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Pastor John McKinzie, the lead pastor for Hope Fellowship Church in Frisco/McKinney/Prosper, Texas (just outside of Dallas), joins us today to discuss forgiveness, love and addiction. This man single-handedly helped Josh in his recovery journey and continues to inspire so many with grace and acceptance and love, often leading with, "I'm sorry that you experience that." In terms of addiction, he states it is, "something that has grabbed our life in such a way that on our own we can't get out." We highly recommend visiting Hope Fellowship's website at: www.hopefellowship.net  If you are in the Dallas area, tonight (2/29/24), they are hosting a Fentanyl Awareness night at 6pm at the Frisco East campus.

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Officially the only behavioral addiction, gambling is far more common than what is seen and known. We are joined today by Ted Hartwell, the Executive Director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. On this episode, Ted will share his personal story with gambling addiction and, throughout, highlight the risk factors for gambling addiction. We will also emphasize the parallels with substance use disorders and how they often co-occur. 

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Pastor Rich Scherber, the 'God-father' of Mn Adult and Teen Challenge, returns for Part 2! We left off last week with Pastor Rich and his family just returning from South Africa where they had served for 5 years and fully planned on returning, but it seems that God had other plans! A quick meeting at a church, an offer that everyone would and should refuse, and nothing but rejection later, and the first residential Mn Teen Challenge site opened! Pastor Rich essentially walked into a mess, but what a message he not only preached but also lived! For anyone who has heard of MN Adult and Teen Challenge, or thinks they know what it is and who they are, you have no clue! Hearing this story from the director himself will change everything!  Also, please say a few extra prayers for a close friend of the Teen Challenge family. 

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Pastor Rich Scherber grew up in MN and was, as he calls it, a 'troubled kid.' Getting straight Ds and Fs, he was fonder of parties and drugs until one day, in his early 20s, he went to a favorite place to sell and party and was met by Christians who just wanted to love him. There was just something about that day that changed him forever! After burning his supply and killing his plants, he began his journey of ministry and missionary work. Pastor Rich, accompanied by his wife and 2 young daughters, were called to minister in one of the most violent places in South Africa during the Apartheid and upon returning would be faced with another cross-roads decision that would lead to him start MN Adult and Teen Challenge. Part 1- From Drugs to Ministry

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What is AA and how did it come to be such a universally accepted practice in finding recovery? Started in 1935 by a salesman/stockbroker and a doctor, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous- now broadly includes all substances and branches which we will discuss) can be found around the world with well over 2 million members who meet anonymously with one common goal, a desire to not have another drink/hit/bump/etc. In this episode, we will give you the history of AA, the basic tenants and ideas, and discuss how it has evolved over time (although not much). We will also note some of the 'critiques' and how the first 3 steps of the 12 steps can be more broadly applied. Celebrity highlight: Al Pacino. 

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"There is no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone." We start this episode with Brian getting his "bad and good" news and then have the honor to hear how his recovery journey continues. From finding humility to listening to where he was called to be, Brian has not only 'survived' the disease of addiction, but he has thrived in his actualization of how his experiences are able to inform and make sustainable changes to impact and help so many others. He states, "it's about giving others time, talent and treasure" and "believing in ourselves and believing we have something to offer." Finally, "All the experiences, good, bad and indifferent, have allowed me to become who I am today." He now is the Executive Director of Lakes Area Restorative Justice Program, helping and supporting youth as what became his passion! www.larjp.org 

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Pam, the mother of Jake, a victim of the opioid and drug epidemic, returns to dive deeper into her Family Peer Support Services non-profit, Thrive Family Recovery Resources. She discusses how, when she was caring for Jake, she received many messages on how she should "handle him" and "cope". However, Pam didn't agree with detaching, she didn't believe that she should and could do nothing, she didn't believe in "tough love", she didn't believe that families are powerless and, most importantly, she didn't believe that extrinsic changes and forces could change someone intrinsically. Thrive supports families, understanding and encouraging the intentional approach to care and love. To learn more or to fill out their form for services visit: ThriveFRR.org or call the helpline at: 612-504-5424

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The 5 Stages of Grief, ie the Kubler-Ross Grief Cycle, is well known and often applied for the death of a loved one or a similar life event, but here we will challenge our listeners to see how it, too, applies to addiction and recovery. When we can apply the same stages of grief to recovery from a substance use disorder, we can gain more empathy and understanding for those whom are struggling. For those with a SUD who find themselves grieving their substance or the lifestyle associated, we hope to shift the perspective of the shame that is likely accompanying the non-intentional grief periods. When we can all understand this perspective we are better able to lead with love and kindness and empathy and hope. 

Celebrity highlight: Demi Lovato

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After hitting rock bottom when his kids were taken from his and his wife's arms by CPS and he was arrested, Brian realized he had to make a change. "I didn't know how to receive or handle what was going on in my life" he recalled. The next steps he states: "My wife got offered drug court... I got offered a prison sentence." However, he was able to make big changes, leaning on his faith, focusing on showing his kids that "I wanted to demonstrate to them that I tried"... even if they never got them back. "I pledged that I wouldn't harm my children again". So what happened? Listen to find out how Brian's recovery journey progressed!

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