C.L.M. has put together a "New Approach" to the problem of alcohol / drug rehabilitation, drawing on the wisdom and experience of other successful programs of treatment and counselling. Research was begun in 1980 and the "New Approach" to treatment we offer grew out of the works of seven reliable sources:

• Dr. Bill Gothard, Institute of Basic Life Principles
• Dr. Robert McGee, RAPHA
• Dr. O. Quentin Hyder, The Christian's Handbook of Psychiatry
• Dr. S.I. McMillan, None of These Diseases
• Dr. Timothy LaHaye, Spirit-filled Temperaments
• Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

3 Basic Goals for Inpatient Treatment for Addiction:

1. Gain involvement with the individual.
2. Help them face reality and see responsibility.
3. Help them relearn new behavior.

Individual counselling, group therapy and classroom instruction are offered. Sixty hours of lectures and a 200 page workbook must be completed by each applicant. The following is a list of what is taught during the lectures. (Each of these topics has a corresponding video and workbook section which may soon be featured on this site!) The lecture topics help addicts and alcoholics to related their lives to a "why" they abuse drugs and alcohol. Students begin "peeling the layers" of addiction from their souls as they learn about the three "Root Causes of Sin," which cause addicts to keep using and alcoholics to keep drinking. The "root causes" are 1. Bitterness, 2. Greed, and 3. Immorality. Students begin to develop the personal awareness necessary to realize that only God can heal their wounds and satisfy their desires. 12 step programs like Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are designed to help addicts and alcoholics find God, as each of the steps is merely an advancement towards surrender to God's Authority and Will.

Study after study has proven statistically that faith based recovery programs out perform their state run or private alternatives. One such study conducted by Duke University finds that people with addictions are nearly ten times more likely to be clean and sober one year after beginning treatment if they received treatment from a faith based program.

Christian Love Ministries spends hundreds of hours every year tracking our own statistics regarding lengths of sobriety and time before a student relapses after leaving our 11 week program. These findings are as high as it gets in this particular industry. Addiction is very difficult to treat, so any results are preferable to loved ones remaining bound by compulsions and urges. Many state run facilities have recovery rates with no more than one percent of their graduates being clean or sober one year after program completion.

Our unique approach to treating addiction is consequently well sought after by treatment centers all over the country. Here in Western North Carolina there is an especially high rate of drug abuse and addiction. Per capita, WNC is undeserved when it comes to treatment centers and facilities designed to offer affordable and high quality rehabilitation to addicts. Many of the state run facilities, such as Swain in Black Mountain, are always full and only offer 14-21 day terms for threir programs. This brief length of time is not sufficient to create the change that will last long enough for a person to reintegrate into society again. Furthermore, state run facilities emphasize the physiological aspects of addiction. CLM focuses on the spiritual elements of addiction, as it understands that only God- an external force can keep an addict from returning to active addiction. Religious based rehabs are becoming more and more common in recent years, because of the success they're producing for addicts and alcoholics. Listed above are the multiple ideologies and studies Christian Love Ministries has assembled to create its unique, goal oriented Christian treatment plan. Please check back with us on this site as there will be entire videos and worksheets available for viewing and download. These media are part of the video series students use during their intensive treatment process at Christian Love.

Christian drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers work for people who are Christian and have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Although the 12 step model is also "faith based", and spiritual in nature, in the western culture people tend to identify more with the Christianity as spirituality. AA was initially started by the Oxford Group, a stanch Christian group, however the AA program changed over the course of its development to be more inclusive than exclusive.  Most treatment centers now understand that in the United States it is important to offer what is now referred to as a "Christian Track" in their treatment modality. This is a relief to many people who have yet to be exposed to anything like rehab, and much less spirituality. Since the western hemisp general public does not necessarily know what AA is, they sometimes fear it is a "cult" or some other strange thing.

Christian Love Ministries introduces students who have entered the program to faith based 12 step programs such as Overcomer's Outreach and Celebrate Recovery. Every evening students ride in the ministry's two vans to meetings located throughout the local Murphy / Blairsville, GA area. Both programs have steps which are molded from typical 12 step programs like AA and NA. Originally the founders of AA and Narcotics Anonymous founded their principles from the Bible. In essence, 12 step programs are simple steps to becoming a spiritual being as God desires. Through this process, addicts recover from addiction. This process of coming to know God (or doing the "steps") is at the heart of successful drug and alcohol treatment. CLM encourages many methods for coming to the same end goal of Spiritual maturity and development.

Realize I’m not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. (Step 1)

“Happy are those who know that they are spiritually poor.”

Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him and that He has the power to help me recover. (Step 2

“Happy are those how mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step 3)

“Happy are the meek.”

Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. (Steps  4 and 5)

“Happy are the pure in heart.”

Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. (Steps 6 and 7)

“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires”

Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)

“Happy are the merciful.”

“Happy are the peacemakers”

Reserve a time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. (Steps 10 and 11)

Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)

“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.”