About Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is a recovery ministry based on biblical principles with a goal to let God work through us in providing His healing power through a Christ-centered 12 Step program. This experience allows people to be "changed" spiritually by working through sound biblical principles. Participants open the door by sharing their experiences, strengths, and hopes with one another. In addition, they become willing to accept God's grace and forgiveness in solving life's problems. Celebrate Recovery provides a safe place for individuals to begin their journey of breaking out from their bondage and into God's grace (II Corinthians 12:9), by helping them to start dealing with their life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

Worship is a major strength and difference between a Christ-centered and a secular recovery program. Worship provides a time for everyone to put aside the busyness and hassles of the world and get in touch with the true Higher Power, Jesus Christ. It allows time for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill all those who attend with a peace and a safety that only He can provide. The main focus of every fellowship event is to help members develop healthy relationships that will grow into a support team of sponsors and accountability partners. Santa Fe Christian Church’s Celebrate Recovery ministry hosts open meetings every Friday evening beginning at 6:00 for a time of food, worship, fellowship and small group sharing.

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Celebrate Recovery is based on God's Word, the Bible. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, He began by stating eight ways to be happy. Today we call them the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). These 8 Principles are God's road to recovery, wholeness, growth, and spiritual Christ-like maturity. Celebrate Recovery utilizes the biblical truth that we need each other in order to grow spiritually and emotionally. It is built around small group interaction and the fellowship of a caring community that is built on the New Testament principle that we don't get well by ourselves. We need each other. Fellowship and accountability are two important components of spiritual growth.

Celebrate Recovery emphasizes personal responsibility. Instead of playing the "accuse and excuse" game of victimization, this program helps people face up to their own poor choices and deal with what they can do something about. Rather than wallowing in the past or dredging up and rehearsing painful memories over and over, Celebrate Recovery focuses on the future. Regardless of what has already happened, the solution is to start making wise choices now and depend on Christ's power to help make those changes. We cannot control all that happens to us, but we can control how we respond to everything. That is a secret of happiness. When we stop wasting time fixing the blame, we have more energy to fix the problem. When we stop hiding our own faults and stop hurling accusations at others, then the healing power of Christ can begin working in our mind, will, and emotions.

Celebrate Recovery emphasizes spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ. It calls for people to make a total surrender of their lives to Christ. Lasting recovery cannot happen without this step. Everybody needs Jesus. Celebrate Recovery addresses all types of habits, hurts, and hang-ups. Some recovery programs deal only with alcohol or drugs or another single problem. But Celebrate Recovery is a "large umbrella" program under which a limitless number of issues can be dealt with.

Unlike the common misconception, Celebrate Recovery is not just for those with chemical dependencies (alcohol or otherwise). This ministry is for anyone who wants more victory in life, wants to be more effective in their relationships or make better decisions. Celebrate Recovery combines the dynamics of Biblical fellowship, contemporary worship, casual teaching, testimonies from others who have come through their hang-ups, structured small groups and personal discipleship.

This weekly program is a free ministry of Santa Fe Christian Church and there is little to no cost for participants.

Weekly Schedule: Every Friday Night

6 pm |Dinner
7 pm | Large Group Worship and teaching
8 pm | Small Groups & Newcomers
9 pm | Dessert & Fellowship

CR FAQ’S

What is Recovery?

In physical health, recovery refers to the process of moving from illness to wellness. Our hurts, habits and hang-ups are like an illness and using the tools of Celebrate Recovery we begin to move toward wholeness. Some might say from bondage to freedom in Christ. Others might say from self-reliance to faith in Christ.

How do I get started?

Just show up! We meet at Santa Fe Christian Church at 7 PM. No pre-enrollment is necessary. Come between 6-7 PM if you want a great dinner. The meal is $5 and includes food and drink.

Does it cost anything to attend?

Celebrate Recovery does not charge admission or dues for this ministry. Free-will offerings are received on Friday evenings. Our Celebrate Recovery is self-supporting. Workbooks are utilized in the Step Studies and are available at the Resource Table on Wednesday evenings. Prices for these materials range from $6 - $20.

What is the format of a meeting?

From 6 PM to 7 PM there is an option dinner and time of fellowship. Next is a time for worship and announcements. A teaching or personal testimony is presented to the entire Celebrate Recovery group. At 8 PM there are gender-specific open issue groups that provide a format for open sharing. No one is required to participate in the personal sharing. At 9 PM the group meetings end and there is a time of coffee/soft drinks and fellowship with other attendees.

What is the difference between AA and Celebrate Recovery?

The principle difference between AA (and other Twelve Step programs) and Celebrate Recovery is that Celebrate Recovery focuses on Jesus Christ as the true Higher Power and uses God's Word as the authority in relation to the Twelve Steps. The Twelve Steps have a Christian heritage as they were modeled after the Oxford Society (see the AA Story). In order to reach people who would be offended by Jesus or the church, AA focused on a Higher Power. But Celebrate Recovery's 8 Principles to the Road to Recovery tie the Twelve Steps to Jesus Christ's teachings known as the Beatitudes given in The Sermon on the Mount.

Is Celebrate Recovery confidential?

Yes, Celebrate Recovery maintains strict confidentiality. This promotes an atmosphere of trust and enables recovery. We have a saying that is repeated in every Large Group meeting : WHO you see here. WHAT you hear here. WHEN you leave here. STAYS HERE. Hear! Hear!

We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity. The guidelines/rules protect all of us from judgment and being “fixed”. In a “safe place” you can take off your “mask” and be real and honest without fear. You are 100% in control of when and how much you participate.

Who are the leaders of CR?

The leaders of Celebrate Recovery are men and women who have gone through similar addictions, hurts, hang-ups and harmful behaviors and have been through this or a similar Recovery Program. The leaders are not counselors and do not offer any professional clinical advice. If professional advice is required, referrals may be made.

Do I have to be a member of Santa Fe Christian Church to attend?

No, Celebrate Recovery is a ministry for anyone who is interested in a Christ centered recovery program that will enable them to recover from life’s hurts, hang-ups habits and addictions. There are attendees who are not members and/or do not attend Santa Fe Christian Church. You are welcomed by our caring fellowship of believers to visit with us on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and Morning Worship Service.

What are the rules in a small group?

To insure confidentiality and anonymity the following five rules are followed at all times:

RULE 1 – Your sharing is focused on your own thoughts and feelings and is limited to 3 – 5 minutes.
RULE 2 – There is no cross talk. Cross talk is when two individuals engage in dialogue to the exclusion of others. Each person is free to express feelings without interruption.
RULE 3 - We are here to support one another. We will not attempt to “fix” another.
RULE 4 – Anonymity and confidentiality are essential requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group.
RULE 5 – Offensive language has no place in a Christ- centered group.

What is a Step Study?

The Step Study will begin after the first of the year. Celebrate Recovery uses the Twelve Steps and its related Scripture as the biblical model for living your life. A Step Study is a personal journey though each of these steps in a confidential group lead by a facilitator who has completed a study. We use Celebrate Recovery's four participants books. When you finish the study you will have worked your hurts, habits, and hang-ups through each step. A Step Study is a long-term commitment to the members of the group. It will typically take 6 months to complete the study. After completing the Step Study, we hope you will join with us as we minister to others dealing with their hurts, habits and hang-ups. We do have guidelines for the groups that are strictly followed.

Do I have to share?

In the Issue Groups, absolutely not . . . until you are ready. You can pass anytime you wish and for as long as it takes for you to become comfortable. In the Step Studies everyone is required to share as the questions are answered.

What if I can't make it every week?

You are welcome to come when you can for worship, large group and issue groups. However if you join a Step Study, you are expected to come each week until you complete it. As with any endeavor, the more effort you put into Celebrate Recovery, the more benefit you will gain.

Is there Child Care Available?

Childcare is available at no cost to those attending Celebrate Recovery's Friday Night meetings. We provide care for children from birth to 6th grade.

For more information contact the church at 409-925-3190 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .