Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-Centered Recovery program based on the Beatitudes. Founded and written by Pastors Rick Warren and John Baker of Saddleback Church, Celebrate Recovery is being used in over 3,500 churches nationwide and internationally. It's purpose is to celebrate Gods healing power through applying the 12 steps and the 8 principles to our lives. By doing so we begin to grow spiritually and are able to become free from lifes hurts, hang-ups and habits.
By working and applying these Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from our addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy, and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others.
You may be thinking that recovery is just for those with alcohol or drug problems. Only about one-third of the people attending Celebrate Recovery are dealing with chemical dependencies. As Pastor Rick Warren says, “We all have sinned, we’ve all fallen short, we’ve all been hurt, and we’ve all hurt others. Everybody needs recovery.” All of life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups are addressed through this one curriculum.
How it Works In order to gain the full benefits of Celebrate Recovery, participants are encouraged to attend Large Group, Open Share Groups and participate in a Step Study group on another night or day of the week. In Large Group we hear teachings on the 8 principles and the 12 Christ-Centered Steps and personal testimonies of changed lives. Open Share groups provide an opportunity to share recovery specific issues while step study groups provide an opportunity to thoroughly work the steps in a group setting rather than alone.
Celebrate Recovery Open Share Groups CAN:
- Provide you a safe place to share your experiences, strengths, and hopes with others that are also going through a Christ-Centered Recovery.
- Provide you with a leader who has gone through a similar hurt, hang-up or habit and who will facilitate the group as it focuses on a particular Step each week. The leader will also follow Celebrate Recovery’s “Small Group Guidelines,” listed below.
- Provide you with the opportunity to find an Accountability Partner or a Sponsor.
- Encourage you to attend other recovery meetings held throughout the week.
Celebrate Recovery Open Share Groups Will NOT:
- Attempt to offer any professional advice. Our leaders are not counselors. At your request, we can provide you with a list of approved counseling referrals.
- Allow its members to attempt to “fix” one another.
SMALL GROUP GUIDELINES
These guidelines are designed to provide a safe and productive meeting for everyone in both Open Share Groups and Step Study Groups. Everyone must honor these guidelines throughout the meetings.
- Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts, feelings, and the workbook questions. Please limit your sharing to 3-5 minutes.
- There is NO cross talk please. Cross talk is when two people engage in a dialogue during the meeting. Each person is free to express feelings without interruptions.
- We are here to support one another. We will not attempt to “fix” another.
- Anonymity and Confidentiality are basic requirements. What’s shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
-Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group, including no graphic descriptions.
