About CR

Hello and Welcome to Celebrate Recovery or "CR"

Celebrate Recovery is a proven 25+ year old Christ-based 12-step program based on the Beatitudes from Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount". 

 Contrary to what people think, this program is not only for people with alcohol and drug addictions. 

 It is for people with hurts, habits and hangups they simply cannot overcome in their own strength.

Have you experienced:

  • Thoughts or emotions (such as depression, fear, anxiety, anger, etc.) that result in actions or attitudes that affect your life negatively?

  • Abuse (verbal, physical, sexual, religious) from which you have not received complete healing?

  • Loss of a loved one through death, divorce or separation?

  • Inability to control your actions or reactions to other people or situations?

If yes, then Celebrate Recovery is for you!

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS

The Full Story

Celebrate Recovery started in 1991 at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. At that time, the church was meeting at a high school gymnasium. John Baker wrote Pastor Rick Warren the “now-famous, concise, 13-page, single-spaced” letter outlining the vision God had given John for Celebrate Recovery. After reading John’s letter, Pastor Rick said, “Great, John — go do it!”

The first night 43 people attended, and Celebrate Recovery was born. Beginning with only four Open Share Groups — Men’s and Women’s Chemical Dependency and Men’s and Women’s Codependency — the ministry has grown to over 14 groups today. Over 27,000 people have gone through the program at Saddleback Church. Many of them are now serving in Celebrate Recovery and the Church. Celebrate Recovery is the number one outreach ministry at Saddleback Church, with over 70 percent of its members now coming from outside the church.

The first 10 years were the birth stage of Celebrate Recovery, and now God is calling us to take it to the world. There are now 35,000 Celebrate Recovery churches around the world, and that number continues to grow. We are part of a movement that is bringing the healing power of Jesus Christ to the hurting and broken through working Celebrate Recovery’s Step Studies, The Journey Begins, and The Journey Continues. To date, over 5 million individuals have completed a Step Study.

In addition, Celebrate Recovery is not just growing in churches, but in recovery houses, rescue missions, universities, and prisons around the world. New Mexico was the first state to adopt Celebrate Recovery into its state prison system and now has Celebrate Recovery pods in all its state prisons. In August 2004, Celebrate Recovery was announced as California’s state-approved substance abuse program for prisons. This is an exciting and growing outreach opportunity for every Celebrate Recovery.

We are a part of something much larger than one church’s Celebrate Recovery. We are part of a movement that God is blessing.

Our Beliefs

WE BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, His only Son: our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was crucified, dead and buried. He rose again on the third day. He ascended to heaven and now sits in authority at the right hand of God the Father. He will return to claim his Church and judge mankind.

WE BELIEVE in a literal Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and eagerly await the resurrection of those who died in Him. We believe in a literal heaven and hell. The eternal status for saints and unbelievers is determined by Christ, based on their relationship with Him. His Kingdom will have no end.
WE BELIEVE the Bible is the perfect and inspired Word of God. It is our source of all doctrine, instruction and correction. It provides practical guidance for every- day life. 

WE BELIEVE in communion as a commemoration of Christ’s death and will continue to do it in this memory until He comes again. It is a sign of our relationship with Him.
WE BELIEVE that God is a Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory.

WE BELIEVE in God, the Father: Almighty Creator of heaven and earth.

WE BELIEVE in the Church: the bride of Christ, whose goal is to make disciples throughout the world. This global Church is comprised of many local fellowships. We affirm those fellowships who see Jesus Christ as Lord as the only way to heaven.

WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit: who empowers Christ-followers to serve and share their faith. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and directs us in life.

Meet Our Team

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