The Purpose of Christ Community Church's Celebrate Recovery Ministry is to celebrate God's healing power in our lives by working and applying the eight Recovery Principles that are based on the Beatitudes. This process of recovery allows us to grow spiritually and opens the door for God's grace to free us from the bondage of our addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors. With this new freedom we find hope, help, and healing through the one and only Higher Power - Jesus Christ. Hurts, habits, and hang-ups! We all have them. The Bible clearly tells us it is our nature to sin and "all have sinned." None of us is untainted. We've all hurt ourselves, we've all hurt others, and we've all been hurt by others. We all need recovery and repentance in order to live the way God intended.

Maybe you have heard the expression "time heals all wounds." Unfortunately, it isn't true. The truth is that time often makes things worse. Wounds that are left untended fester and spread infection throughout our life. Time only extends the pain if the problem isn't dealt with. Many of us carry hurts from thirty or forty years ago. What we need is a biblical and balanced program to help us overcome our hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Celebrate Recovery is that program. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place where people can find help, encouragement, support, and unconditional love.

Maybe you are familiar with the classic 12-step program of AA which uses the term "higher power". While Celebrate Recovery also uses the 12 steps, we are very clear on the fact that Jesus Christ is the only true "Higher Power." Here are several reasons why Celebrate Recovery is unique:

• Celebrate Recovery is based on God's Word, the Bible. CR is based on the actual words of Jesus.
• Celebrate Recovery is forward-looking. Rather than wallowing in the past or rehearsing painful memories over and over, CR focuses on the future.
• Celebrate Recovery emphasizes personal responsibility. CR helps people face up to their own poor choices, face up to faults, and stop hurling accusations so that the healing power of Christ can begin to work.
• Celebrate Recovery emphasizes spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Celebrate Recovery utilizes the biblical truth that we need each other in order to grow spiritually and emotionally.
• Celebrate Recovery addresses all types of hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Some recovery programs deal only with alcohol or drugs. CR deals with all types of issues.

Celebrate Recovery truly is from the heart of God. God loves us and cares deeply about the pain, burdens, and bondage that we carry. He uses this ministry to heal and transform lives.

Maybe you are someone who feels trapped by your behaviors or the circumstances of your life. Maybe you feel hurt, frustrated, and alone. You can know this - Celebrate Recovery is here for you. You are not alone! Things we ARE NOT:

• Therapy or counseling
• A place for secrets
• A place to look for dating relationships
• A place to rescue or be rescued by others
• A place of perfection
• A place to judge others
• A quick fix
• A place for selfish control

Things we ARE:

• A safe place to share
• A refuge
• A place of belonging
• A place to care for others and be cared for
• A place where respect is given to each member
• A place where confidentiality is highly regarded
• A place to learn
• A place to grow and become strong again
• A place where you can take off your mask
• A place for healthy challenges and risks
• A possible turning point in your life

1. Large Group Meeting: Thursday Nights 7-8 PM No obligation No addiction/recovery experience necessary Participation at your own pace
2. Open Share Groups: Thursday Nights 8-9 PM No obligation No experience necessary Gender-based Meet others dealing with your same issues Share your struggles and victories Small Group Guidelines
3. Weekly 12-Step Meeting Accountability and Sponsorship Gender-based Willingness to work on your recovery Weekly attendance expected At least a one year commitment CR 12-step curriculum used

Schedule
Thursday Nights 7:00 - 8:00 pm Large Group Meeting - Worship, Lesson, Personal Testimony, or Special Guest Speaker
8:00 - 9:00 pm Open Share Small Groups - Men's and Women's Groups
9:00 - 9:30 pm Fellowship Time - Great fellowship, coffee, and desserts

(Free childcare is available from 7:00 - 9:00 pm)

Current Open Share Groups
Men's A - Z - for struggles such as anger, codependency, depression, guilt, sexual addictions, adult children of alcoholics, etc. (Meets in Room 232)
Men's Chemical Dependency (Meets in Room 230)
Women's A - Z - for struggles such as chemical addictions, food, anger, codependency, depression, guilt, survivors, adult children of alcoholics, etc. (Meets in the old Fellowship Hall)

• Am I battling depression?
• Do I "blow up" in anger/rage at the ones I love?
• Is the guilt/shame of my past weighing me down?
• Is someone I love being brought down by drug or alcohol addiction?
• Do I struggle with addiction (alcohol, drugs, food, sex, shopping, etc.)?
• Do I constantly beat myself up when I feel "blah" instead of blessed?
• Are my relationships in disarray?
• Am I struggling with the pain of being raised by an alcoholic or drug addicted parent?
• Have I been raped or sexually abused and I just can't seem to "get over it"?
• Do I isolate instead of reach out in stressful times?
• Do I judge my insides against other people's outsides?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, Celebrate Recovery is the place for you. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for ALL hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Let's face it, we all struggle with something? God never intended for us to deal with these struggles alone. There is only one way to true recovery and that is through the healing power of Jesus Christ!