How Celebrate Recovery Became Part of My Healing Journey

Written by Brett, FAC member and Celebrate Recovery Facilitator 

Content warning: This post mentions addiction, mental health struggles, marriage distress, and suicidal thoughts in the context of recovery 

“Hello, I’m Brett. I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, and I struggle with sex addiction, codependency, and anxiety.”  

7 years ago, when I first walked through the doors of Celebrate Recovery (CR), I could barely say those words out loud in a safe room, let alone imagine writing them in a public blog post. But over the years, Jesus Christ has been actively working a miracle in my life. 

Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step program where healing and recovery are found through Jesus Christ. It is designed to help people work through hurts, hang-ups, and habits in a safe, anonymous, confidential, and supportive community. Hosted in thousands of churches around the world, CR welcomes people who are struggling with things like addiction, codependency, grief, depression, trauma, and more. 

When I came to CR, my marriage was falling apart. A lot of that had to do with my actions, and in some areas, my lack of action. As I walked into the room, I felt defined by my secrets and my shame. How could I be a successful oil and gas professional, with a wife, 2 kids, and a nice suburban home, and still have this weakness in my life? For 15 years, I had worked hard to see myself as independent and capable. In many ways, I had made myself my own little “god.” But that version of me was crumbling. I had finally come to the place where I was ready to admit that I am not God, and that my life had become unmanageable.  

And that is exactly where my miracle started: my surrender. 

That kind of surrender did not happen overnight. It was not something I could simply “do the course,” push through the hard work, and check off as complete. Over 7 years, the Lord has gently taught me how to let go, how to rest in Him, and how to do life His way instead of my own. And now, I can say with honesty and gratitude that I am a believer in Jesus Christ! 

The Lord works in ways that are greater than our ways, and He does more than we can hope or imagine. As I pursued my own healing, I began to love the richness of sharing life honestly with others and helping people find healing in their own broken places. I became drawn to the process, the healing, and the sanctification that comes through a ministry centered on the power of the Gospel to overcome our pride, stubbornness, hurts, hang-ups, and habits.  

I have seen the same kind of transformation I experienced happen in many other people. I have watched them step into the life of the church and begin helping others in ways only they could. That passion for loving other broken people eventually led me to help lead the ministry alongside a wonderful team full of friends. And when I say friends, I mean it. These people have shown me some of the deepest truth and grace I have ever experienced, and they have allowed me to offer the same to them. 

We have seen our Tuesday open group grow from about 20 to 35 people each week. We have also seen more people commit to the in-depth Step Study, even though it requires 6 to 8 months of steady commitment. In recovery, if you are not working the program, attendance often fades. But those who stay with it begin to see change. As I have led and participated in the Step Studies, I have seen firsthand the change in those who work their own program in community.  

The change they experience is a result of their willingness to commit to the process: discovering who God is, exploring how their past has defined how they see God, the world, and themselves, and learning to see themselves as God does. 

That is just the beginning, but it is truly a light that shows up on a person’s face. They begin to know they have strength in Christ. And through Christ, they can continue to take the next hard steps, like letting go of old habits, offering forgiveness, making amends, and repairing relationships. I have seen estranged parent-child relationships repaired so a grandparent could hold a new grandchild. I have seen marriages saved, suicidal thoughts cease, and people move from protecting themselves in isolation to engaging with community—and experiencing the renewal and the richness of life Jesus brings! 

For many people, they have arrived at the same place: rock bottom. It isn’t a fun place. It’s a place where the pain (that we are often causing ourselves) becomes stronger than our pride and our fear of stepping into the unknown. Even when we are desperate, it still takes bravery and humility to walk through the doors. The goal of Celebrate Recovery is to be as safe a place as possible in that vulnerable moment. There is no judgment. We have all been there before. There is acceptance. CR has been a place where I learned it really is okay to not be okay and that I did not have to stay stuck there alone.  

Our desire is to bring the love of Christ and the Gospel to every attendee. This is where CR differs from secular recovery programs: we choose to acknowledge Christ as Lord over our efforts to overcome the results of our own best thinking. 

So how do we help build a culture where it is okay to not be okay? We aim to support, not fix. Every Tuesday of the year that the church is open, we gather for a teaching lesson and worship together. Afterward, men and women go to their small groups. Sharing is optional, and no one gets to talk over you or talk about you. You simply get to share where you are at—good, bad, or ugly—and be accepted in that moment. We aim to walk alongside each person as they work their own path forward. We offer community, but we are not there to point a finger or tell someone, “You should.” What is shared in these rooms is confidential, and anonymity outside the room is a priority. 

To our FAC family, you may be wondering how you can help. Prayer is one of the biggest gifts you can offer.  

• Please pray for each person connected to CR: potential attendees, newcomers, long-time participants, and especially the leadership team.  

• Pray against pride and the denial that often comes with it.  

• Pray for acceptance in the hard areas of life and for surrender to our good and faithful Lord.  

  
  

Another way you can help is to come and attend for yourself. There is not a person among us who could not benefit from taking time to look honestly at their past, their self-talk, and the places where they may be holding back from trusting the Lord with more of their life. As you pray for our attendees, please do so with a soft heart that remains open to saying “yes” if the Holy Spirit encourages you to come. 

If you would like to know more about my story, hear from another CR leader, or ask questions about what CR is and who it is for, please come talk with us. CR can be for anyone. As leaders, we have seen the joy that comes through repentance and healing, and we are excited to share that hope with others. We meet every Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the Discovery Theatre.  

Remember, healing is not something we’re meant to do alone, but in community! 

Michelle Peters, FAC’s Community Support Pastor, recently attended one Tuesday evening and reflected: “It was so encouraging to see and witness the healing these women and men are experiencing in their lives as they journey with Jesus…I was reminded that God IS working in the lives of people…These are miracles we don't always get to see or hear about when we gather at our weekend services, but God is meeting people in deeply personal ways throughout the week, healing and changing lives!” 

Thank you, Brett, for sharing your story! Celebrate Recovery is a safe, judgment-free place to find healing, freedom, and renewal in Jesus. There’s no cost, no registration, and you’re welcome to join anytime!