THE MINISTRY GOALS/STRATEGIES
One of the goals of Discovery and Recovery in Christ is to equip and train churches to deal with addiction from a Biblical perspective. Considering the poor success rates of many treatment modalities, and the continual relapse that many people suffer we would provide an alternative perspective on “recovery” and maintaining “sobriety”.
Another goal is to provide people with the opportunity to experience Christ’s love and mercy. This ministry focuses on the teaching people will need to address the issues concerning their lives with God. Teaching and discussing fundamental Biblical truths that will help us to see the world from God’s perspective and participate in God’s will for our lives. When we understand these truths, through their daily practice, we can become the light on the path of Discovery and Recovery in Christ for others.
Our focus is to help the people we work with develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to learn to depend on God, and to become interdependent on our brothers and sisters in Christ. God wants us to be free from whatever is interfering with our faith and dependency on Him. The Lord does not want us to be living in darkness or to be in constant battle with our addictions. God wants us to gain freedom by participating in His will for our lives.
The foundational teaching of Discovery and Recovery in Christ with is centered in Romans 12:1-3, which states,
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer
your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is
your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -
his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say
to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you
ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (NIV)
We are to live the life of Christ fully and completely not conforming Christ and God’s Word to our lifestyle. Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (NIV)
RELAPSE PREVENTION STRATEGIES
STRATEGY # 1 – Training/Programming
- Train volunteers to help lead support groups in the local community, as well as, in the prisons and jails.
- Initiate a 16-session faith based program developed in jails, prisons, communities, and churches focusing on overcoming addictions through a Christ-centered life.
1. The group sessions are one and a half hours long in length, meeting two or three times a week respecting the schedule of the institution.
2. Discussion Topics
- Addiction
- Cognitive Restructuring
- Anger Management
- Personal Responsibility
- Developing a Support Network
- Setting Goals
- Accountability
STRATEGY #2 – Re-Entry
- Volunteers would be trained to establish support group in the their
- community based on the principles of Discovery and Recovery in
- Christ.
- Access volunteers and mentors from the community to exemplify positive role models and give guidance.
- Provide clients with the support necessary for re-entry back into the community.
- Develop working relationships with churches, community services, and other ministries to provide a support network for the client.
- Develop a crisis intervention.
- Provide people access to a list of addiction and intervention services in their community.
STRATEGY # 3 - Community Education
- Distribute a Discovery and Recovery brochure and making it available to the public.
- Establish an addiction awareness program aired on a local radio station to educate the public on the Biblical perspective of addiction and make listeners aware of support groups and community services.
- Construct a web site for education, information, referrals and intervention.
- Contact the local cable network to broadcast testimonies, music, drama, interviews and lectures to share the Biblical Perspective on Addiction.
- I would offer workshops to communities that educate and train Clergy, Youth Pastors and interested parties in addressing addiction through the Biblical perspective.
