Christians and their families are vulnerable to addictions, just like any other fallen human being, but Christians and their families do not deal with the temptations and struggles alone. So The Rev James Otte told the more than 80 people attending Texas District Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Circuit #14 Retreat on February 7, 2015, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Palestine.

Four people from Pilgrim were among dozens attending the 2015 Circuit #14 Retreat on addiction presented by The Rev. James Otte. (Photo: Rev. David Bergman.)

In an engaging and interactive day-long workshop titled “No One Walks Alone: The Vulnerability to Addictions in Christian Families – A Lutheran Biblical & Psychological Approach”, Rev. Otte explored the Biblical roots of addiction—addictions such as substance abuse, anger, internet (including pornography and social media), sex, and love—and pointed to the grace-based community as God’s redemptive agent for healing. Rev. Otte also provided hands-on assessment and intervention tools, as well as resources available in East Texas.

You can view or download the Retreat handout as a PDF here, and you can listen to or download the presentation audio files as follows (each Part was about an hour): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Rev. Otte is a licensed professional counselor and part-time associate pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas. He previously served on the staff of a counseling center and Lutheran congregation in East Texas. He holds a master’s degree in education and community counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches; a master of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri; and a bachelor’s degree from the former Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The annual Circuit #14 retreat included abundant refreshments and a delightful and hearty lunch, all prepared by the Bethlehem Lutheran Women’s  Missionary League. The Retreat was followed by an official Circuit Forum that conducted Circuit business preparing for the 2015 Texas District Convention.

Circuit #14 of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) is comprised of twelve East Texas LCMS congregations, as far north as Longview, as far East as Nacogdoches, as far south as Lufkin, and as far west as Corsicana.

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