The process we use for addiction recovery
"...If anyone is caught in any
transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a
spirit of gentleness..." Galatians 6:1
Regarding the word "restore" in this verse, Vine's Dictionary
states, {The tense is the continuous present, suggesting the
necessity for patience and perseverance in the process}. We are
well aware of the patience and perseverance needed in the
addiction recovery ministry. Restoring ruined lives is hard
work! Recovering addicts do very well for short periods of time.
They are great sprinters! We are striving to make them great
marathon runners (Hebrews 12:1-3).
The restoration (recovery) process we use is community based
with control. We take control of their lives as we teach them
self control. Because of the controlling nature of our program,
we need the help of a stable family member. We have a 6-month
program. The first three month period is very restrictive. As
each man lives in the community, we control his social
activities. As he works in the community, we keep control of his
money, vehicle and other assets. The second three month period
is like a father letting go of the bicycle seat and watching to
see if his son can peddle and maintain his own balance. The
letting go of the seat is allowing them to have cash in their
pocket and freedom of travel while they continue to attend all
classes and church services and submit to random drug testing.
If/When they relapse (fall down), we make them start all over.
We do not kick men out of the program for relapsing. The reason
they leave is because they do not want to start over after one
or several relapses. If they prematurely leave the program,
their stable family member gets their savings and their car.
Regarding those who have quit and exited the program, we do not
count them as failures. These souls were with us for days, weeks
and months. They worked on the Jule Miller pamphlets and John
Hurt lessons. They also attended daily Bible classes and many
worship services that were “in spirit and in truth.” Isaiah
55:10,11 explains why we do not count them as failures:
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do
not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth
and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the
eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It
shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10.11