Dick B. interviews Christian Recovery leader John S.

This morning's guest is John S. of Norco, California. John is a long-recovered Christian recovery fellowship leader. And he has been the most successful organizer and perpetuator of James Clubs in the International Christian Recovery Coalition. John attended our May 2009 conference of leaders at Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine, California. And he was among those who had met with a not-unsual barrier from a local 12 Step office trying to block the work of the James Clubs. But John plunged ahead with this effort. He held a large Christian recovery conference at his church in Norco. I have spoken there, and my son Ken has also spoken in Norco. John wrote a manual for James Clubs. And he rested his efforts on the very clear language of A.A. cofounders Bill W. and Dr. Bob that the early AAs believed the answers to their problems were in the Good Book and that they considered Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, the Book of James, and 1 Corinthians 13 to be absolutely essential to their program--a program that was succeeding long before there were any Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, Big Books, War Stories, or meetings like those we know today. Bill and Bob had both said that James was their favorite. They both said that the Sermon on the Mount contained the underlying spiritual philosophy of A.A. And the early members wanted to call their Society "The James Club." In Norco, John saw local people growing in number with this concept and also expanding the number of clubs in their churches and in Norco. Today, John will tell you a little about his family, education, airplane activities, recovery efforts, Christian affiliations, and the progress of the James Club movement. John will tell you how they began, grew, expanded, and blessed those who followed the path. Take it away, John.