Celebrate Recovery

John Baker, a believer who struggles with alcoholism, found help through Alcoholics Anonymous and began healing. He found emptiness at AA because he could not refer to his personal Higher Power, Jesus Christ. He presented a plan to start a Christian 12 Step Recovery program to his pastor, Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in California. Pastor Rick said, “Do it!” John did and Celebrate Recovery was born.

Celebrate Recovery offers a person the opportunity to participate in a group fellowship where love and hope combine with God’s purpose to mend our lives. Ask yourself:

• Are there things in my life that I do that hurt others?
• Is there something I wish I could live without?
• Is it time to crack my denial and admit I am not in control of my life?
• Do I have a painful habit or hang-up from which I need to be freed?

If you answered “yes” to any of these statements then we urge you to attend a Celebrate Recovery meeting to see if it is for you.

In physical health recovery refers to the process of moving from illness to wellness. Our hurts, habits and hang-ups are like an illness and using the tools of Celebrate Recovery we begin to move toward wholeness. Some might say from bondage to freedom in Christ. Others might say from self-reliance to faith in Christ.

At Celebrate Recovery our Higher Power is Jesus Christ and the Word of God is our authority. Our Step Study guidebooks refer to scripture references for instruction. Every Monday we begin by worshiping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ through music and prayer.

While most 12 Step groups are not Christian, you will find that many Christians are participants. Most meetings are also focused on specific issues and you will find fellow strugglers that have experience dealing with your issue. They can be very helpful.

The leaders of Celebrate Recovery at The Heights Baptist Church are men and women who have gone through similar addictions, hurts, hang-ups and harmful behaviors and have been through this or a similar recovery program. The leaders are not counselors and do not offer any professional clinical advice. If professional advice is required, referrals may be made.

A wide variety of hurts, hang-ups and harmful behaviors are represented at Celebrate Recovery. Examples include dependency on alcohol or drugs, pornography, low self-esteem, need to control, depression, anger, co-dependency, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, perfectionism, broken relationships, and abuse.

How long does Celebrate Recovery last?
CR family dinner is from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. and is a great way to get to know others struggling with the same issues you have. Large group is at 7:00 p.m. and lasts one hour. It includes Worship, teaching and a testimony every other week. Open share groups follow for up to 1 hour. Groups are gender specific. Step Studies are offered as well on a different night of the week. A Step Study is a long-term commitment to the members of the group. It will typically take six to twelve months to complete the study. The groups meet weekly for 2 hours.

Yes, childcare is provided. Be sure to check with a CR leader for more detailed information on childcare times and procedures.

You are welcome to come when you can for worship, Large Group and Open Groups. However if you join a Step Study, you are expected to come each week until you complete it. As with any endeavor, the more effort you put into Celebrate Recovery, the more benefit you will gain.

No, Celebrate Recovery is a ministry outreach for anyone who is interested in a Christ centered recovery program that will enable them to recover from life’s hurts, hang-ups habits and addictions. Many attendees are not members of any church but it is encouraged to be a part of a local fellowship.

We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity – what you hear and who you see at Celebrate Recovery stays here. The rules protect all of us from judgment and being “fixed”. In a “safe place” you can take off your “mask” and be real and honest without fear. You are 100% in control of when and how much you participate.

Absolutely nothing ………. until you are ready. You can pass anytime you wish and for as long as it takes for you to become comfortable.

We all meet together for the Large Group meeting and then dismiss into the Open Groups, men with men and women with women. All Step Study meetings are gender specific.

These groups meet for up to one hour every week. You meet with fellow strugglers on a specific issue (chemical, codependency, abuse, sexual addictions to name a few.) You share your experience, strength and hope. Open Groups are gender specific.

Yes. To insure confidentiality and anonymity the following five Guidelines are followed at all times:

• Rule 1 – Your sharing is focused on your own thoughts and feelings and is limited to 3 to 5 minutes.
• Rule 2 – There is no cross talk. Cross talk is when two individuals engage in dialogue to the exclusion of others. Each person is free to express feelings without interruption.
• Rule 3 – We are here to support one another. We will not attempt to “fix” another.
• Rule 4 – Anonymity and confidentiality are essential requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group.
• Rule 5 – Offensive language has no place in a Christ- centered group.

Celebrate Recovery uses the Twelve Steps and Eight Principles as the biblical model for living your life. A Step Study is a personal journey though each of these steps in community with a group led by a facilitator, who has completed a study. We use Celebrate Recovery’s four participants guidebooks and the Celebrate Recovery Bible. When you finish the study you will have worked your hurts, habits, and hang-ups through each step. Step Studies are gender specific.