HOW CELEBRATE RECOVERY STARTED
(the following is a transcript of Pastor John Baker's testimony given at Olive Branch Church in December of 1996)

In the time we have together we are going to start talking about taking a journey, a journey of 8 principles along the "road of recovery." I have the privilege of serving Jesus Christ at Saddleback Church as the Pastor of Ministry. I joined Saddleback’s staff six years ago as the pastor of recovery and small groups.

Three years ago, I was asked to serve as one of the eight elder pastors, and I oversee more than 150 ministries at Saddleback Church. Now, that’s what I do. But, you know, God is really more concerned about whom I am rather than what I do. He’s concerned about my character and my values; who I really am when there’s no one else around.

As a way of re-introducing myself - my name is John and I’m a believer that struggles with alcoholism. Notice I said I’m a believer who struggles. You see, my identity is in my Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ, not in my struggle with a bottle of booze. [continued]

Arizona pastor finds help for overeating through
Celebrate Recovery
It wasn't as much what Louie Marsh was eating, but what was eating him that caused him so many problems in his "earlier" days.

The senior pastor of Christ's Church on the River in Parker, Ariz., found that the more he faced hardships, troubles, and trials, the more he ate. Sure, he had a penchant for junk food and candy. What bachelor didn't? That was merely a symptom of deeper problems inside of him. It wasn't until many years later that he realized he needed recovery. [read more]

Indiana man turns to faith-based plan to sustain substance abuse recovery
Pain can be an incredible molder of the human psyche.

For Bob McDowell, the pain of his father's betrayal and his mother's untimely death to cancer started him on a downward spiral of drugs, alcohol, and gambling.

Yet God didn't let him stay down. Instead, God turned the pain into something useful – a life yielded to him. [read more]

After four failed attempts, Tennessee man says
Celebrate Recovery helps keep him sober
At age 10, most boys dream of becoming a firefighter or a police officer. When he was 10, Saun Lyons became an alcoholic.

"I knew I was an alcoholic right away," Saun said. "When I started drinking, I knew I couldn't stop."

Growing up in Rochester, N.Y., Saun was the youngest of four children born into a troubled family. Saun's father was a recovering alcoholic and was angry and self-centered. His mother suffered from depression and panic attacks. [read more]

Statewide prison system challenges churches to help prisoners find addiction recovery
Last November, the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) surprised a group of Nashville churches, countering their request to introduce the Celebrate Recovery program to the local prison with an earth-shaking invitation: "We've already heard about Celebrate Recovery and investigated it ... and we want you to bring the program into all 17 state prisons in Tennessee." [read more]