The Celebrate Recovery name is a registered trademark. In a desire to protect the integrity of the broader ministry, Celebrate Recovery requires that if you use the Celebrate Recovery name, the DNA must be followed.

Read more about the DNA of Celebrate Recovery

7 elements that are key to starting a Celebrate Recovery ministry and keep it healthy and growing.

The three main groups that are unique and important to the overall health of a Celebrate Recovery ministry. They are Large Group Meeting, Open Share Groups, and Step Study Groups. Two of the groups meet on the same night called the General Meeting Night; The Large Group Meeting and the Open Share Groups.

The main meeting night of a Celebrate Recovery Program, consisting of 4 elements: Dinner, Large Group Meeting, Open Share Groups, and an after group fellowship time.

Large Group Meeting is a one-hour meeting that provides participants a time of worship, read the 8 Principles or 12 Steps, CR news announcements, lesson taught from the Celebrate Recovery Leaders’ Guide or have a testimony. This is often a Newcomer’s first experience to Celebrate Recovery.

Open Share Groups are gender and issue specific share groups. These groups meet for one hour immediately after the Large Group concludes. Some Celebrate Recovery ministries may offer online zoom Open Share Groups. They are called open share groups for two reasons, first participants are open to share any struggles and/or victories. Second, they remain open to newcomers each week without the need to sign up. This group is led by a trained Celebrate Recovery leader and co-leader and is under the authority of their local church.

Step Study Groups are gender specific groups for people ready to delve deeper into their hurts, hang-ups and habits. Even though Step Study Groups are gender specific they are mixed recovery issues groups. Ideally, Step Study Groups meet for 2 hours on a different night of the week from the Large Group and Open Share Group meetings. Some Celebrate Recoveries may offer online zoom Step Studies. Step Study groups work through the 12 Steps and 8 Principles using the Journey Begins or Journey Continues Participant Guides. This group is led by a trained Celebrate Recovery leader and co-leader and is under the authority of their local church.

The last element of the General Meeting Night, where participants fellowship and connect in order to develop relationships that support their recovery.

The effect and aftermath of a offense, trauma, wound or personal choice, that impacts us emotionally, physically, mentally and/or spiritually.

Patterns of unhealthy emotions with distorted core beliefs toward our circumstances, God, ourselves and others.

Compulsions, addictions, and/or coping mechanisms developed over time as a way to escape or numb our pain.

Harmful character traits, we all have, that lead to unhealthy, hurtful, and damaging responses toward God and others.

A systematic process for healing hurts, exploring and discovering hang ups, and replacing habits with new tools to deal with life’s trials and struggles through the Christ centered 12 steps and 8 Principles. Recovery is not just about stopping unhealthy habits and behaviors, it’s also about starting new healthy habits that lead to healing.

To discontinue an unhealthy habit or behavior. Sobriety is measured by the length of timeline has abstained from an unhealthy habit or behavior.

The original 12 steps were developed in and for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). They have been adapted to focus on Jesus Christ, as the one and only true higher power, and to include all recovery issues.

*Throughout the Celebrate Recovery material, you will notice several references to the Christ-centered 12 Steps. Our prayer is that Celebrate Recovery will create a bridge to the millions of people who are familiar with the secular 12 Steps (we acknowledge the use of some material from the 12 Suggested Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous) and in doing so, introduce them to the one and only true Higher Power, Jesus Christ. Once they begin that relationship, asking Christ into their hearts as Lord and Savior, true healing and recovery can begin!

The 8 RECOVERY principles were developed by Pastor Rick Warren after a study of the Beatitudes and 12 steps when he found that many of the tenets of the 12 steps were taught by Jesus thousands of years ago. The principles and 12 steps work together as a road map to healing.

The guidelines are proven, effective and mandatory statements designed to help participants experience a safe and productive small group experience. These are read and upheld in every small group setting of Celebrate Recovery to maintain safety for all in attendance.

Much like a coach, a sponsor is a recovery mentor who helps you work through the 8 Principles and 12 Steps, by offering feedback and wise counsel. A sponsor is ideally a follower believer and has at least one-year continuous sobriety and has worked through the Steps. Your sponsor should be the same gender as yourself.

Much like a teammate, as you walk the road to recovery together encouraging one another along the way. Your accountability partner should be the same gender as yourself. The benefit of walking with a sponsor and/or accountability partner is that you will have support for every step along the road to recovery.

Celebration Place is a program that is based on the same principles as Celebrate Recovery, but it presents them in a way that grade-school-aged children will understand.

Celebration Place and The Landing lessons deliver hope-filled truths and real-life strategies for giving young children and teens the tools for making wise choices and developing healthy patterns for living. The curriculum is experiential and includes small groups.

The Landing program is based on the same principles as Celebrate Recovery, but it presents them in a way that students will connect with.

Celebration Place and The Landing lessons deliver hope-filled truths and real-life strategies for giving young children and teens the tools for making wise choices and developing healthy patterns for living. The curriculum is experiential and includes small groups.

Coins used to mark special occasions, sobriety or time in our recovery. The first year is measured in months. At one year of recovery, and every year thereafter, we receive a bronze coin.