One of the projects that I got involved with in early Faith Partners ministry had to do with the incarcerated population. It seems as though I was confronted after church one Sunday, out in the parking lot, by the two parents of a young man who was sentenced to a year in county lock up […]
Ministry Initiation – Correspondence Read More »
Upon the start up in developing our Faith Partners ministry there was an all important initial phase where we tried to create support and consensus for the new project by dialoging with congregants. Much discussion centered on the extent of the problem and what we, as a church, could do about it. Sometimes difficult and
Ministry Initiation – Essential Questions Read More »
One of the issues I found myself dealing with in the early stages of Faith Partners team development had to do with the openness to disclosure among team members, familiar with both AA, AlAnon, and other 12 Step programs. That is to say, where somebody would readily identify themselves as a recovering participant within a
Ministry Development – Dealing with Stigma Read More »
Eventually all groups arrive at transitional points – participants may come and go, new programs and initiatives start or wind down, and ministries emerge or (hopefully not) close down. My own experience had to with leaving one ministry that I had initiated to start another. We had a thriving group at one church that had
Ministry Sustainability – Transitioning Plans Read More »
I was at a dinner recently as part a monthly commitment to the local indigent Womens Recovery program. I showed up early to heat a casserole that I brought. It was a bit iffy as to what kind of contributions we could expect. I spoke with the coordinator, Bob, the day before and he told
Ministry Sustainability – Breaking Bread Read More »
“Success” is creating outreach programs I was talking with a church friend recently about reactivating a ministry I’d developed a few years back and was forced to suspend for a while. It was a Transitional Needs program and, through discussions with a couple others, they thought it might be a good time to look at
Creating Outreach Programs Read More »
“Success” is asking for help A while ago, I was checking text messages on my cell phone at the end of the evening and came across one that stuck out. I didn’t immediately recall the sender’s number, then remembered it being from someone I crossed paths with several weeks earlier at an event. The terse
“Success” is seeing encouraging signs About six years ago I started working among a different group of people as part of my outreach. Our area has a “DUI Court” program that offers an alternative to jail for driving related offences. My involvement began when someone reached out for a liaison when I signed his attendance chit at a
Seeing Encouraging Signs Read More »
“Success” is facing the reality of relapse One of the people I’ve been working with in the recovery community, talked to me in great detail about their recent relapse and reentry into recovery. They have about 35 days and, given some of the details of the episode, that itself is a minor miracle. I’ve known
Facing the Reality of Relapse Read More »
“…and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” -Matt 4:24 A pastor at one of the faith communities which hosts some local 12 step meetings was talking