Postby Joey » September 2nd, 2010, 7:43 am
Jennifer and others,
Just to be clearer, Celebrate Recovery is not a way to do church. It takes the 12 steps of AA/NA and then addresses it from a spiritual perspective. And while many of our friends that come to CR are in fact dealing with addictions, using this year long 12 step program addresses other issues that satan throws at all of us. Hurts from various relationships and abuses of our past, Hang-ups that people get stuck on and dont sem t be able to move forward in their growth with Christ, and of course, Habits of any kind.
Since a church can't possibly address all these tough hurt/habit/hang-up issues in the pulpit on a regular basis, CR deals with them weekly and takes us through a year long effort from step 1 to step 12 that will help us address our flaws and personal issues so we can move forard. So many folks are just stuck because they cant address the past or present. CR teaches us to stop denying it, to address it, and allow God to heal us through our trials and even help others as we share our stories of healing.
And we have several that continue coming for years, even after they finish the 12 months/12 steps because they do in fact build relationships with the CR small groups that meet and they may find that they have other hurts along the way to deal with.
Satan will find something to use so he can mess with us. After one issue is starved out, he tries to get us to start feeding another issue that can bring us pain.
Ultimately, CR is focussed on addressing the pains of life, and especially on the great healer, Jesus Himself. Many have more pain then they know what to do with, so CR says, "We'll support you and be a group that will love you." In the last year, we've seen dozens of people rededicate their life or come to the Lord for the first time! If done right and with love and order, it feeds the church as Kenya said, becaue they need to be in church as well, growing in other parts of the Word.
We have our meetings on Thursdays with over 100 folks, and they over flow into Tuesdays for another open meeting and on Sunday at 9 for a 7 week Lifes Healing Choices small group. Just check out a Celebrate Recovery Training or order a kit from the Saddleback Church.
I think you'll like it.