Author Archives: Mark Burchell

Check-in

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Good Monday Morning,

Mark Burchell here just with an updated piece of information about one of our former participants.  I asked “C.B.” (abbreviated for confidentiality) how she has been doing since staying in our sober living home…  We were very pleased to have gotten this response:

 

“This is C.B. I was in the program at Seminole in case you don’t remember I had gotten your email sorry I haven’t replied sooner. Hope things are going well for you and DTR. Just a little quick update on me… I have been working quite a bit, had two grand-babies on August 18th, bought a car, and get my license on Tuesday. Needless to say things are going pretty well I still have rough days, I believe that is called life LOL God i s good! And the promises continue to come. Still working my program and my recovery. Please tell everyone I said hi and I’m doing well. With me becoming mobile next week and as my schedule allows I hope to be able to come around some. I hope everybody is doing well as I said take care have a great day!”

 

This is truly a great check-in response, and we’re glad to be able to share that recovery works if you work it!  The Doorway to Recovery is always open to you!

 

Blessings,

Mark Burchell
Founder and CEO
Substance Abuse Counselor
Family Interventionist

Mark Burchell on Another New Year

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Hello everyone,

I hope that everyone had a blessed and safe holiday and that your wishes and blessings were plentiful.  In the near future I am going to be announcing some new things happening at Doorway to Recovery, but for now, let’s recap 2015:

  • We had 4 spiritual meetings with an attendance of 150 or more
  • Over 50 people rededicated their lives to Christ at Doorway to Recovery, and this we give all glory to God
  • Field trips to Tigers Baseball Game, Detroit Red Wings, canoe/picnic trips, bowling, were just a few of the outside activities that people in addictions were able to attend and stay sober during the events and have some good fun in recovery, while being participants and residents at Doorway to Recovery… Along with their families!
  • 2015 was the lowest relapse percentage in the entire time that Doorway to Recovery has been in existence, showing that our new Life Recovery Program (link) along with our Relapse Prevention Recovery Program is working. I will tell you a little more about Life Recovery in a future blog
  • Doorway to Recovery had its first silent auction fundraiser in September 2015 held at the Joy Manor in Westland. This event featured guests from all over, a live auctioneer, all to the sounds of Dr. Pocket playing in the background.  It was great time for all.  It was 100% successful with Doorway to Recovery raising enough funds to secure our 2nd 15 passenger van, sponsor in new clients who are who are without income (homeless), and raise money for better furnishings in Doorway to Recovery’s sober living homes.  The effort put forth by volunteers and staff of Doorway to Recovery made this event one of the best that we’ve ever had.
  • Doorway to Recovery was very happy to install at it’s fall spiritual meeting, “Drop the Rock” corner at our beautiful sober living home in Westland called the Palmer House.
  • At the end of the year, Doorway to Recovery Participants were able to celebrate my favorite time of the year, Christmas. Woodside Bible Church and Doorway to Recovery hosted a Christmas that was absolutely fabulous.  Afterwards, clients were bussed to Woodside’s Troy campus to see a nativity scene that was nothing but spectacular.  Outside arrangements, live animals, and of course the nativity scene of the Christ Manger.  This event was simply outstanding, ever reminding us that the birth of Christ is the most important remembrance during the holiday season.  It is the ultimate gift that we have received.
  • New Years Eve was celebrated at Woodside Bible Church in Farmington Hills with our staff/residents having fun with games, food, and good fellowship, and watching the ball drop into the new year of 2016.

God blessed Doorway to Recovery and myself in 2015 with health, more wisdom, and patience.  In closing, I would like to thank Christ, my savori, for forgiving a wrench like me, for being our lawyer to God, and for His grace over us.  I, Mark Burchell, C.E.O. of Doorway to Recovery speak for myself and Doorway to Recovery in saying God is great, Christ is the way, and The Doorway to Recovery is always open to you.
Blessings Friends,

 

Mark Burchell

Family Awareness Month

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Greetings Recovery Community,

This month is a month that I will be lecturing on “Family Enabling” and “Family Codependency”, and overall reaction to addicts and alcoholics behaviors.  I’d like to share with you first, a letter that a mom has sent to me from Boca Raton, Florida about her son Billy, that stayed with Doorway to Recovery for a short time…  Here is that letter:

“I am very sad of the news of my son. I was hopeful this would be a good start for his wellness program and new life. But as we know it’s completely up to the person. When he’s ready it will happen. Unfortunately the next few years of his life will be spent in solitude but at least he will be forced to be sober. I do not believe that jail is the answer for those who suffer so deeply from addiction but when you commit a crime there is a price to pay. I am hopeful Billy will learn his lesson and one day be an example to others. He has a good heart just a polluted mind.

Thank you to you and your staff for your support and the time that you spent with me and my son. I do appreciate what you do. Billy also said that he was so thankful as well. Unfortunately his actions showed differently.

Please extend my apologizes to you and your staff on behalf of my family.”

 

Having worked with this young man, Billy, for a short time, I found this man to be troubled and in need of guidance and counseling in several areas.  Having talked with his mother after Billy’s incident, and reading her email; gave me insight to this mom’s love and nurturing of her son.  Being far away, in another state, and trying to be in her son’s life is a difficult thing.  Thankfully, she is supported by her husband and other community members that she has no control over Billy.  Only through prayer and self surrendering can she make it through another day.  I talked with her that the things that Billy will need is  a relationship with god, with therapy, and with a sober community.  Here at The Doorway to Recovery, myself and staff will continue to pray for Billy and his family, in their ongoing search for peace and happiness.

 

God be with you as always.
In His Service,
Mark Burchell

 

Becoming the Man God Designed Me to be

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I’ve heard it said that a real man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, exemplifies integrity, has reconciled with his past, is working on leaving a legacy and expects a greater reward!

As I spoke about at Woodside Bible Church in Troy and in my last blog, I haven’t always been that man. However, through Christ, with my family, friends and my brothers in Christ I am working on becoming that man in the following ways:

  • Rejects Passivity – Instead of ignoring the problems and issues and hoping they just go away, I am facing them head on and I know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13
  • Accepts Responsibility – I am taking full responsibility for my failures of the past and my actions of the future by submitting myself to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
  • Leads Courageously – I will love and lead my family and business with the courage to always do the right thing even when it isn’t comfortable. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
  • Exemplifies Integrity – I will be the example of integrity by being a man of my word and a man of The Word. “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” – Proverbs 28:18
  • Reconciled with his past – I have faced my failures, accepted responsibility for my actions, asked for forgiveness and stand in the truth that “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” – 2 Corinthians 5:18
  • Working on leaving a legacy – I do not want to be remembered by my failures but by my love and the way I allowed Christ’s love to show through me, that is a true legacy! – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. – John 13:34
  • Expecting a Greater Reward – I know because I have chosen to follow Jesus, I have a guaranteed reward “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21

I hope you have made the choice to follow Him too!

My First Open Talk – Forgiveness and Reconciliation

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I gave my first Open Talk at Troy, Woodside Bible Church in front of a large group of people.  This talk was a testimony of my storms, with and without Christ.  It was very scary to say the least, as I looked out and saw faces that I thought were there to judge me.  I closed my eyes, I asked Christ to come into my heart; to give me the words I needed to say, and as always he did.  As I talked about my sin, and how through that sin I have caused a lot of hurt, I found it to be very healing.  I spoke of me and my participation, and my character defects.  Christ was working though me because out of my mouth came love and forgiveness, not anger and resentment.  This was so refreshing.

At the end of the talk, which was about 45 minutes (that’s a new one for me); people all gathered around me to pray and let me know how surprised they were that I didn’t play the victim role.  Two of those people in the crowd were therapists.  After breaking away into our men’s group, the two male therapists shared how angry and mad they were at for me for the things that they had read and heard; admitting that they have their faults and sins as well, and who are they to hold those resentments.  But because of Christ and his love, and teaching of forgiveness, they were able to look at me in a different way.  I am so grateful to my friends at Woodside Bible, Larry, Gail, Tony, Mark, for allowing me to come in and openly confess my hurts, habits, and hang-ups.  I love Christ; I love Celebrate Recovery, my love to all of you.

Blessings your way,

 

Mark Burchell.

Spring is in the air

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And so is Recovery.  As the doors open and people are able to get out and about, change is happening.  That’s with weather, attitudes, family issues, personal issues; spring is a time for a restart, it’s a time for change.  During the months of May and June, we want to concentrate on our new changes; new smells, new relationships, new beginnings.  Spring is a very important time to start recovery fresh.  For some us, that means, if some of us have been in recovery, a fresh start.  For those who are new in recovery, a fresh start.  As we all know Recovery is a daily thing, not to be taken for granted.  God says to us, Rely on ME and I will show you the way.  Jesus says “Only through Me can you get the healing that you need.”  John 3:30.  He is above, I am below.

We are happy to announce the New Women’s Program at Doorway to Recovery.  As we move forward at Doorway to Recovery, we are happy for our new staff members, Angela Spino, Diana D., Grateful Gail… strong women in recovery heading this much needed Women’s Recovery Program.  Women in Recovery ran by women, and organized by women.

As the next 30 days move on, we will have a Licensed Medical Social Worker (female) at the Helm to guide women and men in their walk in recovery.  Many blessings, love, and thanks to all of you out there that have stuck with us through our hard times and through our growing times.  God’s blessings to all of you,
Mark Burchell

Day after Resurrection

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Easter was a glorious day, it was the resurrection of our Christ Savior for the forgiveness of our sins.  Hallelujah!  I was asked to be in the choir at Woodside Bible in White Lake and I just want to say what a great and awesome experience it was, even though I am not a great singer.  Singing for the Lord took away all the doubts of my tenor voice… at least that’s what they called it when they stuck me way in the back.  It was truly a blessing to be up there.

Our Pastor, Brad Hucy, at Woodside White Lake gave a sermon that I believe, besides myself, touched a lot of people.  The bible and the resurrection are all truth and not made up.  Pastor Brad exposed to us that truth.  There were some people at the service, I’m sure, who were skeptical of this, but after hearing Pastor Brad talk, I think and believe that thought or feeling had changed.

We also got to see an artist do his thing called, “The Splat Experience”.  Those of you reading this should look it up and watch the video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1402D86NsM ).   It is really quite awesome.  The rest of the day was filled up with eating ham, green beans, walking the dog, spending time with my wife, Stephanie, watching movies, enjoying the lake opening up.  Most of all, it was a day to reflect that life is alive because of Christ, and that an old sinner like me can be forgiven, and so can you.

My final message is, Come to Christ, let Him embrace you; let Him show you that there is eternal life, that my brothers and sisters, is His gift.  Peace and happiness, and healthy living to you all.

A sad and joyful day

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Today is a sad and joyful day, as if two can be in our hearts at once.

My friend and AA sponsor Dennis Skiyles has passed away at the vets hospital in San Antonio TX.

I will miss him so very much. He was a great father, husband, friend and AA Man. AA has lost one of its best.

He was there for me through all my troubles and never once judge me but would give it to straight about my behavior.

He would always say, “God loves you the way you are and so do I. You must ask Christ for your forgiveness and work to change.”

We saw each other for the last time some few months ago as I traveled to TX on some business, my friend drove from San Antonio to Dallas to see me and spend some time together. We had a blast. Tex Mex dinner at a place he knew,we talked I did another 5th step. He listened, and then we prayed and laughed at what an ass I was. We laughed at what an ass he was. He said, ” Mark, I love you brother.”

God loves you, AA needs you, DTR needs you and your family needs you. Go home and serve God, your family, and help those men in need as you have for the past 13 years.

We finished dinner with DEEP FRIED ICE CREAM  went back to our hotel.

The next morning we had a breakfast and headed to an AA meeting, because that’s what he does. It was a 65 year old AA Lead,

one of the Best I been at in years. My friend knew the right one to take me to.

We did our meeting and talked more. Soon it was time to part. That BIG smile lit up and he said  ” I love you Brother, God loves you. Lets meet up again soon.”

Something deep inside said this would be our last meeting as I watched him walk away and get into his car..

I said to myself, “thank you good for putting him in my life, give him safe passage home to his beloved Paula.”

I will miss him greatly, God has him now safe and sound  pain free. I can still see that beautiful smile that lit up a room when he entered.

Take care MY FRIEND AND SPONSOR. I LOVE YOU AND WILL NEVER FORGET YOU

MARK BURCHELL/ SPONCEE OF DENNIS SKYLES FOR YEARS