De-Addiction Centre
- Home
- Activities
- De-Addiction Centre
Alcoholism is considered as an evil as well as damaging the entire community which cannot be controlled by Government mechanism in Kerala. The present Government views the sale of alcohol as a good revenue source. While hiking the taxation on alcohol, the family income is adversely affected and family relations are also breaking down.
In Malabar region of Kerala, even small children are trapped by this kind of evil in certain areas. For certain religious practices, alcohol is given as offering to the deities, which the devotees consume later. In this way, people tend to become addicts to alcohol.
We have learnt from our experience, the entire family many tribal hamlets in Malabar consume alcohol instead of coffee or tea. This becomes mandatory for their Pujas and customary practices and other celebrations for marriage, child birth, and funerals. Due to this, many have lost their wealth, health and family.
Though many wanted to get rid of this, they are unable to find a source to be delivered. People are deliberately, desperately and frequently requesting us to extend or arms to help them come out of this miserable situation. Though the state Government started some campaigns to make students, youth and general public aware of the evils of drug addiction and alcoholism, that won’t work out until we address the major reasons.
The story of MBF De Addiction Programmes:
God has induced burden in our hearts to deliver the people from the clutches of alcoholism. As our mission workers have been visiting homes for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, understood the tragedies of broken families due to alcoholism, and we began to pray for such addicted people. Few of them lost their spouses for good, many are living seperately due to its gravity and many children are in delima and unable to concentrate for their studies etc. Many are suffering due to financial burdens such as bank loans and it’s overdue, children’s education, marriage of daughters, over due of house rent etc.. In this juncture we realised that we need to launch out with this new venture. After much prayers and consultation, began a program for the downtrodden and low profile addicted people a de addiction camp and the response was very much appealing. Then realising the necessity of having it on regular basis, with much limitations, continued on every month. In the initial phase we conducted 8 days program and later 12 days per camp. God our Lord Jesus Christ provided us with enough building and other fecilities to continue it with unconventional manner. We accepted it as a challenge and motivated people to love God and trust Him. Many accepted Jesus as their Lord and joined in our worship groups at various mission fields and became our members by obtaining sacraments. Though as I mentioned had financial struggles God has been faithful to supply our requirements on due seasons. It all happened because we are called out and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
During the Covid 19, things weren’t in accordance with our program, follow up meetings were dragged, couldn’t meet with their house fellowships and it resulted relapse of huge numbers. Though we did much for their sustainabilities, nothing worked out. We also desperate and abandoned the program for a while, thinking our labours are in vain, but our good God revived us to press on towards the goal. We don’t have anything in our hands for this project right now but trusting our Lord for its culmination. Though we have desire to continue it , need to set up every thing from the beginning itself. Need Psychiatrist, medical doctor, psychologist, etc as per the government rules. Which is highly expensive. Conducting programmes are much easier than the follow up meetings. We need to assign staffs to visit them personally and spare time with them for counseling and guidance. Many lost their employments due to recession and various other causes, therefore they are suffering from physical deformities, mental stress, anxiety and behavioral disorders. It all affect their families and relationships. In these situations we give them moral, physical, financial and spiritual supports for their wholistic development.
More than that we wish to perceive that they accept Christ Jesus in their lives and become new creatures.
We appreciate all of your prayers for this transforming mission activities. Once their families are in accordance with us, need to support them for their livelihoods by providing them with skill training and alternative jobs, as I mentioned, because many won’t have employment, few may not go for jobs on regular basis and lost it etc. . are the problems. In another sense, their problems became ours and we need to carry them for few days at least to develop them to enter in to the right track of spiritual lives. Hope you all would extend your prayerful support towards this sustainable and life transforming project.
MBF RESPONSE TO ALCOHOLISM
Christian Missions such as MBF have conducted De-addiction treatment camps in the past. Some Christian/ Catholic hospitals in Kerala have de-addiction treatment Centres or wings attached. MBF consider this as an opportunity to launch with new venture in a broad way to respond to the cries of the needy. This also works out as the best media to serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these communities.
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION
Though the government considers that alcohol addiction is treatable, only individuals are getting treatment. They ignore the major issues affecting persons such as family, employment, wealth and spiritual angles. We are well aware of the prevailing evil spirit in these people, which has to be addressed spiritually to enable them come out from darkness to light.
Therefore, MBF will be engaged in the spiritual warfare along with the following treatment and rehabilitation methods to redeem persons and families from the clutches of sin and satanic power of alcoholism.
Phase 1. Spiritual Intervention:
We are inspired by the action of Lord Jesus in Mark chapter 5 how He set free the demon-possessed person, and sending off to his home. This can be adopted as the model for our actions in this sector. During our camp time, we provide. the patients with medical and mental awareness. Along with that we would be starting the medications for detoxification. , dethe When a person is aware of his evil behavior, naturally
Spiritual Counselling: Giving spiritual inputs start either at medication stage or counselling stage, depending on the patient’s psychological condition.
Phase 2: Medical treatment & Detoxification and
During this phase, the patients are given medication to encourage appetite, build up stamina and strength. The patient is medically supervised and managed to recover from side-effects and illnesses developed due to the addiction. Detoxification starts simultaneously. They are guided for physical withdrawal from alcoholic drinks leading to total abstinence over a period. And withdrawal symptoms are also addressed by medications.
Phase 3: Counselling: During this post-detoxification stage, psychological help through counselling to the patient and family is given (including spouse and children/parents). There both CLE and CLR are aware of the following needs:
Aspect 1. Lack of formal education and skill training for employment.
Aspect 2. Unemployment due to laziness and alcoholism.
Aspect 3. Economic burdens/ property pledge in banks/ Debts.
Aspect 4. Children’s education, marriage, etc. affected;
Aspect 4. Extra-marital relations/ marriage breakdowns.
Aspect 5. Damages caused to house and property.
Counselling to the persons(s) to overcome the problems in the areas of job, finance, family and daily living are provided. Psychological/ sociological counselling will be provided and psychiatric consultation/ treatment in necessary cases.
Phase 4. Spiritual guidance. Time management, mental elevation, Biblical exhortation, reconciliation with family and relatives;
Phase 5. Restoration and rehabilitation.
After the Camp at the centre, the de-addicted people will be sent back to their respective places under the guidance of mission workers. Then the follow up will start. Counselors will support he mission workers to ensure that family members join together and nurturing the family will take place.
Due to the alcoholism from childhood onwards, there was neglect of giving proper education and skill training to such people. Short-Term skill training to the de-addicted person and family members if needed, will be given to the recommended people. If possible they will be asked tpo join the Government sponsored skill training programmes or else we will assemble them to join short-term courses we propose to start at our centre.
Financial assistance for job opportunities, collectively or individually will be found for the better life of de-addicted families. Linkages with banks, local administrative offices and other organizations will be developed by our social workers as necessary. Here the rehabilitation starts.
Phase 6. Fellowship meetings.
Our mission workers will be contacting the de-addicted persons and families twice in week and assure that they attend fellowship meetings on regular basis.
MBF will conduct Suvartha meetings (Good news meetings) for three days consecutively every quarter, to cater to the spiritual needs of these participants. Gradually we expect the de-addicted persons and their families to be baptized members.
Outcome 1. Short-term impact
Five hundred (500) persons from Hindu: Other Backward Castes (Thiyya-OBC, SC/ST, etc) of six districts in Malabar region of Kerala state would be freed from their addiction to alcoholic drinks, and enabled to live normal lives with their family members, and become responsible citizens.
Outcome 2. short-term Impact
Around 350 families (70 % of the De-addicted persons ) (who are liberated from clutches of Alcoholism as above) would be saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and become part of the Church (under Mission Centres of Malabar Bible Fellowship/ other Missions) within a span of 2 to 3 years.
Outcome 3. Long-term Impact
Around 700 more families (who are directly related to the persons released from addiction to alcohol and other drugs) would have come forward to MBF/ Mission Centres in a span of 3 to 5 years, for their deliverance from clutches of social evils/sinful lives and to know the living God Jesus Christ for salvation/eternal life.
Measurable Objectives
- Setting up a de-addiction centre with adequate facilities, staff & consultants at MBF Campus at Nilambur, Kerala (in order to organize de-addiction treatment camps from 2nd month onwards).
- Deliverance of about 500 families of non-Christian background (Hindu:OBC) from addiction to alcohol by counselling, treatment & follow-up meetings within 2 years. (year 1: 200 families, year 2: 300 families).
- Preaching Gospel of Jesus Christ to 500+ families of addicted persons (2000 souls approximately) and involving them in regular fellowship with the nearest Mission Centre/Church, within 2 years.
- Formation of about 50 new Bible Study groups (focussing on family base/ house churches) and transformation of the families delivered from addiction to alcohol, within 2 years.
- Setting up skill training centres for income generation of de-addicted persons in our Mission centres.
- Conducting weekly fellowship meetings at each mission centre & follow-up camps/suvartha meetings of de-addicted persons every alternate month within 2 years.
- Coordination of Church planting work with other gospel missions/ para-Church organisations leading to formation of new Churches within 2 years.
Activities linked with de-addiction treatment
- Consultation with Senior leaders/ Bishops/ Centre-Pastors of Churches and Christian Missions at Regional level [one-day meetings x 2 places x 40 = 80 participants.
- Consultation with Government officials, Specialists, public figures, NGO representatives at Regional level (50 participants)
- Orientation meetings to church leaders, pastors, and community workers at district level (35 x 6 meetings= 210 participants)
Activities linked with rehabilitation/income for families
- Training on skills & for Livelihood development of the de-addicted persons/ families [viz., tailoring, Cottage Industries: pickles/sweet-meats; agro-based vocations Rubber tapping, electronic units, etc]
- Supporting micro enterprises for Income generation to de-addicted families/ widows of addicts [Garments making, goat rearing, group farming, etc.]
- Developing a Collective – marketing network for sale of products by addicts/families/widows’ groups.
Activities linked with evangelization & transformation of families.
- Community awareness programmes & identification survey in 6 districts with support of church leaders, pastors, and community workers.
- Sharing the Gospel to de-addicted persons, families and relatives at MBF centre Suvartha meetings and in respective communities.
- Bible Convention Annual Youth Camps, Children’s camps VBS Annual get-together of de-addicted persons
