Stories

Seven Steps To Freedom

By Tom Roth

Four years ago it came to me: A message, I believe, from God. I hope I heard Him well. I was relaxing in my easy chair when He impressed me to research the success of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), specifically its “Twelve Step” program.

Certainly AA has done great things for many people struggling with addiction, but I always sensed something was missing. Being myself a recovering alcoholic drug addict, I know the program well. Also being a pastor, I would also like to think I know Jesus fairly well—and this is where I discerned a disconnect. It became increasingly obvious to me that Jesus wasn’t much welcome in many Twelve Step meetings. And with Jesus as the most important part of everything I do, it was time for careful evaluation.

Soon I learned that AA’s success rate is far from stellar. Most resources, including AA itself, put that number at under 10 percent. This was disappointing to me, but not surprising. I felt sad to realize that people struggling with something as serious as addiction would rely on something so unreliable.

With more research and prayer, the simple fact dawned on me that to receive true healing we must go to the true Healer. Knowing the importance of surrendering our lives to a “Higher Power,” the selection of that power is obviously critical to overcoming addiction. What we needed was a program that connected struggling addicts with Jesus.

Our simple mission statement became: “Sharing Jesus with the addicted.” Our vision was just as simple: “Freedom from addiction through Jesus.” The seven steps to our program, “Step Seven,” are as follows:

Step One: We recognize that our lives had become a prison. “...For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him” (2 Peter 2:19).

Step Two: We consider the fact that it might be the sin in our life that causes this lack of freedom. “I tell you the truth everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34).

Step Three: We consider accepting Jesus Christ as our Higher Power. “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Step Four: We prayerfully ask Him to take away this desire to continue in this activity that separates us from Him. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Step Five: We seek through prayer, study and our small group His healing gospel truth. “Seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Step Six: We come to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Step Seven: We share this message. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

These seven simple steps bring someone into a lifesaving relationship with Jesus. Lives are changing and we are seeing new faces at every meeting.

Gary, a regular participant, testifies: “Step Seven has introduced me to a Higher Power I can trust: my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ”.

Bob, a gentleman we met while he was in the hospital detoxing from years of abuse, states, “My fear was I did not have a relationship with God. I did not really have any friends except drinking buddies, and I was truly scared for my life. This is the first time, since I started my search for sobriety, that I believe I have found something I can believe in.” He continues: “It’s also the first time I have found a group of guys I have so much in common with, men that want the same thing I do—sobriety and a relationship with Jesus.”

Our church, NEWDAY Christian SDA, is focused on connecting with the community. The guys at Step Seven believe that in spreading this message they are doing their best for the Lord’s work. We look forward to opening our first Step Seven Sobriety House as well as our Step Seven Treatment Program. We also believe we have a wonderful model for planting new churches.

In closing, I would like to introduce my new friend and Step Seven participant, Randy. I met him in the hospital more than a year ago. He was fighting for his life from liver failure. The first two times I met him, he was in a coma. At five percent liver function, his prognosis was less than bright. The doctors said and still say it’s only a matter of time. The fact that he is still with us a year and a half later is nothing but a miracle. The bigger miracle though, is the fact that Randy has now accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

Pastor Tom Roth is the site pastor at the Franklin location of Colorado’s Newday Christian SDA Church. For more information on the Step Seven addiction recovery program, visit www.stepseven.org or call 888.330.1931.