Leadership Qualifications

[rahab]

:hmm: once i begin sending my questions/comments it will be obvious that im new at this. i had 7 and a half months of sobriety a couple of years ago. we live in such a small town that the group fell apart when the leader of the group switched jobs and had to give up leading the meetings. now another local pastor is trying to find someone qualified to lead a CR group. can someone tell me how to locate the exact qualifications?:confused

[cheech]

Hi rahab :) I was a leader of a CR group so maybe I can help.

They at least want you in the program for 6 months - 1 year (it is different of course when you are just starting up a program). You must attend church weekly and continue working on your recovery. How long you've been sober from alcohol is a big factor. If it's been 2 years, you are doing well...if it's only been 7 months...right now, if I were starting a group up, that wouldn't be long enough, especially if you are still struggling with it. I would want you to attend the meetings for at least a year then I would consider you. They will interview you asking questions like where are you in your recovery. Have you ever helped out with a ministry or led one before. Things like that.

Hope this has helped some.

[unkerns]

your qualified rahab,

church is a bunch of broken people that all need Yahweh, so you build each other up. Just grab your bible and start by reading a book together

[rahab]

cheech thank you for more information about leading a CR group. Im definately not qualified myself to lead a group. I am very uncomfortable at AA. Mainly because of the higher power thing. I prefer to recognize Him by name (Jesus) Also my x leads most of the meetings here except the womens of course. I have no drivers license because of a DUI. I dont have a vehicle to drive any way. I also have anxiety issues. But miss having a Christ-centered group of people who are dealing with similar difficulties including addictions. :help:

[unkerns]

Start up a group at home, and use getting rid of alcohol abuse as your center. The bible says come as you are, not get your stuff together and then come.

[cheech]

When the Pastor starts the CR group up, I urge you to attend if you can. It's definitely worth it and it is a Christ centered program!

For now, continue reading your bible. I suggest reading Psalms 91 and 144 every day out loud. They are strong verses and talk about God coming to our aid. Don't toss aside the idea of helping others though. God most always call us to help those in the same situations we were once in. Ask him to guide and direct your path. :hug:

[rahab]

cheech i cant find anywhere that you have discussed your own recovery. I dont want you to have to repeat yourself if theres somewhere I can read your story.

If you wouldnt mind would you explain your addiction and the path the lord brought you through????

Since you led a CR group and being in recovery is one of the qualifications Im assuming youve been through the process.

:pray:praying ive found a new christian sister that can guide me back to sober living for CHRIST instead of just surviving for him.:B

[Slug1]

cheech i cant find anywhere that you have discussed your own recovery. I dont want you to have to repeat yourself if theres somewhere I can read your story.

If you wouldnt mind would you explain your addiction and the path the lord brought you through????

Since you led a CR group and being in recovery is one of the qualifications Im assuming youve been through the process.

:pray:praying ive found a new christian sister that can guide me back to sober living for CHRIST instead of just surviving for him.:B
Hey rahab, both of our testimonies can be found on this site. Cheech's (my wife) is found here: http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=121509

Mine is found here: http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=86821 with the update located in a link at the bottom of that 1st post in the thread.

I pray this helps you out.

[turtledove]

Hi rahab, (I like your user name) we had a thread on here back in May which might also help. See the link below.

If you scroll up through a few posts in that thread you can see my testimony in about the middle there about being freed by the Lord many years ago and what all happened after that. You may want to save it to read on a rainy day-- because it is pretty long. ;)

Bless you and welcome to the forum. :spin: If you haven't done so yet..why not introduce yourself in our Introductions section where others can welcome you.

Here's the link mentioned above:

http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1652271#post1652271

wiseoldowl

[baxpack7]

Rahab, I would like to offer up my testimony as well. Just to let you know that you are definitely not alone in your quest.
http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=112657
Have a God-blessed day!!!

[cheech]

cheech i cant find anywhere that you have discussed your own recovery. I dont want you to have to repeat yourself if theres somewhere I can read your story.

If you wouldnt mind would you explain your addiction and the path the lord brought you through????

Since you led a CR group and being in recovery is one of the qualifications Im assuming youve been through the process.

:pray:praying ive found a new christian sister that can guide me back to sober living for CHRIST instead of just surviving for him.:B

Hi Rahab :). Sorry it's taken me a bit to get back to you as I've been busy the last few days :). I see slug has posted my testimony and I have now added it to my signature :).

I have not struggled with alcohol or drugs, but I have family members who have. I have a niece whom we have worked with who almost died from a drug overdose. I have a brother who has gone through bouts of alcoholism. i say boughts because he goes through times of drinking heavily, then cuts back to a few a day depending on what's going on in his life. My own father use to drink every day but praise God he was always a good dad and husband and always provided for us and the alcohol never got in the way of his work. It was his way of relaxing after work and after he retired I think he was just bored at times. Sometimes it was 2 or 3 and sometimes 5 or 6 beers for him. I do remember my parents fighting over it at times. He so loved his family and did so good by us, but the fact remains that he enjoyed drinking his beer, as did my brothers (which isn't as bad anymore) as did dad's brother. My husband's brother is a recovering alcoholic. So, I have dealt with other peoples strongholds...but mine came in a different way...depression, anxiety, anger, control, emotional pain, unworthiness and all the other junk that comes with it. If I couldn't control something in my life, it drove me nuts. If my husband and I had a problem and I couldn't resolve it...it drove me nuts. Even right down to a piece of mail that needed attention...if I couldn't get a hold of someone to get it taken care of...it wigged me out! Maybe because since there were things in my life I couldn't control, I had to put emphasis in other areas.

We may not all suffer from the same type of strongholds, but we do all have one thing in common...pain. That never changes. It's universal. We may not have lived the same type of lifestyle that drew us to these strongholds, but we endured the pain of our lifestyles and the strongholds and that is what we all have in common.

Celebrate Recovery isn't just for the alcoholic or drug addict. It covers every stronghold in existance because the Bible has the answers to all of our problems. The man who wrote the program, John Baker, suffered from alcoholism so it may seem geared towards that but it covers all problems...anxiety, depression, gambling, PTSD, food disorders, pornography, abuse of all forms, etc. There is a reason behind each and every stronghold...pain. Some people may not understand the temptation to drink...but they understand the temptation to do something wrong or to fall in other areas of their lives. I have felt temptation so strong my body hurt which I know is what an alcoholic or drug addict go through.

CR covers alot of areas where other programs cover specific ones. The recovery program we are going to start at our church will cover all areas as well. The Bible doesn't limit areas...it has answers for all problems. The leaders I will have in our program have gone through many different problems and come from many different backgrounds. A leader may not have struggled with alcohol, but I have one that has struggled with bulimia. Guess what...the temptations and struggles are the same! I have struggled horribly with a lack of trust in people. The temptations are equally horrible in that department.

It would be good for you to get into that type of program but we would be happy to speak with you hear as well until that program begins. Also, speaking with a Pastor is another step in the right direction to help you on the spiritual side of things. Always remember though...nothing can replace going to God directly or speaking with others in person who can be there for you and they can help keep you accountable.

God bless.

[rahab]

thank you all for your help. I am looking at other responses to other posts you all have made and find it very helpful. Since we live in such a small town and I cant travel anywhere for celebrate recovery I will trust that God may be preparing me for when a group is formed. I wont give up trying to get one started in our area because I know there are many others who struggle with addictions who didnt have any christian influence in their lives that I was fortunate to have had. Sometimes I wonder if having the meetings held in a church scares some of them away. We all know that can be very intimidating even to some of us who havent attended for a while. :hmm::pray:

Just seeing that another christian brother/sister reads my thoughts and concerns here encourages and comforts me.

Sincerely Rahab

[turtledove]

thank you all for your help. I am looking at other responses to other posts you all have made and find it very helpful. Since we live in such a small town and I cant travel anywhere for celebrate recovery I will trust that God may be preparing me for when a group is formed. I wont give up trying to get one started in our area because I know there are many others who struggle with addictions who didnt have any christian influence in their lives that I was fortunate to have had. Sometimes I wonder if having the meetings held in a church scares some of them away. We all know that can be very intimidating even to some of us who havent attended for a while. :hmm::pray:

Just seeing that another christian brother/sister reads my thoughts and concerns here encourages and comforts me.

Sincerely Rahab

Hi Rahab, thanks for this encouragement we all need it including those of us on the mod/fac team here. As for meeting with this type of group. It depends on the church. Some actually sponser these kind of programs themselves and others just let the facility be used but don't sponser the meetings. Cheech and others here may have more imput for you on this.

God bless, :)

owl.