Dr. Jay Holland


Coach at a Volcano

Welcome to Basic Progress Online! My name is Dr. Jay Holland. I am the founder and Executive Officer of Basic Progress. I invite you to take a couple of hours and read my mini autobiography, "A Good Bad Example." If you have any questions, comments or have any needs you feel that I can be of help, feel free to email me at bp@basicprogress.org.

The past fifteen years have been a remarkable pilgrimage of discovery. In my experience with Alcoholics Anonymous, I had reached a point in life where it seemed I needed more and I could not find it. Without any real direction, I decided to attend school, wherein I received a degree in psychology and later two graduate degrees in Biblical studies. Ultimately, I was able to grow beyond what I personally could not have even imagined. The problem is that most people will never have that opportunity.

By any reasonable standard, I have succeeded in providing a forum wherein people can continue to mature and to cultivate their own potential beyond what has previously been available to the public. Basic Progress consists of sixteen sessions with follow-up exercises and assignments reduced to simple baby steps in character development. This project has been defined by the search for the most effective means of introducing curious seekers to the core truths of life. In curriculum development, I have endeavored to remove complexity, triviality and froth from the process of basic spiritual progress. Basic Progress coaches mentor people with a specific curriculum designed to address the contemporary cultural milieu using time tested spiritual truths, including self-examination, confession, amends, forgiveness and stewardship. BP is now fully developed and ready for public consumption.


Explaining Basic Progress is quite challenging. It may be helpful to first determine what Basic Progress is NOT:

  • While we do offer a steady supply of information about culture, humanity and religion, BP is not a religious course.

  • Although many have had life altering spiritual experiences, BP is not a peak emotional rite of passage.

  • While results depend on participation and dedication, BP is not another "self-help" program.

  • Although we do mentor and coach people, it is not an automated conveyor belt delivering spiritual clones.

  • While Basic Progress does contain all the elements of the popular twelve-step or self-help programs and more, it is not a trendy format for victim mentality or public applause.

Basic Progress IS:

  • An intentional spiritual environment for personal development. Basic Progress is more than counseling but less than parenting.

  • A life transforming process for the spiritually 'at risk' sector of society -through the grace and love of God.

  • A deliberate effort to restore the fallen, to convert the lost and to teach personal responsibility to the troubled.

  • Assisting people in a long-term reorganization of hopes, dreams, goals and relationships.

  • Helping people take their lives to the throne of God for the purposes of forgiveness, affirmation and discipleship.

The Basic Progress workbooks and curriculum give structure to group discussion guarding against frivolous banter or overzealous agendas. The class environment often contains a broad range of human emotion and experience: confrontational tension, heated debate, spontaneous wonder, belated grief, outrageous laughter and intense devotion. Over time, the class becomes a community of faith with an interpersonal bond that has sustained some for years beyond the initial experience. There are hundreds of graduates who often speak of their BP experience as the most important investment in their life.

There are many ways in which you can partner with Basic Progress. You may sponsor students, donate directly or volunteer. (Contact BP) You may even need to experience BP for yourself!

Godspeed,

Dr. Jay Holland

©2006 Basic Progress