As a church and followers of Jesus, we are called to serve our community in crisis. Right now our community is deep in the struggle of addiction. The heroin and opioid epidemic is deeply rooted, and most if not all of us know someone affected by it. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. This retreat is meant to equip you and empower you to be a light in the darkness.
Tina Flowers, who lost her 20-year-old son Spenser to an accidental opioid overdose, will join us to share her personal story, as well as provide information on the current state of the addiction crisis in our region. We will also explore more of the science of addiction and how it affects both the person suffering from the disease and all those around them.
Gus DiRenna and Rev. Jay Geisler will share their experience of recovering from and helping others escape addiction. The two work together to provide Serenity Houses to recovering addicts in the Carrick area. They will share more about their ministry to those in recovery, as well as insight into what addicts really need to break free from their addictions.
While church staff and clergy will benefit from this retreat as a practical step toward incorporating recovery ministry, all are welcome to come and gain understanding of this complicated issue. You will leave this workshop aware, educated, and prepared to make a difference.
Tina Flowers, who lost her 20-year-old son Spenser to an accidental opioid overdose, will join us to share her personal story, as well as provide information on the current state of the addiction crisis in our region. We will also explore more of the science of addiction and how it affects both the person suffering from the disease and all those around them.
Gus DiRenna and Rev. Jay Geisler will share their experience of recovering from and helping others escape addiction. The two work together to provide Serenity Houses to recovering addicts in the Carrick area. They will share more about their ministry to those in recovery, as well as insight into what addicts really need to break free from their addictions.
While church staff and clergy will benefit from this retreat as a practical step toward incorporating recovery ministry, all are welcome to come and gain understanding of this complicated issue. You will leave this workshop aware, educated, and prepared to make a difference.
Retreat Leaders
Tina Flowers
Tina is a mom, an attorney and a business executive. Tina and her husband, Chris, have lived in in the North Hills of Pittsburgh for almost 30 years, and they raised their sons, Sam and Spenser, there. Tina’s family have been long-time, active members of St. Paul’s UMC.
Tina has served for 7 years on the Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Organization for Women in Early Recovery, a residential and outpatient treatment program for women in recovery from addiction. More recently, after the overdose death of their 20-year-old son, Spenser, Tina and her family established two funds at the Pittsburgh Foundation: The Spenser Flowers Memorial Scholarship Fund – which grants an annual scholarship to a student who has participated in senior high youth activities at St. Paul’s, and Spenser’s Voice – which makes grants to organizations and agencies working to curb the drug epidemic in young adults. Since inception in March 2017, Spenser’s Voice has made grants exceeding $48,000 to seven different organizations in Western Pennsylvania; each of these organizations is making a difference in addressing the opioid crisis with respect to teens and young adults. Tina serves as principal of both funds. She is passionate about and committed to advocacy and educational efforts to alleviate addiction in our communities. In her leisure time Tina enjoys watching sports (she’s a crazy football fan!), gardening, recreational reading, music, the beach and musical theater. She loves traveling (particularly to Hilton Head Island) and experiencing new restaurants – she’s a foodie at heart! |
The Rev. Canon Dr. Jay Geisler
Canon Jay is a former Pittsburgh steelworker turned priest who spent a decade working at St. Francis Hospital with the incarcerated, the mentally ill and the addicted. Jay has been in recovery for over 25 years and has worked extensively with addicted clergy and their congregations. His wife Jennie is a licensed marriage and family therapist who shares in the addiction and mental health ministry field with “New Life Ministries,” a nationally known counseling ministry.
Canon Jay is one of the region’s foremost experts in addiction and recovery. He co-founded the Oasis Recovery Center to help those seeking recovery from drugs and alcohol. In 2017, he opened a “Serenity House” for women in need of housing within a recovery environment. Recently, he purchased a home, formerly used as a “shooting gallery,” in the struggling neighborhood of Carrick. With help from the Allegheny Recovery Krew (ARK), the home will be renovated and used to provide job training and housing for people in recovery. Canon Jay earned a Doctorate in Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and both a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Biblical Studies (Summa Cum Laudae) from the Roman Catholic Pontifical College Josephinum. Currently, Canon Jay works with seminarians and the newly ordained as a mentor and advocate for priestly formation. |
Gus DiRenna
Gus was raised in the city of Pittsburgh and played sports like so many other young men. He was introduced to alcohol and drugs in junior high, which began a 30-year cycle of addiction and a difficult journey. Despite his addiction, Gus began his own construction business as well as selling drugs. Gus was arrested multiple times but due to a lawyer friend, rarely did time. Eventually, he married a prostitute and had 3 children. Gus wanted to take care of his children, but his continued alcohol and drug use prevented this. His guilt and shame over his inability to take care of his family led to harder drugs such as heroin.
Gus tried multiple times to get “clean” but continually relapsed. He was arrested in 2010 and went to drug court and was ordered into to treatment. This began a remarkable journey which included a detox, a drug rehab and a 3/4 sober house. Gus read the Bible and recovery material and began to serve others in jail. Gus continued to work on himself and after returning to Pittsburgh, he continued his recovery at a small Methodist Church on Route 51 (Fairhaven) and in the basements of other churches in the rooms of the 12 Step Programs for Alcohol and Drugs. Gus now has over 8 years clean and was awarded the David Else Award at the 2018 Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference along with his Pastor and Fairhaven Church. He now leads the ARK (Allegheny Recovery Krew) and helps house and employ over 2 dozen addicts. ARK bought a “crack house” in Carrick and are turning it into a serenity house with the help of other recovering addicts |
Rev. Calvin Cook
Rev. Calvin Cook will serve as the host of this event
Calvin is the pastor at Kane First United Methodist Church and the Disaster Response Coordinator for WPAUMC. |
March 3-5, 2019 |
$200/person |
Event Information
- Pricing includes two-nights stay (hotel style with linens), six meals, and course tuition. Single rooms available at additional cost.
- Register online, print and mail the registration form, or call to register at (814) 945-6512
- 1 Continuing Education Unit available for clergy upon request
