Have you ever evangelized at a 12-step group?

[smolderingwick]

I have and sometimes it has been

They talk about God (once in awhile ) but they don’t want to hear about Jesus…

I would like to hear stories / suggestions; i gave up going to a 12-step group and am not sure i made the right decision… yet don’t feel 2 enthused about going back…

Since i was the only one at the group to mention Jesus, i figured it was a good place to tell “lost” people about Jesus, someone they had rarely heard of (?) or had forgotten about… (??) yet, most of the members didn’t seem receptive… never commented on anything i said that had to do with HIm…

 

[PapaSquash]

Yes, but I htink it is best done individually.

In the group as a whole, I try to be the best copy of the gospel I can be (a pretty tattered one, I admit) and I don’t hide my Catholicism.

Then as a get to know individuals, and hopefully earn thier respect, I can share one-on-one how this path leads to Heaven.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I used to date a man who is now in a AA 12-step program. When I mentioned the Catholic church, he responded that he needed to look FORWARD.

In many situations, I don’t think Catholicism is a good place to preach in a 12-step program.

For my friend, Catholicism was a big part of his problem. Perhaps, it is best left in the past.

 

[smolderingwick]

Yes, but I htink it is best done individually.

I guess one thing i wanted to get advice on is whether or not to keep going to these mtgs. if/when they are a downer for me…? I know we are supposed 2 pick up our crosses and carry them… Lately, i don’t feel i am doing that to the best of my ability. But i had this one thing happen once. I had just gone to Church, then went to this un-Christian 12 step mtg. afterwards. No one wanted to hear about Jesus (or so i felt )… .I went in feeling very close to God (because of Mass)… and left feeling just the opposite… Maybe i planted some seeds, but the feeling i left w/ was awful! People who aren’t close to Jesus have demons around them, influencing them…
I just wonder how far i am supposed to take this “picking up your cross” hting??

Thanks… God bless…

 

[smolderingwick]

I used to date a man who is now in a AA 12-step program. When I mentioned the Catholic church, he responded that he needed to look FORWARD.

In many situations, I don’t think Catholicism is a good place to preach in a 12-step program.

For my friend, Catholicism was a big part of his problem. Perhaps, it is best left in the past.

Are you saying we should leave Catholicism in the past? I am afraid i don’t fully understand this response…

 

[Ramalama]

I guess one thing i wanted to get advice on is whether or not to keep going to these mtgs. if/when they are a downer for me…? I know we are supposed 2 pick up our crosses and carry them… Lately, i don’t feel i am doing that to the best of my ability. But i had this one thing happen once. I had just gone to Church, then went to this un-Christian 12 step mtg. afterwards. No one wanted to hear about Jesus (or so i felt )… .I went in feeling very close to God (because of Mass)… and left feeling just the opposite… Maybe i planted some seeds, but the feeling i left w/ was awful! People who aren’t close to Jesus have demons around them, influencing them…
I just wonder how far i am supposed to take this “picking up your cross” hting??

Thanks… God bless…

I don’t know what program you are talking about, but I’ve been in AA for a couple decades. We talk about Christianity frequently and many of the group are Catholic. In our city of ~100,000 people we have many (50+) different meetings each week, in many different locations. If you’re in AA, I suggest you check out different meetings until you find one you’re comfortable with.

Good luck and God bless you.

 

[smolderingwick]

I don’t know what program you are talking about, but I’ve been in AA for a couple decades. We talk about Christianity frequently and many of the group are Catholic. Good luck and God bless you.

I would really like to know what city you live in… But to tell the truth, i used to live in a small town where they had good meetings and it wasn’t a bit no-no to talk about Jesus… It just seems to be a problem in this town i live near now. I think it has a lot to do with the person chairing the mtgs. He is not a Christian, even told me once (after mtg) that masturbation was not a sin. I tried to convince him otherwise, to no avail… I suspect he’s a sociopath… (long story why…). I think he likes to chair the mtg. (never lets anyone else do it) because he wants 2b the center of attention… In any case, i have decided i don’t need to subject myself to that kind of thing… i am looking into other mtgs…
Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
And i really WOULD Like to know w hat city you live in…

 

[Ramalama]

Smoulder, I sent you a private message with my city and state. I’ve never had any trouble talking about Jesus in any meeting, in California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Georgia, etc. You might consider talking about God, rather than Jesus. It would be hard to dispute that a Higher Power is needed for recovery.

I don’t evangelize at the meetings. I simply share my experience, strength and hope, which of course, includes God. Many of the people in the meetings I go to are not receptive to much “God stuff”. They need to move slowly into the light and can best be lead by example rather than direction.

I can see where you would have trouble talking to the chair person about masturbation being a sin. We have trouble talking about it on these boards!

I think God puts these things in our path to get us thinking about things. God bless you and good luck finding the meetings you need.

 

[smolderingwick]

You might consider talking about God, rather than Jesus. It would be hard to dispute that a Higher Power is needed for recovery.

I don’t evangelize at the meetings. I simply share my experience, strength and hope, which of course, includes God. .

i’m not trying to be argumentative, so please don’t take it that way, but i feel we are supposed to evangelize everywhere. And i know that’s the reason i was persecuted @ that one meeting. I kept on going there for awhile, but then felt i couldn’t do that to myself anymore… The guy running the meetings did seem like, well, like he didn’t wnat to think about or hear about Jesus.
You say u mention God @ 12 step mtgs. Well, that’s a good idea since most AA people claim to believe in a higher power and some call him God… and if that’s the only way i can evangelize, i guess that’s the way i should do it.
To tell the truth, since i got strong in the Catholic faith, i have nt felt any personal need (to speak of ) to go to AA meetings. I feel i have overcome my addictions or if i fall back into them, i have learned how to give them to Jesus, etc… therefore, i don’t need the 12 step program. The only reason i was going was to do the 12th step (help others), yet, as stated, my help was not appreciated (or if it was, no one said anythign…). I feel God may be leading me into other, more productive endeavors…
Anyway, i appreciate your comments and i think i will take your advice about talking about God… The only problem is, i love Jesus so much, its hard NOT to talk about him… things just pop out of my mouth sometimes…
Anyway, it was nice “talking” to you.

 

[PapaSquash]

Smolder

Sorry fo rthe dellay in responding, I have anew handinjusry that makes it hard to type.

I was going to touch on teh “need to go” vs the desire to go and help. Glad you are in a postion to be strong in sobriet through God and the Church.

I still suggest meetings. i don’t as often as i used to but i still go.

Do not be afraid to evangelize at meetings but be preparded to do so without using words. Love and Grace are attractive. remember that a ot of people in Meeetings need to hear a solid Christian message, we drunks are the spritual walking wounded. It’s tempting to try and find a an easier way, it’s up to us to show that Christ is the solution. he wa good enough for Bill W and St thomas and Augustine and most of the “really smart guys” througout history.

Keep looking for meeting that don’t do you any harm. but Don’t be afraid to go among drunkards, tax collectors. prostitutes and idolators of that’s where the message needs to be heard.

With Fat fingers, God Bless.

 

[LSK]

I have and sometimes it has been

They talk about God (once in awhile ) but they don’t want to hear about Jesus…

I would like to hear stories / suggestions; i gave up going to a 12-step group and am not sure i made the right decision… yet don’t feel 2 enthused about going back…

Since i was the only one at the group to mention Jesus, i figured it was a good place to tell “lost” people about Jesus, someone they had rarely heard of (?) or had forgotten about… (??) yet, most of the members didn’t seem receptive… never commented on anything i said that had to do with HIm…

I have done so on an individual basis, but I am not shy about saying "My Higher Power is Jesus Christ and I am a practicing Catholic. " I usually add “I do not think I am recovering from that and if you have a problem with my religion we have this wonderful thing called a 4th step that you might want to consider doing”.

I always state that I am a Catholic from the podium when I speak and that coming HOME to the Holy Mother Church is a part of my story…

I really think it is how it is done…so many people in 12 step programs have been badly damaged (usually by OUR OWN DOING but we are damaged none the less) that I have learned to be an out-loud Catholic by my actions more than my words…does that make sense?
You seem very familiar (your words and your writing style)…any relation to Bennie P?
Well, good luck to you and may you continue to stay clean and sober one day at a time.

 

[LSK]

Smoulder, I sent you a private message with my city and state. I’ve never had any trouble talking about Jesus in any meeting, in California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Georgia, etc. You might consider talking about God, rather than Jesus. It would be hard to dispute that a Higher Power is needed for recovery.

I don’t evangelize at the meetings. I simply share my experience, strength and hope, which of course, includes God. Many of the people in the meetings I go to are not receptive to much “God stuff”. They need to move slowly into the light and can best be lead by example rather than direction.

I can see where you would have trouble talking to the chair person about masturbation being a sin. We have trouble talking about it on these boards!

I think God puts these things in our path to get us thinking about things. God bless you and good luck finding the meetings you need.

Thank you so much for this…I find that by sharing my experience, strength and hope I have had many people drawn to me who had questions about the Faith and The Holy Mother Church…and it is amazing how, when I talk to them one on one, it turns out they only need someone to just encourage them to come Home to Rome…

 

[PapaSquash]

Smoulder,

Just fininshed a meeting. My group brought one in to me at home. I’m kind of laid up, We read a passge that made me think of you. page 419 about a third of the way down. The story is “Accpetance is the answer” (or Doctor, Alcoholic, addict if you have an old edition of the book.)

God bvless

 

[LSK]

i’m not trying to be argumentative, so please don’t take it that way, but i feel we are supposed to evangelize everywhere. And i know that’s the reason i was persecuted @ that one meeting. I kept on going there for awhile, but then felt i couldn’t do that to myself anymore… The guy running the meetings did seem like, well, like he didn’t wnat to think about or hear about Jesus.
You say u mention God @ 12 step mtgs. Well, that’s a good idea since most AA people claim to believe in a higher power and some call him God… and if that’s the only way i can evangelize, i guess that’s the way i should do it.
To tell the truth, since i got strong in the Catholic faith, i have nt felt any personal need (to speak of ) to go to AA meetings. I feel i have overcome my addictions or if i fall back into them, i have learned how to give them to Jesus, etc… therefore, i don’t need the 12 step program. The only reason i was going was to do the 12th step (help others), yet, as stated, my help was not appreciated (or if it was, no one said anythign…). I feel God may be leading me into other, more productive endeavors…
Anyway, i appreciate your comments and i think i will take your advice about talking about God… The only problem is, i love Jesus so much, its hard NOT to talk about him… things just pop out of my mouth sometimes…
Anyway, it was nice “talking” to you.

sometimes we forget to evangelize with our ACTIONS - as St. Francis said, “Preach the Gospel - sometimes, use words”.

 

[smolderingwick]

Smolder

I still suggest meetings. Do not be afraid to evangelize at meetings . Love and Grace are attractive. …remember that a ot of people in Meeetings need to hear a solid Christian message, we drunks are the spritual walking wounded.

Thanks for the encouragement… I really am trying to find a good meeting… Well, i have to admit, i am not currently trying 2 hard… have other things on my mind… Actually, maybe i should start my own mtg…

Keep looking for meeting that don’t do you any harm. but Don’t be afraid to go among drunkards, tax collectors. prostitutes and idolators of that’s where the message needs to be heard.

Thanks for going to the trouble when you have messed up fingers…
I’m still a little confused about exactly waht kind of “ministry” the Lord wants for me… I am praying about all that… I’m a little disturbed lately about this one particular thing… so please pray for me…
The main reason i don’t like AA is that people don’t seem open to Jesus, at least not at the ones i have gone to… They don’t mind hearing about God, but don’t wnt to hear about Jesus… (If they only knew what i know ). Anyway… i’m praying about it…

 

[Nordar]

smolderingwick, AA is made up of all kinds of people from all walks of life. They come to AA to hopefully stop drinking to live a life free from Alcohol. They come from all religions, some are even agnostics and atheists, read the Big Book, it says it plain as day in there. Many struggle for a long time in getting sober to have a realtionship with a Higher Power contrary to what you may think it is not easy for some.

When they come into those rooms and are at a meeting some struggling to stay sober, they do not have to listen to, nor accept your evangelizing about Jesus. That is not why they are there, they are in AA to find out how to get and stay sober. If it is God’s will that they got to the doors of AA and hopefully God’s will that they stay sober. Then you should leave it in God’s hand that they learn about Jesus were they are meant to learn about him, not in the rooms of AA. Worry less about who wants to here about Jesus in a meeeting and maybe reach out to a drunk who is suffering.

 

[smolderingwick]

. Many struggle for a long time in getting sober to have a realtionship with a Higher Power contrary to what you may think it is not easy for some.

Why do you assume i don’t know this? I do know it. For one thing, I have been going to AA for many years now (off and on). I did not say anything was “easy”. As an addict (though not to drugs/alcohol) myself, i know very well how difficult it can be…

When they come into those rooms and are at a meeting some struggling to stay sober, they do not have to listen to, nor accept your evangelizing about Jesus. That is not why they are there, they are in AA to find out how to get and stay sober…

You assume again. I know perfectly well why people go to AA. I used to go there for the same reason - to deal with my issues of being addicted (to whatever).
The reason i evangelize is that Jesus is the only “thing” that has helped me (effectively helped me, “permanently” helped me…) and delivered me from [whatever]. He is my “experience, strength and hope.”
I go there to help myself and others… and if Jesus doesn’t help a person, they have NO help at all… No lasting help… human beings can help, but only Jesus can provide lasting help and true healing… As one priest recently said in a homily: “There is a Jesus-shaped hole in all of us…”

 

[Nordar]

Excuse me! you are not an Alcoholic? You are addicted to whatever? And you think that it is OK for you to go to AA meetings and share your experience strength and hope with Alcoholics, Evangelize to them about Jesus. They should listen to you, and you have that right? because you have been free from being addicted to Whatever, Do I have that correct?

 

[distracted]

Excuse me! you are not an Alcoholic? You are addicted to whatever? And you think that it is OK for you to go to AA meetings and share your experience strength and hope with Alcoholics, Evangelize to them about Jesus. They should listen to you, and you have that right? because you have been free from being addicted to Whatever, Do I have that correct?

Yes. You gotta problem with that?

 

[Mirdath]

Yes. You gotta problem with that?

Yes. There’s a distinction between sharing experiences and evangelizing, and to do the latter at an AA/NA meeting may be about the lowest thing I’ve ever heard of in the modern missionary field. It’s taking advantage of damaged people, plain and simple.