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

Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader Connection to the Church

When the Ministry Leaders in my home town gather, they often bring up a point that is of concern in Celebrate Recovery ministries across the country. Senior Pastor Support!

As the Ministry Leader of the recovery ministry in your church, I challenge you to keep a regular on-going dialog with your Senior Pastor. In some churches this may include the Pastoral Care Director, or Staff Pastor given the opportunity oversee the ministry of Celebrate Recovery.
It is important to keep communication open for a many reasons, and here are just a few:

1.) Ongoing reports alert the Pastor and staff to the WAVE, the momentum, that is building in this recovery ministry. This includes the coming "recovery experience" that is going to be promoted in the Fall edition of the Purpose Driven Connection magazine. Pastor John has mentioned the excitement building for the fall edition of this new ministry magazine. If you haven't see this new publication, check it out now - get ready for the recovery focus this Fall!

2.) Share with the Pastor how Celebrate Recovery functions as another "door" into the church. You can do so by providing general information about participants now calling your church "home". I've always encouraged brothers and sisters in recovery to let the Pastor know that CR was the means by which they discovered Christ and the church. Many have been bold to say "Pastor, I am here because of Celebrate Recovery!".

3.) As Christ and recovery is first the avenue of change for people IN THE CHURCH, the focus then changes to OUTREACH in the community. Let the Pastor know of community impact or prison outreach that comes from the health and growth of Celebrate Recovery in your church.

At the One Day Seminar in South Carolina, Pastor Rick Warren recorded a message specifically for those attending the Seven Keys and Advanced Leadership Training. In the message, he noted national concerns about the economy and fears over job loss - concerns that are real and felt world-wide. One comment Pastor Rick shared, that really registered with the audience, is his belief that "national recovery begins with personal recovery".

As the Ministry Leader of Celebrate Recovery in your church, prepare your leadership to make a difference in the lives of men and women who are coming through the doors each week. As you help participants encounter personal recovery, their stories will encourage family and friends to find the hope that is available in Christ alone. We are making a difference!!!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Be Ready for the Newcomer - Provide help and encouragement in recovery from Hurts, Habits, and Hang-ups!

Today I learned a lesson in being prepared, and it happened on a tennis court! Bear in mind today marks the first time I've been on a court in about six months - a long time since I've even hit a ball.

Three others from church and I met at the home court of one of the men in our group. The guy that made today's match a possibility said " this is Jerry's (name changed - of course this is anonymous!!!) court, and one of his 'home court rules' is you get four opportunities your first time to serve". In other words - I had to be ready because any one of the first four balls served by another player, or myself, could be the opening shot of a game the FIRST TIME each player got to serve. No unlimited warm up serves - in other words. How about a little pressure the first time back on a court in months???

I've learned in many areas of life and ministry, it always pays to be alert.

God's word has many exhortations to preparedness in our spiritual journey and the opportunities that come our way. One is found in 2 Timothy 4:2 , where were are encouraged to Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Ministry leader - I've found in life and in recovery, we have to be open and sensitive to the opportunities the Holy Spirit sends our way. With the awesome responsibity we have to lead this life-transforming ministry, we undoubtedly have a unique advantage to speak His word of healing into the lives of newcomers showing up at THEIR appointed time. We have to be sensitive in what to share, and how to share as we point individuals to the help, strength, and hope they will soon discover in Celebrate Recovery.

One thing I've learned over the years is that someone showing up for their first recovery meeting may not be ready "to be preached at". The first thing a newcomer needs from you and your team is unconditional love and acceptance, to find their place in recovery, and an opportunity to experience Christ's love through us (CR leaders and volunteers).

My greatest joy has been to see a newcomer, perhaps a little uncertain of coming to church in the first place, feel welcomed and accepted by the Celebrate Recovery family. Through establishing growing relationships in recovery, I've seen many participants later enter church through the door of recovery. Many churches across the country see this happening, and frequently discovery CR can become one of the most effective outreach ministries of the church.

Back to that part regarding "being ready". I had the opportunity to share "my two minute testimony" with the other players between sets on a tennis court today, and it led to an appointment. The appointment to share Christ and recovery to one of my partner's family members.

Hope to see you at an upcoming One Day Seminar, or the Eleventh Annual Celebrate Recovery Summit on August 12 - 14. You can sign up for either by visiting Celebrate Recovery , where you will find registration for the Summit is open. REGISTER EARLY - we often fill up FAST!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim

Hurts, Habits, and Hang-ups? - Celebrate Recovery is Available to Help

We had a great One Day Seminar in Nashville with Henry and a wonderful team of volunteers who supported the Seven Keys and Advanced Leadership Training. Thanks, Longhollow Church, for hosting us once again!

It was a treat to stay over for Sunday services and to hear Pastor David Landrith share a message of outstanding support for recovery. He was concluding a series "Hostage: The Things That Hold You Captive", and gave strong support for getting the church involved in Celebrate Recovery at the main campus in Hendersonville, or the brand new CR starting in their satellite campus at Gallatin.

DL Moody said "My friends, if you go to the Lord with your troubles, He will take them away. Would you not rather be with the Lord and get rid of your troubles, than be with your troubles and without God?"

The focus of the series, as it is with recovery, is to turn to our higher power Jesus Christ. We find that when participants are able to drop the mask of pretending everything is o.k., God will truly have an opportunity to set us free from any chains that trap us in the past and keep us from fully experiencing His purpose in our life.

Whether you are exploring the possibility of starting this minstry, of have an existing Celebrate Recovery ministry, we have some events coming this Spring season that will help you start or grow Celebrate Recovery in your church.

Our next event will be at First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, April 25. You can visit Celebrate Recovery to locate the complete list of coming seminar events.

This is a great time to begin planning for the annual Celebrate Recovery Summit at Saddleback Church on August 12 - 14. Register early, then be sure to take care of travel and lodging! Our experience proves this event fills up fast.

Pastor John, Cheryl, and a great team of ministry leaders look forward to seeing you at a seminar soon!

Celebrating Recovery - each day in Christ! - Jim