I just heard from someone in the fellowship that Mark Houston died yesterday. He went to the hospital with suspected heart problems but actually had a stomach aneurysm and died during surgery.

Those who know him or know of him will know that he was an amazing member of the fellowship, one of the most spiritual people I have ever encountered. I heard him at a convention in London a few years ago and he had a huge impact on my recovery, and that of my sponsor and in turn our sponsees. His experience and practice of spirituality and spiritual principles made me see my own recovery in a whole new light. I know that he has touched many people around the world in a similar way.

For those of you who don't know him, there are many of his talks available on recovery websites like xa-speakers and they are well worth listening to. Love them or hate them they will make you think and change you in some way.

Someone like Mark will live on through the many people he has touched and in turn through the people that they touch. Though we base the membership on principles not personalities there will always be some people that stand out in terms of the impact that they have and the way that they carry the message, Mark I think is one of those people and he will be sadly missed.