What Is Vineyard Recovery?

What is Vineyard Recovery?
A gathering....a meeting....a community of people who are either struggling with addiction....know someone who is in addiction.........or is being lead to become a part of a meeting where Christ is first and foremost the center of our recovery.

We welcome anyone who may want to come and see what's going on. Our mission statement is a very simple statement: "Following in HIS steps". This statement reveals the fact that Jesus is the ultimate higher power one seeks when working the twelve steps. It also reveals the wisdom found in Jesus words in Luke 9:23 -  "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." The road to real recovery happens as we relinquish control over our so called "right" to make our own decisions, and turn our will and life over to His care. Do you see that? We are to follow His steps. Go where He goes...follow. If the truth be known, that takes a lot of pressure off of us when we simply have to follow. I know...I know...some may be saying, "It's not that simple!" I understand the nature of cravings and desires as the body screams for alcohol. I understand the psychology of the power of the mind when deprived of the substance it craves. But I also understand the power of a sin nature that has not been turned over to Christ. That sin nature, with its subtle, soothing voice, whispering in your ear to give it what is wants the most. Such battles are never won when we isolate ourselves. Solitude is the way of the devil...if he can cut us away from family, friends or anyone else who might influence us, we will listen to those ancient voices that come to us, whispering promises that will never be filled. Promises that only lead to destruction and death.

Two things I want you to understand about Vineyard Recovery:
1.) It is a safe place. By that, I mean that we want to provide an atmosphere and community where you can come with all your "Stuff"...your emotional baggage, you addiction problems....your hurts.....you can bring them and not feel like you are a second or third class citizen. We want to offer you a place where you can meet God and be healed. Meet God and be put back together. We are not here to put your laundry in the street. We are not going to go around talking about who showed up and the things that they shared. We are not an A.A. meeting, but we do want to respect and honor each person who comes to be with us.After all, we are all recovering from the fall into sin, are we not?

2.) It's just Jesus: I have had this as the center of my theology ever since I was ordained. God made it very clear that my entire theology rests on the simple fact that Jesus is who He claims to be, and He will do what He has claimed He would do. Like Paul wrote in I Corinthians 2:2 - "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Why such a theology? Because when we stand before the cross of Christ, we are all on equal footing. We all stand convicted of our sins, in need of a Savior who can free us from the penalty of sin...from the power of sin ...and from the presence of sin. Who would that be? Just Jesus.

So Vineyard Recovery is a place where we learn about ourselves and about the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? It is the dynamic rule and reign of God in our lives that will enable us to move beyond our addiction into the life God is providing. We don't teach that life is all apple pie, puppy dogs and rainbows once you come to Jesus for healing. We teach that no matter what life hands you...no matter what circumstance you may be faced with, Jesus is there to take you through it. There will be good days that you wish would never end...and there will be dark days that you think will never end. But there through it all will be the Jesus you have run into, that you can lean of for support and guidance.

Consider coming and being a part of our meeting. We'd love to see you.
We meet on Saturday night at 7 p.m. / downtown Gadsden on Broad Street- between 4th and 5th streets.
God on you...
mb