Winter 2008

Multi-Tasking!! 

Reverend Janet Jacobs

Director, Gambling Recovery Ministries

Recently, I was asked to create an intro type of article about the outreach of GRM, for an upcoming presentation to the Religious Leaders Association of Bloomington (Indiana).  As I wrote a description detailing our work, the thought occurred to me that a repeat of such information might be helpful, also, to readers of the GRM website.  Certainly, the information can be found throughout the website; but this extra word picture of GRM provides a quick glance at the ministry, as well as - hopefully - a stimulus to others wishing to begin an outreach of recovery to persons affected by problem gambling.  In writing this description, I am reminded (as I have been many times) that there is MUCH work to be done in this pioneering field of ministry.  Often, the information provided in our workshops, trainings, and individual consultations includes both the basic pieces of information about disordered gambling and further resources for therapy, support groups, additional trainings for professionals, and other curriculum materials.  Thus with diverse grounds to cover, multi-tasking is a necessity on the frontier!  Once again, the following is a description of the ministry, mission, and outreach of  GRM.    

Gambling Recovery Ministries (GRM) is the only wide scale outreach of its kind in the country within The United Methodist Church. Developed in 2001, as a South Indiana Conference pilot program, GRM - now a cutting edge, multi-faceted ministry serving the entire southern half of Indiana and distant points beyond - continues to bring hope and real help into the picture of gambling addiction through individual consultative and referral support, prevention education, excellent resource materials, training events for clergy and laity, and continuing education for social workers and health care professionals.            

Linking suffering persons to mental health treatment options and support groups (as GA and Gam-Anon), GRM bridges the gap between sin issues and proactive recovery steps . . . and  between the church and the hurting.  More than sixty GRM presentations/workshops have been given to diverse audiences - from teens to seasoned professionals - at local, state, national, and international levels within the arenas of public health, prevention, mental health, and spiritual care.

Blessings,

Janet