For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:11, New International Version)
Support Groups are an important piece in the recovery process. If you are motivated to begin a meeting in your area, always begin the process in prayer. Pray that God will bring you the people, the place for the meeting and the best day and time to satisfy the needs of the people who are seeking Christian food addiction recovery.
A usual starting point might be to gather a few like-minded friends and get acquainted with the program in an intimate setting. Maybe meet at alternate homes for a while. Practice the format. When the group is ready, you could invite others to join your group by making up signs.* Hang them at Christian bookstores and at local churches to spread the good news that there is hope for overeaters and food addicts.
*Information for Sign:
Do you overeat despite intelligent reasoning and constant resolves to diet? If the answer is “Yes, I wish I could stop overeating,” you are not alone.
Full of Faith (or full of food?), Christian 12-Step Recovery from Food Addiction
(List day, time and location of the meeting.)
Full of Faith (or full of food?) exists to touch the hearts, minds and souls of compulsive overeaters and food addicts everywhere with confident expectation of ongoing recovery through faith and hope in Jesus.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6, New International Version)
There is no cost. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop overeating.
For more information, visit our web site: www.fulloffaith.com or call (contact person).
“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17, New Living Translation)
Suggested timeframe of a meeting is one hour.
The Meeting Format is a suggested outline of a meeting plan. Use it as a guideline. It is not necessary to follow it exactly. Each group is unique. Decide as a group what you will do. Group conscience is a good way of letting participants have a say. It helps bond the group in love and eliminates the temptation for one or two people to control the meeting.
In preparation for the meeting, you will need to print a handout for each member of the group (Appendix A—The Serenity Prayer and The Twelve Steps.) You will also need to supply a copy of The Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.
If the speaker is not familiar with the meeting format, then a regular Full of Faith member takes the responsibility to open and close the meeting. At the appropriate time, the speaker will be introduced.
If there is no speaker, you could ask for a volunteer (with at least thirty days of abstinence) or skip to open sharing or use one of the Meeting Format Alternatives (Appendix D).
Meeting Format
The leader’s spoken words are written in bold italicized print.
Greeting:
Welcome. My name is ___________. I am a recovering food addict. Full of Faith (or full of food?) is a Christian Twelve-Step support group for people seeking guidance and encouragement in overcoming compulsive overeating and food obsession, which—in its progressed stages—is food addiction.
Our vision and purpose is to touch the hearts, minds and souls of compulsive overeaters and food addicts everywhere with confident expectation of ongoing recovery through faith and hope in Jesus.
Pause to let the people absorb the mission statement.
We believe that sugar, flour and wheat are addictive substances, which set up cravings in the mind and body of a food addict (just like alcohol sets up cravings in the mind and body of an alcoholic). Therefore, in recovery we abstain from all foods containing these ingredients, and we seek God’s will in our lives by studying the Bible and The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous from a Christian perspective. In other words, God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—is our higher power.
The disease of food addiction is debilitating, progressive and ultimately fatal, however, through the amazing love and grace of God, we are living in the solution today. Through shared experiences of like-minded people, the disease can be arrested one day at a time.
Would someone like to read “How It Works” from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous? (Chapter 5, third edition, pages 58-59. It is understood that the reading concludes with the sentence “We asked His protection and care with complete abandon,” which is right before the Twelve Steps.)
In Recovery we face challenges and make decisions each new day. It is an ongoing process that requires perseverance and constant vigilance. Whether we have one minute of abstinence or years of abstinence, we acknowledge that we have a physical malady—the disease of food addiction, and we are all just one bite away from a binge. Hear the Word of God:
If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall… But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. (l Corinthians l0:l2-l3, New Living Translation)
Our motto is “Progress, not perfection.” If we overeat, or make poor choices, we ask God for help, we forgive ourselves, and we continue to follow our committed plan of eating for the rest of the day. We are full of faith, not full of food.
The Serenity Prayer:
Distribute handouts to the members in the room. (Appendix A—The Serenity Prayer and The Twelve Steps)
After a moment of silence, please join me in The Serenity Prayer.
Pause for a few seconds and then lead the group in The Serenity Prayer.
Introduce the 12-Steps:
We believe that applying Biblical truths to the twelve steps will lead us to the freedom we seek. We will take turns reading one step at a time.
Referring to the handout, the leader reads step one. Then the person on the right reads step two, and so on.
Requirement for Membership:
As a fellowship of men and women recovering from food addiction, our purpose is to grow spiritually (in our relationship with God) while finding a healthier lifestyle. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop overeating. We believe that God holds the keys to lasting recovery.
Prayer:
Let us pray for the courage to face our problems and the willingness to believe that God can help us in everything—even our food choices.
Give people a second to get quiet before God.
Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord Jesus, so that we might see Your amazing love and grace. You are the great physician; the lame walk and the blind see. Help us, please, to see the truth of food addiction recovery. If it is Your will, Lord, give us wisdom—and willingness—to surrender our overeating and food obsession to You this day. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen
Welcome newcomers:
If you are new to Full of Faith, we offer you a special welcome and invite you to attend at least six meetings to give yourself a fair chance to decide if this meeting is for you. If you have any questions, please talk to someone after the meeting or take a phone number or e-mail address from the notebook we are now passing around the room. If you wish to remain anonymous, write your first name only. A star symbol before a name indicates active members of this group; they are committed to the program and strive to be full of faith, not full of food.
(Pass notebook for telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.)
Personal Introductions:
Are there any people here for the first time? Please stand (or raise your hand) and introduce yourself—first names only. We would like to welcome you.
Take a minute to say, “Welcome” to the newcomers.
Are there any people here who could help a newcomer get started in the program? Please stand (or raise your hand) and introduce yourselves to the group.
Take a minute to let them introduce themselves.
If you need help, talk to one of these people after the meeting. For more information about the program, refer to the textbook, Full of Faith (or full of food?) or visit our web site: www.fulloffaith.com.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthews 5:6, New International Version)
When we walked through the doors of a Full of Faith meeting for the first time, we sought recovery from compulsive overeating and food obsession, and we wanted healthy bodies, which is an obvious manifestation of success. However, we found other surprising benefits when we surrendered to the disease of food addiction. We recognized a peace that passes all understanding, and in time we found happiness and joy in trusting God each new day. Hear the Word of God:
When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… (Galatians 5:22-23, The Living Bible)
Recovery Tools: (Appendix B)
If you want what we have, we offer helpful tools as options to consider. They are not rules, requirements or regulations, simply what has worked for other recovering food addicts. See Slow and Steady Wins the Race in the textbook or Food for Thought on our web site for additional ways to enhance the recovery process. Who would like to read the first tool, which is food plans?
Continue to ask for volunteers to read the following tools: Prayer and Meditation, Prayer Partners/Friends in Recovery, Literature, Writing, Love and Service, Confidentiality and Respect.
Introduce the speaker:
Many of the principles and traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous are used as the basis of our group. We are committed to creating a safe place for men and women to share their experience, strength and hope with each other. Our desire is to improve the quality of our lives as we apply what we learn from listening to and sharing with each other. Our hope is in the belief that we can succeed today in situations where we failed previously. As we place ourselves in the care of God, our attitudes improve. We honestly, openly and willingly look at who we are and engage in healthier behavior.
At this time, I would like to introduce our speaker, _______________ (name) from __________(town/state). Thank you for accepting the invitation to share your experience, strength and hope with us.
(Speaker shares for l5-20 minutes.)
It is best if a person is invited to speak in advance or you could ask for a volunteer who has at least thirty days of abstinence to share his/her experience, strength and hope in recovery. If there is no speaker, go right into the next section: open sharing or go to Appendix D for meeting alternatives.
Introduction to open sharing:
It is time for open sharing. Please share your experience, strength and hope in recovery from food addiction, compulsive overeating and food obsession. It would be helpful if you try to refrain from mentioning specific foods by name, as it could stimulate food thoughts, which is counter-productive to our purpose.
Explanation of timed sharing:
This meeting has set a three-minute time limit for sharing. This accommodates more people who wish to talk, and it sets a reasonable boundary for everyone.
Look for a volunteer to time the sharing.
Would someone volunteer to be the timekeeper today?
Put in the name of the volunteer in the blank.
__________will signal you when you have one minute left to share. (This indicates that it is time to wrap up your thoughts.) Then he/she will signal you again when you are out of time. We realize that occasionally you may go beyond the time limit, but we would appreciate your adhering to our goals as best you can.
Note: It is best to supply a stopwatch, and you will need signs that say “one minute” and then “zero minutes.” (The time could be extended to four or five minutes if that better fits the group.)
Many people in recovery find it helpful to acknowledge their powerlessness over food by identifying themselves as a compulsive overeater or a food addict. Do so if you wish. Who would like to begin?
Pay attention to the time. Five or ten minutes before the end of the meeting, start closing the meeting.
Collection:
It is time to close our meeting. There are no dues or fees for membership to Full of Faith. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. Our mission is to spread the hope of recovery to overeaters and food addicts everywhere.
Note: Typical expenses include rent (or a donation) for use of the room, printing materials for promotional flyers and postcards, mailing expenses and the initial set-up materials (format binder, stop watch, notebook for phone list/e-mail addresses).
Announcements:
Are there any announcements?
Announce other Christian 12-step meetings, if there are any, as well as other relevant l2-step activities in the area.
Our business meeting is held the first ___________(day of the meeting) of the month at __________(time of the business meeting). All are welcomed to attend. We believe in “group conscience,” which means that the majority of committed members of this group have agreed to the meeting’s guidelines and presentation.
Ask for a volunteer to read Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians (Appendix C) or The Promises from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, which can be found on page 83-84, Third Edition. (Reading begins on page 83, last paragraph “If we are painstaking about this phase of our development…” through “They will always materialize if we work for them.”)
Who would like to read Ephesians 3:17-21 or The Promises from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous? The choice is yours.
Close:
In closing, I would like to say that the opinions expressed here were strictly those of the person who gave them. The things you heard were spoken in confidence. Please keep them within the walls of this room and the confines of your mind. Talk to each other, reason things out, but let there be no gossip or criticism of one another. Instead, let the understanding, love and peace of the program grow in you one day at a time.
Farewell:
After a moment of silence, we will join hands and recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Pause for a minute while people are joining hands; then pray.
“So if the son sets you free, you will indeed be free.” (John 8:36, New Living Translation)
Thank you for coming. God bless us all.
APPENDIX A: THE SERENITY PRAYER AND THE TWELVE STEPS
The Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen (Reinhold Niebuhr)
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our food addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.
I am completely discouraged—I lie in the dust… (Psalm 119:25, The Living Bible)
Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map—and your commands are my chart and guide. I long for your instructions more than I can tell. (Psalm 119:18-20, The Living Bible)
Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, New International Version)
Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work… (Galatians 6:4, Amplified Bible)
Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed… (James 5:16, Amplified Bible)
Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you. (Proverbs 3:11-12, The Living Bible)
Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong… (l John 1:9, The Living Bible)
Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31, New International Version)
Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13, New International Version)
Step l0: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. (Ephesians 4:23-25, The Living Bible)
Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit's wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18, New Living Translation)
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to food addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling his Good News to others] and so we never give up. (2 Corinthians 4:1, The Living Bible.)
Permission to use the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous® for adaptation granted by A.A. World Services, Inc.
APPENDIX B: TOOLS OF RECOVERY
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial… (l Corinthians 10:23, New International Version)
To live free from overeating, it is important to make a decision (a firm commitment) to follow a specific, disciplined plan of eating. Although there can be “different strokes for different folks,” most long-term recovering food addicts avoid sugar, flour and wheat, plus our personal binge foods.
The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans l4:l7, New Living Translation)
Prayer and Meditation:
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, New International Version)
To stay connected to the only true source of strength, we dedicate a specific time in the morning (before we begin the hustle and bustle of the day) to pray and meditate. This gives us the opportunity to bring all our thoughts and concerns to the Lord. We seek His guidance and direction. Jesus sent His Holy Spirit: …Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby). And He taught us how to pray:
When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:6-8, New Living Translation)
Prayer Partners/Friends in Recovery:
Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20, New International Version)
Most food addicts contact one or more persons daily on the telephone or through the Internet. We find freedom when we commit our intended plan of eating to another person in recovery each new day. Beyond food, people in recovery share a mutual desire to seek and do God’s will. Bonds are tightly woven as we pray together for knowledge and wisdom in all our affairs.
Two are better than one… If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12, New International Version)
Literature:
The Bible is our ultimate source and guide. However, “The Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous supplies easily identifiable keys to recovery from addictive behavior and daily devotionals are helpful to maintain progress in the program.
Therefore, many recovering overeaters and food addicts read three books each day: The Bible, a page of the Big Book and a daily devotional.
Most food addicts write a committed food plan each new day. Some people write in a food journal and some write to one of our Internet e-mail loops. Either way, when we make a commitment, it releases the obsession to entertain food thoughts. We plan what we do and do what we plan. People in recovery often say, “People who fail to plan, plan to fail.”
Love and Service:
…love your neighbor as yourself. (Galatians 5:14, New Living Translation)
Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, told us that “love and service” kept him sober. The same theory works for all addictions. When we extend our hearts and hands to other people, we become a reflection of God’s love.
We can show up at meetings, make a phone call or help a newcomer get started in the program. There are always people in need of a gentle smile or a word of encouragement. They key is to reach out and share the good news of Jesus in simple acts of kindness. By our examples, we are salt and light to the world.
Do for others what you would like them to do for you… (Matthew 7:12, New Living Translation)
Refraining from criticism and gossip, we accept that we are people striving toward recovery. We are all equal in God’s eyes.
Don’t just pretend that you love others; really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all! (Romans 12-9-10,16, The Living Bible)
APPENDIX C: EPHESIANS 3:17-21
Even though Paul was held captive in a prison cell, he proclaimed everlasting love, hope and victory in Jesus. We have the same choice. We can stay bound to our difficulties (and our food), or we can cut the chains and approach God with confident expectation of ongoing recovery. Hear the Word of God:
I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21, New Living Translation)
APPENDIX D: MEETING FORMAT ALTERNATIVES
l. Ask the group to turn to Action: An Attitude of Gratitude. Have someone read it and then ask people to share things that they are grateful for today or the meeting could focus on Action: One Day at a Time. Share on acceptance of life on life’s terms.
2. Ask the group to turn to Recovery: The Serenity Prayer with Scripture and suggest that people share on meaningful pieces of it.
3. Put some “thoughts” on folded papers in a basket. Ask for volunteers to pick one (sight unseen) from the basket and share whatever comes to mind on the subject.
Examples: Let go, let God, prayer changes things, first things first, live and let live, easy does it, keep it simple, know thyself, what does abstinence mean to you?
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13, New International Version)
…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Philippians 4:11, New International Version)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs l6:3, New International Version)
The list is endless. You could take a minute and have people in the group write down ideas/topics for discussion. This makes it fun and personal.