 Intervention by Grace
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Where there is no counsel,
the people fail.
But in the multitude of counselors
there is safety.
(Proverbs 11:14)
Without counsel,
plans go awry,
but in the multitude of counselors
they are established.
(Proverbs 15:22)
For by wise counsel
you will wage your own war,
and in the multitude of counselors
there is safety.
(Proverbs 24:6)
I recently coordinated a graceful intervention for a dear man who has struggled with an alcohol dependency for years. I joined his wife, adult daughters, family doctor, work supervisor, and other friends to come around him to affirm him as a child of God and brother in Christ while also recommending to him a specific Christ-centered, biblically based healing plan.
Following are biblical principles I have gleaned from Jeff vanVonderen's book Good News for the Chemically Dependent and for Those who Love Them. I hope they are helpful to you or to someone you know with a loved one with an addiction.
DRAGGED DOWN BY ADDICTION
Jesus says in
John 8:44 that the devil is a liar and the father of lies. The root problem of alcohol dependency is believing shame-full lies: I'm
hopeless, I'm a alcoholic, I'm a victim, I'm a failure, I've hurt too many people to deserve forgiveness, no one loves me, etc.
Shame is a cancer of the
heart and mind that relentlessly and unmercifully tears away at
relationships.
Abstinence
from drinking alcohol is not the ultimate goal. External behavior, no matter how positive, cannot cause fullness and
health. Internal freedom in Christ alone
by believing God's truths is the goal.
Healing is from the inside-out. My friend is already healed in the core of his being where he is united to Christ. He now desperately needs to know the healing from the living, indwelling Christ from the inside out, just like a how a wound heals.
Most people with an addiction sincerely do not
want it. However, many try
to get rid of it while at the same time try to stay in control to live as they think best. They are
sincerely trying to find life; however, God is leading them (and all of us) to lose their life.
Jesus said
in Matthew 10:39, Whoever finds his life
will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
A person depending on alcohol appears weak. The reality is that he or she is too
strong. Healing is not by willpower, but through a genuine willingness to heal through dependence
on the Great Physician.
LIFTED UP FROM ADDICTION
An intervention is an orchestrated event where people unite around their loved one who has been dragged down by addiction. One person
cannot intervene alone on behalf of a loved one. It takes a multitude of counselors (see above verses).
Each member of the intervention team expresses love and concern, while recommending one specific healing plan, to their loved one.
Intervention is vividly described by an analogy of a mirror. Many
individuals at various times hold up different pieces of a shattered mirror of a loved one's life, saying, "See, this is what your life looks like. You need to get yourself together." However, because the loved one can't see the whole mirror, he is confused by all the various perspectives of his reflection.
The key: intervention unites a team of caring people who
come together to put all the pieces of the mirror together to enable their loved one to see the whole picture.
The goal in intervention is not to get him to
go get help. It is his responsibility to get himself to go
get help. The goal is to communicate
as honestly and clearly as possible our concerns and why. The intervention team is not to be a support
group, to do therapy, to argue, nor to reason with him.
Healing cannot occur unless he is to lose his life by being surrendered to the Lord's hand in the healing plan being offered to him.
CLOSING
Interventions are emotionally draining, but can be tremendously freeing for all involved. It is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ ministering to a loved one.
However, it is also profoundly sad when a loved one doesn't trust his loving intervention team's healing plan and chooses to continue to be dragged down by his own coping plan that has never worked, and never will work.
So far, my friend is not yet at the end of himself so that he would surrender to the Lord's healing plan for him. Please pray with me for him. His life is at risk.
Successful intervention is not necessarily when a loved one takes a step of faith in deciding to accept the team's healing plan. Successful intervention is simply one that occurs. Each team member takes a step of faith together to provide the loved one his greatest opportunity for choosing healing, for choosing to live with the rest of us.
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PS
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CHRIST-CENTERED, BIBLICALLY BASED MINISTRIES
FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH ADDICTIONS
Below are links to websites of wonderful ministries in Upstate South Carolina where 1,000s of men and women have found freedom in Christ from addictions for 50+ years
. Each ministry provides a long-term residential facility and intensive discipleship counseling and training. Each facility is totally funded by donations and profits from thrift stores.
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About 
Discipleship through
Counseling
Teaching
Training
Gregg Gibbons
Pastoral Director
Michael Chalmers
Training Director
Kellie Boggs
Fellowship Director
Joy Gibbons
Ministry Assistant and women's ministry coordinator
Carole Blyth
Board member and women's ministry coordinator
Randy Garrick
Board member and Elder Holly Ridge Baptist Church
Paul Crews
Board member and Pastor Mountain Creek Baptist Church
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Partnership
I believe with all my heart that ministry is through relationships.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:3, 5).
 
YouTube link below of my ministry commissioning service that included testimonies from several partners, including Bobby Richardson, former 2nd baseman for the NY Yankees.
Please contact me to learn more about partnering with me. I'd love to hear from you!
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Ministry News
Gregg is mentoring teenagers, men, couples in an office donated by Holly Ridge Church in Simpsonville SC.
Michael is mentoring men and couples in offices donated by three churches Greenville SC.
Gregg teaches freedom in Christ at The Haven of Rest mission in Anderson, SC Mondays 6:00-6:45 pm. You are welcome to attend with Gregg anytime!
Gregg will be speaking again at the Bar None Cowboy Church April 25. A new church in rural Laurens County SC.
Carole and Joy leading discipleship Bible studies Feb thru April for 7 female employees at a manufacturing plant.
One of our training graduates is partnering with Hunts Memorial Baptist Church of Greenville SC to teach at a women's retreat April 19-20!
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Archives
Link for Rest Stops
since August 2010:
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Contact Info
JOURNEY IN CHRIST, INC.
655 Fairview Road
Suite H-188
Simpsonville SC 29680
(864) 483-3201 (Gregg cell)
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