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What is Celebrate Recovery?

Celebrate Recovery is a ministry designed to help hurting people find healing and wholeness. It’s made up of regular folks like you and me, who are on a journey toward recovery, seeking God's healing from life's hurts, habits, and hang-ups. In this Christ-centered environment, trained leaders provide safe, confidential groups where people can grow together. These leaders, fellow travelers on the journey to healing, share their own stories to encourage others. At Celebrate Recovery, we believe that true change is possible through the power of Jesus, using this Biblical program.

Is Celebrate Recovery for YOU?

Celebrate Recovery is for anyone with the courage to be honest about their struggles and a willingness to open their life to healing and change. We walk together through life’s pain, following Christ, without dictating how or where others should walk. We acknowledge that we are all still in recovery, and our past or current addictions and hang-ups are no longer hidden but are instead brought to light. In this community, you'll find some of the most authentic, transparent, and compassionate people anywhere. Importantly, our identity is not found in our weaknesses or struggles but in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Celebrate Recovery is a recovery ministry rooted in biblical principles, with the goal of allowing God to work through us to provide His healing power. By working through sound biblical principles, participants experience spiritual transformation. This journey begins as individuals share their experiences, strengths, and hopes with one another, becoming open to accepting God's grace and forgiveness in dealing with life’s problems. Celebrate Recovery offers a safe place to start breaking free from bondage and stepping into God’s grace, addressing life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

What is a Hurt, Habit, or Hang-up?

A hurt, habit, or hang-up is something in your life that hinders your walk with God and others.
  • A hurt is an emotional reaction to another person’s behavior or a disturbing situation, such as abuse, abandonment, codependency, divorce, or relationship issues.
  • A habit is an addiction to someone or something, like alcoholism, drugs, food, gambling, sex, shopping, or smoking.
  • Hang-ups are negative mental attitudes used to cope with people or adversity, such as anger, depression, fear, or unforgiveness.

Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones
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These life problems can either be stumbling blocks or stepping stones. Healing is possible by applying the principles of Celebrate Recovery to your life. Start your journey toward healing and transformation today!


Celebrate Recovery® Name and Guidelines

The Celebrate Recovery® name is a registered trademark. To protect the integrity of the broader ministry, Celebrate Recovery® requires that any use of its name adhere to the following irreducible minimums for the program:

The DNA of an Authentic Celebrate Recovery® Ministry
  1. Jesus Christ as the Only Higher Power
    Celebrate Recovery® is a Christ-centered ministry, and Jesus Christ is recognized as the one and only Higher Power.
  2. Exclusive Use of Approved Curriculum
    The Bible* and Celebrate Recovery® curriculum, including the Leader’s Guide, four Participant’s Guides, and the Celebrate Recovery® Journal, must be used exclusively. Large Group lessons should be taught from the Leader’s Guide, ensuring that at least the acrostic and Scriptures remain central to the lessons. This maintains consistency across groups, while allowing for creativity in the introduction and conclusion of each lesson.
    Life’s Healing Choices is part of the approved curriculum and can be utilized in various ways within Large Group, Newcomers group, and Step Study groups. To explore the five ways to incorporate Life’s Healing Choices into your Celebrate Recovery® ministry, visit www.celebraterecovery.com.
    Celebration Station and The Landing are the approved curricula for children and youth, respectively. These are the only programs directly connected to the Celebrate Recovery® curriculum for adults.
    • Use of the Celebrate Recovery® Bible is strongly encouraged, as it is the only Bible specifically designed to correspond with the Celebrate Recovery® curriculum. Available in Kindle, iBooks, and Nook formats, the Celebrate Recovery® Bible aligns with the resources developed and tested within the national and international ministry of Celebrate Recovery®.
  3. Group-Based Ministry
    The ministry is “group based,” with all groups being gender-specific and adhering to the Small Group Guidelines and format.
  4. Implementation of the Five Small Group Guidelines
    The Celebrate Recovery® "Five Small Group Guidelines" must be implemented and followed in every session.
  5. Accountability
    Each group is expected to be accountable to Christ, the local church, and the Celebrate Recovery® model established at Saddleback Church.

Important Note on Usage of the Celebrate Recovery® Name

A church or organization may choose to use the Celebrate Recovery® curriculum in conjunction with other materials or programs, at their discretion. HOWEVER, they are prohibited from using the Celebrate Recovery® name if they do so.
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Additionally, items produced for commercial sale using the Celebrate Recovery® name are strictly prohibited.