CHRIST Institute
Jackson Snyder, 1995

Snyder Bible Home
Essays

THE CHRISTIAN HOLISTIC RECOVERY INSTITUTE
for SACRAMENTAL THERAPY
(CHRIST Institute, or "The Recovery Institute"),

Physical Healing

"SacraNatural" Therapy

Most physical and spiritual ailments may be addressed through SacraNatural Therapy.

It is Charismatic, or better, pneumatic: the gifts of the Holy Spirit are utilized in discerning the needs of the counselee in ways consistent with scripture, and long-established ministries such as Christian Healing Ministry of Jacksonville.

It is Naturalistic: God has provided many natural remedies for our ailments. Psalm 103 advises us that it is our Creator's intention to heal all our diseases. Often we look to the instant miracle healing rather than God's natural remedies. In Psalm 104, the writer lists five special gifts that God has provided creation for longevity of life. They are water, herbs, oil, wine, and bread. Christian Holistic Recovery Institute uses blessed derivatives of these gifts to aid in healing, including nutrients, minerals, herbs, oils, fibers for a more natural perspective on God's healing plan, utilizing the most current scientific information available for healing and disease prevention.

It is Sacramental: A sacrament is something done by faith as a means to greater grace from God. A sacrament is not unlike the "sacrifice of praise" that the Psalmist paid to Yahweh in return for his rescue. Sacraments may thus be open, supernatural doors of healing and wholeness. The sacramental use of nutrients in conjunction with anointing, eucharist, prayer, and cleansing are intrinsically dynamic in healing.

SacraNatural Healing is a new, integrated, Christian, and truly holistic approach to recovery that WORKS, often when "traditional western medicine" does not. God has supplied his children with the means for total health and healing, and we may find measures of wholeness and liberty as we look to God's marvelous natural blessings.

"Complementary," Natural Alternative Healing

It is complementary in that the use of nutritional elements complements any other, more intrusive therapies (such as chemotherapy). Alternative (and complementary) therapies now exist for even the most serious illnesses and have been proven to be effective for healing. Yet many new and exciting natural options have not come to public attention due to the economic "powers that be." Through its thousands of hours of personal study and research, The Recovery Institute is able to make information available about the most effective, cutting-edge alternative therapies, and thus may help guide the counselee in making informed choices for healing.

Part and parcel with Complementary Healing is prevention of disease, allergy, and obesity. Dietary counseling may make such a difference in self-esteem as to drastically improve the chances of avoiding psychosomatic illness. Therefore, The Institute also provides:

Nutritional and Dietary Therapy, and Guaranteed Weight Loss.

Significant, rapid, and lasting weight reduction is achieved through a proven therapeutic program of herbs, minerals and vitamins, in accordance with the principles of SacraNatural Healing and the promise of scripture. Significant weight loss and nutritional balance is guaranteed, self-esteem is increased, as is the capacity for personal ministry to others.

Spiritual Healing

Sacramental Worship

The Recovery Institute is (to be) in affiliation with a the local church for cooperation, covering, proximity, and worship. However, The Recovery Institute will conduct separate, daily ecumenical healing service(s) consisting of prayer, anointing, and Eucharist. Quiet places, blessed elements, and liturgical training is offered so that counselees may engage in private healing communions on the premises of The Institute in their own time.

Prophetic Counseling

Prophetic Counseling is designed to "get at the smoldering roots" of psycho/spiritual and moral dilemmas in the course of a minimum of five three-hour sessions. Prophetic counseling may include Healing of Memories, Restoration Ministry, and the Prophetic Word.

Initially developed by Proclaiming His Word, Inc. and like-minded, charismatic-based ministries, Prophetic Counseling helps the counselee to become aware of the unseen causes of his/her distresses, then addressed them through forgiveness, prayer, generational healing, and the breaking of curses and vows. Jesus Christ is invited into each distressing situation or relationship, and it is Jesus who is allowed to do the healing.

Prophetic Counseling helps foster positive belief patterns about self and others. Self-identity is explored, low self-esteem is corrected insofar as possible, and re-identifying one's self with and in Christ Jesus is emphasized.

Prophetic Counseling is especially effective for those suffering from childhood trauma or separation anxiety, depression, dysfunctional family or church relations, spousal abuse, or other difficulties resulting from sexual, interpersonal, or moral complications that hinder the fruitful, abundant life.

Restoration Ministry

Restoration is a modern term for "Deliverance." Evil spiritual entities, oppressions, and impressions are identified and cast out within the course of therapy. Restoration is conducted with quiet authority in a very private setting as per the Dr. MacNutt's paradigm.

Christian Dream Analysis

Dream analysis is a lost gift today among Christians even though it is encouraged in the Bible. Utilizing life history, word and situational associations, and illuminating prayer, dreams are self-analyzed for content, hidden meaning, spiritual significance, and practical purpose. Nightmares are reconstructed for the good, their influence minimized. Sleep is improved through analysis and SacraNatural Therapy. Most dreams may be interpreted (supplied in writing) in 2 - 3 sessions of one hour each.

Relational / Marital / Family Healing

Creation Therapy

is a biblically based model for Christian Counseling developed by Drs. Richard and Phyllis Arno of the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling and practiced by over 3,000 Christian counselors nation-wide. Creation Therapy is based on the belief that each person has a unique temperament given by God to fulfill an individual's ministry on earth. Inter- and intrapersonal conflicts arise when well-meaning people attempt to meet their temperament needs in ungodly ways. Creation Therapy identifies the temperament needs in counselees and helps them meet needs in godly ways, thus eliminating inner stress and fostering peace within themselves, their environment, and with  Jesus.

Imago Awareness Therapy for Married Couples

Each partner will discover his/her inner needs and learn to respond to the needs of the other. Through Imago Awareness exercises, partners are led understand that marriage is not a static state between two unchanging people, but marriage is a

psychological and spiritual journey that begins in the ecstasy of attraction, meanders through a rocky stretch of self-discovery, and culminates in the creation of an intimate, joyful, lifelong union. Whether or not one realizes the full potential of this vision depends not on one's ability to attract the perfect mate, but on one's willingness to acquire knowledge about hidden parts of the self.

In (a minimum of) twelve sessions, the couple will explore ten steps toward a "conscious" marriage that will reveal, in beautiful ways, those hidden parts so that understanding and healing might be experienced.

Adventures in Self-Discovery

Self-esteem Training

Jack Canfield believes that poor self-esteem is at the root of every human problem. Christians too can resonate with this idea, since it is through poor self esteem that we miss experiencing the fullness of God's love and destiny for us. This course, its twelve sessions, creative assignments, and use of subliminal suggestion soon put the counselee on the road to a better relationships with (first) self, then God through Jesus, then others.

Financial Healing

Debt-free and Prosperous Living

Through debunking five seductive myths, living five critical realities, and learning eight powerful secrets, all the counselee's debt (including mortgages) may be eradicated within five years or less. At the same time, a tested investment plan is proposed with the three-fold objectives of financial independence, comfortable retirement and greater investment in God's work.

Financial Opportunities

The Recovery Institute offers career counseling aimed at financial independence and prosperous living. In addition, several opportunities for greater income are explored. The intention of employment and wealth is always to use such things of the world as tools of redemption for the Kingdom.

Educational - Many Opportunities for Training!

Philosophical Foundations

The foundational philosophical documents underpinning The Recovery Institute consist of the Bible as interpreted through the Holy Spirit and set on paper in the various sermons and teachings on healing and wholeness of Jackson Snyder. The extra-biblical documentation is in the process of accumulating, and will be known as A Healing Manifesto.

Denominational / Theological Affiliation

The Institute accepts traditional, orthodox doctrinal standards as set forth in the Apostles' and the Nicene Creeds. As of this writing, the Doctrinal Statement is being drafted to include:

The understanding of God as Trinity.
The inspiration of Holy Scriptures.
The three primary works of grace:

Justification,
Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and
Sanctification.

The so-called "Gifts of the Spirit:

The charismata (graces) of Romans 12.
The pneumatikai (spiritualities) of 1 Cor 12.
The apostolous (apostleships) of Ephesians 4, and
The semeia of Mark 16.

The bodily return of Jesus Christ to rule the earth.
The resurrection of the dead to judgment.
The total healing through restoration of the earth.

Furthermore, The Institute is particularly Wesleyan as it relates to healing through natural and spiritual means. This is in accordance with John Wesley's stance on healing for the masses through inexpensive natural and supernatural means. Currently (July 1997), no denominational affiliation is in place, but may be sought in the future.

Ethical Standards

The Institute accepts and practices the ethical standards set forth by the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling, a copy of which is available on request. 

Financial Accountability

The Institute is financed solely by gifts, fees, commissions and honorariums.

Fees, with the exception of those for the Firo-B Temperament Profile and certain training fees, are negotiable.

Commissions are earned primarily on products (such as nutrients, tapes, books, etc.) used in course of SacraNatural Therapy.

All financial considerations (with the exception of donor or client information) are to be public knowledge, under the guidelines of the ministry that will eventually cover The Recovery Institute.

Ministers of Grace - Jackson & Mignon Snyder

It is hoped that volunteers in each area of therapy will able to be trained as The Recovery Institute progresses, and that a volunteer staff may be maintained. In the meantime, Rev. Jackson Snyder, the author of this prospectus, will do the bulk of the training and ministry.

I (Jackson Snyder) earned two undergraduate degrees (magna cum laude) from Indiana University in the area of General Studies. These were both special and unique degree programs new in the I. U. system which allowed a career person to pick and choose course work meeting personal career goals. My emphasis for the first degree was business, for the second, a new category of learning now known as Physiological Psychology. This subject has much to do with genetics, perception, the mind-body connection, spirituality, and the psychology of illness. Since graduation in 1987, I have continued my personal study in this area through extensive reading, writing, and continuing education opportunities (C.E.U.'s).

In addition, I earned a four-year Master's of Divinity degree (cum laude) from Atlanta's Emory University after having received other theological and pastoral training at Earlham School of Religion (Society of Friends), St. Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary (Roman Catholic), DePauw University (United Methodist) and The University of Biblical Studies (nondenominational).

I also earned a diploma in Financial Counseling from the Institute of Financial Education in Chicago, a diploma in Life Insurance from the Midwest School of Insurance in Indianapolis, and a completion award from the Indiana School of Philanthropy in Fund Raising. I have completed six doctoral hours in Clinical Pastoral Education from Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, and I am 'hoping' toward a Ph.D. in Naturopathy, Divinity, or some related field.

Both Mrs. Snyder and I have had specialized training in Christian Counseling through The National Seminars Group, the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling, Christian Healing Ministries, and via the many and varied workshops we have conducted and attended. We have also undergone extensive counseling in each area above, completed through either our current volunteer ministers or other professional Christian agencies.

I have ministered as a music evangelist, speaker, and pastor with the United Methodist Church since 1978 and am currently an Ordained Deacon with that denomination and serving as a pastor.