Charles and Sharon Burton established the Overcomers Recovery Support Program in
1985 and co-authored the recovery workbook A Daily Choice, Overcoming Life-
controlling Problems in 1989. Their lives illustrate God’s principles of restoration through
victories over alcoholism, abuse, bitterness and a broken marriage.
From 1993 to 1995, the Burtons worked as missionaries in Estonia, where they trained
prison chaplains, taught Overcomers biblical recovery principles to inmates, and trained
Christian volunteers to mentor recovering alcoholics.
Emotional distress caused by childhood sexual abuse led Sharon to hide in alcoholism,
but her personal road of recovery became lessons of victory to support groups around
the world. Ordained to the ministry in 1987, Sharon traveled in prison ministry
throughout the U.S., served on the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Prison
Evangelists, and for 29 years as Executive Director of the Overcomers Recovery
Support program. She developed the certification process for volunteers to facilitate
Overcomers 12-step support groups and organized the filming of the 12-Step Classes
and Leadership Training Program, which led to national and international growth of the
program. She retired as Executive Director of the program in 2015, but continues
supporting Overcomers at her local church in Shreveport, LA, where she is a licensed
minister. Sharon is a gifted motivational speaker who inspires people to remain strong
through adversity and rise from defeat to victory.
Charles Burton’s own struggle with alcoholism until age thirty supplied painful clarity of
how addictions negatively affect families, prompting him to earn his Master of Arts in
addictive disease counseling. His 35 years of counseling experience include positions
as associate and senior pastor, executive director of a 150-bed rehabilitation center for
convicted felons, and personal mentoring of recovering addicts and alcoholics. He is a
sensitive, discerning counselor, and skilled teacher.
Years of front-line experience with alcoholics, addicts, and their families led Charles to
the conclusion that the best way to combat addiction is to imprint children’s minds with
the dangers of addictive substances during their formative years. His book Not Me! It’s a
Trap is an exceptional presentation of colorful images and characters that will give
young readers a clear advantage to respond appropriately when they are tempted to
experiment with drugs.
The Burtons facilitate a weekly Overcomers group at their home church, Life United in
Shreveport, LA, where they serve as counselors for families and individuals affected by
addictions or incarceration.