Celebrate Recovery FAQs

We've hurt ourselves and hurt others too. Some of us are still carrying around hurts from years ago and time often makes things worse. Most people are familiar with the classic 12-Step program of AA and other groups. This program is unlike any other recovery program.


QUESTIONS:

  • Celebrate Recovery is a program adopted from a church in California called Saddleback Valley Church. It 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.” From a secular standpoint, these statements don't make sense but when you realize what Jesus is saying, you'll realize that these eight principles are God's road to recovery, wholeness, growth and spiritual maturity.

  • We meet every Tuesday night at 6:45PM in the Student Center. Once a month, on only the first Tuesday of each month, we have a meal beforehand at 6PM in our Fellowship Hall. It’s free for your first meal, then $4 after that.

    We have worship, teaching and testimonies from 6:45 to 7:30PM. Our Open Share small groups provide a format for open sharing in gender and issue specific groups from 7:30 to 8:30PM. Cross-talk Cafe is a time snacks and fellowship from 8:30 -9:00PM.

  • 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.

  • Celebrate Recovery offers a person the opportunity to participate in a group where love and hope combine with God's purpose to mend our lives. Ask yourself:

    • Are there things in my life that I do that hurt others?

    • Is there something I wish I could live without?

    • Is it time to crack my denial and admit I am not in control of my life?

    • Do I have a painful habit or hang-up from which I need to be freed?

    If you answered "yes" to any of these statements then we urge you to attend a Celebrate Recovery meeting to see if it is for you.

  • Celebrate Recovery helps you to look at your past with new eyes to refocus on what needs to change in your life now. Celebrate Recovery is forward looking and focused on the future. The goal is to help you start making wise choices now and depend on Christ's power to help make those changes.

  • Celebrate Recovery addresses all types of habits, hurts, and hang-ups. Examples include but are not limited to dependency on alcohol or drugs, pornography, low self-esteem, need to control, depression, anger, codependency, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, perfectionism, broken relationships, and abuse.

  • 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. 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.

  • Open Share groups are more relaxed and you are not required to share in the discussion. You can pass anytime you wish and for as long as it takes for you to become comfortable with participating. Step Study groups are for those who want to dig deeper into recovery and they require more participation. They follow specific workbooks to achieve results.

  • Yes, Celebrate Recovery maintains strict confidentiality. This promotes an atmosphere of trust and enables recovery. 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.

  • No, you are 100% in control of when you participate and how much you share.

  • No, our Celebrate Recovery program is supported by FBLEX and voluntary donations. The only thing you pay for is the workbooks for the Step Studies and other resources available at our book table.

  • Just show up! We meet at the First Baptist Church of Lexington, 415 Barr Road, Lexington SC 29072.

  • No, Celebrate Recovery is a ministry open to anyone who is interested in a Christ-centered recovery program. There are regular attendees from the community who are not members and/or do not attend First Baptist Church of Lexington.

  • The leaders of Celebrate Recovery are men and women who have gone through similar addictions, hurts, hang-ups and harmful behaviors, completed the 12 Steps, and profess Jesus Christ as their higher power. Most leaders are not counselors and do not offer any professional clinical advice. If professional advice is required, referrals may be made.

  • You are welcome to come when you can for worship, large group and open share 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.

  • Yes, child care is available at no charge from infant to 5th grade in our Celebration Place program. We also have a teen program called Flashpoint.