On the road of life, when you hit a speed bump, Celebrate Recovery is here to help you experience God’s healing and love for your hang-ups, habits, and hurts Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered program that provides men and women a safe place to share their hurts, habits and hang-ups with others in an atmosphere of worship, community and scripture. Our prayer is that through this ministry you will be able to exchange the struggles in your life for the abundant life that Christ came to bring to us all.
No matter who you are or where you’ve been, you can never fully get past sinful behavior on your own… only through the grace and love of Jesus Christ is true recovery available to you. Our weekly step study meetings are not designed as a “quick fix” for anyone. This isn’t therapy in the truest sense - it’s an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with others that may share some of the same challenges in life as you. Through our time together, studying both the Bible and the Christ-centered Celebrate Recovery materials, you will find that God DOES forgive your past and has a plan for your future.
It’s not necessary to sign up beforehand - simply take the first step by showing up on Tuesday night at 7pm to join others on the wonderful road to recovery.
A Brief History of Celebrate Recovery…
Celebrate Recovery began in 1991 at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. This ministry was a vision for Pastor John Baker, a recovering alcoholic who realized that secular 12-step programs didn’t provide the depth and focus on Christ that is needed for true recovery of body, mind and spirit.
He approached Senior Pastor Rick Warren, through a now-famous 13-page, single spaced letter, with details of his vision and hope for this new recovery ministry. Pastor Rick promptly replied, “Great… do it!”. And with that, Celebrate Recovery took it’s first steps as a ministry to adult men and women with hurts, habits and hang-ups.
Now, 17 years later, the outreach program that began at a single church in California is used in over 5500 churches world-wide, as well as a prison ministry called “CR Inside”.
12-step groups for both men and women are forming soon and the first meetings will be held at Pacific Church of Irvine beginning on Tuesday, May 20, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Q&As:
What is Recovery?
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.
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:
• 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?
If you answered “yes” to any of these statements then we urge you to attend a Celebrate Recovery meeting to see if it is for you.
Does it cost anything to attend?
Pacific Church does not charge for this ministry. Free-will offerings will be received on Tuesday evenings to help mitigate the cost of the ministry. The Step Study Workbooks and the Celebrate Recovery Bible utilized in the Step meetings can be purchased through your study group leader or at the CR table on Sunday after services. The cost for each step study book is $7.00, or all four for $20.00. The Celebrate Recovery Bible cost is $20.00 and the Celebrate Recovery Journal cost is $15.00. Other Celebrate Recovery materials are available at the Information Table on Tuesday evenings or after services on Sunday.
Is Celebrate Recovery confidential?
Yes, Celebrate Recovery maintains strict confidentiality. This promotes an atmosphere of trust and enables recovery. We have a saying that is repeated in every meeting :
• WHO you see here
• WHAT you hear here
• WHEN you leave here
• STAYS HERE
• Hear! Hear!
We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity. The CR 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.
Do I have to be a member of Pacific Church of Irvine to attend?
No, Celebrate Recovery 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 and habits. You will no doubt find attendees who are not members and/or do not attend Pacific Church of Irvine. We welcome you to join us, if you are looking for a home church. Sunday morning Worship begins at 9:30 a.m.
What if I can’t make it every week?
If you join a Step Study group, you are expected to come each week until you complete it. That said; your group leader can discuss attendance with you when you enter a group. As with any endeavor, the more effort you put into Celebrate Recovery, the more benefit you will gain.
Step Study Meetings
Our Step Study groups take place on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM. Celebrate Recovery uses the 12 Steps and its related Scripture as the biblical model for living your life. A Step Study is a personal journey though each of these steps in a confidential group lead by a facilitator who has completed a study. We use Celebrate Recovery’s four participants’ books and the Celebrate Recovery Bible available as we progress through them in group. When you finish the study you will have worked your hurts, habits, and hang-ups through each step. A Step Study is a long-term commitment to the members of the group. It will typically take about 9 months to complete the study. After completing the Step Study, we hope you will join with us as we minister to others dealing with their hurts, habits and hang-ups. We do have guidelines for the groups that are strictly adhered to.
We will be hosting two Celebrate Recovery 12 Step Groups (1 each Men & Women’s)
Meetings begin on May, 20 from 7:00-9:00 pm.
If you need more information…
Celebrate Recovery provides a safe, caring, Christian environment for each individual to come as they are and meet with fellow believers. We welcome you and encourage you to come out beginning Tuesday, May 20, at 7pm.
If you would like to speak to someone about Celebrate Recovery, or your specific hurts, habits or hang-ups, please contact one of our CR Leaders or pastors and they will get in touch with you.
Mike W., CR Ministry Leader (949-981-9336)
Mike C., CR T.E.A.M Leader (949- 653-1007)
Monica H., CR T.E.A.M. Leader (949-387-2251)
