We believe that this is a strategic group to impact with the good news of God’s love and forgiveness because they are entrepreneurial risk-takers who are willing to take action to follow their dreams. If you are on an intercultural journey, we invite you to go on a faith adventure with others.

Current Faith Adventures:

• WHEN
• U35
• ARM

After 10 years of marriage Linda was ready to walk out on me. My addiction to alcohol had created a dysfunctional home life. It was at that point that we both admitted that our lives had become unmanageable and we needed help. We have spent the last 35 years working to bring God’s healing power to the ‘willing’.    We believe that we can help multiply our effectiveness by equipping and empowering others with a simple, transferable ministry to the addicted and their families. – John

Click here to know more about ARM

John

At the age of 29 I realized that my life had become unmanageable.  I had become a high functioning alcoholic.  I was a Class ‘A’ Fastball pitcher and successful businessman but abusing alcohol every day.  I had married my high school sweetheart and now after ten years of marriage she said she wanted out.  It was at that time that there was a major change in her life.  She said that she had gotten to know God in a personal way.  I told her that I didn’t want any of that religious garbage in our house.  But I had never seen anyone’s life change like hers.

At this time there was a crisis in my life.  I had gotten into a drunken fight and was charged with criminal assault.  I started to attend a 12 Step program for my alcohol addiction and stayed clean but was like a balloon ready to pop.  My wife, Linda, had started attending Al-Anon and was learning about co-dependency and enabling.  Now that she was no longer enabling and protecting me I had to deal with my compulsions.  She was no longer the safety net.

After a year of attending meetings to stay sober, finally one night in sheer desperation, I got down beside my bed and cried out to God.  I told Him I wanted the peace and serenity that Linda had.  I wanted to surrender every area of my life because everything I had tried failed.  It was at that point, I now realize, that I began to work a Christ centered 12 Step program.  I was so fortunate that I connected well at our church, being discipled by mature men.  This is where I learned how to bring Christ into the steps to help me deal with my character defects.

Linda and I have been on staff with Power to Change since 1979.  We have been involved in many ministries over the years and have seen many changes.  One thing that never changes is our passion to see people come to know Christ, experience the power of the Holy Spirit and inspire and equip them for ministry.  God has brought us full circle.  I came to know Him as a struggling alcoholic in 1976 and now, God is calling us to develop an Addiction Recovery Ministry that is easily adapted to other local churches.  Because of the encouragement of our Pastor, I have been developing this ministry at our church, Sevenoaks Alliance in Abbotsford, and seeing God do the miraculous.  Churches are now asking us to come alongside to help them.  We have standardized curriculum which is transferable from one generation to another.  We offer regional one-day seminars to equip individual churches to develop this much needed ministry.  Last year at our church we saw many people give their lives to Christ.  Our pastor says, “This has been the most effective ministry of evangelism and discipleship in our church.  This ministry is on the move!”
For more information, you can contact John (john.driediger@powertochange.org) and Linda (linda.driediger@powertochange.org)

Do you remember the first time you came to Canada? Do you recall the funny, the puzzling, the downright fearful moments when it finally hits you- You are now living in a new country and are beginning to experience a new way of living? Do you have an interest to draw or sketch or paint what that initial feeling was like? We would love to hear from you! If you love to draw and would like to send us at: interculturalnetwork@powertochange.org a 10cm x 10cm black and white illustration electronically as a jpeg, tiff or png file, we would love to hear from you and publish these visual immigrant stories on this site.