AC- CELEBRATES 25 YEARS!!

Note from the Board of Elders:
Benefactor pledges Matching Funds.  In another surprise by our heavenly father, an anonymous supporter has pledged to match any donations that this ministry receives, by the end of March, up to 10,000.  That means that for every dollar you send as a donation, that dollar will count as two dollars,  and the Lord’s work will be advanced in this needful area the field is truly ripe unto fullness.  That’s the kind of multiplication that only our Lord can do!

While we understand the economic situation of the nation, and our families, we also know that you can’t out give the Lord.  And whatever He receives is returned bountifully.  If the Lord is prompting you to be a very important part of this “War against Alcohol and Drugs," please earmark those donations as “Matching Donations."

Even more important than the money are your prayers.  We need those because the enemy never sleeps or rests (maybe that is why he is so grumpy!)  Thank you, for all you do, and are.  Be a blessing and be blessed!

HELLO FROM FORT WORTH
We had our first meeting Jan 9th and even though only three (my wife, me, and the Lord) were present, I register the meeting a success. After speaking with seasoned AC members who say the groups typically are a slow start. This small meeting last week was a blessing in disguise. During the meeting my wife and I shared quite a lot with each other using the workbook material and God really embraced us. This time together with God was stronger than any "family time" we had ever had. Amen! I also have another Amen to add to this letter of praise. Our second meeting is tonight and I have already had three telephone inquiries about the group this week. People in the Fort Worth area are seeing the flyers and calling in, so pray for us as we trek on this month.

One additional piece of information I wish to share is the growing prison ministry that the folks from the AC office have developed and turned over to the Fort Worth group. The state of Texas has six prisons in the Houston area that are for substance abuse felons. there are 3 men's and 3 women's prisons. The six facilities have a total population of about 3,000. The spiritual needs of these inmates are met on a volunteer basis so Christian recovery material's limited and very expensive. Awhile back, some inmates contacted AC requesting materials. After filling a few requests, the office has been swamped with letters requesting Recovery Bibles, devotionals, and workbooks. Laurie from the AC National office contacted me to see if I could help out in any way. I told her I wanted to talk to my local body of believers at Handley Baptist here in Fort Worth. When she asked me about helping, I really felt the Holy Spirit weighing on my heart, so I called my Pastor. Originally I was trying to help pay for a batch of materials that she was going to send down and our church took up a love offering. We were able to meet the cost of the entire order. Since then the folks at our church have prayed and decided to adopt this ministry and take over all requests from Texas prisons.

I have contacted the Chaplain over the prison systems and he has agreed to review AC workbooks and distribute them to his volunteers to see if they would like to start using them in their facilities. Handley Baptist Church has agreed to support us in the mission and we have enough money donated to pay for workbooks so three or four of each workbook can be sent to each volunteer to start an inter-prison AC table. The Chaplain and his volunteers are currently reviewing the workbooks and we are awaiting word from him to see if they want additional books. Pray this month that God's will would be that an AC table be established in each of the six facilities.

Praise God for the support He has already given. In less than three months we have been able to supply about a dozen people with devotionals, Bibles, and workbooks. I look forward to sharing the good news next month. Remember to pray for the Fort Worth Texas AC group as we get off the ground with our meeting and take on the new ministry inside Texas substance abuse prisons.
Seeking His Holiness, Eric, Fort Worth AC Groups.

'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring the good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to the captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God's favor to them has come.. To all who mourn He will give beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness." Isaiah 61:3

CANADA SHARES
Last week Tony from the Brantford Group was on 100 Huntley Street - (A Christian Talk Show) giving his testimony which was great, and also shared about AC. A woman who works on the Prayer Line at Huntley street called me after you gave her the number. She asked if it was okay to give out my name and phone number when people call in for prayer with Addiction issues. So now all the prayer partners at 100 Huntley have Alcoholics for Christ on file to help needy people in this area of healing. Praise God for planted seeds. I will be meeting the Lady from 100 Huntley Street Monday night at our AC meeting. She thanked God for an answer to her prayer to bring Jesus Christ into the AA 12 steps.

We shared on the phone for a few hours about our recovery and how great it is to have AC in Canada!  God is sooo Good! I have also been asked to speak at Parkview Church and I plan on putting up a literature table and sell AC workbooks. The Pastor had shared that there is a need in his church.  I’m praying the Lord will put it on someone’s heart at his church to start up a meeting there.  Also at our meeting we have a member celebrating 6 months sobriety and his re-dedication to the Lord.  This person has helped with spreading the word about AC in places that are very much needed in our city.  We are all so proud of the work Jesus has done in this persons life.  He has shared that AC means so much to him and plans on never going back to the old life.  To help him rejoice and give Jesus Christ the glory we are having a special speaker meeting on Feb 5, 2001.  the speaker was an alcoholic and now has a wonderful Praise and Worship ministry.  I’m glad Jesus can accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope as we continually pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to help this Ministry grow to the ends of the earth.  Praise God! I love you all at the National office and I’m looking forward to the spring so I can come and visit you at the women’s retreat in May 2001. Thank God for the fruitfulness of the Promise Keepers in London, Canada in September for we now have a new chapter in London Canada.  Love Robin your sister in Christ Hamilton, Canada Chapter.

NEBRASKA SHARES
One Sunday afternoon, my husband had it put on his heart to work on a 19 year old boy who had recently gotten out of jail.  My husband and I prayed for his words and witness and during their discussion this kid agreed to come to the AC meeting that evening.  Now I have known this kid for a number of years, and I did kind of question his sincerity but I know we have a sovereign God who is capable of awesome miracles.  So in our pre meeting prayer time , we lifted this kid to the Lord asking for humility, a softened heart, and God’s touch upon him. During our fellowship time following the meeting, this kid shared with us that he was going to be quiet through the meeting but a voice told  him to speak and he did!  It was quite obvious that he was filled with the Holy Spirit and was on a Spiritual high.  He was already excited about coming to the next meeting!

This is just one of the many miracles that I have witnessed since our meeting started a little over two months ago.  I see God at work in every one of the meetings and it is such an awesome thing to experience.  I praise God for AC Ministries and for bringing it to Kearney, NE.  Please pray that he would send the lost and unsaved to our meeting.  God Bless You! Anne Kearney, NE AC group

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Step 12- Having been spiritually restored and set free from “the sin which so easily besets us,” we attempt to share this freedom and the one who has freed us with those who still suffer, and practice the Lord’s principles in all our affairs. AC workbook

The Narrow Road
We probably came into recovery because we’d had enough! We’d had enough of the pain, lies and destruction that result from addictive behaviors. One day at a time, we learned the principles on the road to recovery.  Now we are at a place we weren’t sure we could ever reach-step 12.  Now are encouraged to share the message with others even though not everyone will welcome the message.  Peter pointed out, “You have had enough in the past of the evil things and the godless enjoy sexual sin, lust, getting drunk, wild parties, drinking bouts… Your former friends will be very surprised when you don’t eagerly join them anymore in the wicked things they do, and will laugh at you in contempt and scorn.” 1 Peter 4:3-4 Jesus said, “Heaven can be entered only through a narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad , and its gates wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way.  But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it” Matthew 7:13-14 Our message won’t be accepted by the masses.  The people on the “highway to hell” won’t eagerly restrict themselves to the clearly defined steps on the road to recovery.  But for those who do listen, our story could be the difference between life and death.” Narrow Road taken from Life Recovery Bible.

 There are some wonderful testimonies of touched lives within this newsletter.  As we continue to grow and share our stories with others, AC continues to grow. Step 12 is a call to action in giving of ourselves, prayer, time, and finances.

Please be in prayer in whatever way the Lord is leading you to help AC continue to touch hurting people’s lives.  We cannot do this without your prayers, financial support, attendance at meetings and praise reports. You are what makes AC work. 

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