Announcing: The 50/50 Campaign!
A bold initiative to help those struggling. And I need your help.
Someone once asked me how I hear God. There are many ways I can answer that question. But one of the main ways comes through ideas as I’m journaling. Not just any ideas. I’m talking about ideas—directions, plans, etc—that are beyond what I’m comfortable with. Ideas that are, at times, downright wild.
Today, I’m introducing you to one of those wild ideas.
Around six months ago when I submitted the initial manuscript for Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic to my publisher, I started praying about how this book would and could be different from my last one. How my attitude could be different. See, last time I placed my identity and hope in how the book did. And what I came to realize is that there’s always “more” or “better,” meaning if your hope is in milestones, there’s always another one you can reach and aren’t. And that disappoints.
So as I was praying about that this time around, God clearly spoke to me about how to do it differently this time: “Give it away.”
What?
“Give it away.”
That’s a little… odd. So I continued to pray about what that meant, and eventually I got an answer. That answer is what I’m announcing to you today.
It’s called The 50/50 Campaign, and it’s a bold initiative to give away 50 boxes of books to 50 alcohol and addiction treatment centers in all 50 states. And I’m asking you to help me by donating $50.
Kinda crazy, right? Definitely not something I could come up with on my own.
If everyone who can donates $50, we need only 1,000 people to reach our goal and cover the costs associated with bringing Jesus to those who are stuck and ready to give up.
I couldn’t be more excited at that prospect.
Now, I covered part of why I’m doing this above, but there are more reasons. For starters, I’m a man, and there are not many addiction books written by men. I want to show men especially that being radically vulnerable about our struggles isn’t a sign of weakness, but of strength.
Second, I keep hearing from people who have read early copies of the book that there’s not really anything like this book. Of course there are many books written on addiction, some by great friends of mine.
But mine is just… different.
How?
Well, it’s part memoir, part guide, and it weaves together the many aspects of addiction—including the spiritual. Not many people want to talk about the spiritual aspect. I can’t not. That means the hope of the Gospel and of Jesus is central.
And I’ve had plenty of people tell me that talking about addiction in terms of faith is wrong, bad, and I need to stop. I’m not going to. While I believe addiction and alcoholism are complex and include the physical, the physical doesn’t negate the spiritual.
“You are the only one that has the courage to say these things,” Kim told me. She’s written extensively on addiction. “This is going to help so many people.”
“Why are you the only man being open and really talking about this? I needed this and didn't even realize it!” That's what Rob told me when I met him for coffee a couple weeks ago.
“I can't buy the book soon enough. And I've already read it. I needed to give it to someone yesterday.” That's from an early reader named Cory.
And this from Jill: “You're about to introduce radical vulnerability and messy sanctification to a lot of hurting people that need those two things.”
Friend, I remember what it was like to be in the throughs of my addiction to alcohol. It felt so hopeless. More times than I care to admit I considered suicide. In my moments of clarity when I realized what I was doing, the shame was so heavy it physically restrained me.
But God…
But God broke through all of that. And now I want to bring that same message of hope and freedom—and the steps he took me through—to others through giving away Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.
Will you help me?
While I’m asking for $50, I get that’s not possible for everyone. I would be grateful for anything you can spare to help me bring the message of Jesus and freedom to those who need it most.
Maybe my book “sells” well, maybe it doesn’t. Maybe I do 1,000 interviews, maybe I do 10. Whatever. I want the lasting impact of this book to be tied to The 50/50 Campaign. If nothing becomes of the words on its pages, I want Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic to be a staple in treatment centers all across the country.
The idea of talking about faith in addiction is somewhat taboo. I want to break down those walls and remove the barriers to doing so. And the best way to do that is to give the book away—not ask those who need it most to pay for it.
What do you think? Can you get on board with that?
If so, please join me today. Right now: 50 boxes of books, to 50 treatment centers, in all 50 states, for just $50.
Let’s spread the message of Gospel-centered hope.
P.S. For The 50/50 Campaign, I’m using GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding platform. Your donation is protected by their giver guarantee, and I love their mission. In fact, they charge smaller fees and they give back a portion of their own money to various campaigns!
I’m so in friend!
Let’s go!!!!!