Celebrate Recovery

Kathy Anderst

For over 10 years on Thursday evening in the small sanctuary at Set Free Christian Fellowship, in Medford, Oregon, you will see something special going on.  Is it a party?  A celebration?  Yes, a celebration of sorts, as Christians who struggle with various addictions, come to celebrate their recovery, by worshiping their Higher Power, Jesus Christ.  The music is upbeat, the atmosphere is full of energy, the sharing is real.  The people gathered there have a common purpose.  They are at a Celebrate Recovery meeting, to share their experience, strength and hope in a safe environment.  They can openly acknowledge Jesus Christ as their savior, and work through their hurts, habits and hang ups with God's help.  
Celebrate Recovery is a Christian 12-Step Program, designed with the AA 12-steps in mind, but also focuses on the Biblical principles behind the 12 steps. It was founded in the 1990’s by pastor John Baker from the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California.  The program went so well that Saddleback began to hold leadership trainings each August. These Summits have helped churches all over the nation and the world participate in helping believers who struggle find a hope and a future.  Many have shared how although they have been in recovery for many years, its wasn't until they came to Celebrate Recovery, were they able to openly talk about Jesus and work through the Celebrate Recovery 12-step program, that they truly found power in their lives to change.  
The meetings are run in a very similar manner as a traditional AA , NA or CODA meetings.  One exception is the worship music.  Glory is given to God in relational type praise music and gets the focus on God.  Each night there is a lesson step study and participants break into smaller groups for sharing.  There are "chemical” and the "non-chemical" groups, with male and females sharing in separate groups.  Currently, in Medford, at Set Free Christian Fellowship, there is a core group of about 30 regulars, with about 14 leaders and co-leaders, and rapidly growing. The leaders have all gone thought the 12 steps and are thoroughly prepared for service.  Those who choose to work through the 12 steps in preparations for leadership meet on a different night, and use the workbooks designed by John Baker.  There has been tremendous growth and transformation in peoples’ lives due to this powerful program.  
If you are interest in learning more about Celebrate Recovery in general go to www.celebraterecovery.org., or come see what the oldest local program in Medford is all about, call Set Free at (541) 773-4004.  You can also contact Ministry leader Daryl Anderst at (541) 944-0992 or Kathy Anderst at (541) 944-8673

Kathy Anderst Writes from Medford, Oregon.