The United Church of God has been an exemplary pioneer in its emphasis on education since its beginning in 1995. In the summer of 1996, the Council of Elders formally established our four major education programs: general education (for the entire church membership), youth education, ministerial education and focused education.

Focused education addresses the many serious human problems that have become so prevalent in our modern Western societies. The major categories of these problems is listed under “Topics” on the Breaking Free website (http://breakingfree.ucg.org). They are addictions, alcoholism, abuse (physical, mental, sexual), eating disorders, emotional stresses, gambling, homosexuality and same-sex attraction, mental disorders, sexual addictions, smoking and substance abuse.

Another website, Anchor, was started in 1994 by some Church members who were trying to provide guidance and help for fellow Church members who were struggling with same-sex attraction (SSA, or homosexual temptations). Four ministers were invited to be advisers for the publication. With the split in ‘95, Melvin Rhodes ended up being the only ministerial adviser. He ended up editing all the articles, as well as writing editorials. In addition, his wife Diane did the layout for the magazine.

I eventually discovered that Melvin had very little assistance, so I offered to help as a reviewer. I enjoyed working with Melvin on Anchor and later on Breaking Free.

After about ten years of Anchor the church was frequently receiving requests from people who wanted us to cover other problems in a similar way. So 2004 was a good time to start a publication that would help people struggling with every form of addiction, mental disorders and other life-crippling problems. So Breaking Free was born.

For a title, the church chose “Breaking Free,” but that title was already being used. So the official name is Breaking Free Journal.

Breaking Free is a logical and valuable extension of UCG’s Focused Education.

Since long before United began, one of the pioneering voices addressing the problems addressed by focused education has been Denny Luker. Now that Mr. Luker is United’s president, he is giving his full support to focused education and to Breaking Free.In fact, he has authorized making Breaking Freeclearly available to the public. Already there is a link on www.ucg.org to Breaking Free.(Click on Information and then click on Other Websites.)

In December 2010, Melvin called me and said he had become too overwhelmed with other responsibilities to continue as managing editor of Breaking Free,and asked me if I would take that responsibility. I thought if I said no, I would be swallowed by a whale, so I agreed. Soon after that, Mr. Luker gave his approval. On behalf of United, I want to thank Melvin and Diane for the outstanding job they did with Anchorand Breaking Free.

During this past year, I’ve spent part of my time getting Breaking Free caught up so we could be ready to publicize it.

I marvel that I ended up in this field of interest. The big reason for my interest and concern has been the fact that there have been so many people among my relatives who have had addictions. The ones that I have known about have included addictions to alcohol, smoking, cocaine and gambling. I think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” And in two of my former congregations, there was a (non-practicing) homosexual. So I can’t help but have a passion to try to help people in trouble and their families.

Breaking Free has six well-qualified reviewers who are a huge help. In alphabetical order, they are: Bob Berendt, John Cafourek, Fred Crow, Larry Walker, Mark Welch and Glen White.

Here is what Melvin recently wrote to me:

“The biggest challenge has always been finding people willing (and able) to write, to share their own struggle or the difficulties of having a member of the family who is a struggler.

“The need is definitely there. As God calls people in the western world today, most are likely to come into the church with “baggage,” problems from their past that weigh heavily upon them and often get in the way of their Christian progress. Whereas in the past, people would become discouraged and often give up and leave the church, we feel now that there is a source they can turn to for help—Breaking Free.”

Articles are accepted only from members and ministers of the United Church of God. We welcome articles from authors who are experts on a related subject, but we also welcome articles from those who are not experts—all the rest of us. We strictly avoid giving medical or other professional advice.

To learn the type of articles that we are seeking and to learn how to contribute to Breaking Free, go to http://breakingfree.ucg.org and click on About.

As you begin to read articles on Breaking Free,I hope you will see the great potential it has for helping many, many people in the future. And please pray for God to greatly bless Breaking Free that it will be quite effective in fulfilling that potential. Thank you.