A Brief History


Dr. Jay Holland

(For my personal story, please read .A Good Bad Example..)

For maybe obvious reasons, I have been requested to provide an abridged history of BP. The Basic Progress curriculum is a progressive series of lessons and spiritual exercises which serves to reveal spiritual reality in progressive stages to faith seekers. Through the processes of self-examination, surrender, reconciliation with God and society, these people are radically changed. As they contend with their homework, the level of spiritual insight and understanding increases, which in turn, prepares them for the next session. The essence of the Basic Progress experience is 'heart' surgery. It is designed to produce a new attitude, create a radically different perspective, and ultimately to harness and redirect one's basic personality to a life of forgiveness, grace, prayer, and faith.

The process began quite innocently. After dedicating our lives to the Christ and the Christian walk, my family and I moved to Abilene for an education and training in ministry. In the fall of 1995, I enrolled as a second semester sophomore in Abilene Christian University (ACU) with a bachelor's degree in Psychology in mind. It was during that first semester that I was asked to tell my personal story for the Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) inmates at the Middleton Transfer facility of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. As a result of that speech, a couple of inmates asked if I would teach AA's twelve steps and the AA Big Book. (The core Big Book text is available on this website.) But I am way ahead of myself.

From the very beginning of my recovery (within the first week of sobriety), and for a reason much more clear to me now, I knew that I needed to pay attention to and document my feelings and reactions to this new world of functioning without alcohol. I felt then and know now that I was to later need that information in helping others achieve a degree of productive contentedness. It has been confirmed hundreds of times that I am not 'special'. God did not choose me as an instrument of his grace any more than anyone else. I was desperate and that desperation drove me to passionately apply clearly defined principles to my everyday, sometimes every minute struggles.

Just to give me the benefit of the doubt, I had some obstacles that prolonged my self imposed misery. The first was that I did not trust humans, a very normal component to those who shared the destructive lifestyle I had failingly maintained. The benefit in recovery was that it forced me to use the AA Big Book and later the Christian Good Book as dependable and reliable sources for ethics and morality. I did not sober up and start trusting people, even those closest to me. This is not to say that I was not helped by people. In fact, I owe my life to the struggling friends and fellow travelers that tolerated my cussing, ranting and raving from the very beginning.

Anyway, I became well versed in the content of the Big Book. Instead of 'sharing' my feelings in AA meetings, I would often read paragraphs of personal interest. Many times, it was intended to undermine discussion, always to preserve my self-righteous attitude of spiritual correctness. If I stuck to the text, I thought that I could not be wrong. The truth is that I did not trust myself. And, heaven forbid, if anyone should notice that I was imperfect in any way.

It became clear rather quickly that I was and am gifted in communicating with people who are sensitive to religious and spiritual matters. I had a natural knack for meeting people where they were with a natural nonjudgmental nature regarding their personal shortcomings and past 'sins'. Come to think about it, I had a few of those indiscretions myself. It just takes more work to hide all my shortcomings, than to act like they are not there. It is for this reason that my story, along with many others. testimonies, is critical in the Basic Progress group dynamic. People don't want to be talked down to. We are not coming off of a mountain top to tell them how bad they are, we are coming down off of the mountain top to show them where to put their feet as they climb up to join us.

Back to the early developments: It was not long before I realized a need to start a new group. The old groups were apparently not doing it "right," and dealing with the crisis of a second divorce, I spent my time of grief, rebuilding a struggling AA group called the "Triangle Group" in Tyler, Texas. Boy, do I owe them a special thanks. They really saved me. I had been divorced drunk, and now sober? I wonder what those two marriages had in common and it wasn't booze.

Anyway, I showed up and, out of desperation, I went to work with some really neat people. We built the group by the book, and within a year it was going gangbusters. Within a couple of years it was one of the largest AA groups in east Texas. A magical creative tension was nurtured that was the backbone of a raggedy fellowship that was effectively saving people by the dozens from alcoholism. Of course, my passion and drive offended most of them and I quit them at least seven or eight times. Nevertheless, much of my organizational experience and many of the leadership qualities that produced BP came directly out of those early experiences. Basic Progress would not exist without the Triangle group in Tyler, Texas. Thanks, y'all!

One of the activities developed at the Triangle group was a twelve step study process, wherein the group would meet on Mondays and discuss the first three steps (The Twelve steps are on pp. 60-61of the Big Book). At the end of those meetings, those interested would gather around a table and we would take steps four through eight before we left that night. At the time, there was a 10 PM meeting wherein those who participated could talk all night, if need be. By the next morning, they had been exposed to at least an idea of what the 12 steps were about. Over time, I began documenting my personal strategies and analogies for sponsoring, teaching, coaching those sessions. That is how the process of developing a curriculum designed to form people spiritually began!

Please understand that when I say "I," I mean my part in the process. God is the great healer; people just comply, cooperate, and fit in. We do influence and help in the process, and some help better than others, but that usually requires concentration and attention. It is not accidental and most do not get better without some prodding, direction and kindhearted attention. Other than my own experience, I knew that I was on to something, but I wasn't sure that I could define it. To make a rather long story short, I was not inclined to Christianity. I researched all the world religions. For a couple of years, I read much religious literature: Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem, Confucius, Tao, Native American. I delved into some radical beliefs and for a time called myself whatever showed up on my reading list. All of it was relevant to me. I really didn't know or care where I would end up; I just needed to know more about God. To be sure, I didn't feel qualified to help. It became obvious to me that I needed training.

In the summer of 1995, my family and I moved to Abilene, Texas. I really wanted to know about God. I never really thought that I could get a job as a minister. I am divorced twice, a felon, not young and dapper and, besides, at the time, I wasn't really all that keen on church or the people who attend. Nevertheless, I felt like God wanted me to get an education. I enrolled at Abilene Christian University, and spent the next year and a half cramming as much psychology in as I could. I graduated in the fall of '96 with a B.S. in psychology (Pun not intended!).

In January of 1997, I began my studies in graduate Bible. It is relevant that I really did not want to preach. I was really trying to find God. Most people don't go to these lengths, but, then again, most people don't have to. I was attending church with my family regularly, but I was waiting tables and my wife was running paper routes (USA Today.) We didn't have any money to put in the collection plate, so I decided to donate 10% of my time, which I figured was four hours based on a 40 hour week. Funny how scientific we can be when it comes to giving back, huh?

That brings us back to the prisons. I was invited to Middleton Unit of the Texas State Prison to tell my personal story to the offenders. One of the inmates requested that I teach a course concerning my spiritual experience of rebirth. I inquired as to the possibilities, began to go out once a week for four hours and continued journaling and filing notes regarding what worked and what didn't. Many times, the subject matter for the next session was determined by the questions and curiosity of the participants. I didn't know what to do and who better to determine it? Over time, the next questions became obvious, so I would teach what people want to know next! As those inquiries became predictable, they were included in my teaching notes. The BP journey emerged from those questions. As I documented the progression of the lessons, the certainty of particular questions and issues dictated the sequence and movement of the classes. As I watched this process change these people, I became more committed to this work.

I had never considered this work as a full time career opportunity, but I felt I was serving people and being faithful to my beliefs. And besides, I was getting more out of this than putting money in a collection plate! One day my attitude changed. I'll never forget it. For Thanksgiving, 1997, my wife and I were to visit family. I was excited; timing was perfect for a break. I did not know how important this day was to be.

That particular class had been through all the rigors of spiritual formation: admission of defeat, self examination, confession, amends, etc. We had talked about God and had discussed prayer. We were now ready to surrender to God. It had become one of my favorite sessions. I arrived at the brick and tin compound in a great mood. I sat down at the desk in front of about 20 inmates and began my titillating tale of a glorified life in submission to God.

It was one of those times in my life where the thoughts flowed with ease. The class hung on my every word. I closed the class with a prayer and gave my standard closing, "May the God of peace be with you!"

Many in the class shook my hand, some hugged me, and others expressed their gratitude for my time. I stood at the door as they filed out back to their dormitories. One of the inmates looked troubled. He was shuffling in the back of the room. For over two months, this one participant had been almost completely quiet throughout the cycle. He never had much to say in any session, but I could tell he was always engaged in the discussion. Surprised, at his reluctance to leave the room, I approached him...

"What's up? Are you OK?"

Under each eye there was a single trail of alligator tears. With his left hand, he pushed his right sleeve up to his elbow; with his right hand, he did the same with his left sleeve. He rolled his palms out and presented his wrists to me. I stared at his disfigured wrists. Both arms had scars on top of scars. Some were older; some that were red and some had healed to a then dark stripe. There was a fresh bandage on his left wrist.

It looked like suicide attempts; it looked like giving up but surrender is what he had been trying to do for years. I was speechless. I looked back up at his puppy dog eyes. I could see a heart filled with many dark days and lonely nights. In an instant, it all became real. This was no longer a game wherein I was honing my skills. In a real moment of true empathy, I felt some of his frustration, rage, disappointment and sadness.

An emotional amalgam of distress, his voiced failed him as he mouthed a question. I did not quite hear him,

"I can't hear you."

From the deepest groans of his most primal self, he bellowed from his bowels,

"Where do you go to give up?!!"

His contorted face burst into tears as he fell into my arms.

I held him, and waved the guard off. We wept. I whispered in his ear,

"Welcome Home!"

My life and ministry has not been the same. This event was the founding moment of Basic Progress. The answer to that question is what drives me and the Basic Progress curriculum. This person had finally realized that he needed God to help him and did not know how to get that done. Basic Progress has answered that question for hundreds of people. I have a front row on God's miracle show!

In that instant, BP was expanded to include everything that I personally had needed to move beyond what the twelve steps offer. What I had been teaching had not been enough for me, and I had been in the fortunate position to do something about it. I had been able to attend school to learn. Others just do not have that opportunity. It was to be my mission to communicate what I was learning to others. Incorporating my own personal experiences and the wisdom of those who had gone before me, I began to teach the basic elements of the pathway to spiritual maturity.

When the challenge for the first BP students to become Christian was offered, amazingly enough, all eleven in the group accepted the Christian faith. They were baptized in a horse trough in the middle of the farm, open for all to see. Unfortunately, the warden's worst nightmare had become a reality. Apparently the proper approval had not been signed yet; it was delayed somewhere in the paper chase between SATP and Chaplaincy. I had engaged this Christian rite of passage with these men under the supervision of a state program, not chaplaincy. Psst,.. don't tell anyone, but this is the only time in history that the state of Texas baptized anyone! You can't do that!

Well, this move necessarily changed my volunteer status. The warden was upset because of the potential church and state conflict of my acting as both counselor and chaplain. Within weeks of revealing these same spiritual principles as Christian, I was thrown to the lions. Under normal circumstances, the warden was a likable man with whom I had enjoyed a good relationship. That not withstanding, he barred me from teaching until the logistical problems were resolved. The course was shut down, and I was left with nothing to do. I had inadvertently created a real dilemma.

So, I went to Huntsville, Texas, which is where the state offices are for chaplaincy and Substance Abuse. I presented my proposal and was given the opportunity to be both an SATP volunteer and a chaplaincy volunteer, under the course heading, "Basic Progress." Simple investigatory work will find that as an extremely rare situation. To my knowledge, I am the first volunteer in the state of Texas to be approved for both departments and BP is the only curriculum that is presented as a cooperative effort between the two. The first phase, called "Basic Progress" (at the time) was to be offered under SATP and the second phase, "Practical Truth," (at the time) was to be offered under chaplaincy. The only catch was that I had to produce curriculum manuals that met the requirements of each division, with carefully worded disclaimers so as to avoid any possibility of legal jeopardy. There it is. The reason I originally wrote the course, the way it is, is because the state forced me to. God sure does has his funny ways. What I had considered to be the work of the devil turned out to be a blessing in disguise!

The name "Basic Progress," came out a lot of prayer and meditation. Since embarking on this new life, I intuitively knew that when confronted with a sizeable problem, the first course of action was 'back to the basics.' Spiritually, that meant to pull out my crayolas and a child's writing pad and write out the problem, clarify the issues, list the possibilities, and pray like I meant it this time. So, I wanted to include the word 'basic.' Progress is essentially a given for spiritual formation, so I decided on .Basic Spiritual Progress,. until I realized that would've run me off, so I just got used to Basic Progress. The fact that 'B' and 'P' rhyme is also cute. Most of the students refer to the program as simply BP.

So, armed with extremely poor copies of the course, I began to teach under both SATP and Chaplaincy. By and large, that went well. People are people. Some in SATP didn't like tying in Christianity; some in Chaplaincy thought I was crazy for not beginning with the Christian gospel. I realize now that I was approaching these individuals in a unique way. I first helped the participants find their need for a power greater than themselves and then showed them what that meant. The BP record speaks for itself.

The BP format was approved and for six years, I ran the roads of west Texas, teaching this course in as many as seven units (Special Thanks). I believe that I have something to offer. I have seen the results, and believe that this process can and will be administered in many different environments. But let me finish the story.

I had been working in restaurants as waiter and later as cook to supplement our income. I was contacted by a contractor for Dyess Air Force base in Abilene to come to cook at the Enlisted Dining Facility while the men were being deployed to Desert Storm. It paid well and I enjoyed the work for a while. The problem was that this contractor was employed only to clean up the mess hall, not to prepare meals. So the people who were supervising me were actually untrained cooks. This is the only job I was asked not to cook so well, because it was embarrassing the help!

Being frustrated with the meal planning, I asked to replace the baker who had just left. It gave me independence, but there was a snag. There was no time clock, so we wrote our times in. Unfortunately, the baker often stayed after the office was closed and, as the prior baker had trained me, I guessed at what time I would leave. Sometimes, I was able to leave prior to what I had guessed, sometimes I didn't. I didn't pay much attention to it, but some of the other staff did. After about six weeks, they accused me of cheating at my time card. It was no more than a total of two hours, but they were right. I had not been completely accurate with my guesses, but they hadn't counted the times I stayed late. My last job as a professional cook, I was fired.

I wish I could report my commitment to Basic Progress was "on faith," but it was more like I didn't want to do anything else. I committed to raising money for the work. The first year, I raised over nine thousand dollars, and kept what wasn't used for expenses. I don't know how I did it. Remember, I was also a full time student with a full time family who were neglected far too often. One of the biggest mistakes in my life was to basically abandon them doing this, by and large, they are productive and content, and have forgiven me, but the lost opportunity is just that, lost. My heart gulps when I recall this part of my life. I sacrificed willingly. They sacrificed because I was desperately looking for a career and God and a way to be OK in my own skin. Although, I no longer run, sometimes, it just wasn't easy being my family. I ask their forgiveness.

Because I ran into accounting difficulty with charitable funds donated through church, in the fiscal year of 1999, I set out to incorporate as a non profit. My first board members were my cousin and his wife, a high school chum, a couple of prison officials and counselors and a friend who had been super supportive throughout the developmental phases of Basic Progress.

That fall, the counselor and family decided to open a restaurant. I did my dead level best to discourage them. They did their dead level best to hire me. I refused money, but told them I would write menus, design their restaurant, train employees, acquire purveyors and open the restaurant. I decided to do it as my last job in the food and beverage industry. I did it and it was my last job. Although the restaurant lasted two years, I was rewarded beyond expectation. Basic Progress was and is my job.

By the end of 1999, Basic Progress Ministries was incorporated by the state of Texas and the federal Internal Revenue Service accepted Basic Progress as a 501(c)3 non profit organization. It wouldn't be until the spring of 2002 that the US Postal Service would grant us our non profit rates for our newsletter. Maybe that's why they call it "snail mail."

I graduated from Abilene Christian with a Masters of Science in Biblical Studies and a Master of Divinity by the end of the summer of 2001. I decided that the best thing to do was to take Basic Progress into the inner city. I worked for four months with an inner city outreach group that had no real results working with adults. I coached several BP groups in the fall of 2001, and have been blessed to continue work with several of the people who are still clean and sober and praising God. BP had been affirmed.

From that point until now, Basic Progress has become coeducational, the ladies have been awesome. We have been hosted in churches, in half way houses, in shelters on college campuses and in homes. The potential for this format for spiritual renewal is incredible. I completed my education with a Doctorate of Ministry at Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University. The Basic Progress Office, .The Swamp. is located near the cultural district of Fort Worth.

Things are just bigger than me, and it always has been. We need you to participate with us. Please look around the web site, become a participating member and donate. Your interest, prayer and financial support is honored and used to directly impact your world in ways that provide a home for people who cannot find peace. It is good.

Since leaving the penitentiary setting in 2001, hundreds have been relieved of personal demons, addictive behaviors and combative homes. Children have parents, spouses regain their marriage and friendships are restored. There is little doubt that those who are faithful to the BP process become better employees and employers. When we get our spirit right, finances and living conditions become less frustrating. BP has a two percent recidivism rate, defying the criminal law of gravity. If we can help people not go back to prison, how much more can we accomplish with those who have a running head start!

For those of you who want to go through BP, I am honored for the privilege of getting to know you. I believe you will be blessed. If you do not ever feel queasy or uncomfortable, one of us is not doing our job! But, you will get a wild return on your investment, -even if you just muddle through. You should quickly get to know the therapy dogs, Luke and Jack. As a simple note, have fun. It is your life. You probably will not ever get this much attention again! Of course, you will have to earn the title 'swampmonky', so buckle in for the spiritual ride of your life!

Dr. Jay

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