Recover Groups FAQ

The stated purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to fellowship and celebrate God’s healing power in our lives through the 12 Steps and their Biblical comparisons and 8 Recovery Principles.  By working and applying these Steps and Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually, emotionally and socially mature. 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 Higher Power—Jesus Christ, the only true Higher Power.

CR is one of the most loving environments you could be a part of – a family you choose.  Everyone here is on the same road to recovery even though our issues may be different. Everyone is seeking truth and freedom in Christ. CR is a safe place where you can take your mask off and be who you are. CR is a refuge, a place of belonging, a place to care for others and be cared for, where respect is given to each member, where confidentiality is highly regarded. It’s a place to learn, to grow and become strong again. CR is a place for healthy challenges and healthy risks that can create turning points in your life.

CR is NOT a place of selfish control, therapy, 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 long-term commitment, or a place to judge others to feel better about yourself. CR is NOT a quick fix or a bandaid for your issues.

CR is not just for those struggling with drugs or alcohol but is perfect for anyone who is struggling any number of hurts, habits or hang-ups that are causing their lives to become chaotic and/or unmanageable. Celebrate Recovery is a “large umbrella” under which a limitless number of issues can be addressed like depression, perfectionism, anxiety, childhood abuse, anger, financial bondage, grief, dysfunctional homes, and relationships, etc.

Any type of hurt, habit or hang-up that hinders one’s walk with God including abandonment, codependency, abuse, relationship issues, and habits like food, gambling, sex, shopping, relationships, pornography, abuse, smoking, money, alcohol or drugs, and hang-ups like negative mental attitudes that are used to cope with people or adversity such as anger, depression, resentment and inability to forgive others.

CR is purely voluntary. If you wish to attend, you need not to be a Christian or a member of any church. There is no pre-registration or sign-ups necessary to attend. We only have one rule … No Perfect People Allowed!

Basic format of CR meetings:

• 6:30pm – Large Group Meeting:  common service in which one of the 12 Steps/8 principles are taught or a recovery testimony is shared.
• 7:15pm – Open Share Group Meeting: small group discussions that are gender-specific and sometimes issue specific.

The entry point for Celebrate Recovery is to come to our Thursday night drop-in meeting starting at 6:30 p.m..  After the large group meeting, you will then attend a newcomer group on your first night. This will give you a feel for what to expect in the small groups. All you have to do is show up and we will walk you through everything.

These open small group meetings on Thursday nights follow the common large group meeting. Most of the discussion in these groups revolve around the topic that was presented in the large group meeting and allows time for sharing with friends. These groups are gender and sometimes issue specific. If there is not a group for your specific issue, then feel free to go to our “A-Z” open share group. If you are new to CR, make sure you start with the Newcomer open share group, so we can connect with you and help get you connected. Anyone can go into any group of the same gender and share whatever your issues are with others. Sharing is an important part of the recovery journey, but make sure to follow the 5 Guidelines during open sharing.

Celebrate Recovery does not charge for its ministry.  Our CR is self-supporting. A free-will offering is received during the drop-in meetings for those who wish to invest in making the ministry available to all.

• Celebrate Recovery is based on God’s Word. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He taught “Eight Ways to Be Happy.” Today we call them the Beatitudes. Once you fully understand what Jesus was saying, you realize these eight principles are God’s road to recovery, wholeness, growth and spiritual maturity.
• Celebrate Recovery is forward-looking. Rather than wallowing in the past, or dredging up and rehearsing painful memories over and over, Celebrate Recovery focuses on the future.
• Celebrate Recovery emphasizes personal responsibility. Instead of playing the “accuse and excuse” game of victimization, this program helps people face up to their own poor choices and deal with what they can do something about.
• Celebrate Recovery emphasizes spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ. The 3rd “step” of Celebrate Recovery calls for people to make a total surrender of their lives to Jesus Christ.
• Celebrate Recovery is built on the biblical principles of real community. It is fellowship-focused, not individual-focused. We grow and get better together. It is built around small group interaction and the support of a caring community.
• Celebrate Recovery addresses all types of hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• Some recovery programs deal only with alcohol or drugs or another single problem. But Celebrate Recovery is a “large umbrella” under which a limitless number of issues can be addressed.

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 questions like 1) Are there things in my life that I do that hurt others? 2) Is there something I wish I could live without? 3) Is it time to stop my denial and admit I am not in control of my life? 4) Do I have a painful habit or hang-up from which I need to be freed? If you answered yes to any of these statements then we urge you to attend a CR meeting to see if it is for you.

In physical health, recovery refers to the process of moving from illness to wellness. Our hurts, habits, and hang-ups are like an illness and using the tools of Celebrate Recovery we begin to move toward wholeness. Some might say from bondage to freedom in Christ. Others might say from self-reliance to faith in Christ.

Step-study groups are held during the week and meetings generally last 2 hours. Men and women, separated by gender, work through four study guides, based on the twelve steps and their biblical comparison and follow the 5 Guidelines during meetings. Groups meet weekly for about 12 months under the gentle and loving guidance of a trained leader. Whatever the hurt, habit or hang-up might be, members honestly working through the material in these step-study groups are able to form strong relational bonds, find accountability partners, sponsors and friends through sharing and caring. Most importantly, they are able to be freed from the shame, guilt, and pain of their issues by learning to let go and let God take over – one day at a time!

Yes, CR maintains strict confidentiality. This promotes an atmosphere of trust that enables recovery. We have a saying that is repeated in every Large Group meeting: WHO you see here. WHAT you hear here. WHEN you leave here. IT STAYS HERE! We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity. The guidelines/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 and reveal.

No, CR is a ministry for anyone who is interested in a Christ-centered recovery program that will enable them to recover from life’s hurts, hang-ups, habits, and addictions. There are attendees who are not members and do not attend 970 Church, however, you are always welcome to attend any of our weekly services or small groups.

Yes, here’s the times they meet and links to their sites/pages.

• Salavation Army, Sundays at 5:00pm
• Canyon View Vineyard Church, Tuesdays at 6:30pm
• New Horizons Church, Fridays at 6:30pm
• Clifton Christian Church, Fridays at 6:30pm