Rewind 19 Years ...
To truly understand our history, we must rewind 19 years. It is 1987, while most of us were enjoying a carefree childhood of school, playing tag, and eating paste, a broken minister was beginning his journey of recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. At night and on his lunch hour, he sneaked to the "wrong" side of town to a smoke filled warehouse to attend recovery meetings. In his meetings he found unconditional support, love, acceptance, and a solution to his brokenness. There, he learned that God would heal his pain and addiction. He always knew that God could heal him, but he never believed that God would. There, other addicts walked beside him shoulder to shoulder, loving him and freely helping him recover. After his lunch hour meetings, he drove back to the "upside" of town to "do church", perplexed by the vast chasm that separated the world of recovery from the world of church. Why were those worlds so different? Did they have to be?
One dark night, consumed by his pain and reaching for a solution out of his despair, he made a vow to God that would alter the course of his life and the lives of those unsuspecting, carefree children who would become No Regrets. Bowing his head, defeated by his disease, he prayed, "God, if you will just get me out of this pit, I promise I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill that abyss between church and recovery. I promise I will find a way to bring church and recovery together in the same place."
That night, sitting on his couch, his vow to God became the dream his heart would carry for the next 18 years. He dreamed of a church, with a foundation in Jesus and based on the principles of recovery. A church where broken people could begin recovery and people well into their recovery journey could find a deeper more fulfilling relationship with God. A place of acceptance where anyone could find love and support regardless of their religion or background. A place where Jesus Christ could be freely acknowledged as their Higher Power. His vision was for a "safe port" for people suffering the storm of brokenness. His vision would be called Serenity Church.
On October 14th, 1987, this man consumed his last drink and drug ... and the journey began. For 18 years, God faithfully blessed this man with sobriety and a successful ministry while He taught him what he needed to prepare the vision. Then in January of 2006 it was time for the vision to take on form ....
Pause ... What About The Music!
The concept of music was simple enough, but implementing a musical program was not
all that easy. The irony was resting in the humorous paradox of a Church Of Christ
minister trying to assemble a praise and worship band. How does a man who has spent
a lifetime in a denomination that worships God without using instruments set about
finding a band? He doesn't. While sitting in his office one Spring day still trying
to solve his elusive problem of finding a Praise Band, two young men strolled in
and introduced themselves as Jason and Jered. They were brothers -
What About A Name!
With that birth fast approaching, we were still a nameless group of people. We were
stumped! What did we want the world to know about us? We entertained every suggestion
that came our way, but nothing fit. Turns out our name was waiting for us in the
rooms of recovery. Every recovering alcoholic who attends meetings is familiar with
the section of our literature known as "The Promises". One day our bass player and
keyboard player were sitting in a meeting together listening to someone read those
promises .... and suddenly our name appeared! One promise reads, "We will not regret
the past nor wish to shut the door on it." That was it! That's what we wanted the
world to know! With God's help and the help of others He brings our way -