Applicant:
I’m on the waiting List – Now What?
Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward real life change. Here are some suggestions that will help you in preparing for your entrance into the Colony of Mercy. You are investing the next four months of treatment into the rest of your life. In order for your time to be most effective with us, you may want to begin taking the following measures while waiting.
· To be considered part of our active waitlist, we must have received your $240.00 non-refundable application fee. Once you call to confirm we have received it make sure you …
· Keep calling! The only way to stay active on the waiting list is to call weekly. You will not improve your standing on the list if you call daily. If you do not consistently call weekly, you will be dropped off the waiting list.
· Find a Bible-Teaching Church. If you do not already belong to one. This will accomplish two things:
o You will start finding the help you really need. Our program is a Bible-based, Christian recovery program. We use the Bible as our standard of authority to give direction on how to live a life that pleases God. Most evangelical, bible-believing/teaching churches will offer support resources for recovery. This may be through a bible study group or individual counseling with the Pastor.
o You will need a local church after you graduate from the program. A requirement of graduation is that you establish an accountability relationship with a local church. By getting involved with a church before you come in, you will be that much more ahead of the process. When you get here, the church will be praying for you and the Pastor will be able to visit you while you’re here.
· Take care of any medical, dental and/or legal matters before you come in. Our desire for you is to have an uninterrupted stay that is free from outside distractions. If you need to apply for disability in order to provide for your family while in treatment, please work with a doctor to submit the necessary paperwork. We are not a medical facility. Therefore, we are not equipped to handle ongoing medical issues. We do not allow any Psychoactive or Psychotropic medications (e.g. valium, xanax, prozac, etc) in the program. If you are taking these type of medications, please work with your prescribing doctor to diminish your dosage to the point of being off those meds while waiting. If you are dealing with an opiate addiction, you will need to go through detoxification prior to entering the program. Please let the admissions office know if you need to detox. We will do our best to coordinate your intake date with your discharge date from detox.
· Begin developing a strategy for overcoming your addiction. Start attending a recovery support group (AA, NA, Overcomers in Christ, etc.). Do whatever you can to begin living free of your addiction. Clean out whatever remnants of your addiction that may remain around you. Avoid the typical people, places, and things that you associate with your addiction and begin to gravitate toward folks in your church that can have a positive influence in your life.
· Begin accepting responsibility for your life. The only way change can take place is when you take responsibility for the circumstances in your life. Stop blaming your addiction on your circumstances or the people around you. They may have influenced your decision to participate in an addictive behavior, but you are ultimately responsible for your decision to use.
· Include your family in your recovery. Let the people who love you be a part of your recovery if they want to help. This may include being accountable for your time, money and friendships.
· Focus on the “here and now.” You’ve probably heard the cliché “one day at a time.” Evaluate what needs to take place in your life to stay clean just for today. The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Don’t worry about what’s going to happen down the road. Rejoice in the victory you have in not getting high today.
· If you are on probation, notify your probation officer of your plan to enter the Colony. We will also need their contact information to verify your attendance.
· Request the Bible Studies. We offer Bible studies that will assist you in becoming familiar with our approach to addiction. Send in the response card for the Bible studies and we will send them to you as soon as possible. It would be helpful if you shared these studies with your pastor in case you have difficulty completing them. Your pastor should be able to answer any questions you have regarding these studies.
Click links to download Bible Studies:
Wives and Family:
What can I do?
- PRAY – for him, for your kids, for yourself (share that you’re praying for them)
- Stay connected with your LOCAL CHURCH; or get connected to a local church. AVOID ISOLATION by finding a person in the church with whom you can openly share. AND GO. We recommend you download this study; "LIVING IN THE MIDST OF IT"
- Go together to your local church to INFORM LOCAL CHURCH leadership of the situation and plans to enter the Colony of Mercy. (If not together – GO ALONE)
- Maintain your REGULAR ROUTINE (as much as possible) regarding job, home, children and church.
- Make every effort to REMOVE AND DESTROY alcohol, drugs, porn, etc. from your home
- Refrain from engaging in ARGUMENTS. They rarely accomplish anything.
- As your family member pursues entering the Colony of Mercy, LET HIM BE THE ONE to take the necessary steps to accomplish it. Don’t do it for him or check on him.
- If you currently have an active RESTRAINING ORDER, and are planning to be involved in the Women and Family programs at America's KESWICK, investigate the process of getting an AMMENDED RESTRAINING ORDER, so that for the time he is in the Colony you can participate here on the grounds in our programs. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND DROPPING IT.
- If you are going to need FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE while your husband is in the Colony begin now to notify your church of your needs. Investigate food stamps and other forms of public assistance. Contact your County Human Services Department.
- If possible, plan to accompany your family member to America's KESWICK for intake. (We also do an intake with the wives.)
Pastors/Churches:
Here are some helpful hints that pastors have shared with us…
· MAKE CONTACT with the family and STAY CONNECTED with them during the waitlist time.
· If feasible, MEET REGULARLY with the man, daily if possible, for prayer and accountability.
· Encourage the man to secure the 4 BIBLE STUDIES written for the men to complete while on the waitlist. The can get them from the Intake office/732.350.1187 ext 46 or can be downloaded.
· ENCOURAGE FAMILY MEMBERS to secure a Bible Study written specifically for them. “LIVING IN THE MIDST OF IT…” download or it can be obtained through the Women and Family Ministry department 732.350.1187 x. 33 or 49.
· Ascertain the practical, physical and financial NEEDS OF THE FAMILY. As a rule, it is not wise to give the man money. Help the family find state and community resources available such as food banks, WIC, food stamps, etc.
· BE INTENTIONAL in having individuals or families minster to the addicted man and his family.
· Be available (and make that known to family members) to INTERVENE if domestic situations arise – civil authorities may need to be called if the situation warrants.
· Help the family determine available ALTERNATIVE LIVING SITUATIONS if necessary for either the man or members of his family.
· Be committed to PRAY for the man and his family.
· ENLIST HELP others in your church to come alongside the family.