Celebrate Recovery

[Kevin Rector]

How many of you have first hand knowledge of Celebrate Recovery? Do you have one in your local congregation?

What is the gist of it?
What is involved in getting a group going?
If you've got one in your church how has it impacted the congregation?
Is it expected that the leader(s) have come from a life of addiction?

Etc. and any other information you might have about it.

Also, do you know of any other Christ centered recovery programs to compare or contrast it with?

[Jon Twitchell]

How many of you have first hand knowledge of Celebrate Recovery? Do you have one in your local congregation?

What is the gist of it?
What is involved in getting a group going?
If you've got one in your church how has it impacted the congregation?
Is it expected that the leader(s) have come from a life of addiction?

Etc. and any other information you might have about it.

Also, do you know of any other Christ centered recovery programs to compare or contrast it with?

Kevin... I don't have first-hand knowledge, but I know that one of our sister churches not far from us have done that. If you'd like, I'll try to find someone from there who would be willing to talk/email with you about their experiences.

[Kevin Rector]

Kevin... I don't have first-hand knowledge, but I know that one of our sister churches not far from us have done that. If you'd like, I'll try to find someone from there who would be willing to talk/email with you about their experiences.

Thanks, that would be great. I've contacted the "state rep" for Celebrate Recovery. Seems to me that recovery ministries get at the heart of the gospel as we learn to remove those barriers and defense mechanism that we use in place of grace.

The main problem is that I'm a bit cautious about starting a recovery ministry with no training or first hand knowledge of how it works. Celebrate Recovery seems to be a good program in that it's essence is that whatever the addiction, habit, or hang up is, the answer to it is found in Christ and turning our lives over to him. Here's a quote from the founder in his testimony (it rather sounds like entire sanctification to me):

For me, completing Principle 5 meant three things: (1) I allowed God to transform my mind—its nature, its condition, its identity; (2) I learned to rejoice in steady progress—patient improvement that allowed others to see the changes in me that I could not see; (3) God rebuilt my self-worth based on His love for me rather than always trying to measure up to the world’s standards.

The more I read about it, the more I'm liking it. So I am trying to research if this ministry might be a good fit for our congregation (there is no celebrate recovery in our town).

[Bob Evans]

Kevin

I have to run but I send my cleint load to one on Friday nights. I can hook you up with the director of that church. He is sl full of enthusium that he might come and talk to you. More Tomorrow

Bob

[Jon Twitchell]

I've sent an email out... I'll let you know if/what I hear back.

[Todd Newsom]

Thanks, that would be great. I've contacted the "state rep" for Celebrate Recovery. Seems to me that recovery ministries get at the heart of the gospel as we learn to remove those barriers and defense mechanism that we use in place of grace.

The main problem is that I'm a bit cautious about starting a recovery ministry with no training or first hand knowledge of how it works. Celebrate Recovery seems to be a good program in that it's essence is that whatever the addiction, habit, or hang up is, the answer to it is found in Christ and turning our lives over to him. Here's a quote from the founder in his testimony (it rather sounds like entire sanctification to me):



The more I read about it, the more I'm liking it. So I am trying to research if this ministry might be a good fit for our congregation (there is no celebrate recovery in our town).
Amen to that. I was teaching membership class last week and had a prospective member say, "It seems like most churches want to tell us not to have sex before marriage or not become homosexuals, but very rarely do anything beyond that."

Programs, I should say Ministries, like Celebrate Recovery are where the rubber meets the road. The Church needs to keep preaching against sin, but must provide ministries that enables our people to move forward in obedience.

[Kevin Rector]

Amen to that. I was teaching membership class last week and had a prospective member say, "It seems like most churches want to tell us not to have sex before marriage or not become homosexuals, but very rarely do anything beyond that."

Programs, I should say Ministries, like Celebrate Recovery are where the rubber meets the road. The Church needs to keep preaching against sin, but must provide ministries that enables our people to move forward in obedience.

Hey, welcome to Naznet Todd. I don't think I've ever started a thread before that involved someone's first post. You might want to post a new thread where you introduce yourself to the crowd. There's a good bunch of folks here.

[David Showalter]

Kevin we had an active Celebrate Recovery in our ministry for over two years. My secretary headed it up, she was excellent in this role. It seems that lots/most addicts seem to relate a bit better to a former addict. I have nothing but positive things to say about CR, if you'd like I can put you in contact with my secretary, she has since moved to the Lake of the Ozarks, and just started a group there a few weeks ago.

[David Showalter]

Kevin forgot to say we had several "success" stories from our ministry. One mom who was a professional nurse, who had been strung-out for a couple years is now back at home with husband and children and is actively involved in ministry in our fellowship. Other positive results as well, but some sad defeats also.

[Kevin Rector]

Thanks to everyone that offered to connect me with someone that has used Celebrate Recovery. I'm pretty sure that I'll be ordering the kit tomorrow or soon thereafter.

[Kevin Rector]

In my last post I forgot to mention that I would still love connections with people who are doing it or have done it.

[David Showalter]

Kevin, I'll email you Sherry's email address, she said she would be happy to share information with you. David

[Curt Crawford]

Kevin,

Our Nazarene church in Frisco, TX has been offering Celebrate Recovery for less than a year but we have recently been certified by the organization and we are listed on their web site for North Texas groups.

If you'd like more information I can connect you to our Celebrate Recovery ministry leader.

Curt

[Hans Deventer]

Hi Curt! Welcome to NazNet! Good to "see" you here. I still remember the good time I had at your place. It was very good to meet you.

[Curt Crawford]

Thanks. That was a fun visit a few years ago. You wouldn't hardly recognize Frisco this week. On Monday night we got about 3 inches of snow (melted quick on Tuesday with a high of 60) and then tonight areas in North Texas are getting 4-8 inches. Kids love it!

I'm getting the pictures since I'm in the Washington, DC area right now. Warmer than Dallas!

Love,
Curt

[Meghan Schoonover]

I have firsthand knowledge. It is no longer happening at our church, for a variety of reasons. If you're interested in contacting my associate pastor who was in charge of it, send me a PM and I'll get you her email.

[Roy Richardson]

In my last post I forgot to mention that I would still love connections with people who are doing it or have done it.

Kevin,

A church (http://www.monroenaz.com) I used to attend has a program, and it has its value. They expanded beyond the addict portion into the codependency class, and that seemed helpful. At one point the Salvation Army Harbor Light center was busing people to the Wednesday meetings.

If you use their search box, you can find a contact person. I've been gone a few years, so I'm not sure who is leading it now.

[Bill Evans]

I have had many good reports about Celebrate Recovery from client feedback when I was a substance abuse counselor. I am certainly more comfortable with the theology behind CR than I am with the theology behind AA. I spoke with the director where many of my clients had attended who indicated that they encountered a dilemma one evening when a known transgendered individual came in. The dilemma was in deciding which gender based group to place him.

[Kevin Rector]

Thanks for the input everyone. I've gotten the materials in the mail and I'm going to be reading through it and praying over it before we start anything. One of my issues is that we are going to have to dramatically alter it from the recommendations. We don't have nearly enough people to pull it off the way it's recommended. I didn't realize that it involved having a worship service. I have a hard enough time putting together of coherent Sunday morning service.