Monday, September 24, 2012

A Special Presentation: The Genesis Project

The Genesis Project

As long as you can still breathe, there is HOPE!



I am pleased to re-introduce a very special person and friend, to Everyone’s Story, Tom Blubaugh. Tom, the author of NIGHT OF THE COSSACK, appeared on this blog in April where he received many international viewer hits. Today, Tom is visiting not as an author but rather to share with us a mission that he has committed to: The Genesis Project, a means of reaching out and helping those who are seeking addiction recovery. Tom shares on the Genesis site that he once saw a church sign that said “God accepts you exactly the way you are but He loves you too much to leave you that way.” Truly, a powerful statement! Please join Tom in this exclusive interview where he shares more on his story about the Genesis Project and why it is so dear to his heart.

A Q&A on The Genesis Project:

Please describe what the Genesis Project is and who you hope to reach out to?

The Genesis Project is a ministry to the abused, the addicted  
and the homeless. My purpose is to give them helps and answers in their pain, life and Christian walk. Genesis promotes a new beginning.

What is your personal motivation for beginning this project? And what is your sustaining impetus for carrying it through?

I was raised in a religious home by an alcoholic father and a codependent mother. At age 12, I was sexually molested by a priest. My life became very confusing. I had no respect for authority and became a convicted felon at age 15. My life was a life of performance, low self-esteem, low self-worth and fear. The first born child is normally (whatever that word really means0 a parent-pleaser, the responsible one who obeys the parental standards—not me. I joined the navy after graduating from high school with a D-. If it weren’t for a caring teacher, I wouldn’t have graduated. I was an angry child. I didn’t know this because I didn’t feel angry, but I suppressed all the anger from my emotional pain. I married at age 24 and was divorced 5 years later. We remarried in 1970 and I became a Christian on Dec. 13th of that year.  In the spring of 1971 I went into severe depression and, I know now, I imploded. All the suppressed anger erupted and scared me. I won’t describe the language or thoughts that I projected toward God, but it terrified me. My perception of God wasn’t healthy, but I think I somehow knew it was safe to be angry with Him, on some level, but at the same time I was deathly afraid of Him. Long story short, in May of 1995, I ended up homeless. I went to a homeless men’s shelter and started rebuilding my life. God had His hands on me and was directing me. In 2002, He told me to establish the Genesis website. He told me He would reach millions of people through it, but when I asked Him how, He said, “that is none of your business.”  This is the answer to your first question.

I hang on to Prov. 16:9 and 19:21. I’m a writer. I have written numerous articles about my life experiences and what I’ve learned from them, how they relate to God and I’ve posted them on the Genesis site. I recently moved the site to Wordpress and I’m rewriting these articles to bring them up to date and I’ll be posting them as blog articles on Tuesdays and Saturdays. One of the problems I had was getting any spiritual help with my angry thoughts. Every time I’d ask a Christian, whether it was a lay person or pastor, I get a quick answer. Usually, “that’s normal.” Okay, so why didn’t I hear any messages on the topic? How come no one shared their experience with it? Why didn’t someone sit down with me and say, “this is how I dealt with it.”  I thought that if I was struggling with it and having a hard time finding help, so were others. In 1987 I found out about Adult Children of Alcoholics, a 12 step program, and I found others like me who were suffering and working toward healing. My sustaining impetus for carrying through is my obedience to the Lord and my desire to help others find answers and help.

Do you have both a short-term and long-term goal for the project?

My short-term goal is to revise the site and make it more effective. It is a work in progress and probably always will be. My long term goal is to share as much as I can that will help others on the path develop and strong relationship with Christ, develop strong relationships, understand who their worth in Christ and find peace.

Have you received any feedback or statistical data to determine if the project is on course?

I know the site receives visitors from numerous countries, that most of them are seeking help with resentments and personal peace and that there are some 2,500 unique visitors a month. One in four bookmarks the site. 38% of the visitors are first time visitors and 62% are returning visitors. The USA, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Chine and Russian
Federation are the top five countries to visit this month.

If you were given only 30 seconds or so--or let's say, one sentence--to encourage someone about to reach out for something that inevitably hurts them/their loved ones, what would that be?

There is nothing I can say that will stop a person from taking this action. If they’re an addict and haven’t experienced enough pain from their addiction, my words will fall on ears that don’t want to hear. It may be different if someone comes to me and tells me they are thinking about doing drugs, but it’s highly unlikely this will happen--unless they are being pressured by someone and they are afraid of giving in.
If you have any questions or comments for Tom on The Genesis Project, he'll enjoy hearing from you!





Author Bio: Tom Blubaugh was raised in a small town in southeast KS. He began writing poetry at age fourteen. Tom has written nonfiction writer most of his adult life. He self-published his first book Behind the Scenes of the Bus Ministry in 1974.  Tom wrote articles for denominational and business magazines  from 1975 through 1995. He co-wrote The Great Adventure for Barbour Publishing Co. in 2009. Bound by Faith Publishers published his first fiction Night of the Cossack in April, 2011. In Feb., 2012, Tom was a guest writer in Unschackled by CJ Hitz, Shelley Hitz and Heather Hart. Tom is married to Barbara. They have six children and fourteen grandchildren. Both are retired. Tom has been public speaker for 40 years. He was a self-employed entrepreneur  from1973 to 1995. Tom retired in 2004 and has devoted most of his time to writing and volunteer work.

You can find Tom on the web at:
The Write Trail (Tom's blog)

14 comments:

  1. THanks for bringing Tom in and, to Tom, thanks for sharing your story. While not everyone's story is as dramatic, it amazes me how God allows the bumps in the journey because He knows what He can do with those experiences in our lives later. He knew our story before it happened and the end He has in sight. Thanks Elaine and Tom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debra, very special words you've shared. Thanks so much for your visit today.

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    2. You're welcome, Debra. I appreciate your comments. He has even written a book on each of us according to Psalm 119 (I believe). I'm looking forward to reading mine in heaven.

      Blessings,

      Tom

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  2. Tom and Elaine,

    I commend you both: Tom, for this selfless effort to assist those with problems that affect their quality of life and the lives of those who love them.
    I have already expressed my support for GP on Tom's site when he introduced it, but I am blessed to have the opportunity to do so again on this wonderful blog site. All best with this, Tom, and may our Lord bless and enable it.

    And Elaine, how wonderful it is of you to provide a forum for the announcing of this much-needed project that enhances the lives of so many.

    Blessings,

    KB Schaller, Author

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KB, thank you for your visit and sweet words, but truly the credit goes to Tom. Like the disease of cancer, sadly, I don't believe that not one of us doesn't know anyone who hasn't been touched at one time or another by addiction. And, it's never an individual's problem--family and friends are always impacted too.

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    2. KB,

      Thanks for commenting. I appreciate your support.

      Blessings,

      Tom

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  3. Thank you, Elaine. I greatly appreciate your sharing this post.

    Blessings,

    Tom Blubaugh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom, blogging is the least II can do to help you get the word out on this big and worthwhile project. I pray that it reaches those who will benefit. Thank you for taking on such a mission.

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    2. I'd like to add to that one of the powerful advantages of the Genesis Project is that anyone, anywhere from the world, can tap into its resources to find hope and encouragement, as well as direction as to taking the next steps.

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  4. Thanks for sharing your heart. Our coffee shop ministry, Java Journey, in Hickory, NC works with people in recovery. We find they are often the ones with the least pretense and we love their hearts. I will be sure to refer our leaders to your Genesis site.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teena, thanks so much for visiting Everyone's Story. I'll bring your visit to Tom's attention. I pray that Java Journey http://www.javajourney.org/ continues to succeed in its great mission. God bless.

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    2. Teena,

      Thank you so much for your reply and your referral to your ministry group. I would love to hear about your ministry. You can email be at genesis at tnblu.com.

      Blessings,

      Tom Blubaugh

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  5. Tom, it was a pleasure and honor hosting you on The Genesis Project these past few days. One of the many blessings I've received from this blog is knowing that my special guests and I can reach out to others and offer encouragement, direction, and an uplift. May both you, on a personal level, and your worthwhile Genesis Project, be blessed in multitudes.

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  6. Thank you so much for the blessing, Elaine. It means a lot to me. I greatly appreciate your sharing.

    Blessings,

    Tom

    ReplyDelete

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