Today I met with Jason in the morning. One of the topics that came up was sponsorship.
I asked him about how many people he sponsors (2), and what to do if he got asked to sponsor more. One suggestion he gave was to work with people to get them started, and then to help them find a sponsor of their own that can really give them the time they need.
We also discussed what a sponsor really does for the people he/she works with and what the people need to be wiling to do in return. Here are some things we came up with:
Sponsor Roles
- Answer phone calls and be willing to talk on a daily basis
- Ideally have completed the 12 Step Program at least once (Steps 4 and 5 are mandatory though)
- Be willing to meet with the person one time for a longer period to discuss the progress in the program
- Be attending meetings regularly
- Be working the program consistently
- Worked with a sponsor already for their own recovery
Role of Sponsoree
- Willing to communicate via phone on a daily basis (sometime via text but mostly voice)
- Willing to work the steps of the program on a daily basis
- Willing to send at least one answer per day to sponsor from the step they are currently working
- Willing to meet with sponsor on a weekly basis to discuss the steps of recovery
- Willing to share Step 5 with the sponsor and get help as needed
- Be actively involved in the program on at least a weekly basis
- CONSISTENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, DESIRE TO REALLY CHANGE
I shared some of these feelings tonight at group. I had one person come up after the meeting and ask me about sponsorship. I told him I would get him started but was already working with a couple people.
I really feel being sponsored and then being a sponsor is a HUGE part of the recovery process. I read this scripture in Step 5 tonight and it reminded me of sponsorship too:
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16).
One thing I admit is that I’m not perfect, in fact, far from it. But being sponsored has helped me understand the power of the Atonement that much more; and being a sponsor helps me work harder to stay on top of my “spiritual game” so that I can do my best to help others and give them advice based on the Spirit and not my own understanding necessarily.
Becky and I had a great talk tonight too about how the program has really helped us both understand HOW to USE THE ATONEMENT in our day to day lives.
I also shared tonight about my experience with Caleb – talking to him about why he was acting the way he was, zippy, crazy, and disobedient. He had said, “Satan makes me do it.” To which I replied, “Satan does tempt us but he’s not as strong as we are because we have God on our side.”
We talked about how as we’re tempted to get angry, crazy or whatever, that we can kneel down and say a little prayer together to ask Heavenly Father for help in overcoming our character weaknesses. I feel that this whole process with Caleb was inspired by the Spirit that has come more in to my life as I work the steps of the program and apply the Atonement in my life on a more regular basis.
I’m grateful for Jason, for my wife, for my family, and most of all, for Jesus Christ and what He’s done that I cannot ever do – overcome the world and be my advocate with the Father.
Hasta luego!
Nate
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