The Christ Centered Addiction Specialist Network (CCASN) exists to provide training and support for Pastors and those individuals within their churches who are called into the highly specialized ministry of Christ-centered addiction counseling.
The Mission of CCASN is to establish a Christian network of trained and certified addiction specialists to impact our communities with a Biblical approach of radical transformation through the Person of Jesus Christ.
The Goal of CCASN is to outnumber, by a substantial margin, the secular “disease approach” facilities, therapy centers and private counselors in the field of substance abuse and addiction recovery. CCASN will accomplish this by training 1000’s of Certified Christ-Centered Addiction Specialists to serve in the local churches and equipping them to impact our community for Christ.
CCASN will assist Pastors and lay leaders in firmly establishing and restoring the Body of Christ (the Church) as the primary institute of healing and permanent change by seeking those that God has gifted and anointed to fulfill the CCASN vision of eradicating substance abuse and addictions. By developing a Christ Centered Addiction Counseling Ministry within the churches of our communities, pastors and other leaders can reach out with hope and healing to congregational members tormented by the lingering effects of an addictive or dysfunctional family environment.
Certified Christ Centered Addiction Specialists will offer these Christians an opportunity to find peace in fellowship with other believers. In addition, ministry will provide a means for congregations to join the growing recovery network within the body of Christ. In this way, the church can become a secure place for all to worship in Spirit and in Truth and glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.
CCASN with the combined efforts of the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute will provide certified training to those called to the ministry as a Christ Centered Addiction Specialist. We will endeavor to develop a network of committed members of the body of Christ to aid and assist Pastors in building congregations that are both safe and helpful for those in need of “addiction recovery”.
THE NEED IS GROWING AND WE NEED TO BE EQUIPPED
There is a growing need for Christ-Centered Addiction Counseling within the 21st century Christian church. Pastors and church leadership are becoming mindful that there are suffering souls inside their congregations, but they sometimes lack the pertinent tools or training to contend with the problem effectively.
Fortunately, more and more church leaders are recognizing a need to develop practical programs and ministries for people who struggle with abuse, addiction and compulsive behavior. 21st century ministries need to provide a secure home where individuals can set about to confront their personal difficulties.
A decade ago, few of us would have considered chemical dependency, sexual addiction, or eating disorders appropriate topics for polite conversation within the church community. These constituted "silent issues" in the Christian church of yesterday. Today, however, addiction, compulsive behavior and abuse are widely recognized as problems of tremendous personal and social significance. Consider these statistics:
• At the least six million Americans are addicted to cocaine.
• Between five million and ten million are hooked to prescription drugs.
• Ten million Americans are chronic alcoholics.
• More than 50 million Americans are addicted to nicotine.
• Countless more are addicted to TV, shopping, physical exercise, sports, and even cosmetic surgery.
• Additionally, it's estimated that every addict directly affects at the least ten additional people.
There is an Emerging Awareness
The Christian community is not exempt from these troubles. Many life-long Christians struggle with dependency. Additionally, many people come to Jesus Christ hoping to discover freedom from the bondage of dependency. Frequently these new Christians anticipate their problems will instantly vanish as a result of their spiritual rebirth*. In time, however, many learn that actual healing requires an extended cognitive process of correcting the damages of their past.
A few of these people who suffer from addiction, compulsive behavior, or abuse find it difficult to be part of a Christian church community. They might ascertain that within their church, unsuccessful behavior is denied, dismissed, or minimized by those who use religious belief to shield themselves from life's realities.
As pastors and other church leadership become cognizant of suffering and fragmented Christian families in their midst, they are realizing the importance of reaching out to these people. They acknowledge that most individuals can deny their problems for only a limited period of time. Confronting their damaging behavior requires support and understanding. Through compassion and love, these suffering people can find a solution for the conflicting feelings and behaviors that come with the pretension of always seeming "fine."
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5 comments:
here's a lot of info most believers cant comprehend. the body of Christ is in need of more spiritual counseling, opposed to secular. only threw Christ can we over come any addiction. This is good stuff!!
Great forum to come to learn, network and be a part of God's plan for your life.
Another blessing from God, what you do with it! is your offering to Him..........
Carlos T.
Jamul, Ca
I am so grateful for what you're doing here. Your vision is obviously God inspired & your obedience will surely be rewarded. May God bless you and what you're doing.
tOm
Thank you JD for all your work and for the vision for this blogspot to inspire more Christians into practical and needed ministry.
Dr. Bruce Fox
Asst. to the Director
Equip Biblical Institute
Shadow Mountain Comm. Church
bfox@socalsem.edu
who would of thought Christ would allow us the privilege of serving in the cure instead of the problem.
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