Trent Childers to lead program on addiction

Millions of people are affected by addiction every year. Alcohol and drug abuse, gambling, pornography and other vices consume relationships, destroy marriages and ruin lives. In an effort to help battle the addictions, former addict Trent Childers, author of “Pressing Forward,” will be at the Jasper County Church of Christ for a free four day Bible-based addiction recovery program beginning Oct. 11.

“By God’s grace, I was able to write a book, ‘Pressing Forward: Bible Based Addiction Recovery.’ It is meant to be more than a book, though. We believe that addiction is a spiritual problem, therefore the territory of the church. Addicts need to find hope and peace in Jesus Christ,” Childers said.

The program starts Oct. 11 with three sessions, the first at 9:30 a.m. is called Modeling Outreach of Jesus. The second focuses on Overcoming Pharisaism and begins at 10:30 a.m. with the final session of the day at 1:30 p.m., titled Helping or Hurting. Also that day the church, 1100 N. Third Ave. E., will be having a picnic as an opportunity get better acquainted with Childers.

He will host three additional sessions at 7 p.m. Oct. 12-14. Those sessions are titled, Jesus is the Answer, Pressing Forward and Living Love.

“He has written this program based off of AA but is showing scripture from the Bible to say how applicable it is to our lives today,” the Rev. Fred Rhodes said.

The program will be styled similarly to a church service with a sermon given by Childers and a question and answer period to follow. It is open to the community of Newton and free with only a collection taken at the 10:30 a.m. service.

“Every family in Newton is directly affected by additions either in their family or in their extended family or their neighbors. He is not only speaking to addicts but people that are dealing with addicts,” Dorothy Rhodes said.

A Tennessee native, Childers struggled with drug addiction until he made a commitment to get help in 2004. He has since graduated from Amridge University with a degree in biblical studies and believes his past struggles with addiction, his biblical training and his faith in Christ have compelled him to help.

He wrote the book “Pressing Forward” in 2014 as a way to offer freedom to those who are lost in addiction. The book is divided into three sections that define addiction, offers biblical counsel about overcoming addiction and leads to a life of faithfulness to Jesus. It will be used during the program and will be available for purchase to those who attend.

For more information about the program, or for ride information, contact the Jasper County Church of Christ at 641-792-1723 or 641-750-4185.