Vision & Philosophy

 

     This ministry has been the desire of Associate Pastor Dale Fiegland's heart since for many years. Twenty-seven years of sobriety in AA characterizing, Pastor Dale’s story, is widely known throughout the halls of Riverside Church. God worked mightily in his life and that of his wife Karen. Their marriage of over fourty years and their three fabulous children are testimony to God’s healing love. Pastor Dale’s greatest blessings have come from sharing his story and watching the Holy Spirit of God work in the lives of many people. 

     

 

            Isaiah 61 contains the scripture Christ would read in the Temple describing His ministry. Later He prayed and commissioned His disciples and all future followers to carry on this mission of “binding up the brokenhearted…” The “how to” of this charge is also given. We are to: 

 

                        Pick up from the ashes …..

                                    Pour ourselves into them …..

                                                Help them realize their place in the church

 and this will result in them being planted firmly in Christ. 

           

            At Discovery we are committed to the interactive issues of picking people up, pouring ourselves into them, and helping them find their unique place in the church, or more simply put: Discovering Relational Recovery and Enrichment. Because this is not usually or easily performed in a large congregational setting, we are giving this call of expression in our church by a community of people who will gather together to CARE for one another and COVENANT to grow one another in the love of Christ.

 

The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness

For the prisoners …

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve …

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor.”

 

   Discovering God’s Healing Power  

 

- by interacting with God through prayer and discussion of His Work using the twelve steps.  

- by interacting with each other through study, prayer, and fellowship. Through support groups and enrichment classes.

- by interceding with the community in Binding up the Brokenhearted--twelve stepping

 

Discovering the Right Attitude

- by glorifying God through corporate worship, teaching and prayer.

- by understanding the need to know God and His word better

- by understanding the need to become real with my character defects

- by understanding that adversities are tools in the hand of God to give us something far greater than happiness.

 

   Discovering my life by 

 

- Becoming a life focused on God and His activity

- Becoming a life dependent on God and His ability and provisions

- Becoming a life that is focused on Knowing Him, Experiencing Him, Hearing Him, Loving Him, and Obeying Him.

 

     

     The purpose of Discovery is to fellowship and celebrate God’s healing power in our lives. Using Christ centered Biblical principles called the twelve steps. By working the steps and actively applying their principles we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from our addictive and compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy, and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others.  We begin by sharing our experiences, strengths, and hopes with one another and by admitting our inability to manage our life. Then we become willing to accept God’s place in solving our life problems. 

 

 

             Discovery exists to create a safe place to recognize needs in our own lives and actively apply God’s principles in our quest for growth to become more like Christ. 

 

1. The process of becoming like Christ is active rather than passive.

2.  Because of what God has already done for us, we are to actively “clothe ourselves” with the qualities He wants us to develop, such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12).

3. If we recognize needs in our own lives and are actively growing in these areas, we can help others in their quest for growth. The emphasis is not on being like Christ as much as becoming like Him.   

 

Requirements for Discovery

To be a part of the Discovery Journey

1.      A desire to stop living in the past.

2.      A desire to start living in the truth.