Warren-Jamestown Christian Women, Village Missions Country Partners, held its Aug. 9 luncheon at ReaLife Church on East Second Street in Jamestown.

The August luncheon featured spiritual speaker Michelle Hardinger of Jamestown who spoke of her healing journey and challenges overcoming the disease of alcoholism.

Hardinger also provided the musical selections in honor of her mother who recently passed. She focused on the characteristics of alcoholism as a disease of the body, mind, and soul. The alcoholic uses people, places, and things and turns to alcohol instead of turning to God, she said. The alcoholic is not evil or stupid; it’s what they do. They are sick people trying to get better.

Alcohol becomes a necessity not a choice, Hardinger said. The alcoholic can embrace the 12-step program in which the first step is to admit one is powerless over this chemical. The second step asks for a higher power to restore one to sanity.

Hardinger went into detox, got a counselor, medication, accepted a sponsor, and finally healed while fulfilling her lifelong dream of going back to school, she said. She became a nurse at age 55, got her courage back, and renewed her broken family relationships.

She concluded saying she realized if she never became an alcoholic, she would have never known God. Dorothy Geer closed the program in prayer.

The group’s September luncheon will be held at noon Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Praise Fellowship Church, Russell. Spiritual guest will be Kathy Joy Hoffner of Erie speaking on “Meet Me on Normal Street… Stories of Life Mapping” and Vi Birchard, Warren, providing the music.

Lunch is provided by the committee for $6. Call Judy Crothers at (814) 723-7613 or Nancy Schuyler at (716) 720-4410 for reservations by Sept. 12.

The Christian group always meets on the second Tuesday of the month. There are no dues or membership.

The group’s donations help Village Missions train pastors to spread God’s word to rescue rural U.S. churches with dwindling congregations from closure.

Friends and new guests are always welcome.