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

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

2009 WAVE IS BUILDING

Mary & I just returned from a week with the National Celebrate Recovery TEAM, CR Regional Directors, and CR founders, John & Cheryl Baker, where we were challenged, encouraged, and inspired. We know that as we look to our Higher Power, the one and only true Higher Power, Jesus Christ, He will lead us into making this the best year for CR ever!

In Isa. 41:10 God's word says, "Do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous, victorious right hand."

Since God has already claimed the victory, and we are His, we believe Celebrate Recovery will reach more people for Jesus than ever before. That means more work for all of us. So wake up every morning with the expectation of seeing another changed life through CR, remembering that He gave us the privilege to be His ambassadors.

We are very excited the blogs have been activated, as of this week, to be able to receive your comments and respond to relevant questions that can help promote your CR. This is another positive step in growing your CR ministry. We are looking forward to your comments. If you have submitted a question in the past and didn't hear back from us, please resubmit now. Thanks so much for your patience as we continue to grow this ministry to bring hope and healing to others.

Your National TEAM and Directors are more excited than ever about the 2009 WAVE!

If you are registered on Facebook, please join us on the Celebrate Recovery page!

Mac