Friday, August 30, 2019

Post 120


    CLERGY/LAY MINISTER CERTIFICATION UPDATE!!
INTERNATIONAL BOARD WEBSITE … www.igccb.org
SUMMER! It has been a time for graduations and new starts!   Diplomas, Certifications, Licensures, and employment applications gain special attention. 
So many forms!
The International Gambling Counselor Certification Board has developed a new website:  www.igccb.org and it is a very helpful resource for all wanting to attain the CCGSO credentials of Clergy/Lay Minister Certification.  Then too, for those of us who are already CCGSO credentialed, the necessary forms to continue  IGCCB certification status are included within the website.
Below is a guide to travel through the Clergy/Lay Minister Certification program via our website. 
FIRST, for a broad description of the Clergy/Lay Minister Certification, click on the Certification  tab.  Included is an overall view of our Certification, contact information,  and a listing of requirements for certification.
SECOND, to download the Application Form, click the tab entitled More followed by clicking Application Forms.  Then click Clergy Application.   Scroll down to Clergy Application Form: click.  *** Please note, that the Application Form and $50 Administrative Fee should not be submitted to IGCCB until all requirements toward certification are completed and approved. ALSO note: the Fall 2019 Ohio Clergy Certification Training is handling this fee differently; check their publicity page in this Post for details!
THIRD, annually, a completed Attestation Form is required.  Follow the same above directions for accessing the Clergy Application Form and find this form.
FOURTH, Re-certification is every three years.  To access the Clergy Recertification Form, follow the same directions to access Clergy Application and Attestation Forms.
FIFTH, for the Form (A.3) – Counselor Directory Authorization, follow directions for the   Recertification Form.      
FINALLY, for further questions about the IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification, click Contact, and you will find the IGCCB address, phone number, and e-address plus a map highlighting the D.C. location of the National Council on Problem Gambling / International Gambling Counselor Certification Board!
MORE CLERGY CERTIFICATION TRAININGS!!!
THIS FALL …

  
from the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio …
PGNO, with support from OhioMHAS is offering four days of training for the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) Clergy/Lay Minister Certification in Gambling Addiction Prevention, Education, Awareness and Spiritual Outreach Care.

The IGCCB certification provides a process for recognizing and certifying clergy, lay ministers, religious persons, and other faith leaders to offer informed guidance, educational materials, support, hope, spiritual care, and help to people and families affected by problem gambling and addiction.

The training will be held
October 29-November 1, 2019. Attendees must complete all four days of the training in order to be eligible for certification. The cost for the training is $50, which will include all coursework, breakfast & lunch for each day.

Additionally, there is an administration fee of $50 for certification, however PGNO will pay the IGCCB administrative fee, provided all certification requirements are met.

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided for each training day, and sessions will be held from 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. at Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2045 Morse Rd, Bldg E, Assembly Room East and West, Columbus, OH, 43229. Pre-registration is required and seating is limited.

For logistical questions contact Derek Longmeier at 
DLongmeier@PGNOhio.org or (614) 750-9899; for course content questions, contact Rev. Janet Jacobs at jjacobs@grmumc.org or (812) 290-3022.
   
                                To Register, visit  PGNOhio.org/EVENTS 
 
ALSO, THIS FALL … 
 
 
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
IGCCB CLERGY/LAY MINISTER
           4-MODULE TRAININGS CERTIFICATION

 
                                        Module 1:    September 20  
 
                                        Module 2:    October 12
                                        Module 3:    November 2
                                        Module 4:    December 7
 
             Location:  Maryland Center for Addiction Treatment



                       11100 Billingsly Rd., Waldorf, MD 20602
                            (23 miles south of Washington, D.C.)   
 
   CONTACT for times & registration details:
                                  marylandcouncilpg@yahoo.com
 
Have you any questions about the International Board Gambling Counselor Certification Board's Clergy/Lay Minister Certification and the process toward certification?  Contact: jjacobs@grmumc.org or IGCCB@igccb.org
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO

Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
https:// www.grmumc.org

 
 For more information on problem gambling and  recovery issues, VISIT:

   
www.indianaproblemgambling.org                                                                                                

 









 








 









 








 









 









 








 








 









 








 
 
 
 









 














 

 
 
 
 
 













 

 
 

 















 















 

 
 
 

 
 
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
IGCCB CLERGY/LAY MINISTER
CERTIFICATION
4-MODULE TRAININGS
Module 1:    September 20
                                    Module 2:   October 12
                                    Module 3:    November 2
                                    Module 4:    December 7
 
Location:  Maryland Center for Addiction Treatment
11100 Billingsly Rd., Waldorf, MD 20602
  (23 miles south of Washington, D.C.)
CONTACT for times & registration details:
 
 
 
 
 

















 
 















 















 
 
 
 














 















 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, July 6, 2019


Post 119

FREEDOM WITH THE SERENITY PRAYER



God,

grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

  courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.

Over the past few months, I have heard a number of people referring to the “Serenity Prayer” as their guiding strength in recovery.  Indeed, these words of Reinhold Niebuhr hold forth a very practical formula for attaining – and maintaining – healing and wholeness from an addictive lifestyle.  This week during our national July 4th holiday, there has been much talk about freedom – from captivity, dictatorships, violence, and poverty.  The more I heard, the more I broadened such circumstances to the condition of addiction.  Certainly, within each situation of addiction (no matter the form), individuals are held in a state of control – and dictated by - his/her dependence on the drug, substance, and/or activity (process addictions) … though personal denial often masks this. 

Moreover, the violence (yes, violence) of addiction to the body, mind, and spirit can rob the person of freedom to live a life of self-control, peace, and inner strength.  Relationships suffer too: loved ones and associates experience captivity, as well, wrought by the response to addiction by their family member or friend.   

Looking over the prayer’s words, I begin to see an independence from pattern for recovery. For this edition of the GRM Blog, I offer mindsets commonly held within addiction that when transformed by recovery, freedom is gained (shown by italics)!   

GOD, GRANT ME 

Independence from … believing that the God of the universe may be there but I don’t feel this presence in my life.

God’s universal awareness does include me and my life; I can enter into communication with God; God wants to restore persons - so I can ask for divine help.    

THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE

Independence from … God will never forgive; other relationships are broken; there are too many wrongs to forgive me; debts have piled up impossibly high.

God does forgive; God cares; God will help in multiple ways by giving direction, strength, and peace to acknowledge the past … and understandings of how the role of addiction and other factors have impacted me.

COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN

Independence from … change?  This is not the right time to go through withdrawal – I have too much stress now in my life; I tried quitting before - I’m too scared!

Divine help not only includes courage but also resources, persons, and miraculous strength to accomplish my healing in recovery – and a new lifestyle of wholeness, love, and inner peace.

AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Independence from … what would my life be like without fill-in-the-blank: it’s the only way I can relax / enjoy myself / escape and not feel anything.

God will, also, grant divine insights and wisdom in order to discern what is healthily accomplishable and what is not so that I can be at peace with recognizing and accepting the difference.  This gained wisdom will help me in the future to make wise decisions and let go of regrets.  

May you experience a true Independence Day of Recovery!
  Blessings!
Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
htpps:// www.grmumc.org

    For more information on problem gambling and recovery issues, visit:                                                                                                                                                      










                                                                                                                            

Thursday, June 6, 2019


Post 118



WHERE’S THE POWER?

LETTING GO or GIVING UP



This past weekend, I was blessed to attend an international conference of recovery … recovery from compulsive gambling and recovery associated with having a loved one who suffers from gambling addiction.  During the workshops slated for each perspective, stories of true recovery were shared.  Over and over, the letting go testimonies told about strength gained and  developing new awareness of  self.  Where once the attention focused on the uncontrollable urges to gamble OR on the gambler, the person now in recovery discovers a new freedom to reject the urges OR, respectively, accept a life created for her/himself. 

Uniquely with disordered gambling, the “power” seems to be found (by the gambler) in self-assurance that there will always be a chance for the big win.  Convinced of this, problems grow as chasing losses takes precedence.  Why give up when there’s always a chance?   Then too, take the individual who gambles for the risk-taking excitement or the one who gambles to escape life’s pressures … a sense of control - for the moment – brings “relief”.  What then is there to give up??

Sadly with the addiction, the gambling continues and loved ones find their lives encircled by mounting debts, anger, and fear.  In either case, what’s to give up?  The addiction escalates and  relationships deteriorate.  It’s hard to see life, otherwise, when caught in the midst of addiction. Addiction speaks, addiction acts … life becomes dependent on addictive thinking.

My friends at the conference, however, spoke of letting go … not giving up or giving-in.  Letting go carries with it a purposeful opening of a door to new possibilities.  Letting go claims more for the present than the status-quo.  There can truly be a difference - though, at first, it may seem impossible.  Letting go makes room for a power-greater-than-ourselves to show us new ways of coping with problems (including the urges to gamble OR berate the gambler) - and forming healthy relationships (inside and outside of the family).  

Looking over the 12 Steps of Recovery, I see a roadmap of letting-go and attaining newness of life.  
Starting with Step 1,  let the journey begin!


·         Step 1:

 Letting go of feeling/living powerless over gambling/the gambling problem

 Attaining and admitting to an awareness of reality

·         Step 2:

 Letting go of depending only upon myself

 Attaining the belief that there is a power-greater-than-ourselves that can restore my life to normalcy

·         Step 3:

Letting go of being in control of my recovery

Attaining experiences of emotional strength that were not derived from me alone

·         Step 4:

Letting go of erroneous estimations of my financial status and personal and moral self-image

Attaining realistic awareness of my circumstances and who I am – both positive and negative

·         Step 5:

Letting go of fear as to what others will think of me

Attaining the feeling of freedom from inner secrets that have held me hostage

·         Step 6:

Letting go of fear and shame, in general

Attaining the courage and drive to commit to my recovery program

·         Step 7:

Letting go of pride and prideful self-images connected to my addiction

Attaining the willingness and expectation that God (of my own understanding) will remove the character defects that have bonded me to my addiction and unhealthy lifestyle

·         Step 8:

Letting go of denial about my relationships with others

Attaining fresh insight as to my responsibilities of repair in my relationships

·         Step 9:

Letting go of relational wounds

Attaining opportunities for restored friendship, love, and connection … as well as taking the responsibility not to re-inflict wounds upon others

·         Step 10:

Letting go of any unhealthy, disruptive, and counter-productive moral, spiritual, and/or financial issues that may begin to develop

Attaining growing self-insight and awareness

·         Step 11:

Letting go of relying only on myself

Attaining deeper awareness of God’s presence, strength, peace, and will in and for my daily life

·         Step 12:

Letting go of self-isolation and fear of reaching out to help others

Attaining deeper awareness of the principles of recovery … and new friends!



For specific wording on the Gamblers Anonymous/Gam-Anon Twelve Steps of Recovery Programs, respectively, go to  www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/recovery-program   AND       www.gam-anon/gam-anon-can-help/the-twelve-steps-and-reflections



May you continue to experience the power-greater-than-yourself through living the 12 Steps of Recovery!

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO

Founding Director

Gambling Recovery Ministries

https:// www.grmumc.org 


    For more information on problem gambling, recovery issues, and the IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification visit:  

www.igccb.org                                                                                                                                                     































www.mentalhealthministries.net