Help for Every Hurt, Hang Up, and Habit

Celebrate Recovery was started in 1992 at Saddleback Church in California. John Baker, using the 12 Step Program basics of AA, created CR's Twelve Steps and their biblical comparisons. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church later wrote the series, ”The Road To Recovery: Eight Principles Based on the Beatitudes,” which was integrated as a key part of the Celebrate Recovery Program.

The program has three main components: Large Group meetings, small group meetings called Open Shares, and small group Step Studies. In the weekly meeting, Large Group starts with worship, followed by either a lesson, based on the 12 Steps and 8 Principles, or a testimony. The gender-specific Open Shares follow, allowing participants to discuss the lesson and/or a struggle/victory from their life. Step Studies, also gender-specific, are held at a different time. These are an in-depth study of the program's 25 lessons, which allow participants to dig deeper into their life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits to find healing through the grace of Jesus Christ.

In the words of Rick Warren, the following features make Celebrate Recovery a unique program:
• Celebrate Recovery is based on God's Word, the Bible.
• Celebrate Recovery is forward-looking.
• Celebrate Recovery emphasizes personal responsibility.
• Celebrate Recovery emphasizes spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Celebrate Recovery utilizes the biblical truth that we need each other in order to grow spiritually and emotionally.
• Celebrate Recovery addresses all types of hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

No hurt is beyond healing
No hang-up is beyond hope
No habit is beyond help
Freedom is possible