Planning to Divide and Share at the Saddleback CR Summit

WOW! Registration for the 2009 Celebrate Recovery Summit is 2147 at the close of last week. It appears that we are heading toward another full and exciting Summit experience for all who are able to attend.

Ministry Leader - you will soon have an opportunity to preview the schedule for the 3 days of events that make up the Summit. In years past, and I'm sure this year too, Tina Davis will post a blog concerning the daily agenda for the Summit.

By planning ahead, you will be able to let others traveling with you have an opportunity to decide which workshops they should attend. It has been fun in the past, when I have attended with members of my CR, to plan to take in a variety of workshops and then share notes on the return home. Advance planning provides a way for the entire team to benefit from the experiences of all .

My hope is that you will make new friends in recovery while at the Summit. My prayer is that you have opportunities to also connect with "old friends" you've made along this road to recovery. The power of friendship and fellowship is evident as you see folks call or wave to one another across the Saddleback plaza during the three days of the Celebrate Recovery Summit.

If you have the opportunity to stay over for Saturday or Sunday services - all the better. It is fun to see the fellowship carry over to the weekend services - with new and existing leaders recognizing each other by new CR shirts or hats.

Be prepared to look for fellow conference attenders at the airport on the way home too! The celebration continues -right up to departure from Orange County or other area airports.

Get ready and start your planning to get the most out of your Summit experience. We'll see you soon in Orange County and Saddleback Church. Don't wait any longer. Sign up now at Celebrate Recovery . You'll be glad you did!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Celebrate Recovery State Reps Are Here to Serve

Many thanks to Pastor Gary and his ministry leader (and MN State Rep) Wade, for an outstanding job of hosting the One Day Seminar and Advanced Leadership Training at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN last weekend. Everyone had a great time, and the church and recovery community provided wonderful volunters to host the event.

One question surfaced in conversation that lead me to believe many local Ministry Leaders somehow missed the help and support available through the CR Regional Director and State Representative system that has long been part of our structure. On occasion in other parts of the country I've heard similar remarks, and thought I better address it here.

I talked with several folks attending their first training event who mentioned "I did not know I had a state rep!".

As a ministry leader in your local church and community, help get the word out to new and potential new ministries. Let them know Celebrate Recovery provides training through One Day Seminars and the Summit, and a support system through recognized leaders, to help start and grow a successful CR ministry. While it is great a nearby church may visit your group to understand the "how to, or why" of running a successful model of recovery, it is vitally important you help connect others to the system of support and connection that our representatives provide.

Our Regional Directors and State Reps are here to serve YOU. Don't hesitate to call or e-mail any of us with questions about growing this ministry in your church.

Speaking of networking - in 72 days, there will be awesome networking opportunities with people from across the country and around the world. Recovery leaders and potential recovery leaders will soon be gathering on the campus of Saddleback Church for the Eleventh Annual Celebrate Recovery Summit.

The Network Connection Tents will be set up and we will have representatives from the six regions of the United States, Celebrate Recovery Inside, and Celebrate Recovery International available to answer any questions you have concerning the growth of this Christ-centered ministry in your part of the world.

Come now and make plans now to join us for the WORLD -WIDE CELEBRATION of recovery that is found in Celebrate Recovery. Drop by and say "Hi!". Pastor John, Cheryl and the rest of the team are looking forward to seeing you there.

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Always for the Newcomer - Keep your Celebrate Recovery meeting Open Year Round!

I just have to begin the New Year with a bicycle story! I woke up late, thought it "too cold", or "they are too fast for me" - and decided for a number a number of reasons not to take the New Year's Day ride with the local CFC - "Cycling for Christ" group that began a ride from a near by bicycle shop at 8 a.m. today.

A little later in the day, I went on a ride on my own and nearly got side-tracked when a large black shepherd mix chased me down. This was funny to watch, as this big dog has apparently had "fun" with other cyclists in the neighboring community of Cedar Park.

I was riding along, minding my own business, when I saw this dog quickly charge from one side of the street to the other. He was hiding near a large bush in his front yard, but then sprang from cover at the appropriate time. He was huge - about the length of my bicycle frame - and fast. Did I mention fast!

Having graduated from the Road One Bicycling course, I knew that when dealing with a fast dog, you do not try to outrun it - just makes them more aggressive. Instead I hopped off the bike and kept it between me and the dog, all the while telling him he was a "bad dog", and "go home". He finally gave up as I slowly backed down the street.

I was reminded that when we are trying to do good, to develop a good habit, it is not unlike the enemy to side track us.

Tonight I went to my home CR group, our first meeting of 2009. Many of the regular attenders were present even in this season of holiday plans and travel, but we had one newcomer walk through the doors. I am so happy the leadership of my local CR made a commitment to continue meeting, though our regular meeting day put us on Christmas day and New Years day this year.

Three new participants joined us in the past week because we kept to the regular meeting schedule. Keep in mind that we have the large group meeting night for the new person who may come through the door - unexpected or unannounced.

Remember the hurts, habits, and hang-ups that bring members from your church or community to your recovery meeting - don't take breaks.

Blessings to you and your ministry team as you keep the doors open for anyone who may drop by to start on the "road to recovery".

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Recovery in a Growing National/International Community

Travel is always exciting!

Whether you travel for business of leisure, I hope you have opportunities to visit Celebrate Recovery ministries in other parts of the country. It is great to visit with brothers and sisters in recovery where ever you go. Visit Bob Wood's CR International blog to get an idea of the international Growth of this ministry. You'll be amazed where we are!

When I first got involved in Celebrate Recovery, options were quite limited, as far as this ministry was concerned. We are now at a point where we are seeing multiple groups within a city or major metropolitan area - and it is great!

The following verse gives much encouragement to us as we gather - for help, strength, and hope in our spiritual walk - and recovery.

Romans 15:5 (New International Version)
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.

My wife and I recently visited a small group from church that meets in our neighborhood. I knew a few of the group members through Bible study and other activities of the church, but many were "friends I had not met yet", as Grandmother Kirchner used to say!

As the meeting got underway, Paula and I had a sense of peace, unity, and vision as we met with others from our church. We gathered together with a sense of commitment and purpose that has been clearly cast through the mission of the church to be REAL Christians.

R - Reproducing Other Disciples, Matt. 28:18-20
E - Esteeming God Above All, Mark 12:30
A - Announcing the Good News, Luke 24:46-47
L - Living for Others, Mark 10:45

As our church is intent on helping members to be REAL, I wanted to be sure that you as ministry leaders are doing all you can to be sure the Celebrate Recovery ministry of your church is real - as the dictionary defines being "genuine in existence".

Training at the Celebrate Recovery Summit and the One Day Seminars across the country will help you start and grow a Celebrate Recovery ministry that is an authentic ministry, faithfully following the trademark, DNA, and best practices developed through seventeen years of experience at Saddleback Church, and a growing world-wide ministry.

This Winter and Spring we will have Seminars in various parts of the country that will help you and your ministry leaders succeed in growing a ministry that will produce life change and discipleship in the lives of men and women who will come through the doors of your meeting room.

Most of this year's events will have both the Seven Keys of Celebrate Recovery AND Advanced Leadership Training. Visit Celebrate Recovery where you can find out more about the events that will have "something for everyone".

Celebrate Recovery - Support in Place for New and Existing Groups

In training others to run Celebrate Recovery ministries across the country, or around the globe, we encourage Ministry Leaders to use the resources assembled for their help. It always helps to have someone you can call or e-mail for assistance when you wish to understand or apply the seven keys of Celebrate Recovery to your local ministry.

This past week I had an opportunity to try something new, and can point out it was helpful to have someone there who had a better idea about - disc golf.

Our son was home from Houston because Hurricane Ike caused an abundance of water damage at his employer's office located on the north loop of Houston. He wound up at our home with the ability to work from our home desktop once the network at his office had been restored. He has since returned to his Houston area apartment and an office space badly in need of walls and cubicles around the desks.

One evening I offered to take him out for a break from his office work. In determining what to do, he offered disk golf as something he was fond of in college. We went to a nearby Academy Sporting Goods store and each picked up bare necessities of a "driver" and a "putter", and went to a course in a county park the next community over.

For one, I always thought a Frisbee is a Frisbee! Who knew there were drivers, putters, mid-range discs, lighted discs, and even discs designed to bank one way or the other. I assume you can pay some serious money to equip a disc golf bag with all the accessories!!!

My first attempts were not all that great, and I can report I hit a lot of trees while playing in a heavily wooded park. My son referred to that as "chopping trees". I also spent a lot of time searching for errant throws in the brush alongside the course, and was the first to draw blood, courtesy of a tangle of briars. I'm sure glad there was not a camera in the park!

Our son of course was playing right down the middle, hovering the disc gracefully above the ground, and banking great shots left or right as he pleased. When in range he always landed his shots in the basket!

Bottom line. It was great to have my boy tell me "hold it this way . . . throw it this way . . . the rules say . . ." . The thing I enjoyed most was spending time with my son, but it served as a reminder we have a great support system in place to help you as a ministry leader.

It is comforting to know you can call or e-mail a leader who has started and grown a healthy Celebrate Recovery ministry in his or her own right. We're here to help and serve you!

Looking forward to seeing some of you in Agawam, MA for the first One Day of the Fall this weekend. There are still opportunities to sign up for events in Kansas City, Lexington, and Dallas. Be sure to visit our website for more information.

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim