Help for Grieving, Addiction and Other Problems
Celebrate Recovery Helps People Struggling With Addictions, Grief
Sep 24, 2009
Celebrate Recovery holds group meetings throughout the United States in every state and in hundreds of cities. Celebrate Recovery programs are also meeting in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom and Taiwan.
"I have been attending Celebrate Recovery for over a year now, and I have sought help for codependency and debt”, said one participant. “I also completed the Step Study, where I learned the twelve steps and the eight recovery principles in depth, and it has truly changed my life and brought restoration to my marriage. The genuine, authentic relationships I have developed with others who are on the road to recovery are a constant support to me. I recommend Celebrate Recovery for anyone who is struggling with a hurt, habit or hang-up. You are not alone, and there is hope."
What is Celebrate Recover?
Celebrate Recovery is typically held at a church and they meet on a weekly basis. Some sites have a meal before and most provide childcare.
The first hour is a time of worship through music and then lessons or testimonies. The testimonies are given by people within the group or people from other Celebrate Recovery groups every other week. Each person who finishes the 12 Step/ 8 Principles study is asked to write down and record his/her testimony.
On the opposite weeks, a lesson is presented. The lessons are based on the steps and principles of Celebrate Recovery. The second hour is a time of small groups. The groups are divided by gender.
“It would not be appropriate or desirable for men and women to meet together when we are discussing sensitive topics,” said Christa Rowland, assistant director of Celebrate Recovery ministry at Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene.
In larger Celebrate Recovery programs, the groups are also divided by topics, such as chemical dependency, sexual addictions or divorce. Smaller Celebrate Recovery programs have a ladies’ mixed issues group, a men’s mixed issues group and a group for newcomers, which is for first-time visitors.
During small group meetings, a focus question relating to the lesson taught earlier is discussed or the group talks about the testimonials that were presented. There is also a time where group members have a chance to discuss their own struggles and experiences from the week in relation to their recovery.
The café follows the small group time where everyone then comes together for coffee and dessert. It is a time to talk and build relationships. This is also a time to find accountability partners and sponsors, which is part of the program.
12 Steps and 8 Principles of Celebrate Recovery
The steps and principles of Celebrate Recovery are taught during the lesson portion of the large group, but participants are also encouraged to join a step studies class, which is provided on a different day. Step studies participants are divided into small groups that are gender-specific.
“It is a rigorous, 25-week program where you really examine your life and work the steps, but it is totally worth it,” Rowland said, adding, “We try to encourage all Celebrate Recovery attendees to do the studies eventually, as it is really the meat and potatoes of recovery. You can find more information on step studies at the Celebrate Recovery website.”
How Celebrate Recovery Began
The twelve step healing program was created by John Baker who was an alcoholic and is now a pastor on staff at Saddleback Church in California.
In Baker’s testimony, he states that, “the vision God gave me was to create a safe place that was not only alcoholics could go to for support. But a place for codependents, people with eating disorders, those struggling with sexual addictions, anger, those dealing with past or current physical or sexual abuse issues, those in need of financial recovery and many more groups. In short, anyone dealing with any kind of hurt, hang-up or habit.”
The steps are based off of the lessons Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. The principles can be found online after Baker’s testimony.
The program has been made into a kit that churches can purchase to begin the program within their own congregation.
“Absolutely everyone is welcome at Celebrate Recovery, because everyone has some sort of hurt, habit or hang-up,” Rowland said. “Celebrate Recovery addresses everything from anger issues to grief and past hurts to outright addictions, so I think this program can benefit everyone. Coming to CR is like coming home to a safe place; there is no judgment or condemnation, and you can come every week and build authentic relationships and learn to be honest with God, yourself and others."
A list of the different meeting locations can be found on the Celebrate Recovery website a CelebrateRecovery.com, along with the times and day of the week they meet.
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