Is Celebrate Recovery for me?
Celebrate Recovery offers a person the opportunity to participate in a group fellowship where love and hope combine with God’s purpose to mend our lives. Ask yourself:
Who can benefit from Celebrate Recovery?
Anyone (inside or outside the church) who struggles with the kinds of hurts, hang-ups and habits described on this Web site can benefit from CR. Do you struggle with a particular issue that seems to have such strength and power over you that it has prevented you from experiencing any real victory? Have you been secretly hoping for a safe place to share your struggles and get healing? Celebrate Recovery is for you!
What is the cost to attend? What about materials/literature?
All Celebrate Recovery groups are 100% free to attend. Some groups take up an offering to help support expenses. Some groups have a donation basket. Each group handles expenses differently, but there is no required cost to attend. Step Study books, Celebrate Recovery Bibles, LIfe's Healing Choices books, and other materials vary depending on the amount that was ordered and shipping per group. Northgate will work with you regarding literature costs if you need to pay in installments or if you need assistance. Northgate does not have childcare available at this time.
What if I don't have an addiction? Can CR help me?
Yes. Celebrate Recovery also helps people who are affected by others who are battling addiction or some other destructive behavior. You are welcome to join us and gain support and wisdom. However, Celebrate Recovery is ONLY for participants and not observers. If you would like to observe what a CR group looks like, the Large Group time is a great place to observe only, or check out the movie "Home Run" at www.homerunthemovie.com.
Will Celebrate Recovery get me or my friend sober? How long will I need to attend Celebrate Recovery to find healing?
Celebrate Recovery is a program that provides tools and a clear path to recovery with Jesus, but we do not "get" people sober or free from sin. That is a process through the steps with Jesus, that generally is only effective if the person wants to change. We do see miracles all the time, but the program is not designed to force itself onto anyone. It is a self-paced program in that participation is 100% voluntary.
Healing from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits is a journey. If we surrender our lives to Christ, He saves us (Principle 3). The twelve steps and the eight principles help us work through the issues we face. For some, the journey lasts a year. For others, the journey can last a lifetime. The length of time depends on the depth of your hurts,hang-ups, and habits. Remember, that your hurts,hang-ups, and habits occurred over a long period of time. They will not go away overnight!
What types of issues are dealt with at Celebrate Recovery?
A wide variety of hurts, hang-ups and habits are represented at Celebrate Recovery. Examples include dependency on alcohol or drugs, pornography, low self-esteem, need to control, depression, anger, co-dependency, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, perfectionism, broken relationships, and abuse.
What are hurts, hang-ups, and habits?
A hurt, hang-up or habit is anything that hinders your walk with God. They postpone or prevent genuine fellowship with Him and your loved ones.
Do I have to join a Church or be a Christian to attend?
No, Celebrate Recovery is a ministry outreach for anyone who is interested in a Christ-centered recovery program that will enable them to recover from life’s hurts, hang-ups and habits. Many attendees are not members, but it is encouraged to be a part of a local fellowship. You do not have to be a Christian to attend. All you have to do to qualify is to have a hurt, hang-up, or habit and a desire to get well.
How often does CR meet? What if I can't make it every week?
We meet once a week, 52 weeks a year. It is important to us that all those in crisis are never more than 6 days away from the next meeting. You are welcome to come when you can for worship, Large Group and Open Share Groups. However if you join a Step Study, you are expected to come each week until you complete it. As with any endeavor, the more effort you put into Celebrate Recovery, the more benefit you will gain.
How long does Celebrate Recovery last?
Large group typically lasts about 45 minutes. It includes Worship and either a teaching or testimony. Open share groups follow for about an hour. Groups are gender specific. Step Studies are offered as well. A Step Study is a long-term commitment to the members of the group. It will typically take 6 to 12 months to complete the study depending on the size of the group.
No registration is needed. Just show up. You are welcome to arrive early if you would like to ask some questions before the group time starts.
What do you mean that Celebrate Recovery is a "safe place"? What are the Small Group Guidelines?
Celebrate Recovery insists that certain guidelines apply during Open Share Groups and Step Study Groups. The guidelines are distinctive features of the ministry designed to create a safe environment for participants to share. We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity – what you hear and who you see at Celebrate Recovery stays here. The rules protect all of us from judgment and being “fixed”. In a “safe place” you can take off your “mask” and be real and honest without fear. You are 100% in control of when and how much you participate.
Is it okay for me to take notes?
It is okay to take notes during the large group portion. We do, however, ask that during the Open Share Groups you refrain from bringing out any note-taking materials, because it is distracting to others.
I've heard people introduce themselves in a very different way at Celebrate Recovery than at most secular programs. Why is that?
In Celebrate Recovery, you will hear folds introduce themselves like this: "My name is ___________ and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle with __________." We do this in order to emphasize that though we do still struggle with hurts, hang-ups, and habits, our identity is in our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one and only true Higher Power.
Do I have to share in the Open Share Groups or Step Study Groups?
You will never be required to share in the Open Share Groups. You can take as long as you need to feel safe enough to share. In the Step Studies, however, everyone is required to share as the group moves through the questions in the curriculum books.
Do men and women meet together?
We all meet together for the Large Group meeting and then dismiss into the Open Share Groups, men with men and women with women. All Step Study meetings are gender specific. The purpose for Celebrate Recovery having gender-specific groups is that it provides another opportunity to have a safe place to share. Separate groups allow men to be open in their groups and speak freely about their issues, and the same for women. It also protects the groups from being a place for people who are looking to impress the opposite gender during their sharing by embellishing their story. And there are some people who are not comfortable talking in front of the opposite gender and will shut down and not share at all. It also eliminates a "dating" scene from developing withing the groups.
Who leads the groups?
Celebrate Recovery groups are not lead by pastors, teachers or counselors. Instead, CR groups are facilitated by compassionate volunteers who have, by the grace of God, walked through a process of recovery from their own hurts, hang-ups and habits. The group leaders are those who know what it is like to be lost, broken, or hurting. Your leaders have overcome the same issues that you are going through. They are committed to helping you and others find hope and healing as a part of their own journey in recovery after they go through extensive training.
How is Celebrate Recovery different from other 12 Step programs?
At Celebrate Recovery our Higher Power is Jesus Christ and the Word of God is our authority. Our Step Study guidebooks refer to scripture references for instruction. Every Large Group meeting begins by worshiping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ through music and prayer. See Christ Centered 12 Steps and 8 Principles.
How does Celebrate Recovery differ from Alcoholics Anonymous?
Celebrate Recovery incorporates the Christ-centered Twelve Steps with a distinctly Christian approach. We also address many more issues than just alcohol abuse.
Will I need to find a sponsor in the group? What is the difference between a sponsor and an accountability partner?
Sponsors are an optional component of the Large Group and Open Share portions of Celebrate Recovery though we do encourage participants to pair up with a person of the same gender within their small group, who is actively working the program and can serve as an encouragement and prayer partner. Sponsors become a mandatory component of a Celebrate Recovery Step Study as you progress through the Step Study. Sponsors must have completed their own Celebrate Recovery Step Study and generally have a minimum of one year of recovery.
Both sponsors and accountability partners should be the same gender as you. A sponsor is like a coach and an accountability partner is like a teammate. When you are out on the field and do something that goes the wrong way, your teammates are there to encourage you. When you return to the bench where your coach awaits, he/she is there to correct your methods and suggest a better way to try to prevent errors.
How did Celebrate Recovery start?
John Baker, a believer who struggles with abuse of alcohol, found help through Alcoholics Anonymous and began healing. He found emptiness at AA because he could not refer to his personal Higher Power, Jesus Christ. He presented a plan to start a Christian 12 Step Recovery program to his pastor, Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in California. Pastor Rick said, “Do it!” John did and Celebrate Recovery was born.
Do you have any groups to help my teenager or younger child(ren)?
Many Celebrate Recovery programs have a group called "The Landing" for teenagers or "Celebration Station" for grade-school children. It is based on the same principles as Celebrate Recovery , but presents them in a way that students will connect with at their own age level. The lessons deliver hope-filled truths and real-life strategies for giving young people and children the tools for making wise choices and developing healthy patterns for living. Northgate CR hopes to add these programs soon.
How do I find a group best for me?
Begin by finding a group that meets on a night you know would work in your schedule. Try also finding a group that meets at a location near your house. Try visiting a few groups and see if you can find one that matches your needs and desires to find hope and connection. We strongly suggest attending 3 or more meetings before deciding if Celebrate Recovery is a place to find healing and hope for your journey. To locate a group close to you please go to http://grouplocator.crgroups.info/
Celebrate Recovery offers a person the opportunity to participate in a group fellowship where love and hope combine with God’s purpose to mend our lives. Ask yourself:
- Are there things in my life that I do that hurt others?
- Is there something I wish I could live without?
- Is it time to crack my denial and admit I am not in control of my life?
- Do I have a painful habit or hang-up from which I need to be freed?
Who can benefit from Celebrate Recovery?
Anyone (inside or outside the church) who struggles with the kinds of hurts, hang-ups and habits described on this Web site can benefit from CR. Do you struggle with a particular issue that seems to have such strength and power over you that it has prevented you from experiencing any real victory? Have you been secretly hoping for a safe place to share your struggles and get healing? Celebrate Recovery is for you!
What is the cost to attend? What about materials/literature?
All Celebrate Recovery groups are 100% free to attend. Some groups take up an offering to help support expenses. Some groups have a donation basket. Each group handles expenses differently, but there is no required cost to attend. Step Study books, Celebrate Recovery Bibles, LIfe's Healing Choices books, and other materials vary depending on the amount that was ordered and shipping per group. Northgate will work with you regarding literature costs if you need to pay in installments or if you need assistance. Northgate does not have childcare available at this time.
What if I don't have an addiction? Can CR help me?
Yes. Celebrate Recovery also helps people who are affected by others who are battling addiction or some other destructive behavior. You are welcome to join us and gain support and wisdom. However, Celebrate Recovery is ONLY for participants and not observers. If you would like to observe what a CR group looks like, the Large Group time is a great place to observe only, or check out the movie "Home Run" at www.homerunthemovie.com.
Will Celebrate Recovery get me or my friend sober? How long will I need to attend Celebrate Recovery to find healing?
Celebrate Recovery is a program that provides tools and a clear path to recovery with Jesus, but we do not "get" people sober or free from sin. That is a process through the steps with Jesus, that generally is only effective if the person wants to change. We do see miracles all the time, but the program is not designed to force itself onto anyone. It is a self-paced program in that participation is 100% voluntary.
Healing from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits is a journey. If we surrender our lives to Christ, He saves us (Principle 3). The twelve steps and the eight principles help us work through the issues we face. For some, the journey lasts a year. For others, the journey can last a lifetime. The length of time depends on the depth of your hurts,hang-ups, and habits. Remember, that your hurts,hang-ups, and habits occurred over a long period of time. They will not go away overnight!
What types of issues are dealt with at Celebrate Recovery?
A wide variety of hurts, hang-ups and habits are represented at Celebrate Recovery. Examples include dependency on alcohol or drugs, pornography, low self-esteem, need to control, depression, anger, co-dependency, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, perfectionism, broken relationships, and abuse.
What are hurts, hang-ups, and habits?
A hurt, hang-up or habit is anything that hinders your walk with God. They postpone or prevent genuine fellowship with Him and your loved ones.
Do I have to join a Church or be a Christian to attend?
No, Celebrate Recovery is a ministry outreach for anyone who is interested in a Christ-centered recovery program that will enable them to recover from life’s hurts, hang-ups and habits. Many attendees are not members, but it is encouraged to be a part of a local fellowship. You do not have to be a Christian to attend. All you have to do to qualify is to have a hurt, hang-up, or habit and a desire to get well.
How often does CR meet? What if I can't make it every week?
We meet once a week, 52 weeks a year. It is important to us that all those in crisis are never more than 6 days away from the next meeting. You are welcome to come when you can for worship, Large Group and Open Share Groups. However if you join a Step Study, you are expected to come each week until you complete it. As with any endeavor, the more effort you put into Celebrate Recovery, the more benefit you will gain.
How long does Celebrate Recovery last?
Large group typically lasts about 45 minutes. It includes Worship and either a teaching or testimony. Open share groups follow for about an hour. Groups are gender specific. Step Studies are offered as well. A Step Study is a long-term commitment to the members of the group. It will typically take 6 to 12 months to complete the study depending on the size of the group.
No registration is needed. Just show up. You are welcome to arrive early if you would like to ask some questions before the group time starts.
What do you mean that Celebrate Recovery is a "safe place"? What are the Small Group Guidelines?
Celebrate Recovery insists that certain guidelines apply during Open Share Groups and Step Study Groups. The guidelines are distinctive features of the ministry designed to create a safe environment for participants to share. We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity – what you hear and who you see at Celebrate Recovery stays here. The rules protect all of us from judgment and being “fixed”. In a “safe place” you can take off your “mask” and be real and honest without fear. You are 100% in control of when and how much you participate.
Is it okay for me to take notes?
It is okay to take notes during the large group portion. We do, however, ask that during the Open Share Groups you refrain from bringing out any note-taking materials, because it is distracting to others.
I've heard people introduce themselves in a very different way at Celebrate Recovery than at most secular programs. Why is that?
In Celebrate Recovery, you will hear folds introduce themselves like this: "My name is ___________ and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle with __________." We do this in order to emphasize that though we do still struggle with hurts, hang-ups, and habits, our identity is in our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one and only true Higher Power.
Do I have to share in the Open Share Groups or Step Study Groups?
You will never be required to share in the Open Share Groups. You can take as long as you need to feel safe enough to share. In the Step Studies, however, everyone is required to share as the group moves through the questions in the curriculum books.
Do men and women meet together?
We all meet together for the Large Group meeting and then dismiss into the Open Share Groups, men with men and women with women. All Step Study meetings are gender specific. The purpose for Celebrate Recovery having gender-specific groups is that it provides another opportunity to have a safe place to share. Separate groups allow men to be open in their groups and speak freely about their issues, and the same for women. It also protects the groups from being a place for people who are looking to impress the opposite gender during their sharing by embellishing their story. And there are some people who are not comfortable talking in front of the opposite gender and will shut down and not share at all. It also eliminates a "dating" scene from developing withing the groups.
Who leads the groups?
Celebrate Recovery groups are not lead by pastors, teachers or counselors. Instead, CR groups are facilitated by compassionate volunteers who have, by the grace of God, walked through a process of recovery from their own hurts, hang-ups and habits. The group leaders are those who know what it is like to be lost, broken, or hurting. Your leaders have overcome the same issues that you are going through. They are committed to helping you and others find hope and healing as a part of their own journey in recovery after they go through extensive training.
How is Celebrate Recovery different from other 12 Step programs?
At Celebrate Recovery our Higher Power is Jesus Christ and the Word of God is our authority. Our Step Study guidebooks refer to scripture references for instruction. Every Large Group meeting begins by worshiping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ through music and prayer. See Christ Centered 12 Steps and 8 Principles.
How does Celebrate Recovery differ from Alcoholics Anonymous?
Celebrate Recovery incorporates the Christ-centered Twelve Steps with a distinctly Christian approach. We also address many more issues than just alcohol abuse.
Will I need to find a sponsor in the group? What is the difference between a sponsor and an accountability partner?
Sponsors are an optional component of the Large Group and Open Share portions of Celebrate Recovery though we do encourage participants to pair up with a person of the same gender within their small group, who is actively working the program and can serve as an encouragement and prayer partner. Sponsors become a mandatory component of a Celebrate Recovery Step Study as you progress through the Step Study. Sponsors must have completed their own Celebrate Recovery Step Study and generally have a minimum of one year of recovery.
Both sponsors and accountability partners should be the same gender as you. A sponsor is like a coach and an accountability partner is like a teammate. When you are out on the field and do something that goes the wrong way, your teammates are there to encourage you. When you return to the bench where your coach awaits, he/she is there to correct your methods and suggest a better way to try to prevent errors.
How did Celebrate Recovery start?
John Baker, a believer who struggles with abuse of alcohol, found help through Alcoholics Anonymous and began healing. He found emptiness at AA because he could not refer to his personal Higher Power, Jesus Christ. He presented a plan to start a Christian 12 Step Recovery program to his pastor, Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in California. Pastor Rick said, “Do it!” John did and Celebrate Recovery was born.
Do you have any groups to help my teenager or younger child(ren)?
Many Celebrate Recovery programs have a group called "The Landing" for teenagers or "Celebration Station" for grade-school children. It is based on the same principles as Celebrate Recovery , but presents them in a way that students will connect with at their own age level. The lessons deliver hope-filled truths and real-life strategies for giving young people and children the tools for making wise choices and developing healthy patterns for living. Northgate CR hopes to add these programs soon.
How do I find a group best for me?
Begin by finding a group that meets on a night you know would work in your schedule. Try also finding a group that meets at a location near your house. Try visiting a few groups and see if you can find one that matches your needs and desires to find hope and connection. We strongly suggest attending 3 or more meetings before deciding if Celebrate Recovery is a place to find healing and hope for your journey. To locate a group close to you please go to http://grouplocator.crgroups.info/