PDA – Problem Drinkers Anonymous
Welcome to Problem Drinkers Anonymous, a Christian God-Centered Fellowship of Men and Women that have placed their problem-drinking into the mercy, grace and love of God the father, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. We are a non-denominational Christian fellowship that welcomes both Christians and non-Christians alike. We only ask that your primary reason for being part of this fellowship is to solve your drinking problem through the mercy, love and power of Jesus Christ. We come together to focus on how the cross can bring us the wisdom, mercy, love, grace and power we need to really solve the spiritual malady that is our problem drinking. We find that meeting together, praying together and practicing the 10 Steps of PDA can only serve to further enrich our lives, keep us out of problem drinking and bring us in tangible union with The Almighty God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We make God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit the central premise of our sobriety and our lives. This we do through action, an open mind and our willingness to ‘Pick up our cross and follow him’. Delay is not an option. We start right now.
Many of us still attend Alcoholics Anonymous
Let us be clear. We are not against AA, nor are we looking to ruffle the feathers of individual AA members that are more then happy with their transformation in AA. Many of us have been members of Alcoholics Anonymous for long periods of time, and we have found the miracle of sobriety in this great fellowship. We still do. Many of us still attend AA meetings as a way of continuing the success story we have had within the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. We are not against AA, nor are we pushing for anyone to leave AA. We are simply believers in Jesus Christ that have a real desire to place biblical principles at the centre of our lives and sobriety without meeting resistance, judgment or condemnation within AA. We have also found that the lingo within AA has moved much more towards self-help, self, treatment center speak and a variety of different programs that have moved away from the unconditional love, service and self-sacrifice that were the cornerstones of AA. Within PDA we wanted to get back to basics, back to the Bible and right into the Love of Jesus Christ.
Christ-centered with a Mission of Love, Service and Honesty
We have found as individuals that believing and mentioning Jesus Christ in AA meetings is not appropriate, helpful or in many cases acceptable. In fact, of all the religious denominations, spiritual beliefs and higher power subjects within meetings; one dares not mention the cross, Jesus Christ or the Bible. We wanted to avoid offending anyone, so we kept the good news from others – the salvation that is offered through Jesus Christ. The term ‘Higher Power’ did little or nothing for us, even though it seemed for a while to allow those afraid of the ‘God thing’ to stay in the rooms. (let us be honest, over time it brought just as many, if not more back to the Problem drinking that was killing them). If one really thinks about it, how can anyone hand their will and lives over to a vague non-descriptive deity that has no fundamental ideology, principles or moral code?. One cannot. We found a new freedom in PDA to speak, worship and adore our Lord Jesus Christ.
We strive to be United and not divided
It is a hugely important principle within PDA that we do not push our different Christian beliefs on anyone as our focus is on Jesus Christ and not useless arguments within the Christian Family. Whether you are Protestant, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal or any other denomination with Christ as its figurehead; we suggest that the focus should at all times be on The Cross, Jesus Christ, The guidance of The Holy Spirit and the principles of PDA. We place the common light of the world, Jesus Christ, as our central and tangible Center-point. Though we very much encourage every member to fully seek out and work the principles of their individual churches, we ask you to refrain from promoting any argumentative, subjective and individual aspects of different denominations to other PDA members. We urge you to remember that our unity as believers in Christ is key to our very survival. As Mathew 12;25 states ‘But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand’.
Problem-drinker, Alcoholic or something else?
When it comes to labeling or naming the problem at hand, we do not force anyone to call themselves ‘Alcoholics’. Many of us call it problem-drinking. Other call it alcoholism. Other simply want to stop drinking as it is robbing them of their dignity, family and life itself. We do not get into semantics about these terms. We do however suggest you admit and accept you are for instance a Problem Drinker (You can use whatever term you want), that needs the grace, mercy and love of Jesus Christ to stop a further decline into the spiral of darkness. As Matthew 18:20. States – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them”. We welcome you to our fellowship where we know you will find Love, Mercy, Experience, Honesty and a way out of your problem drinking. The solution starts today. You need never drink again.
Same Gender Meetings with a Focus on Christ
As a matter of principle, going forward we really encourage same-gender meetings, instead of having both Men’s meetings and Women’s meetings, which for many members have proven to be an absolute disaster. How many times have we seen 13th steps turn to drunken wars? How many of us have seen creeps harassing newcomers, old-times ‘Sponsor’ a variety of newcomers, willing to ‘drop their lives’ as long as they can run to the ‘Girl/Boy in need’. Without getting into it in depth, it is a fact that mixing men and women in the same room, who are often insecure, lonely and seeking solace is a recipe for disaster. Not only do we know this, but many of us have witnessed this or experienced this first-hand in our own journey in AA. Through the near 100-year experience of AA, we have seen and witnessed the real dangers of mixed gender meeting, whether they be in-person, on zoom or over-the-phone. In time, we aim to build a fellowship that allows both women and men to build a new way of life without being manipulated, harassed, or ‘falling in love’ at their 3rd meeting.
