"Havin' More Fun Than I Deserve" at Celebrate Recovery

One of the State Reps copied me on a great fellowship opportunity through an area-wide networking of Celebrate Recovery ministries in his state. It seems a group of Ministry Leaders and participants from different CR groups are planning to gather for a Major League Baseball game on an upcoming June evening. Plans include announcing the ministry of Celebrate Recovery on the scoreboard at some point during the game, and listing the churches in attendance.

The leader sending out the notice has, as part of his e-mail signature, "Always havin' more fun than I deserve". It is my sincere hope that statement applies to you as a Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader too! My hope and prayer is you are having fun as you serve others in recovery.

I believe my friend has successfully applied 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 to his life, where we are encouraged to "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you".

This year has been a year of "we get to" in Celebrate Recovery! It began when Johnny Baker taught a series of lessons at Saddleback Church CR where the focus was how we "get to" love God, we "get to" worship God, and we "get to" love and serve others through the ministry of Celebrate Recovery. We don't have to, we get to!

Through the years I've at times been questioned by well-meaning folks in my home church "...isn't it frustrating to work in recovery?". Sure, at times we may be disappointed with the fact someone fails to grasp all of God's promises for a healthy successful life, and the assurance of a brighter eternity.

The joy for me as a recovery leader has been to be engaged on the front line of what God is able to do in a willing heart. I get to rejoice when I hear the story of another life transformed. Aren't you glad we "get to" take part in this life-changing ministry of recovery?

I am certain you will be "havin' more fun than you deserve", if you join us for the 2009 Summit at Saddleback Church on August 12 - 14. Drop by and share your smile as you get to serve in the ministry of Celebrate Recovery!

Hurry up - we are filling up fast.

*note - added at 10:30 pm CST - Life's Healing Choices Fall Campaign went live about 45 minutes ago. Check it out - then help get the word out. A lot of churches are waiting on the latest information about the coming Recovery Experience!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Making Your Group Safe for All - Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader's Chief Commission

Last week we were in Pennsylvania for a One Day Seminar, including the Seven Keys of Recovery and the Advanced Leadership Training. Many thanks to Ron and his team of great volunteers. I also made a new friend on Face Book!

I enjoy Face Book and the opportunities it brings to "stay in touch" with family and friends on a social level. I also have fun with the creative use of YouTube for promotions about Celebrate Recovery world-wide. There are many other creative ways technology connects us and raises awareness of CR in the public eye - and techchnology is great - most of the time!

One area of concern regarding our advanced means of technology is that of anonymity and confidentiality. I've seen and heard examples of someone filming or photographing all or part of a Celebrate Recovery meeting, and then displaying it somewhere on the web.

As a Ministry Leader, your first obligation is to make Celebrate Recovery a safe place for all participants. Letting a camera, camera equipped cell phone , or other video recording device into your meeting can be a violation of the sacred trust of confidentiality or anonymity.

A leader may point out that "I got a signed waver from all concerned". My concern is for that individual who walks in without giving their consent, or the person who later changes their mind and later says, "I didn't really want to sign, but everyone else did".

Two points regarding technology use in a Celebrate Recovery meeting - then I'll let you evaluate where your group stands.

1.) Recording the lessons of Celebrate Recovery is something you should not be doing. The body of the lesson, including the acrostic, is copyrighted material and should not be duplicated for public consumption.

2.) Perhaps the best use of still or video photography is in the promotion of your CR ministry. Think of the "WORDS" video, or the DVD included in the Basic Leadership Kit. A local promotional video is usually shot once, then used for specific purposes in the local church.

In addition, regular or weekly photography or video taping should not be a part of your Celebrate Recovery ministry. The use of camera or cell phone photography should be STRONGLY discouraged in your Celebrate Recovery ministry. If you are recording Celebrate Recovery lessons for inclusion on the web - you're going to have to stop.

Serving as a Ministry Leader, you've likely thrown personal anonymity and confidentiality out the door a long time ago. I wish to encourage you to make CR a safe place for all - and keep the cameras out of the meeting unless there for specific purposes of promoting your ministry.

On another note - this Friday is the last day to take advantage of early registration for the 2009 Summit at Saddleback Church. You may register by visiting us online at Celebrate Recovery .

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Sustainability - Celebrate Recovery - Sustaining Your Ministry Leaders

Rick Warren has often posed a question, "How do you know recovery works?" His answer is "...you know recovery works when you begin to think less about yourself, and more about serving others". Loving and serving others in a healthy way is surely a sign that God is doing something new in our lives.

On a recent flight to one of the regional team meetings, I was reading a book of modern day proverbs developed through ministry experience Bill Hybels gained over years of service in his Chicago area church. A section titled "Sustainability" reminded me that the local ministry of CR is sustained through a process of developing others through leading them from newcomer to participant, then participant to leader. Looking for developing leadership traits as God transforms individuals is one of the keys to sustaining a healthy and growing Celebrate Recovery ministry.

One old recovery saying you often hear is "you keep it (recovery) by giving it away". For years many recovery movements have recognized that serving others and helping them understand keys to their recovery is one way individuals reinforce principles of sobriety and growth in their own life.

Another part of sustaining your ministry is to plan for ongoing leadership training and the process of equipping your team to excel as leaders. Many of the ways to continue to train your team include use of the Basic and Advanced Leadership Kits, participating in One Day Seminars in either the Seven Keys or Advanced Leadership Training, and planning to join leaders from around the world for the annual Celebrate Recovery Summit at Saddleback Church.

A highlight for many Celebrate Recovery leaders from across the United States and across the globe has been the annual world-wide celebration of CR known as the Celebrate Recovery Summit. This is our 11th Celebrate Recovery Summit, and each year I attend, I always hear many leaders talk about the encouragement found to sustain them in the coming year. Excitement of connecting people to Christ and recovery is contagious!!!

Several weeks ago I heard from a ministry leader in Brazil as he shared what this Christ-centered ministry is doing in his country, and the sense of excitement among leaders from his church as they are looking forward to the Summit on August 12 -14.

Registration for the Summit recently opened and numbers are starting to grow. I want to encourage you to check out the registration at Celebrate Recovery and sign your leaders up for a great opportunity - whether their first or eleventh time!!! With new workshops each year, we can truly say "there is something for everyone!". Register early - secure your place!!!

In the meanwhile, the remaining One day Seminar schedule includes: Tulsa, Greenville, Pittsburg, Rochester, and Boise. All are found on our website and you may register for any event online until the week before the event.

So ministry leader - train to sustain, and be sure all leaders continue to work on their spiritual walk and their road to recovery. We'll see you soon at a One Day Seminar or the Summit!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Celebrate Recovery Reps and Directors to Serve You

We were just in New Orleans over the weekend, (Metarie specifically) to hold a One Day Seminar at Celebration Church. We appreciated the assistance of Ruth and the great group of volunteers who helped make this a great Seven Keys of Celebrate Recovery event. Great to know we had participants from many of the Gulf Coast states in attendance too.

You guys were great hosts, and we appreciate the support we receive when in the area. We'll be praying that rebuilding your main worship center on Airline Road becomes a reality sooner than expected!

One issue we bump into, on occasion, is that of "self-appointed" representatives seeking to contract services to start and grow the ministry of Celebrate Recovery in churches located in various parts of the country. At this weekend's seminar, I heard another example of an individual seeking to do this in one of the states represented at this event.

I wish to point out the established structure for ministry support in Celebrate recovery is found within the network of six Regional Directors and nearly eighty volunteer State Reps in the United States. Pastor or Ministry Leader, if you have someone wanting to contract with you to start or train your Celebrate Recovery leaders, THEY ARE NOT PART OF US!

This ministry is always run best when a dedicated lay volunteer or pastoral team member is assigned the care and leadership of the Celebrate Recovery ministry of your local church. Our experience with many of the "contractors" we have encountered is they are not part of any church with a Celebrate Recovery ministry, often lacking the experience serving as a Ministry Leader for CR in any church. They are operating outside the system of support and likely will not refer you to help available through the national and international ministry of Celebrate Recovery.

We sincerely believe the Basic Leadership Kit and the Advanced Leadership Kit have all of the resource you need for training the Celebrate Recovery leaders of YOUR church. If you have any questions about using any of the resources to train your leaders to begin this wonderful Christ-centered ministry, please get in touch with your State Rep or Regional Director.

Pastor, if your State Rep or Regional Director travels a distance or has to stay overnight to meet with your leadership, please keep in mind it is appropriate to assist with these expenses that our volunteer incurs from their visit. I am in support of that! Your State Representative or Regional Director can help your leadership, raised in your church, effectively minister to both your church and community.

What should you do if someone calls with plans to start the ministry of Celebrate Recovery at your church? Please verify you are working with a legitimate leader who has been acknowledged as a servant to his or her area of the state. If you've been approached by a "contractor or consultant", I'd like to meet them too!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Honesty, Integrity, and Generosity - Applies to Celebrate Recovery Leaders

Hi All! We just concluded the first CR One Day Seminar of the year in San Jose, California. It was a great event hosted by West Regional Director, Mindy Scratch and her wonderful volunteers from Family Community Church. Nearly 800 leaders were in attendance at this event. It was exciting for all.

When introducing the assembled members of the National and State CR teams, I referenced Rick Warren's prayer on Inauguration Day. It very much reflected points of his sermon following the Civil Forum last August. The keys of his sermon last summer and the prayer earlier this month apply to those who serve you - and those who serve with you.

As Celebrate Recovery ministry leaders do you demonstrate the following in your ministry?

Honesty - This quality is key when considering leaders and volunteers for ANY leader at any level. It is crucial for a recovery leader to exhibit honesty in all their relationships, but absolutely vital they are honest in their spiritual growth and their walk on this road to recovery.

Integrity - Integrity we have learned through many ministries and movements within the church, points to CONSISTENCY in all areas of life. As a ministry leader do you and others trusted to your care demonstrate the same character at home, church, and in the community?

Generosity - You are serving with many who unselfishly give to serve others through the weekly meetings of Celebrate Recovery. Ministry Leader - I wish to point out that your success as the coordinator of all things CR - is directly tied to your ability to share the ministry and the vision of Celebrate Recovery in as many ways possible with as many people as possible. In recovery and in all areas of life, I encourage you to be as generous as possible.

The next One Day/Advanced Leadership Training is scheduled for the Seattle area on February 7. Early registration has closed, but there is time to register your team - or use walk-in registration in a little over a week-and-a-half. Blessings!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim