retreat—April 29-30, 2005 |
