Making a DifferenceMaking a Difference

Chapter 15Chapter 15

Challenge and GoalsChallenge and Goals

When the Church is not sure how to When the Church is not sure how to help the addict and resorts to help the addict and resorts to referring the addict to someone else, referring the addict to someone else, the Church looses the opportunity to the Church looses the opportunity to minister to the addict.minister to the addict.

Lesson 31Challenge and Goals

When the local church refers an addict When the local church refers an addict to an outside program or institution, it to an outside program or institution, it is relinquishing its responsibility of is relinquishing its responsibility of reaching a soul for Christ.reaching a soul for Christ.

As far as many churches are As far as many churches are concerned, addicts are concerned, addicts are “out of sight “out of sight and out of mind.”and out of mind.”

It is my conviction that all ministry It is my conviction that all ministry outreaches are to be administered outreaches are to be administered through the local church.through the local church.

Why is this kind of ministry so Why is this kind of ministry so rejected by many churches? rejected by many churches? I I believe it is because of two main believe it is because of two main reasons: Fear and Lack of Vision.reasons: Fear and Lack of Vision.

Fear of the unknown is very real for Fear of the unknown is very real for many people. many people. It has been my own It has been my own observation that when a person is observation that when a person is faced with the unknown it has a way faced with the unknown it has a way of revealing certain emotional of revealing certain emotional characteristics of the person that are characteristics of the person that are otherwise securely hidden away.otherwise securely hidden away.

The peace and grace the Lord Jesus The peace and grace the Lord Jesus gives to His people cannot be gives to His people cannot be overlooked. II Timothy 1:7 says, overlooked. II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”love, and of a sound mind.”

Perhaps one of the most harmful Perhaps one of the most harmful characteristics in the Church today characteristics in the Church today is the characteristic of apathy.is the characteristic of apathy.

The correct vision of the addict is The correct vision of the addict is one in which the Church sees one in which the Church sees people as God sees them.people as God sees them.

The most important vision the Church The most important vision the Church must have is the correct vision of God.must have is the correct vision of God.

Before any local church will have Before any local church will have the vision of dying souls they must the vision of dying souls they must have a vision of an exalted Saviour.have a vision of an exalted Saviour.

What does the story at the beginning What does the story at the beginning of this chapter tell us about the of this chapter tell us about the challenges faced by the Church challenges faced by the Church concerning addictions? concerning addictions? This story is This story is not uncommon. not uncommon. It is not uncommon It is not uncommon because most Church leaders are not because most Church leaders are not prepared to deal with the diverse prepared to deal with the diverse nature of addiction problems.nature of addiction problems.

Perhaps the greatest challenge Perhaps the greatest challenge faced by the Church today, in faced by the Church today, in regard to ministering to people with regard to ministering to people with addiction problems, is attitude.addiction problems, is attitude.

There is a prevailing attitude in the There is a prevailing attitude in the Church today that an addiction is just a Church today that an addiction is just a weakness in the life of an individual.weakness in the life of an individual.

All addictions begin one of, or a All addictions begin one of, or a combination of, several ways: combination of, several ways: peer peer pressure, curiosity or force.pressure, curiosity or force.

Peer pressure is more commonly the Peer pressure is more commonly the strongest reason why people choose to strongest reason why people choose to participate in an illicit behavior.participate in an illicit behavior.

Some Pastors simply do not want to Some Pastors simply do not want to be bothered with an addiction be bothered with an addiction recovery ministryrecovery ministry

I believe the Pastor of every local church I believe the Pastor of every local church should be equipped to give appropriate should be equipped to give appropriate counsel in any given situation.counsel in any given situation.

The qualifications for working in a The qualifications for working in a recovery ministry are not as recovery ministry are not as stringent as one might think. stringent as one might think. Having Having a genuine love for the Lord, burden a genuine love for the Lord, burden for addicts, and the ability to learn for addicts, and the ability to learn and pass on simple truths, is a good and pass on simple truths, is a good start.start.

……the church should provide a means the church should provide a means where those needing counsel or those where those needing counsel or those attending a recovery class can meet attending a recovery class can meet for the time appointed.for the time appointed.

The most important consideration The most important consideration for an addiction recovery program for an addiction recovery program curriculum is whether or not the curriculum is whether or not the material is Biblically sound.material is Biblically sound.

Regardless of what curriculum is Regardless of what curriculum is chosen, the most effective application of chosen, the most effective application of that curriculum is a one-on-one that curriculum is a one-on-one approach.approach.

It is far more effective to allow the It is far more effective to allow the program participant to move at their program participant to move at their own pace through the course. own pace through the course. This This allows for the differences in where the allows for the differences in where the participants are in their life.participants are in their life.

It is much more effective to allow It is much more effective to allow the participants to work through the participants to work through the material at their home and use the material at their home and use the meeting time each week as a the meeting time each week as a follow-up and supportive role.follow-up and supportive role.

A one-on-one approach A one-on-one approach accomplishes a couple of things accomplishes a couple of things that are extremely important to the that are extremely important to the success of the program.success of the program.

First it places the responsibility for First it places the responsibility for recovery on the participant. recovery on the participant. This is This is critical in teaching the addict the critical in teaching the addict the principle of taking responsibility for principle of taking responsibility for their actions.their actions.

Because every person is at a Because every person is at a different point in their life, the different point in their life, the second thing this accomplishes is second thing this accomplishes is to allow the participant to move at to allow the participant to move at their own pace through the course.their own pace through the course.

Enthusiasm, a genuine love for the Enthusiasm, a genuine love for the Lord, and concern for the addict, will go Lord, and concern for the addict, will go a long way in being effective in a long way in being effective in teaching an addiction recovery teaching an addiction recovery curriculum.curriculum.

When choosing the correct person to When choosing the correct person to teach the addiction recovery material teach the addiction recovery material it is also important that the it is also important that the personality and temperament of the personality and temperament of the individual be conducive to working individual be conducive to working with addicts.with addicts.

The qualities of spiritual and The qualities of spiritual and emotional maturity are actually emotional maturity are actually more important than credentials more important than credentials and degrees when it comes to and degrees when it comes to working with addicts one-on-one.working with addicts one-on-one.

The ideal curriculum is one that The ideal curriculum is one that includes several essential elements…includes several essential elements…

First, it is easily segmented into even First, it is easily segmented into even time frames for ease of scheduling. In time frames for ease of scheduling. In other words, it is better to use a other words, it is better to use a curriculum that has twelve chapters curriculum that has twelve chapters of content rather than eleven.of content rather than eleven.

Secondly, the material should be Secondly, the material should be easily followed by the participant. easily followed by the participant. This means the content of the This means the content of the material is structured in a way that material is structured in a way that has clearly defined objectives.has clearly defined objectives.

Thirdly, and most importantly, the Thirdly, and most importantly, the curriculum material should be curriculum material should be Biblically sound. Biblically sound. This means it should This means it should have two things: It has, at its core, have two things: It has, at its core, Biblical truths that clearly apply to Biblical truths that clearly apply to addictions, and it must be doctrinally addictions, and it must be doctrinally accurate.accurate.

The curriculum must have the Gospel The curriculum must have the Gospel of Jesus Christ thoroughly woven of Jesus Christ thoroughly woven throughout the entire length of the throughout the entire length of the content. content. This ensures that the This ensures that the participant has every opportunity participant has every opportunity possible, and at every stage of the possible, and at every stage of the material, to respond to the Gospel.material, to respond to the Gospel.

The most important aspect of any The most important aspect of any addiction recovery program is its addiction recovery program is its dependency upon the Word of God dependency upon the Word of God for its principles and assertions.for its principles and assertions.

The right process for an addiction The right process for an addiction recovery program is one in which recovery program is one in which the addict receives Biblical training the addict receives Biblical training over a period of time that allows for over a period of time that allows for the natural elimination of any the natural elimination of any chemical substances from their chemical substances from their body.body.

With proper time spent in prayer, With proper time spent in prayer, research, and training, the Church research, and training, the Church can develop a viable and effective can develop a viable and effective Church outreach ministry that is Church outreach ministry that is cost-effective and Biblically sound.cost-effective and Biblically sound.

Having a viable and effective Having a viable and effective ministry outreach to addicts is both ministry outreach to addicts is both obedient to God’s command to obedient to God’s command to reach all people and fulfills a great reach all people and fulfills a great need in most communities.need in most communities.

The Church is in a unique position The Church is in a unique position to make a difference in our society to make a difference in our society by helping to bring the addict to by helping to bring the addict to Christ and by teaching them what Christ and by teaching them what God says about how to live a God says about how to live a victorious and productive life while victorious and productive life while on this earth.on this earth.

May the Lord richly bless all those who May the Lord richly bless all those who reach out to their own “Jerusalem” with reach out to their own “Jerusalem” with an addiction recovery ministry.an addiction recovery ministry.

Transformed Life International

Transformed Life InternationalTransformed Life International works in partnership works in partnership and cooperation with local churches to start and run and cooperation with local churches to start and run an effective addiction recovery ministry outreaches. an effective addiction recovery ministry outreaches. The educators associated with Transformed Life are The educators associated with Transformed Life are men of strong Christian character, and have both men of strong Christian character, and have both the advanced education and experience to work the advanced education and experience to work cooperatively with local churches simply as a cooperatively with local churches simply as a resource. These educators essentially become an resource. These educators essentially become an extension of the local churches that utilize extension of the local churches that utilize Transformed Life and its courses. The local church is Transformed Life and its courses. The local church is the center of all ministry outreach to their the center of all ministry outreach to their community and the world. The addiction recovery community and the world. The addiction recovery ministry is just one of these outreaches. When the ministry is just one of these outreaches. When the local church works in partnership with Transformed local church works in partnership with Transformed Life as a resource for their addiction recover Life as a resource for their addiction recover outreach to their community, they have the benefit outreach to their community, they have the benefit of both spiritual and financial support from of both spiritual and financial support from Transformed Life. For more information about Transformed Life. For more information about Transformed Life go to Transformed Life go to www.transformedlifeinternational.comwww.transformedlifeinternational.com