Transformation Thurrock : Introduction to Thurrock Celebrate Recovery

Introduction to Thurrock Celebrate Recovery

by Pastor Colin Baker of Grays Baptist Church

Please take a moment to read about this exciting new project in Thurrock.

In my opinion, Celebrate Recovery is the best thing to have come out of Saddleback Church even better than Purpose Driven Church and Purpose Driven Life.

Having been in California last summer and observed what God has been doing amongst people with hurts, hang-ups and habits, I am convinced that Celebrate Recovery and other recovery ministries are of vital importance to the body of Christ today.

The big secret about Saddleback Church is not its Purpose Driven-ness but that it has found itself where the action is in people's lives as they face up to the real issues of their lives. That is where Celebrate Recovery has found its niche. People in the locality of the church, have since 1991 been overcoming habits like sex disorders and drug addictions with a twelve-step programme based on Christian principles. The 12 Steps are the same as those used by Alcoholics Anonymous but with the Biblical references!

The astonishing statistic at Saddleback Church today is that nearly 75% of its current leadership came to the church through Celebrate Recovery. A very real demonstration of God's intention to minister through the broken.

Now, why would we want to be sharing such a programme with a wider audience of Christians in Thurrock?

Celebrate Recovery has been able to help people from all walks of life. Let me ask you some questions.

Are you in control of your life? Many of us will probably answer yes to this question but then let me ask you another.
Do you sometimes stay up later than you should and regret it the following day because you are tired? Many of us can answer yes to that question! If you do, you may think you`re in control , but consequences have shown you that you`re probably not !

Now consider this more deeply -

Is there a condition in your life that is a potential or actual problem for you?
Is it a condition that you want in your life?
If not , and there was something you could do about it , would you do it ?

You see!!! There is a need of a wider audience for Celebrate Recovery. A local councillor in Thurrock has stated that something needs to be done about people who have an addiction to alcohol who are causing problems in Grays town centre. We are not suggesting anything which would require local bye-laws being changed or any Police enforcement. Simply, we want to offer a means whereby people might get help.

What do the questions above expose though?
Both extremes are in need of help. One thing is true about those who have what we might call 'a serious addiction'... they are more honest about their condition than those who would consider they are doing okay. Many Christians have perhaps pointed the finger at others whose behaviour they have considered reproachable or unacceptable thinking that they were okay because they had Jesus in their life.

There are many Christians, those who have put their trust in Jesus for salvation and as their pattern for daily living, but dare not tackle the issues in their life which they are a little ashamed of.

Hurts, hang-ups and habits cover a whole lot of issues for us in Celebrate Recovery, such as eating (or not eating), relationships, fear, gambling, pornography, alcohol... the list is endless. Not just that, but we also have space for those who have grown up in families where parents have had these struggles which have affected them in some way.

In other words, do you have issues? Did I ask you if you were in control of your life or is something else pulling your strings. Pastor John Baker, who founded Celebrate Recovery said that 'if you have a belly button you probably have issues'.

Celebrate Recovery has been implemented at churches and prisons across the world and has certainly attracted the attention of the media. At the Faith-Based and Community Initiative Conference in 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush praised Celebrate Recovery as being able to "change hearts" where government cannot.

Celebrate Recovery meetings are similar to those of other twelve-step programs, one difference is in their focus on the one and only true Higher Power, Jesus Christ. We do not necessarily believe you need to know Jesus in order to be free of your addictions of hang-ups but it is a lot easier if you do. With any recovery programme you have a chance; with Jesus at the centre of it you have a massive advantage!

There are no requirements for membership. You may attend with a desire to work the steps for healing with any number of hurts, hang-ups or habits (compulsive behaviors).

To learn about the 12 steps of Celebrate Recovery - click here

Colin Baker, 23/02/2009

Tags: addiction, celebrate recovery, freedom, grays baptist church