Summit Bound!

As I thought about what I was going to write this week I kept thinking about different people who have asked “Is it really necessary for us to attend the Summit? Will we really get anything more than we could get at a One-Day seminar or from visiting successful CR’s that are up and running?” Six years ago this would have been my question. So I want to remind us all how important attending the Summit is to growing our ministries by sharing my experience.

Being someone who struggled with a drug addiction for many years and then in 1988 found relief through church and AA, I know the importance of support groups. Mary and I have been involved in recovery ministries since 1990. So when Mary’s brother was at Saddleback Church one year, he heard about this Celebrate Recovery ministry and wanted us to check it out. I thought, “Yeah right. I know everything about recovery that I need to know. Besides what we're doing is working. If it’s working, don’t fix it!” Some of you will know this kind of thinking is “contempt prior to investigation.”

Long story short, (you can ask for the long version when I see you at the Summit) we decided to go. We went for a break from the Louisiana heat more than anything else. We were in for a big surprise!

We arrived the first morning an hour and a half before things started, so we could leave early. But that’s not what happened. We were so taken by what we heard that we ended up staying till 9 pm. I told Mary this is good information. We can use this in conjunction with what we are already doing. The next day again we got there early so we could again leave early and ended up staying until 10 pm. At the end of that day I told Mary, "We need to stop doing what we are doing and start Celebrate Recovery!"

To say we were overwhelmed at our first Summit would be an understatement. We not only were hearing about a life-changing ministry, but were making new friendships with others who already had CR’s running successfully.

So what will happen if you decide to go to the Summit?

1. You will be filled with more information than seems possible to digest.
2. You will make friends with people you will spend eternity with.
3. These same people will help you start and grow your CR ministry.
4. You will experience praise and worship with over 3000 people who have been rescued. This alone is worth the price of admission!
5. You will leave inspired to make a difference in others lives and you will have the tools to do it.
6. You will also have a chance to leave what has been burdening you at the Cross.
7. Finally, you will become sleep deprived as you will be so excited thinking about all the people you will be able to help!

So what would I have done different about my Summit experience? Gone a lot sooner!

Mac
mowen@wfrchurch.org

Welcome Home

Mary & I were on our way home from OK City after sharing our testimony and casting the vision that recovery is in fact for everybody, when we were stopped dead in our tracks at one of those times in life when all you can say is, “WOW!”

We were getting off the plane in Dallas and as we entered the terminal all we could hear & see were hundreds of people standing around our gate clapping and cheering. Now this can be pretty intimidating when it seems that you may be the focal point of the crowd but it didn’t take us long to see that they were looking, not at us, but right above us. So we turned around and looked to a walkway right above our heads and saw it filled with hundreds of soldiers walking double file dressed in camo who had just returned from overseas fighting for our freedom.

Mary & I immediately knew that the connecting flight we were hurrying to catch suddenly took back seat to what was happening right before us. We were now part of the cheering crowd that was the Welcome Committee for our soldiers returning home. As we watched the seemingly endless line, the clapping and cheering never let up. Tears filled our eyes and we were not alone to see these committed men and women coming home.

So what does this have to do with Celebrate Recovery? I thought about first of all, the commitment that we make to be CR leaders and servant volunteers is much like the men and women we saw. Training for our roles, as well as theirs, is essential in accomplishing our goal of helping people find their way home. At Memorial Road Church of Christ CR, they gave us one of their t-shirts & on the front is a CR logo. But what touched me most is what it says on the back written on a cross, “Welcome Home”.

As Assimilation Coaches, our chief responsibility is getting the word out about CR so we can welcome others home. The sight of all those military men and women walking in front of us as we cheered will be one that will not leave my memory for some time. At the same time, watching those last Friday night at the Chip Ceremony coming back and receiving their recovery chip is also a sight that will stay with me because I knew some of these had finally come home.

Just like the troops that came home, we too, are in battle. The biggest difference is I read the end of the book (Bible) and we win! This doesn’t mean we won’t have to fight. It just means our outcome is already secure as long as we keep our eyes on our Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ.

Now the question is, “Are we going to be the Welcome Committee for those with hurts, hang-ups, & habits to proclaim freedom for the captives in Jesus name through CR?!

I really planned on this post being more about the Summit because time is drawing near to being full to capacity. I believe the Summit is one of our best ways to get equipped for the battle for the hearts & souls of men and women. Join us and we’ll see you there.

We will be waiting for you clapping and cheering as we celebrate recovery together at the Summit!

Mac
mowen@wfrchurch.org

#1 Attend the Summit

I was reminded on Memorial Day the difference between the urgent and the vital. After starting my day off in the normal way, walking three miles on the treadmill and a light breakfast, I was ready to start my day. At 7:00 a.m. I left our home to take care of the urgent business that Monday morning always brings.

As I walked out the front door things went from urgent to vital in a fraction of a second. I leave my shoes on the front porch so I walked out in my socks and immediately felt as though I had been stung by a wasp on my foot. I turned to kill the culprit and saw a 2 foot long copperhead snake coiling up to strike again. All my urgent plans for Monday faded into the vital plan of staying alive. I wasn’t sure what a bite from a copperhead would do but I knew a few things that were vital to my well being; kill the snake so doctors could identify it, stay calm to keep the venom from rushing into my bloodstream, and get to the hospital. In short, we killed the snake & got to the hospital where the doctors took the appropriate action.

So what in the world does this have to do with being an “A” coach? Well our #1 way to be the best “A” coach is to not only attend the Summit ourselves, but find a way for others in our groups to do the same thing. I believe this and attending One Day conferences with new leaders is “vital” to your group to see the big picture. And before you think that I am just trying to sell tickets, the Summit will be sold out this year and it looks like even sooner than ever. So I believe its coming down to who “gets to” go!

Since the first Summit Mary and I attended, we saw this life changing ministry for not only us, but everyone else we could think of. I mean, really, who doesn’t have a hurt, hang-up, or habit? We bring as many as we possibly can to the Summit which is over 60 counting this year.

So why would we go through all the hard work of helping our people raise funds to go? When they come home after the Summit experience, being around over three thousand other people who are fired up about recovery in Jesus Christ, it’s like someone else I read about “there is a fire in my bones that cannot be contained.” (Jer. 20:9) They return home making the work of the “A” coach more productive. How? You then have folks who literally can’t keep quiet about Celebrate Recovery and they want to help you find new ways to get the word out!

So get your reservations made and tell other churches in your area to ride the WAVE with us at the Summit in August!

Mac
mowen@wfrchurch.org

#2 Communication Between Church Staff & CR TEAM

Your responsibility helping Celebrate Recovery become a valuable part of your church starts with good communication between the church staff & the CR TEAM. In other words, helping the church see what a valuable asset CR can become!

Our CR meets in the Fellowship Center. This room is also used for weddings and receptions. And when are many weddings? Saturday, and of course, most folks like to set up for weddings on Friday. Our church made it a policy that no one can start decorating until after CR on Friday nights. We realize this may be a hardship on mothers of the brides. So our CR offers them an army of volunteers to help move table chairs and whatever else is needed after CR. This is a job even the Newcomer feels like they can be a part of and we are not shy about asking them. This helps the Newcomer feel like they are “a part of” instead of just “occupying a seat.”

This past Sunday our Senior Pastor said, “As a church we are going into one of the rougher areas of our town to remodel a house for a community center in conjunction with other area-wide churches.” What he said next was a reflection of how CR has become invaluable. He stated, “I know “our” CR family will lead the way!” He didn’t say, “Mac, can you get “your” CR guys to help?” CR has become an vital part of our church because with rescue comes the heart for service!

My favorite story is when one of our TEAM members was in the church office one Monday. Our staff happened to be discussing how they were going to pull off an old fashioned “dinner on the grounds”, that our leaders had told the church we would have for our 50th anniversary. The staff was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed with the task of feeding over 1200 people. That’s when our CR TEAM member stepped in and said, “I believe CR can help!”

CR showed up early to set up tables, move chairs, set up food & drink tables, serve, and clean up afterwards. Brightly colored CR shirts could be seen everywhere. When it was over the staff & ministers were admiring a completely cleaned-up area (by 2:00) and were commenting on what had just happened there, to which one replied, “CR just happened here!”

Because of the relationship CR has with our staff, they love to tell others about CR. Our church sees God working through CR changing lives right before their very eyes!

Matthew 5:14 is a good picture of who we need to be:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Mac
mowen@wfrchurch.org

Fellowship Events Revisited

I have to share about something that I just can’t keep quiet about! Three years ago we decided to have a fellowship event to thank our church for all their support and to just have a Sunday afternoon of fun.

We prepared for the big day with 80 hamburger patties, about half that many hot dogs, and a few desserts. Mix that in with a set of horseshoes and some softball equipment and the day was set.

About 150 people showed up, so we ran out of everything except fun. Our first fellowship event that would become an annual for Whites Ferry Road Church. CR in the Park went down in the record books as a huge success. We thought how can it get any better than this?

We all know the famous last words of a redneck are “Hey, watch this!” But when God says, “Watch this!” you better get ready and hold on to your hat. It’s kind of the picture I get when Moses stood before the Red Sea wondering what he was going to do. That’s when God said to Moses “Hey, watch this!” and BAM ~dry road ahead! I am sure it would be safe to assume that the people were at the very least astonished or overwhelmed.

That is what we felt like at our 3rd annual WFR church CR in the Park this past Sunday. 500 people showed up and our BBQ team fed them all with enough chicken left over to send home a plate for any who wanted. And check this out, every bit of this was done solely on donations because people saw the good that CR is doing.

Reminds me of another story ~ one about Jesus, a couple of fish, and a little bread, with basket-fulls left over. Mark 6:41

Fun and fellowship were enjoyed by all, complete with cotton candy, face painting, dunking booth (Dunk a Drunk~a favorite), soft ball, horseshoes, pinata, & jumping house. But what brought me more joy than all this was the interaction between people who would normally not run in the same circles. People who now because of CR and their relationship with Jesus, not only had fun together but served together as well.

People who don’t normally come to Celebrate Recovery, but have a loved one or friend that attends felt a connection to the CR family. They saw a love combined with serving hearts that could only be brought about by a power greater than we humans, our one and only true higher power Jesus Christ.

So take the time to plan fellowship events. They’re well worth it and remember:

1. Do let others help we all need to be needed.
2. Do check your calendar so you don’t plan these events on the same day as a One Day conference in you surrounding area.
3. Do ask for donations from local businesses. It’s a good way to get the word out.
4. Do let your church know they are invited
5. And last but not least, Do be prepared to have fun!

Mac Owen
mowen@wfrchurch.org