About Newcomers Keep Coming (NKC)

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Our Story: From Vision to Reality

The Beginning – September 2022

The journey of Newcomers Keep Coming began in September 2022, when two sober drunks - two alcoholics whose lives had been transformed through AA - saw a very specific need. They knew from their own experience that the early days and months of sobriety can be overwhelming: emotions all over the place, confusion about what AA really is, and fear about doing this “for the rest of my life.”

Their vision was simple and heartfelt:

Create a consistent starting place for people new to AA - somewhere they could be welcomed, loved, supported, and gently guided toward a new way of living.

They imagined a meeting dedicated to the newcomer, where people in their first seconds, hours, days, weeks, months, and years of recovery could hear clear explanations of AA, find sponsorship, and connect with others walking the same path.

In the weeks and months following a few more trusted AA members joined the two founders, making us a team and small community.

Launch – December 19th, 2022 (Just in Time for Christmas 2022)

After months of planning and building, the first NKC meeting took place on December 19th, 2022 - just in time for Christmas.

That timing mattered. The holiday season can be a high-risk time for people suffering with alcoholism:

• Loneliness and isolation
• Family tension and conflict
• Grief and loss
• Financial stress
• The old belief that “a drink will fix it”

NKC came to life to be a safe place to land when the pressure is on - a recovery community where newcomers could show up exactly as they are and be met with love and understanding instead of judgment.

In the months following that first meeting, a many more trusted AA members joined the two founders and team to help stabilize and grow what had started. There was no big launch and no perfect strategy - just willingness, service, and love, plus a shared belief that the newcomer deserves a handrail.

Since then, NKC has grown into a vibrant, active online meeting that has helped hundreds reach hundreds reach hundreds on their journey to recover - one alcoholic helping another, who helps another, and so on.

What NKC Is (and What It Isn’t)

What NKC Is

NKC is a peer-led, newcomer-focused support community grounded in AA principles. It is built by sober alcoholics for alcoholics who want help.

At NKC, you will find:

• Experience, strength, and hope shared honestly
• A focus on meetings, sponsorship, the 12 steps, service, and spiritual growth (yes not religious)
• Clear, practical guidance on how AA recovery actually works in real life
• A welcoming and safe environment where newcomers can ask basic questions without feeling foolish
• A bridge/stepping stone into local and global AA, not a replacement for it

Spiritual growth is discussed in inclusive language: God, or the Higher Power of your understanding. You do not need any particular belief to start. A willingness to be honest and to try something new is enough.

NKC is designed especially for:

• People brand new to Alcoholics Anonymous
• People searching for online AA meetings due to geography, work, anxiety, childcare, or mobility
• People returning after relapse who need a safe re-entry
• People who are sober but feel disconnected and want to rebuild their foundation
• People looking for AA sponsorship and a practical start on the 12 steps

Over time, NKC has supported many hundreds of thousands of newcomers and returning members through meetings, shared experience, and newcomer-focused guidance. Some stayed from Day 0. Some came back after slips. Some found a local home group. Some built a global sober network. The point is not to do it perfectly; the point is to stay connected long enough for the miracle to show up.

What NKC Isn’t

NKC is not:

• Medical care, detox, therapy, or professional treatment
• A substitute for urgent medical or mental health help
• An official voice for Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole

If you are in a health crisis or experiencing dangerous withdrawal symptoms, you should seek urgent local help immediately (ER/911 in the US/Canada, A&E/999 in the UK or equivalent in your country). AA and NKC work best alongside appropriate professional help when it is needed.

In line with AA’s Traditions, NKC does not speak for AA. We are an AA-based community that points people toward Alcoholics Anonymous - your local meetings, your home group, and the wider fellowship - because unity and connection save lives.

Why “Newcomers Keep Coming” Exists

Alcoholism isolates. It tells us:

• “You’re alone.”
• “You’re different.”
• “You’re beyond help.”
• Or, just as dangerously, “You’re not that bad.”

Many of us tried to manage our drinking:

• Switching types of alcohol
• Setting rules and limits
• Taking breaks
• White-knuckling it
• Hiding bottles
• Bargaining and making promises

Most of us found the same result: we couldn’t stay stopped on self-will alone.

NKC exists because we have seen what happens when a newcomer is met with:

• A warm welcome and love instead of judgment
• Clarity instead of confusion
• Simple next steps instead of overwhelm
• A sponsor and a Step path instead of isolation
• Consistency instead of chaos

And yes - the wording is correct. In AA, there is a classic phrase about learning to “trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.” It does not mean life becomes perfect. It means we learn to walk forward - sometimes slowly, sometimes awkwardly - but with hope, dignity, and a growing sense of purpose.

What You’ll Find at NKC Meetings

When people search for phrases like “AA help near me,” “how to get sober,” “alcoholism recovery,” “I can’t stop drinking,” or “online AA meeting today,” they are often looking for what NKC offers.

1. A Newcomer-First Welcome

NKC is intentionally designed as a newcomer-first space. That means:

• We do not assume you know the language, steps, or culture of AA
• We explain what AA is, how meetings work, and what next right actions might look like
• You will not be judged for how you drank, how you feel, or how many times you have tried to get sober

Many of us arrived broken, scared, or numb - and found strength later. You do not have to arrive strong.

2. A Focus on AA Basics (That Actually Work)

NKC constantly points back to the fundamentals of AA recovery:

• Don’t drink just today
• Go to meetings
• Get phone numbers and use them
• Get a sponsor
• Start and continue the 12 steps
• Be of service in small, simple ways

It is simple, not easy. But it is absolutely doable - especially when done together, not alone.

3. Sponsorship and Step Support

AA sponsorship is a practical way to not do recovery alone. A sponsor does not “fix” you; they share their own experience of working the steps and guide you through them.

NKC helps newcomers:

• Understand what sponsorship is and isn’t
• Connect with potential sponsors
• Take action to begin working the steps

If you want help finding a sponsor, visit the NKC sponsor page:

Sponsor Support:
www.newcomerskeepcoming.org/sponsor

Complete the form there for more support in finding a sponsor and getting started.

4. A Bridge into the Wider AA Fellowship

NKC is not meant to replace local AA meetings or become your entire recovery world. It is meant to be:

• A starting place that feels safe and clear
• A bridge into the wider AA fellowship - local meetings, home groups, in-person connection, and service

The goal is for you to find your own place in AA - both online and offline - so that your sobriety is supported from multiple directions.

How Our Meetings Work

Newcomers Keep Coming follows AA’s Traditions while tailoring the experience to those who are new to recovery.

A typical NKC meeting may include:

• A warm welcome for anyone attending their first meeting or returning to AA
• Simple explanations of AA principles and the 12 steps in accessible language
• Member shares, where recovered and recovering alcoholics tell their stories of what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now
• Time for questions, so newcomers can ask about anything confusing or scary
• Space to meet other newcomers and members, exchange phone numbers, and build a support network
• Informal fellowship before and/or after the meeting, where people can chat and connect further

All NKC meetings are confidential. What is shared in NKC stays in NKC. This confidentiality helps people feel safe enough to be honest - which is the foundation of genuine recovery.

Who NKC Helps: Different Stages, One Fellowship

If You Are Newly Sober

You may feel:

• Scared, relieved, angry, hopeful, ashamed - often all at once
• Unsure who you are without alcohol
• Worried about whether sobriety can actually last

At NKC, you will meet people who were exactly where you are. You will learn that your feelings are normal and that there is a way through this. You will be supported in finding a sponsor and shown practical tools for the first days and weeks.

If You Have a Few Months

You might be struggling with:

• Rebuilding your identity and daily routine
• Repairing damaged relationships
• Handling triggers, cravings, and emotional ups and downs
• Understanding how the steps apply to your real life

At NKC, you will see others slightly ahead of you on the path. Their experience brings hope, direction, and reassurance that you are not alone and you are not doing it wrong.

If You Are in Your First Year

First-year sobriety is transformative and challenging. You may be rebuilding work, family, finances, and self-respect, all while staying sober.

NKC provides:

• Ongoing connection and accountability
• A reminder of why you started
• Encouragement to keep going through the harder stretches
• Support in building a solid AA foundation - meetings, steps, service, and fellowship

If You Are Returning to AA

Maybe you’ve tried AA before and drifted away. Maybe you relapsed and feel ashamed. Maybe you’re starting over.

There is no judgment at NKC. Many of our most dedicated members came back to AA multiple times before their sobriety stuck. You are welcome here - today, as you are.

Core Principles and Values

NKC is rooted firmly in Alcoholics Anonymous. We follow:

• The 12 steps
• The 12 traditions
• AA’s primary purpose: to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety

NKC does not affiliate with outside organizations, does not endorse or oppose outside issues, and does not offer professional services. Our single purpose is supporting recovery from alcoholism through AA’s program of action.

Our values include:

• Love and Acceptance – We welcome newcomers as they are: broken, afraid, hopeful, confused, or unsure. Recovery begins when a person feels genuinely accepted.
• Honesty and Authenticity – We share our real stories, including the messy parts. This honesty gives newcomers permission to be honest too.
• Service and Selflessness – Many of us live by principles like “Love God/Higher Power, clean house, and help others” in our own understanding. Service to the newcomer is not a burden; it is a privilege that strengthens our own sobriety.
• Equality and Humility – In AA, sponsor and newcomer meet as equals. Time sober matters, but no one is “better” than anyone else. We are just different people at different stages.
• Spiritual Growth – Recovery is more than just not drinking. It involves emotional, mental, and spiritual change. Each person is free to find a Higher Power of their own understanding.
• Unity – No one recovers alone. Our common welfare comes first. We create a community where newcomers belong from Day One, diversity is welcomed, and connection - to NKC and the wider AA fellowship - is essential to lasting sobriety. 

The AA Program: How Recovery Works

Alcoholics Anonymous addresses three intertwined aspects of alcoholism:

• Physical – Alcoholism includes a physical addiction. Stopping drinking allows the body to begin healing and removes the immediate physical craving.
• Mental – Alcoholism involves distorted thinking: denial, obsession, and powerful rationalizations. The 12 steps, taken with a sponsor, help clear away these distortions and build sane, healthy thinking.
• Spiritual – Many of us arrived spiritually empty, fearful, or hopeless. The AA program offers a spiritual awakening - however you understand it - that brings meaning, connection, and purpose.

The 12 steps, combined with fellowship, sponsorship, and service, form a proven pathway to lasting recovery for many alcoholics around the world. NKC exists to help newcomers find their footing on that path.

Our Community and Impact

Newcomers Keep Coming is run entirely by recovering and recovered alcoholics - volunteers who give their time, energy, and experience to support the newcomer.

Our “we” includes:

• The founders – two sober drunks who saw a need and responded
• The early volunteers – members who helped anchor and grow NKC in those first crucial months
• The current community – people at all stages of sobriety, from days to decades, committed to helping newcomers
• The sponsors and mentors – experienced AA members who guide newcomers through the steps
• You – if you are seeking help with alcoholism or looking to support others, you are part of this “we” the moment you walk in

Since December 2022, NKC has grown from a single meeting to a thriving online community. Through NKC, hundreds have reached hundreds, who reach others in turn. That is the AA way: one alcoholic helping another.

Join the Daily NKC Zoom Meeting

If you are looking for an AA meeting online today, NKC is a simple place to begin.

Daily Zoom Meeting:
http://zoom.nkc.life

Zoom Meeting ID: 365 121 2424
Passcode: 365

More details about the meeting can be found here Schedule

Whether you are on Day 0 or Day 10,000 - whether you are confident or terrified - you are welcome to come exactly as you are.

Contact and Further Information

Website:
www.newcomerskeepcoming.org or our shortened version www.nkc.life

NKC meetings are part of the broader Alcoholics Anonymous community. For more information about AA, the 12 steps, sponsorship, or to find additional meetings in your area, you can also visit:

• Alcoholics Anonymous World Services: www.aa.org

In Closing

Recovery from alcoholism is not easy, but it is real. It can restore lives, heal relationships, and bring back hope and purpose. Newcomers Keep Coming exists because many of us have experienced that transformation - and we want to share it with you.

You do not have to do this alone.

You do not have to be perfect or have everything figured out.

You only need a willingness to try something different.

Newcomers Keep Coming is here to help you trudge the happy road of destiny, one day at a time, surrounded by people who understand.

“One alcoholic helping another is the heart of Alcoholics Anonymous.”

With love and gratitude, 

The NKC Team 🫶💖