How Churches Can Provide “A Way Out” of Addiction

From an overhead view, a group of people sit in a circle on a grey rug, holding hands.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”— 1 Corinthians 10:13 Few challenges facing today’s churches are as…

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Post-Traumatic Growth in Recovery: Seeking New Possibilities

When trauma leaves its mark, it often feels impossible to move past the pain. In my years as a physician—especially the last ten spent in a mental health facility—I’ve heard countless stories of suffering and injustice. A common thread runs through them: the struggle to move forward when life feels deeply unfair. I know this…

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The Promises of a New Life in Sobriety

In many meetings of AA, there is a scheduled reading (frequently toward the beginning of the meeting) of what are known as “The Promises.” To be more accurate, they are the 9th Step Promises, and many long-time attendees can recite them by heart. In short, they are a brief list of the many things a…

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How is Dunamis Effect different from AA?

Anybody that says “Dunamis Effect” is anti-AA, obviously hasn’t read the book. There must be at least a dozen times where AA is described as a divine gift, and its members a national treasure of wisdom. While Dunamis Effect (formally Him and Them) is designed to be a stand-alone program, throughout the book one is…

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The Dunamis Initiative & CMDA

Pictured above is Dr. Don Middleton with Dr. Mike Chubb, CEO of CMDA We’re excited to share a recent development as we continue to bring The Dunamis Initiative to churches and Christian organizations all over the world. I (Don) am incredibly honored and humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve as Chair of…

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Why Not Just Send Them to AA?

It’s not a unique story.  A family presents themselves to a pastor with a combination of fear, sadness, and anger. What did he do wrong? Nothing. They want to talk about a family member who won’t stop drinking. They have begged, pleaded, threatened, and offered incentives, and at times he seems to get it together…

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Christian courage in action

Month 4, Step 4 – Courage. Two men decide to ride their bikes across Death Valley which is a remarkable feat of endurance pitting man against some of the harshest conditions mother nature has to offer. The first is young and strong and fills his water bottles to start his trek without telling anyone in…

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