CLIFTON MITCHELL, Coordinator, SAMHSA Faith-Based and Community Partners Initiative, spoke both days, encouraging church members to work with rehab professionals and to apply for grants from the government.

"We have a fight on our hands. We have a war going on in our own communities. I mean a real war, a mean war. Unless we become more pro-active, we are going to lose this war.

"Our young people, our future leaders are being caught up in this. We have grandmothers taking care of their grandkids because the parents are on drugs or in jail. The way the economy is now, you can't sit back. You have to form coalitions, become more political. There are organizations that have gotten substantial dollars, providing services--housing, transportation, food services. It is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. ... It is your tax money. And all the President of the United States is saying to you is, 'We want you to come to this table because we need you. The government can't do it on its own. We need your help."

Allow us to share some of the knowledge and experience gained by the attendees, with a few excerpts from speakers' presentations and workshops.

KYLE McGRAW, Director of Substance Abuse Services under the Oklahoma Dept of Human Services

Opening Remarks

"Some years back when I ran my own treatment program, I realized that many pastors, perhaps through unfamiliarity or ignorance, did not really know what treatment was. If I could leave you with one nugget to take home with you, it would be 'Get to know the treatment provider in your community.' Sit down with them over a cup of coffee. Invite them into your church study. Some you may like. Some you may not. But some you will find fit with your belief and faith."

BRAD YARBROUGH, Director of the Oklahoma Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative

Church and State Working Together to Improve Communities and Families

Brad Yarbrough along with his colleague, Russ Urquhart, gave a workshop with the purpose to lay the legal, political and practical foundations for the private sector to be able to work together with government.

“The burden of responding to social need for decades and even centuries has been borne by the faith community. Government in the history of man has been a relative newcomer in providing social services, and we welcome its participation. … Some problems are too broad or complex for one church or faith to put their arms around. What is necessary today is for both groups--government and faith--to co-labor to address this problem of alcohol and other drug addiction.”

"The government is asking, 'Help us fulfill and satisfy a secular problem we have in society.' As long as you are willing to help us satisfy and address this secular concern--homelessness, poverty, drug addiction--you are welcome to compete for federal funds. Just give us the best proposal to show that you have the qualifications to solve this problem. The funds just cannot be used for inherently religious activity."

WILLIAM E. LINK, Ph.D., renowned national lecturer on grantwriting

The grant writing workshop (4 sessions) delivered by William E. Link was very popular. One attendee was amazed to learn how government welcomes prevention programs.

"I’ve been working for the last 10 years on the Community Building Initiative and I am completely passionately sure that if we don’t do something about substance abuse, we can’t rebuild communities. You cannot rebuild a community when the residents of a community are poisoned. … Until we do something about this issue, the kind of things that we have as dreams for the community, I don’t think they will happen; so as far as I’m concerned, you guys are on the front line."

DON COYHIS, President and Founder of White Bison, Inc.

The Wellbriety Movement--Coming Together Time

Don Coyhis, member of the Mohican Nation, presented White Bison, an organization serving the Native American community. He gave an inspiring talk about his program based on the wisdom of Native Elders. The concept is to achieve 'Wellbriety,' a coined English word to mean not just sobriety, but living in sober and dignified wellness.

"White Bison has been in existence 16 years. We have a Council of Elders including people from the white, red, yellow, and black races. … From our Elders we have learned that we are given 4 gifts for healing: The gift to forgive the unforgiveable (our ancestors within must forgive); Healing power; Unity; and Hope (the ability to dream)."

DAVID WHITERS, Level II Addictions Counselor and Founder of Recovery Associates of Atlanta

Developing Faith-Based, Peer-Lead Recovery Support Services

David Whiters' workshop taught community-based organizations how to partner with faith institutions to provide collateral social services to benefit individuals and families impacted by substance abuse.

“We learned that a coalition of a small number of churches with the same goals and objectives would be far more manageable and far more effective than a coalition of 60 churches. … Our federal grant does not allow us to proselytize, but we are allowed to have all Christ-centered staff. What we can do is provide services that help people to be more effective in their recovery. Some churches wanted only to preach the Gospel and, therefore, did not want to be involved, but others did realize they wanted to be part of a program that would simply provide services that would help people turn their lives around--housing, transportation, etc. … Some people ask us why we are so committed to helping them. They can come to our churches to find out that answer, but we do not preach in the program.”

REV. JAMES McLAUGHLIN, Houston Greater Ward AME Church Pastor, Certified Pastoral Counselor

Narconon First Step Program Workshop

Rev. James McLaughlin, along with Clark Carr, described the Narconon First Step method of drug-free withdrawal and demonstrated its hands-on, physical assist techniques used to help another through voluntary, step-by-step drug withdrawal.

“My faith was tested by the demon of drug addiction in my congregation. I learned that tools existed where I could do something both practically and spiritually helpful to the addict, helping confront taking that terrible first step--coming off drugs. The Narconon First Step has taught me how with the resources my church and I had, not more, but just what already existed, and skills that I can apply with my own hands and with the help of a friend or family member of an addict, to help that addict voluntarily to confront stepping down off drugs, with the help of natural vitamins and minerals and hands-on techniques that allow him or her to feel that it is going to be okay, one step at a time…"

"The conference was fabulous! I learned a lot and would love to return."

"This was inspiring, educational, developmental. What a great way to see what we are doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Excellent! Very helpful skills taught that can be used right away."

DR. JOHN MARTIN, Professor of Psychology and Family and Preventive Medicine at San Diego State University

Motivational Counseling

Dr. John Martin's workshop brought together scientific motivational counseling with spiritual/religious approaches to the problem of motivating addicts to reach for treatment

“Motivational interviewing is really a way of being with people, not labelling them or trying to force them out of denial. We don’t use that term ‘denial’ so much anymore. People know they have a problem whether they admit it or not. And people don’t have to label themselves to change. …

Studies have shown that a therapist’s empathy can be a core predictor of change--empathy, not sympathy. Sympathy is feeling sorry for a person and is never helpful, but always destructive. Empathy is a loving, standing with them. We don’t want to push them or drag them. We want to be with them, love them, and we want to listen to them. We’re good listeners and helpers, and we provide resources when they are ready and would like that.”

WAYNE WHITE, Certified Advanced Substance Counselor, "Footprints"

Twelve Steps to a Spiritual Journey

Wayne White's workshop taught how people can do 12 step programs while still participating in their own religious group--loads of data with practical application.

“The 12 Step principles can apply to anything in life! … The 12 Steps were designed to establish a foundation where a person, if he practiced those principles in all his affairs, would get right with God and get right with others. There are principles in the Steps that would allow him to stay right with God, self, and others, a check and balance system, if you will. … Laws change because man makes laws. But principles don’t change. … It doesn’t make any difference how you got there to become an addict, it is what has to happen to get out of that place. … And where do you start with someone? ‘If this is causing you a problem, it is a problem.’ You start from there.”

REV. ALFREDDIE JOHNSON, Pastor, A True Faith Christian Center; Founder, World Literacy Crusade

Thursday's luncheon speaker, Rev. Alfreddie Johnson, talked about the World Literacy Crusade and the importance of handling illiteracy. His words inspired responsibility and the willingness to DO something about it!

"One of the causes of pain--pain is caused by having your reality shattered. Pain is caused by having your reality overwhelmed by some other's reality. When our reality has been overwhelmed by another person's or another group's reality we become that which we are overwhelmed by. If we are overwhelmed by a bully, most times we become a bully. ... If we allow our nation, our communities and our education to be overwhelmed by drug dealers and pharmaceutical companies, we will become a nation of drug addicts and drug pushers."

OCARTA booth

OCARTA (Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association), Parents Helping Parents and OSASA (Oklahoma Substance Abuse Services Alliance) all had booths with useful material for the attendees.