Hi. I’m Joel and I’m a firm believer in Jesus Christ!

The introduction above is similar to that of many Celebrate Recovery introductions. Celebrate Recovery is a program I often recommend to people who are struggling with an assortment of issues and may be exactly what you need in 2018 to find mending and healing in your life.

What is Celebrate Recovery?

Celebrate Recovery is a recovery program for all people struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups – which at some point in time covers each and every one of us! If you just read the word ‘recovery’ and mentally checked out, I encourage you to check back in. We’re all suffering from something in this broken world and Celebrate Recovery (CR) gives you a biblical way to deal with those things. Many people hear ‘recovery’ and assume CR is a place for those struggling with drug, alcohol, or chemical addiction, when in all actuality these hurts, habits, and hangups also include: anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, gambling, sexual addiction, and more. Often times, CR attendees are struggling with multiple concerns.

How Does Celebrate Recovery Differ From Other Recovery Programs?

This recovery program is similar to other recovery programs like AA and NA in that it offers a twelve step program. The big difference between CR and NA, AA, or any other recovery program is that attendees of CR actually name their higher power as Jesus, and they associate a Bible verse with each of the twelve steps. In other twelve step recovery programs, participants are encouraged to recognize there is a higher power. Celebrate Recovery puts a name to that higher power as Jesus Christ. They recognize the only way we can fully recover from anything is through God.

Not everyone who comes to a CR program believes in God. Many have been through every other program and figure, “Why not try this?” CR may be the first thing that introduces them to who God is. While recovery programs are wonderful helpers, when you bring God into it, THAT is what makes all of the difference.

The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery

#1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” – Romans 7:18

#2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13

#3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” – Romans 12:1

#4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:40

#5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

#6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” – James 4:10

#7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

#8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31

#9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24

#10. We continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” – 1 Corinthians 10:12

#11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us, and power to carry that out.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” – Colossians 3:16

#12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore them gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1

CR builds on their twelve steps by also teaching their eight principles. These eight principles are based on the Beatitudes – a list of blessings taught by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. They also form an acrostic for RECOVERY.

Celebrate Recovery’s 8 Recovery Principles

Realize I’m not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” – Matthew 5:3

Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that he has the power to help me recover.

“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4

Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.

“Happy are the meek.” – Matthew 5:5

Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

“Happy are the pure in heart.” – Matthew 5:8

Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.

“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.” – Matthew 5:6

Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I have done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.

“Happy are the merciful.” – Matthew 5:7

“Happy are the peacemakers.” – Matthew 5:9

Reserve a daily time with God for self examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.

Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.

“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” – Matthew 5:10

What Does a Celebrate Recovery Session Look Like?

On a typical CR night, a program may offer a meal to attendees prior to group time. This offers both a hot meal and time of fellowship to put guests at ease.

Large Groups: Sessions then begin with what’s known as “large group” where attendees spend time in worship together and then hear a lesson based on the twelve steps or someone’s testimony (lessons and testimonies alternate each week).

Small Groups: After large group, participants divide into small groups for a more intimate and specialized session. Small groups are broken down by gender and then furthermore based on a) chemical addiction (drug and alcohol addiction) and b) an A to Z group (everything else). Individuals share their struggles, setbacks, or victories in small groups.

Following small groups, some programs have another time of fellowship like dessert or similar treats to give people a chance to talk afterward. This time is an ideal opportunity to find a sponsor, talk with other guests and catch up with one another.

Step Study: For those more committed to working through the program, classes called “step studies” go on during the week. A step study is a a four book series to go through with a leader and is based on the twelve steps of recovery (hence the name). They are more individualized than large and small group programs and are more like a bible study. Step Study is a way to work through the steps in a group environment instead of by yourself. Step studies are an in-depth examination of your life that walk you through each of the twelve steps until you’ve reached more healing. Now, you won’t reach perfect healing until heaven, but you can reach a healing and peace on earth through Jesus Christ.

The Power of Peer Based Counseling

While CR attendees are encouraged to seek outside help from a pastor or counselor to fully overcome their hurt, habit, or hangup, CR uses peer based counseling to benefit participants. As the program continue to grows, it’s clear peer counseling is working. Similar to NA/AA sponsors, peer counseling is helpful because you’re dealing with people who have been through what you have been through. Point blank, they get it and they can offer hope. While trained counselors have helpful book knowledge of addictions and other hang-ups, they may have never actually been through it themselves. Peers have been there and can relate.

CR participants are put at ease by relating to somebody they know, trust, and who has been through a similar struggle. Peer counselors are someone they’ve built a relationship with and feel comfortable being vulnerable with.

Life After the 12 Steps

Many participants find healing through the CR program. As with anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. A beautiful portrait of restoration is painted when participants eventually step into leadership roles to help others. This can happen a few different ways. First is through sponsorship. Sponsorship is a bit of an informal process where someone has made a connection to you or has been impacted by your story and your healing journey (this is where those testimonies from large group really come into play). And since most sponsors have a sponsor of their own, it’s a continuous circle of giving back and pouring into others. For many, selecting a sponsor is a personal and private thing.

Other leadership within Celebrate Recovery requires some training and selection. Leaders come from people who have completed a step study, prayed about it and who other CR leadership see as having a lot of growth and who would make a difference to others. First, leaders must be rooted firmly in recovery and have worked through the twelve steps themselves. It is also recommended they have a firm grip on their relationship with God. While leadership training manuals are available, training frequency differs from program to program. There are several leadership positions for trained individuals to plug into:

Trainers. These are the leaders who train new leaders.

Encouragers. These people within leadership are working to greet guests and make people feel welcome.

Assimilation. These organized leaders make sure all materials are out as needed.

Ministry leader. This person is the head of the ministry and makes sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. They are also responsible for resolving any problems and communicating with the church pastor who oversees the ministry.

There is no freedom like freedom in Jesus. He breaks every chain. If you’re looking for a way out of darkness, you need to step into the light and guess what: He is the light!

As we start a new year, is it time to let go of old hurts, habits, and hangups and finally find your identity in the light of Christ? To find a Celebrate Recovery program near you, search here. For individualized help overcoming the struggles of life, contact me.

-Joel D. Walton

Got More Questions About CR?