Celebrate Recovery by Andy Tuel
“Can we start a recovery group at River Ridge Church?”
At first, a recovery group didn’t seem like a big need. After all, isn’t that what we do on Sunday mornings? The gospel being proclaimed and taught should be enough, right? But soon after, God began a work that opened up a different avenue of authentic healing called Celebrate Recovery (CR), a 12-step biblically based recovery program. CR reaches people where they are with their battles and is unapologetic in claiming the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process.
The recovery process has two aspects – Support and Steps. The support group meets for two hours every week, one hour with worship, a bible based lesson or personal testimony, and the second hour breaking into gender-specific groups and discussion. The Step Study is a more intensive discipleship program rooted in the Bible.
Since 2011, the program has grown from a few leaders praying about the ministry to having a multi-campus presence with two weekly support meetings and step studies at both campuses. CR also reaches out to communities. Nationwide, CR has seen 85% of he people who go through the program stay with a local church and nearly half serve.
We have seen Celebrate Recovery permeate our community groups, Sunday services, and have heard this ministry’s impact in baptism testimonies. At River Ridge Church, we exist to reach spiritual seekers with the gospel of Jesus Christ and grow believers in both their love of God and love of people. Celebrate Recovery is an integral part of people experiencing the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ. For more information about Celebrate Recovery, visit www.celebraterecovery.com
Andy Tuel is a campus pastor at River Ridge Church in West Virginia. River Ridge Church is a multi-campus church located in Charleston and Teays Valley.
Pictured above: Patrick and Shelley Coleman, founders of CR at River Ridge Church
