Good Samaritan Ministries
Discipleship Program
Resident Guidebook
Phase One
We Are Overcomers Through Christ.
I John 5:5
GOOD SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM
The Good Samaritan Inn
2307 Hull Street
Richmond, Virginia 23224
804/231-9995
WELCOME!
We welcome you to our Discipleship Program. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you through your difficult times. This is probably not like any program you have ever been in before. We know that this can be the last program you will ever need. I must tell you, though, that a program in itself will never do anything for anyone. As you read on you will find our purpose, plan and proposal. We will be praying for you every day. There will come times when you feel like giving up. You’ll ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” I can tell you first hand, “It is worth it!”
Michael McClary, ThD
The staff trust that your stay with us will be a profitable experience as you prepare for eternity. The Bible says: “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (I Timothy 4:8)
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it:
for He hath no pleasure in fools:
pay that which thou hast vowed.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow,
than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin:
neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error:
wherefore should God be angry at thy voice,
and destroy the work of thine hands?
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
THE DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM
I.Purpose - The Objective
Our ultimate objective is character recovery of the whole person, not clinical correction of a single problem. Our goal is not simply to free you from drug or alcohol addiction, but for every graduate to become a contributing citizen of society. This is accomplished through a relationship with Jesus Christ, not through increased knowledge of your problems or through self-will.
A.Our first objective is to lead you to Jesus Christ. Without you accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and allowing Him to be Lord of your life, this program cannot work. It is not the program that changes people, but the right relationship with Jesus Christ.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
II Corinthians 3:17
B.The next objective is to introduce you to the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the time of conversion, and we need to teach you about that indwelling power. Without that power, there would be no hope of complete recovery.
But ye shall receive power,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.
Acts 1:8
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Romans 8:9
C.The next step is to initiate discipleship - teaching about and guiding in the new life in Christ. We will work with you for at least one year. During the first 45 days we will focus on getting you to a normal operating level, then increase levels of responsibility as you are ready for them.
II.Plan - The Cohesive Structure
A.First and foremost, our structure is Biblical.
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
Psalm 127:1
We do not believe that “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” because of what the Bible teaches.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterous,
nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
And such were some of you:
but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.
I Corinthians 6:9-10
We want to show you that you are not continuously recovering, but covered by the blood of Christ.
B.Our structure is compassionate
We understand your problems and identify with you. Every staff member has followed essentially the same steps in solving life problems that we are leading you through. We will not give you clinical rhetoric, but testimony from personal experience.
We care enough to be honest and straightforward with you about your personal responsibility for your problem.
We understand that most people who come to us have guilt and shattered self-esteem. We will show you how to be forgiven and accepted. Many people have broken family and community ties. We will show you how much God loves you.
C.Our structure is personal
We will counsel any time and any place as the need arises, as well as during regularly scheduled appointments. A staff member is always available if you need to talk to someone. You will be evaluated weekly.
D.Our structure includes a restorative environment
The mission premises are strictly controlled to keep out harmful influences that would undermine your recovery. Program participants are not allowed to use profanity, vulgarity, or violence, or make sexual advances against other participants. Television programs promoting sex and violence, radio stations broadcasting unwholesome music and unbiblical religious programs, and books and publications advocating undesirable lifestyles are not permitted.
Constructive influences replace the unhealthy routine that contributed to your fall. Regular Bible study, a daily work routine and supportive friendships are fundamental to a new life.
Integration into a local church must be part of re-socialization as well as spiritual growth. Only consistent church attendance will allow you to achieve your long-term goals. While on the program, you must attend all weekly (Sunday AM & PM, and Wednesday PM) and special services at Community Baptist Church. You are encouraged to become involved in all appropriate church activities, such as singing in the choir, ushering, helping with the youth, etc.
III.Prospect - The Redemptive Message
A.We will not ask you to do anything that is impossible, or put you in a position where you are doomed for defeat. We will deal with you on an individual basis and assign tasks according to your ability and skills, and give assistance where needed, as in reading for Bible studies.
B.Most converts fail at their new life because they lack Bible knowledge and practical application. We will define for you what your faith in Jesus Christ means in your life. The essentials by which growth and goals will be achieved are as follows:
1.The Word of God - the Bible
2.Prayer
3.The Holy Spirit’s indwelling power
4.Fellowship with other believers through the church
5.Serving Jesus Christ, primarily through the church
C. We uphold righteous principles, restraining and rebuking while forgiving and restoring:
From whence come wars and fightings among you?
Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain:
ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,
that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,
ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
`Galatians 6:1
D.If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are guaranteed success.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheth me.
Philippians 4:13
For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.
I John 5:4-5
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
1.The Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant and infallible. It is the final and absolute authority for doctrine and life. God gave the words of Scripture by inspiration without error. God promised that He would preserve His Word; Jesus said, “but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). God has kept His promise by preserving His infallible Word and that the Authorized Version (KJV) is the best translation of the preserved Word of God in the English language. (II Timothy 3:15, 16)
2.There is one God, eternally existing in three persons, identical in essence, and the trinity - the Father, the Son - and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; John 10:30, 4:24, 1:1-4; Isaiah 63:8-10; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; Acts 5:3,4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1,3; Revelation 1:1-3).
3.Adam was created in the image of God without sin, but spiritually died when he disobeyed God. He passed on a sin nature to all his descendants, who are separated from God and incapable of doing any good works to reconcile with God. (Romans 3:10-23).
4.Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in order to reveal God and redeem sinful man. (Luke 1:26-35; I Timothy 3:16; John 1:1, 2, 14).
5.We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, and that he is to be resisted by the power of the Holy Spirit, who is our strength. (James 4:7; I John 4:4; Revelation 20:10).
6.We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. (Romans 3:24, 25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7).
7.We believe in the bodily resurrection and Lordship of Jesus, and the bodily resurrection of the saved to eternal life - the lost to eternal condemnation. (Acts 2:32; Romans 1:4).
8.The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates the spiritually dead through indwelling and joins the believer to Christ through the baptism of the Spirit at the moment of salvation. (John 16:8; I Corinthians 3:16).
9.Salvation is a free gift of God and cannot be gained by any good works on the part of man. (Romans 6:23)
10.The Lord Jesus Christ will rapture the church out of the world before the tribulation, and after the tribulation He will return to earth with His saints to establish His kingdom for a thousand year reign. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17, 3:13; Revelation 19:11-16).
11.Those who have trusted Christ as their personal savior are eternally secure solely through the work of Jesus on the cross, they cannot lose their salvation through sin. Those who reject Christ as Savior will spend eternity in hell-fire. ((John 16:8; I Corinthians 3:16).
12.All born-again Christians should be active members of a local Bible-believing church. There is no universal, invisible church. (Revelation 1:4, 11, 20; 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; I Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Colossians 1:2)
13.The universe was created in six literal days.
14.We believe all the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices. (James 4:4; Romans 12:1-2; I John 2:16; II Corinthians 6:14).
15.We believe that those born again possess two natures, and that they may be victorious over the old through the power of the new nature, but the eradication of the old is unscriptural. (Romans 6:13, 8:12, 13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9).
16.We believe in the eternal, conscious punishment of every unsaved person, and the eternal joy of every saved person. (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 22:11; John 14:16; Philippians 3:20).
17.It is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and word and to proclaim the Gospel to all the world. (Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 15:1-4).
18.We believe that Communion and Water Baptism are ordinances for believers and therefore are not to be regarded as a means of salvation. (I Corinthians 11:23-34; Matthew 26:26-30, 28:18-20).
Without meaning to be unfriendly or unkind to anyone, we feel it only fair to say that the Good Samaritan Ministries does not agree with the modern day charismatic movement, and we believe that anyone who comes into the program should not speak in tongues while on the program.
The Good Samaritan Ministries believe in the verbal-plenary inspiration of the Bible, and it is our practice to use only the King James Version in the pulpit and in our Bible studies. We believe the Textus Receptus is a superior text, and we use it only when using the Greek text.
Spiritual Life
The spiritual growth of the participants of the program is our primary concern. This is each person’s opportunity to get his heart and life straightened out with the Lord so he can go out into society and live a stable Christian life. Let us encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. We will do all we can to help you accomplish this goal.
Daily Bible study meetings, and chapel services are required.
Church is required on Sundays and Wednesdays, and special meetings. There will be no visiting other churches except by permission from staff. These meetings are a source of spiritual exhortation and enrichment that is vital to Christian growth. Each year, outstanding evangelists, pastors, and missionaries from across America are brought into the church for the purpose of ministering to our people. CommunityBaptist Church operates in the spirit of an independent Baptist church, acquaints its participants with the workings of a separated, Bible-believing church and encourages them in their worship and service for the Lord. Sunday School, the Sunday morning and evening services are all times of spiritual instruction and encouragement. Many of the staff and their families come to the CommunityBaptist Church. Once one has been here for thirty days he is encouraged to get involved in church activities.
“Make America Godly Again” is a highlight of the year for those on the program. This is one full week of preaching, witnessing, and spiritual uplifting.
Health Service
Everyone entering the Good Samaritan Discipleship Program must have a tuberculosis test before entering the program.
If a participant of the Good Samaritan Ministries does not have insurance, we encourage them to get a VCC card so they can have the ability to have health care with no care or little charge. They will then be given a primary care doctor.
McGuire VA Medical Center should be used for those who are Veterans.
Discipline
Mature behavior is expected of all residents. Any client who shows repeated behavioral problems will be dwelt with by the administration.
“Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou, then, not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same.” (Romans 13:3)
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
The definition of “discipline” listed in Webster’s Dictionary is “training that molds and perfects the mental faculties and moral character.” Notice that training is part of discipline -- this is imposed discipline. Hopefully, that kind of discipline will develop into that which molds and perfects its own self-discipline.
Without discipline, Good Samaritan Ministries would not be the type of program that anyone would want to be part of. The purpose of our discipline is to train each person to achieve obedience, respect, and responsibility and to create an atmosphere where each person can find true happiness. Obedience to rules and guidelines is essential to the development of maturity (Luke 2:51, Hebrews 5:8). It results in genuine freedom in life (John 8:32). Respect is necessary for all successful and meaningful relationships (Luke 10:36, 37, Romans 12:18). The assuming of personal responsibility fosters a sense of achievement. Responsibility and achievement are necessary ingredients to the development of self-worth (I Corinthians 10:31, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Romans 14:12).
As we seek to provide a balanced and disciplined learning environment for all of Good Samaritan Ministries, we realize that man's wisdom falls short of God's standards. We do not claim to be perfect in all our decisions, but we do try our best to discipline in a way that is Biblical and that is pleasing to God.
Offenses must also be dealt with as they occur so that a pattern of problems does not develop. If no punishment occurs on the first offense, then there is no deterrent for the offense to occur again. Therefore, to avoid the forming of inappropriate habits, we believe that problems must be dealt with on the first offense.
Expectations:
Men on the Discipleship Program are expected to:
a.Maintain Christian standards in courtesy, kindness, morality, and honesty;