Protecting Our Children from Addiction

Denny Wayman, pastor of the Free Methodist Church of Santa Barbara (CA), recently created an excellent resource to be shared with other Free Methodists.

Based on The Selfish Brain: Learning from Addiction by Robert L. Dupont, M.D., Wayman constructed a PowerPoint presentation and handout that highlight the many different substances (drugs, alcohol, nicotine, pornography, etc.) that cause addiction, their effects on the brain (right down to the transmitters) and steps for recognizing and intervening against high-risk behavior.

Wayman, who holds a doctorate of ministry in pastoral counseling, gave the PowerPoint presentation (about 1 hour, 45 minutes in length) in a seminar format, then presented a panel of former addicts, parents and professional counselors for a Q&A session.

Wayman is confident that those who have read Dupont's book (which is quite long) should be able to use this ready-to-go presentation to share this valuable material, thereby saving hours of preparation time. He calls Dupont's book "the best I've ever read on the subject."
(You may also order a rough copy video of Wayman's original presentation for ideas on how to present the material. Cost is $20; visit www.fmcsantabarbara.org for contact info.)

This detailed study is highly illuminating — and not just for parents of teens. If you have ever known an addict or wanted to understand more about the physical stranglehold of narcotics, sexual addiction, etc., then this presentation is for you, too.

Think about these possibilities for using Wayman's presentation in your congregation and community and go out and engage the culture!

1. If you belong to a community association of pastors, consider joining together to promote this as a county-wide seminar. Advertise in your local paper and invite local professional counselors to speak. And asking a former addict to serve on your panel might open a ministry opportunity you didn't know existed.
2. Consider using this presentation as a series for Sunday- or Wednesday-night services or Sunday School. Incorporate Scripture verses and a memorization program.
3. Does your church have a young adult group? Why not ask them to study this material, pray about it, and mentor teens in your church or community?
4. May is mental health month. Use this presentation to promote health and sanctification by living substance- and addiction-free lives.

Denny Wayman is the author the Human Behavior column in Light and Life magazine's Deeper Path section. His recent offerings have included: "Racialization" (racial segregation in churches), "Teen Addiction," and "Alcohol and Human Behavior." His wife, Cheryl, is a licensed therapist and the clinical director of Santa Barbara's Christian Counseling Center.