Free N One
Free from Drugs and Alcohol and One In Christ
Free from Drugs and Alcohol and One In Christ
| History |
FreeNOne
In 1986, Ronald Simmons a regular attended of Narcotic Anonymous meetings envisioned a substance abuse meeting in his
home church. He approached the Pastor with the idea and the first substance abuse meeting was held in early 1987. Flyers
went out around the surrounding neighborhood and addicts and alcoholics began to come to that one meeting. Soon Ron
noticed that the addict/alcoholic was having a hard time putting consecutive days together, and staying free. As this meeting
continued to grow, Ronald Simmons felt that the addict/alcoholics needed more Christ-centered meetings. One, two or three
meetings every night of the week is what the people needed. But this would take joint effort on everyone’s part involved.
Unity amongst the Churches was it possible?
In November of 87 Mr. Simmons, invite members of some very active churches in the Los Angeles area to a special
meeting. The persons present co-founded the birth of a vision, Free N One, the drug and alcohol free program. The name
Free N One takes on two meanings, Free from drugs and Alcohol and One in Christ. (The Addict/Alcoholic and their
family member find’s freedom, and the Church unite together as One to fight this demon called addiction!)
After a series of brain storming meetings, the co-founders, now Rev. Ron Wright and Elder Rene Whitehead along with now
Elder Ron Simmons organized a standard meeting format. They each researched and established the criteria for a unified
Christ-centered drug program. This program would have to cross over the lines of denomination without offending anyone,
and zero in on one of Satan's main weapons drug and alcohol addiction.
In 1988, Free N One started training seminars teaching this Christ centered approach to church leaders and those chosen to
facilitate the Free N One meeting. Being unified is a top priority with Free N One and to the recovering person looking for
help. Anytime a recovering person walks into a Free N One meeting they need to know that there will be no surprises. All
meetings have the same format across the country.
As churches came on board and the program began to grow, and addicts/alcoholics were being freed from their addiction, the
founders notice they neglected to help a very important part of the addicted person's wreckage and this was the family
member. The family member who had changed, altered, and was abused by the suffering addict/alcoholic behavior. The family
member is affected just as much, and in some cases felt more pain than the person using and abusing drugs or alcohol. They
desperately needed healing! For every addict/alcoholic there are at least 10 people affected. So in 1989 Free N One began
training seminars for the family member. These meeting are called "Free N One Tough Love". Rene Madyun and Rev.
Joyce Johnson would head this part of the organization at that time.
Today Tangie Pervese is the president of the Chicago Chapter and Regina Fair is the President of the Los Angeles Chapter.
Heading the “Tough Love” component is Yolonda Simmons, and the Executive Director is Elder Ronald Simmons.
We applaud all facilitators that stand before Gods people sharing God’s good news and freedom. We also thank God for all
board member who caught the vision and pressed on. We also thank God for all Pastors that have joined this battle and are
willing to join other congregations win a winnable war in and through Christ Jesus!
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