The Best Place to Be on Friday Nights

Celebrate Recovery© is a Christ-centered ministry to help people receive freedom from life's hurts, hang-ups and habits using 8 Principles and 12 Steps. It meets every Friday, 7–9 p.m., at the Otterbein Church Youth Ministry Center, 900 S. Potomac Street, Waynesboro, PA. The SOLID ROCK CAFE, a time of fellowship and refreshments meets 9–10 p.m.

FREE CHILDCARE PROVIDED: Pre-registration is required by Thursday. For more information about Celebrate Recovery or to register for childcare call the church office at (717)762-7147.

Purpose

The purpose for Celebrate Recovery ministry is to fellowship and celebrate God's healing power in our lives through the "Eight Recovery Principles." This experience allows us to be changed. By working and applying these Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from our addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others. As we progress through the program we discover our personal, loving and forgiving true and only Higher Power—Jesus Christ.

Eight Recovery Principles

These are written by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, CA, and are based on the Beattitudes.

Principle 1—Realize I'm not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor"

Principle 2—Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to him, and that He has the power to help me recover. "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"

Principle 3—Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control. "Happy are the meek"

Principle 4—Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to another person whom I trust. "Happy are the pure in heart"

Principle 5—Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life. "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires"

Principle 6—Evaluate all my relationships; offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others when possible, without expecting any reward. "Happy are the merciful" and "Happy are the peacemakers"

Principle 7—Reserve a daily time with God for prayer, Bible reading, and self-examination in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.

Principle 8 —Yield myself to be used by God to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words. "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."

FAQs and Facts

What is Celebrate Recovery?
The program is Christ-centered program. Jesus Christ is the one and only Higher Power.

Is there a curriculum or are there any guidelines?
The Celebrate Recovery curriculum is used exclusively (Leader's Guide and four Participants Guides, and the Bible). The Large Group lessons are taught from the Leader's Guide, keeping at least the acrostic and the scriptures as the key points in the lessons. This is to keep consistency within groups, while allowing creativity for the teachers.

Is this an individual (one-on-one) ministry or is it group-based?
The ministry is "group-based." All groups are gender specific and use the group guidelines and format. (The leaders may occasionally meet with individuals for prayer, requested accountability or answer questions regarding the ministry.)

The Celebrate Recovery "Five Small Group Guidelines" are implemented and followed. (See below)

To whom are the leaders accountable?
Accountability to Jesus Christ, Otterbein Church and also the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Saddleback Church.

Small Group Guidelines

Celebrate Recovery Small Groups Can:

  • Provide you a safe place to share your experiences, strengths and hopes with others who are going through the "Principles" in a Christ-centered recovery.
  • Provide you a leader who has gone through a similar hurt, hang-up or habit that will facilitate the group as it focuses on a particular Step each week. The leader will also keep Celebrate Recovery's "FIVE RULES."
  • Provide you with the opportunity to find an accountability partner or sponsor.
  • Encourage you to attend other recovery meetings held throughout the week, if available.

Celebrate Recovery Small Groups Will Not:

  • Attempt to offer any professional clinical advice. Our leaders are not counselors. We will provide you with a list of approved counseling referrals.
  • Allow its members to attempt to fix one another.