What is Celebrate Recovery?
Celebrate Recovery is a ministry designed to help hurting people. It is made up of regular folks like you and me, who are on a journey toward wholeness; seeking recovery from and celebrating God’s healing of life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups. Trained leaders provide safe, confidential, Christ-centered groups where people can grow. They offer their stories as fellow travelers on the journey to healing. At Celebrate Recovery we believe that change is possible by the power of Jesus through this Biblical program.
Is Celebrate Recovery for YOU?
Celebrate Recovery is for anyone with the courage to be honest about life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups and is willing to open their life to healing and change. We believe in walking through the pain of this life together as we follow Christ, not telling people how or where they should walk. We are all still recovering from hurt and pain, our current or past addictions are no longer hidden but are now front and center, and you will probably easily identify the hang-ups in each of us. However, you will also identify the most authentic, transparent, genuine, and compassionate people anywhere.
Thankfully, our identity is not found in our weaknesses or struggles, but is found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Celebrate Recovery is a recovery ministry based on biblical principles with a goal to let God work through us in providing His healing power. This allows people to be “changed” spiritually by working through sound biblical principles. Participants open the door by sharing their experiences, strengths, and hopes with one another. In addition, they become willing to accept God’s grace and forgiveness in solving life’s problems.
Celebrate Recovery provides a safe place for individuals to begin their journey of breaking out of bondage and into God’s grace by helping them to start dealing with their life’s hurts, hang-ups, and habits.
About the Meetings
Change is hard, and sometimes the hardest part is taking the first step. Congratulations on your first step toward recovery! Just by reading this, you have taken a step towards positive change in your life. No one is perfect, and that includes everyone in attendance at Celebrate Recovery– leaders, speakers, musicians, and attendees. We all have things we need to work on and obtain freedom from. No one will try to fix you or tell you how you should be living your life. We will accept you as you are and encourage you as you travel the road to recovery on your own terms.
Below, I’ve outlined the meetings as they are run at my church. I attend Peninsula Grace Brethren Church in Soldotna, Alaska. (www.peninsulagrace.org) Keep in mind that every church or organization will run their meetings a bit differently, but hopefully this will give you a basic idea of what you can expect at a meeting.
Signing In Most meetings have a sign in sheet by the door, where you are asked to write your name and phone number. If you’re unfamiliar with this process, it might seem strange at first. The sign in sheet is used to keep track of attendance and contact information of attendees. If you’re not comfortable giving your phone number at first, leave it blank and just write your first name. As you get to know the program and the people involved, you will likely feel more comfortable writing down more detailed information about yourself.
Introductions Many Celebrate Recovery meetings use a traditional introduction when introducing themselves. It often sounds similar to something like… Hi, my name is ________ and I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, and I struggle with ________________. If you’re not comfortable introducing yourself in this way, that is totally fine. Simply say Hi, my name is _________, and I’m new to Celebrate Recovery. We have all been newcomers to the program and can relate to the anxiety or uncertainty you may be feeling in a strange environment.
Large Group Time We begin our meetings as one large group with worship and reading of the 12 steps and 8 principles. Then, we will either listen to a personal testimony or a lesson about one of the 12 steps. Don’t worry if the step we are learning about isn’t the one you are on– you will get there eventually. We are all at different points in our recovery. Typically, our large-group lessons progress through the 12 steps, then start over at step one.
Small Group Time After our large-group time, we will split into smaller groups. For now, we have a men’s group and a women’s group. As our attendance grows, we may split these groups into smaller ones so that everyone gets a chance to share what is on their hearts. During this time, we will recognize anyone who has received a new chip for recovery. You may choose to receive a chip and not share with the group, but we strongly suggest you share your commitment and success with the group. Not only is it freeing to share your journey, but it encourages others.
Sharing topics in the small groups tend to focus on the current lesson we are on in our large-group teaching time. If you aren’t on that particular step, don’t stress about it! You will still be able to answer the questions and participate in discussion. Sometimes the small group leaders will guide the group in an open-share, which simply means that attendees have a chance to share whatever is on their hearts. It is a good idea to get in the habit of saying thanks for listening, or some other verbal cue to communicate to others when you are finished speaking to avoid an awkward pause or prevent someone from interrupting you because they thought you were done speaking.
Often before sharing in the small group, the Celebrate Recovery small group guidelines will be read. These guidelines serve as a reminder for everyone on a weekly basis. To ensure that Celebrate Recovery is a safe place, the following five guidelines are followed in all small groups: 1. Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings. Limit your sharing to three to five minutes. 2. There is NO cross talk. Cross talk is when two individuals engage in conversation excluding all others. Each person is free to express his or her feelings without interruptions. 3. We are here to support one another, not “fix” another. 4. Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others. 5. Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.
Rest assured that whatever you share will stay within the group. We are here to encourage, not judge or condemn.
Chips
The Bible patriarchs created small markers from stone to serve as reminders of God’s intervention in their lives. In recovery we use chips to commemorate milestones as well. Each chip marks a set of time and progress in the program. They are something tangible that can be a source of encouragement and/or motivation. This chip dialog reminds us we are not just “doing time” in recovery, but we are making progress in the journey!
The first chip is the most important. It is Blue. The blue color signifies that the ‘sky’s the limit’ for all who wish to join us. There are four ways a person can receive a blue chip. (1) If you’ve identified a new area in your life, a character defect, that you would like to surrender to Christ. (2) If you have relapsed and are now getting back on the path to Celebrate Recovery. (3) If you have 29 days or less of clean time good time and or (4) If your are at Celebrate Recovery for the very first time. For each month after receiving your blue chip, there is an additional chip you may receive. Keep them close to your heart as a reminder of the progress that you have made.
Participant Guides
As you commit to Celebrate Recovery and begin to work the 12 steps, you will likely want a participant guide. These participant guides contain questions and information that will help you down your road to recovery. (They are also where many of the small group discussion questions are found) There are 4 participant guides, which contain 3 steps each.
Making Connections
As you attend Celebrate Recovery, we hope you will make connections with others. As you work through the first couple of steps, you may want to begin thinking about who you could ask to be your Sponsor or Accountability Partner. This process is explained in your participant guide in detail. In addition, some attendees form step-study groups that meet outside of regular Celebrate Recovery meetings. A step-study group is typically 3-4 individuals who are working on the same steps and want to share their journey in a more intimate setting.
Fellowship
Many Celebrate Recovery meetings begin or end with snacks or a meal. During the school year, our church has a meal before the meeting that attendees are welcome to participate in. During the summer months, we have coffee and cookies instead. Take advantage of opportunities like these to get to know the people in your meetings. It is a great way to find support and compassion, and might lead to a future Accountability Partner or Sponsor.
Child Care
Celebrate Recovery meetings often have child care available. It is always best to contact the church or contact person ahead of time to get the specifics regarding the child care that is available. During the school year, our Celebrate Recovery meetings occur during the same times as children and youth classes. In the summer months we have a reliable, background-screened adult who is willing to watch the children for us. Remember that child care is a privilege and most often provided by volunteers, so be sure to thank them and be courteous of their time and efforts.
More Information
For more information about Celebrate Recovery, check out their website at www.celebraterecovery.com.
