SA has a set of Trustee Committees (see Concept 11) that provide advice and perform tasks on behalf of the Trustees. The Information Technology (IT) Committee is commissioned to develop and maintain the sa.org website. This website is often the first contact newcomers have with our fellowship and serves as a hub for providing information, literature, and services to all SA members. We would like to keep it in tip-top shape.
While every ESSAY edition is special, carefully thought out, and filled with SA recovery, we would like to describe this edition as unique. The Fellowship has had many losses in the past year. Some experienced loss in recovery for the first time. Can the Twelve Steps and the Fellowship of SA aid those grieving?
Even when cut off from the world, you’re never cut off from recovery. A few years ago, I wrote an article about my experience sponsoring incarcerated fellows by mail. How different it is now to be one of them! As if I needed further proof that I’m just another “bozo on the bus”!
How a sponsor changed my life All my life I went to church, served others, and believed in a higher power. I am married with seven children. However, I lived a secret life of pornography addiction for 27 years. I had a lot of trauma I did not know how to deal with after being abused as a child several times by four different men while growing up. My pornography use eventually led to a crime that put me in prison for four years.
Enjoy this April 2025 edition of the ESSAY and take a load off of yourself. Yes, you’re still responsible for clearing away the wreckage of your past, but remind yourself that although Higher Power still lets you struggle in your character defects so you can grow and progress, you’re not responsible for removing them. That’s God’s job! Surrender it all to Him.
Dear ESSAY, Thank you again for the contributions of this magazine to our fellowship. It is very important! So many of our members look forward to the next issue. During the months that I spend in West Africa every year in fellowship with SA members, we download and distribute the current issue of the ESSAY. We don't have many hard copies of the White Book since the international mail and local m
This was submitted by an inmate as his “one year sober reflection” My name is James D., and I have been sober since November 29, 2023. Since that day, I have had ups and downs. I’ve had several near-slips and a couple of regrets in the area of lustful thoughts.
The fellowship is in a difficult position. We suffered a pullback of contributions during 2024. This forces us to dip into prudent reserves, and we face a shortfall of cash. Our prudent reserve target represents six months of expenses at the Central Office. We need your help to collect contributions, increase personal commitment, and get cash back to SAICO. SA saved our lives; let us commit to save SA’s lifeblood. Thank you.
Dear ESSAY, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the ESSAY team for continuing its vital work after Luc’s passing. Your dedication keeps alive an invaluable resource for our Fellowship worldwide.
The whole team at the ESSAY is again uplifted and humbled by your experience, strength, and hope on this month’s theme of “God as We Understand Him.” The other pieces about Practical Tools, Steps & Traditions, Worldwide News, etc. also continue to teach and inspire us.
