Finding a Sponsor

[Robyn Hiatt]

I’m also in need of a sponsor with experiences simialr Lynn’s.

[Whit Smith]

George call me 615-516-1921

[Bernadette Perkins]

Hi I am currently working the 12 steps for Alcohol Addiction in (CIR) step group and would love to find a sponsor.
I live in Anaheim, CA.
I also have addictions with Disordered eating,CoDa, ACA.
Thank you

[Jim]

Hi All! Sponsorship has always been a tricky concept for me. I have been attending secular 12 step programs on and off since 1995. The main fellowship I attended was composed up of about 85% women and 15% men. As a guy, I kept hearing that I should only get a sponsor who was also a guy. Looking back, there were plenty of older ladies that I was not attracted to who would have made GREAT sponsors, and I wish I had kept in communication with more of them. Oh well, could-a, should-a, would-a. To my credit though, I was moving in a direction of becoming a more and more faithful Catholic, and made a decision by 2002 that in order to be a good Catholic-and make it to Heaven-I had to start following the teachings of the Magesterium and quit being a “cafeteria Catholic”. In going down this path, I started to meet many other young men who were struggling to recovery from addictions and compulsive behavior and it became a very powerful path for me. In 2014 I discovered the audio talks of Fr. Emmerich Vogt OP, and they had a huge impact on me. He was in the same secular 12 step program that I was originally a part of, and I decided to go back and start attending those meetings again. I discovered a very powerful talk by a man named Rick from Saskatchewan who had been in and out of my same program for 18 years before he finally decided to work all 12 steps with a sponsor-the same number of years as me! I’ll post a link to Rick’s talk below. So on Ash Wednesday of 2014, I was attending mass, and I kept thinking about this man named Joe who I knew from my home group. He didn’t bash religion like others in the group did, and he seemed to work a very honest program and talked about the importance of working the steps with a sponsor. So right after mass, I sat in my car for a bit, and finally decided to call him and ask him to be my sponsor-in which he immediately and gladly accepted. The amazing thing was, that as we went on talking, I found out he was attending the EXACT SAME Ash Wednesday service I was just attending! I saw that as a sign from God.
We made an agreement to meet every week at his place to work on a step. It turned out that he had only worked the 12 steps in AA and NA, neither of which program I was a part of, but I decided “hey, the 12 steps are the 12 steps!” and decided to continue with him. it was very powerful. I kept a notebook. There were tears, sometimes arguments, etc. But I stuck to it! and by early summer, we had officially gone through all 12 steps. Now since then, I’ve had three women ask me to be their sponsor, in which I have responded “I can’t do that; because I’m single and you’re gorgeous!” but to my credit I networked each on to women sponsors they could choose. If a man every asks me to be his sponsor for the particular fellowship I belong to, I have my notebook there ready to accommodate him.
Joe had kind of a falling out with the regular members of my home group, so we kind of drifted away after working the steps. When I joined CIR, as it’s a relatively new fellowship of recovery, I have bonded with several men who I consider to be more “fellow travelers along the journey” rather than sponsors. One in particular I make it a weekly habit to be accountable to him. Will I get another 12 step sponsor again? I’m leaving that up to Him (God) as I like the way he speaks to me in miracles. 🙂

Well, that’s my story. Here’s a link to Rick’s talk whose a memember of the fellowship I originally belonged to: https://mirror.xa-speakers.org/speakers2/alanon/single-speakers/rick-j/rick-j-sponsorshipsaskatoon2006.mp3

Blessings,
Jim S. (San Diego)

[George Lensing]

Good morning, Whit. My apologies on my delayed response. I sent you a text this morning, and I am optimistic that you will still welcome to opportunity to visit. With gratitude-George

[Jenny Teeters]

Thank you so much!

Jenny

[Faith Ballard]

A few other women and I from a CIR meeting are deep in the CIR Workbook and just started Step 6! We all are/were looking for sponsors before our group started but are “co-sponsoring” each other on our way through the steps and it has been amazing so far. The workbook has blown me away and I am so grateful for it and the CIR program in general. I used to be frustrated that I couldn’t find a sponsor when I first came to recovery in a secular 12 step group, now I see God had a greater plan. Thanks be to God!

[Leif Jensen]

I have just started this wonderful program, but I would very much like to find a buddy – here I see it’s called a sponsor.
I’m a man in my 70s, I’m happily married, but I have my hole life been struggling with sex addiction and porn addiction. I’m a catholic, but I have left the Church many times because I felt unworthy.
I might join a zoom group but I do not want to because we live in a little flat, and I cannot talk without my wife hearing everything. Therefore I should love some kind of email support instead. Is that a possibility?
Thank you – Leif

[Faith Ballard]

Update to my previous post…Not doubting that my workbook group is a part of my plan but, I still need a sponsor, lol…To any female who can relate (adult child of alcoholic/dysfunctional family, codependency, friend/family of addicts), has been through the steps, has a sponsor themselves and is available, please contact me! I am praying every day again now for a sponsor and trying to push myself to put my need out there in meetings and places like this forum…TBTG for this program and the 12 steps! God bless us all-
Faith B
fabarnes01@gmail.com

[Scott Weeman]

There are a lot of good suggestions around what to look for in a sponsor in this thread. For additional support, you can download the CIR Sponsorship Guide for free on CIR+ in the Recovery Center (scroll down to the middle of the page): https://my.catholicinrecovery.com/dashboard/recovery-center/

I have heard of many people finding sponsors or temporary sponsors in the CIR community and I am grateful to see those connections being made and people posting here to ask for help.

[Faith Ballard]

Update to my update! I have a sponsor now! Thanks be to God! To all those looking, just keep praying and showing up and asking; if it can happen for me, it can happen for you. God bless!

[Scott Weeman]

Praise God! Thanks for sharing and keeping us updated, Faith. You’re an inspiration.

[Kim]

How do I find a sponsor? Alcohol addition, maybe food issues to. Prefer female.

[Author]

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