Have you heard of the recovery program called Celebrate Recovery (CR)? You may be wondering, “Who is Celebrate Recovery for?” You may be surprised by the answer!
In this article, we’ll answer the question, “Who is Celebrate Recovery for?” However, it’s also important to know who Celebrate Recovery is NOT for, so we’ll cover that as well. You want to make sure your intentions line up with the purpose of the specific Celebrate Recovery group or CR meeting you attend.
If you are wondering if you would fit in at a Celebrate Recovery meeting, we will answer that question in this article. Now, I can give you the information, but it’s up to you to reap the rewards. CR is a voluntary program, a place where people find freedom from life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
Many people have addictive, compulsive, or dysfunctional behaviors. Celebrate Recovery is a place where freedom creates peace, serenity, joy, and a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ. Healing begins in this safe place!
Just about anyone can benefit from a Celebrate Recovery meeting! If you have a hurt, habit, or hang-up, you belong! Who doesn’t have one of those?
What is Celebrate Recovery?
Celebrate Recovery is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous in that it is a 12-step recovery program. However, Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered recovery program based on God’s Word – the Bible. The foundation of this ministry comes from 8 Biblical principles that are based on the Beatitudes found in the New Testament.
Read more about the Celebrate Recovery 8 principles!
This 12-step program began at Saddleback Church in California and was created by John Baker, a Christian struggling with alcohol addiction, with the help of Rick Warren, John’s pastor.
Who is Celebrate Recovery For?
Celebrate Recovery is a supportive environment for anyone with hurts, hang-ups, and habits that they wish to absolve themselves of. This would include people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, abuse victims, and those struggling with hurts such as eating disorders, codependency, and depression. That’s not all, though!
Many people with substance-use disorders still struggle with substance abuse. What’s awesome about Celebrate Recovery is that they can seek their Higher Power, God, and turn to their sponsor and accountability partners to help them as they continue to struggle from one or more addictions. However, Celebrate Recovery isn’t limited to addicts!
Many Celebrate Recovery programs have room for spouses who are coping with their partner’s addiction. Abuse victims can find support in their gender-specific group. This means that if you have physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, you may find Celebrate Recovery to be the right place for you.
Also, if you’re suffering from codependency or just general life issues, such as stress, anger, or addictions of any kind (food, drugs, alcohol, love and relationship, pornography, and gambling), you might find the support you need at a Celebrate Recovery meeting near you. CR is not a counseling or therapy outlet; it’s a meeting of like-minded individuals.
To sum this up, Celebrate Recovery might be the right place for you if you are struggling with:
- Abuse (mental, physical, and emotional)
- Addiction (gambling, love, food, drugs, alcohol, sex, and any addiction)
- An eating disorder
- Anger issues
- Codependency
- Anyone with a hurt, habit, or hang-up
What are Hurts, Habits, and Hangups?
- A hurt, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a source of pain. It can also be an emotional reaction to behaviors or situations.
- A habit, as defined by the Collins Dictionary, can be a bad action that someone repeatedly does and finds it difficult to stop doing, also known as an addiction, in many cases.
- A hang-up, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is a feeling of anxiety about something in particular. I do like the way the Celebrate Recovery at Idlewild Baptist Church describes hang-ups – negative mental attitudes that are used to cope with people or adversity.
Let’s look at some examples of hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
| Hurt | Habit | Hang-up |
| Abuse | Alcohol | Anger |
| Abortion | Cheating | Anxiety |
| Abandonment | Drugs | Codependency |
| Betrayal | Eating Disorders | Depression |
| Divorce | Gambling | Fear |
| Relationship Issues | Sex Addictions | Greed |
| Dysfunctional Family | Lying | Impatience |
| Rape | Stealing | Lack of Self-Control |
| Workaholism | Lack of Trust in God | |
| Laziness | ||
| Materialism | ||
| Perfectionism | ||
| Pride | ||
| Procrastination |
Who is Celebrate Recovery NOT For?
Celebrate Recovery is NOT for dating, picking up men or women, or pursuing romantic relationships within the group setting. It’s also NOT the right place for private investigators or people who wish to extract information from someone for their own gain.
If you want a quick fix, someone to solve all of your problems, or enjoy gossiping about the stories of others, Celebrate Recovery is NOT right for you. If you wish to attend a meeting, please make sure you follow the rules and change your intentions to align with what the program expects.
Anonymity and confidentiality are crucial components of Celebrate Recovery.
No one should ever feel afraid that what they will reveal in either the large group meetings or the small group meetings (individual, specific groups) will be discussed beyond the walls of Celebrate Recovery. Likewise, it’s important to be respectful and follow the group guidelines when others are sharing their experience.
Is Celebrate Recovery Right For Me?
Celebrate Recovery is the perfect place for anyone who wishes to let go of their hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
The program is intended to join hope and love together with God’s purpose in mind while following the 12 steps of recovery.
Think about it seriously. Determine if you are being hurt currently or if you are the one hurting others. Think about whether there are things in your life that are dragging you down, stuff you’d like to rid yourself of. Also, decide if you may be in denial about something or if there’s something you need to be freed from, such as a powerful addiction.
Ask yourself what you have control over and what you don’t have control over. Practice saying the Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery Serenity Prayer to take one of the first steps toward recovery!
Remember that this FREE program does ask that participants sacrifice their time and be open about their fears and troubles, and be willing to identify their hurts, habits, and hang-ups as they go through the process. However, you are absolutely NOT required to speak to a single person or fellowship when you first attend if you so desire.
Participation and healing are voluntary, though you may notice an unexpected change in your life and the lives of others as you deal with the grief and pain associated with what you are struggling with. Sometimes, these things just happen naturally when you are in a community of believers and like-minded individuals.
No one knew my identity when I first went to Celebrate Recovery, and I didn’t know my life was about to change because of my experience there. I encourage you to give it a chance!
To learn more about whether CR is right for you or not, explore their website or the website of a Celebrate Recovery location near you.
A CR Video: What to Expect at Celebrate Recovery
The following video also has a great deal of information to show you exactly what you can expect at a CR meeting, so there will be fewer surprises!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be a Christian to go to Celebrate Recovery?
You do not have to be a Christian to attend Celebrate Recovery. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to join. It is a faith-based recovery program, but there are no prerequisites for attending. Be sure to attend as you are with the understanding that everyone is on a journey to recover from a hurt, habit, or hang-up.
What is Celebrate Recovery like?
The first meeting can be very exciting as you learn the ins and outs of CR and meet new people. Of course, you are not required to pay anything or share anything at the meetings and groups you attend, but you will only get out of it what you decide to put into it, so it’s a great idea to stay open-minded.
How does Celebrate Recovery work?
Usually, the meetings begin with a meal for everyone. Once the large group begins, which is typically an hour-long with some praise and worship included, a testimony or CR lesson will follow, which is then followed by small individual groups, which are divided according to hurt, habit, or hang-up.
What is the Celebrate Recovery program?
Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step recovery program that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is also based on the eight principles found in the Beatitudes in the New Testament of the Bible. The ministry was founded by Pastor John Baker from the Saddleback Church in California.
Who attends Celebrate Recovery?
According to Living Faith Baptist Church, only 30% of people who attend Celebrate Recovery meetings are there for substance abuse issues. The rest are there to find victory over destructive relationship patterns, pornography, gambling, anger, anxiety, depression, compulsive spending, food addictions, grief, and other behaviors.
Conclusion
You should now know the answers to these questions:
- What is Celebrate Recovery?
- Who is Celebrate Recovery for?
- Who is Celebrate Recovery NOT for?
- Is Celebrate Recovery right for me?
Since the last answer can only be determined by you, you’ll have to discover that for yourself.
I am more than happy to guide you to the right people if interested in Celebrate Recovery but do not know the answers to all of the questions. However, I am not a group leader or a sponsor, so your best bet is to find a location near you and contact the leaders.
I’d love to hear how much you are enjoying the series I’m doing on Celebrate Recovery. It’s a powerful program that has helped my life tremendously. I’ve completed a Celebrate Recovery step study (more on that in future articles) program, and it was a life-changing experience! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!
Be sure to contact me via the contact form on this website, check out more of my blog posts, enjoy the items in my shop or my free resources, and leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
