Celebrate Recovery Is Coming to First Plano

By Alice Coder, Associate Pastor for Congregational Life

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, fully believed that all Christians are "going on to perfection," or full maturity in Christ, in this life. The truth is, though, that all of us struggle with bad habits, painful experiences, and/or dysfunctional behaviors. So how do we get from where we are to where we want to be? First of all, we turn our lives over to Christ, and then we get to work! Jesus came that we might have life, abundant, celebratory, joyous life. If you’re not feeling particularly "perfect" or your life is more challenge than joy, help is on the way!First Plano Church Council has approved a program for everyone who struggles with poor decision-making and compulsive and addictive behaviors. That program is Celebrate Recovery. CR is internationally known for its success in helping people to experience healing and wholeness. Through CR, persons have a real hope that life can be different through the power of the Holy Spirit to transform their lives.

Celebrate Recovery was developed by John Baker in 1990 at Saddleback Church in California. An alcoholic, Baker wanted a place where he could use the 12 steps of AA and other recovery programs and also name the "higher power" as Jesus Christ, and he was convinced that others had the same yearning. So he lined out the program that would become Celebrate Recovery to Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren who endorsed it wholeheartedly.

CR differs in two ways from the traditional 12-step program. Not only does it name Jesus Christ as the power behind the healing, John Baker and Rick Warren developed 8 Recovery Principles based on the Beatitudes. These teachings of Jesus help persons grow spiritually and put the power of God’s Spirit to work to deepen faith and restore mental, emotional and spiritual health. In addition, CR takes advantage of the accountability of Christian fellowship. These confidential groups provide fellowship and support on the long journey to freedom from emotional and chemical addictions and from harmful and hurtful behaviors and habits.

Persons who are trapped in the grasp of addiction risk losing family, friends, and jobs. They may even have to endure the shame of arrest before receiving the help and hope God wants to give. Celebrate Recovery helps persons grow in faith and discipleship as they break free from the bonds of addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors.

If you want to know more about Celebrate Recovery or how you might participate in this program, please contact Dr. Micke Smith at (214) 256-4573 or safepeople7@yahoo.com, or Rev. Alice Coder at 972-423-4506 or acoder@firstmethodistplano.org, Your call will be kept strictly confidential. More information about Celebrate Recovery may be found at http://www.celebraterecovery.com.