Celebrate Recovery Blog

Last Saturday was the annual Clarksburg 10K and 2 mile run/walk held on the streets of our humble city.

I had decided some months before to use this event as an opportunity to raise funds for those wishing to attend this year’s Celebrate Recovery Summit. So, we made up some t-shirts, and handed out registration forms and pledge sheets to ALL those interested in taking on the challenge of the run/walk.

What a glorious morning it turned out to be. Our bright red shirts seemed to be everywhere. Many in our CR group, and many from outside our CR ministry took part in this cooperative experience. Even our ultra-supportive Pastor and his wife walked the two mile course with the silver letters emblazoned on the front of their shirts declaring “RUN FOR THE SUMMIT!” The race director approached him and asked about all these CR shirts he was seeing, and our Pastor gladly filled him in on the life-changing ministry of Celebrate Recovery.

We had a cookout back at the church later that afternoon where we thanked all those who participated, and handed out certificates for certain accomplishments earned during the race.

Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Church writes, “vision is the ability to see opportunities within your current circumstances.” As an encourager coach, it is vital not only to create events for fellowship, but to integrate fellowship into existing events within your church and community.

Working together with your Assimilation Coach, look at your church and community calendars to find avenues to include your Celebrate Recovery ministry in the mix of local events. Whether it is serving food monthly at your local Rescue Mission, or setting up a CR table at the county fair, these assimilating opportunities can also be some of the most encouraging fellowship events on your CR calendar.

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." (Col 4:5)

-john

Recently I got my girls their first "real" Bibles (that is their term for Bibles without pictures on every page). We have been working to memorize a portion of Scripture every week, and last night we came across a verse that has special meaning to me.

"You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)

I told the girls that my mom was an amazing musician, and that she used to play and sing this Scripture in song with a passion and power that still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it. I receive such peace hearing these words, and voicing them myself in praise to He who is my Hiding Place.

I would encourage you to never under-emphasize your worship time in your Celebrate Recovery meetings.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)

There may be no more effective method of encouragement than to offer your CR participants an opportunity to worship their Higher Power, Jesus Christ. There have been countless occasions when someone has shared in our open share groups that they walked into CR dragging only to be lifted out of their malaise by a sanctuary filled with thankful worshippers singing songs of praise to God.

I encourage you to not only start your CR group with songs of worship to your Lord and King, but make a joyful noise of thanksgiving this morning, and every morning he lends you breath...

"...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. " (Psalm 30:5)

-john

The Celebrate Recovery One Day Seminar in Rochester, Minnesota was awesome!  The Seven Keys Seminar was well attended, as was the Advanced Leadership tract. Several State Reps. from nearby States were in attendance, connecting with ministry leaders from their regions! Thanks to the Autumn Ridge team who helped make it so successful!