Recovery Groups In Your Area

Many people have found that it is tough to be a lone ranger in the battle against porn and lust. Some well intended Christians advise to use the resources in your local church, but the typical church doesn’t talk about porn, sex, masturbation, and lust very often. When they do, it’s usually vague and tends to leave you questioning whether you’re the only one dealing with lustful temptations.

This is why recovery groups were most likely created. I can’t tell you the history of recovery groups, but what I can tell you is how relieving it feels to share your struggles with someone else. Most recovery groups turn into a sort of family where everyone supports each other. If you find yourself continually losing the battle, please get involved in a recovery group. In the battle for purity a recovery group lets you fight as an army rather than one solitary solider.

Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery was created by John Baker of the Saddleback Church (yes, this is Rick Warren’s church). I’m aware of the debate regarding the Purpose Driven Life book, but if you have an unenthusiastic view of Rich Warren or his book please don’t tune me out just yet.

John Baker founded Celebrate Recovery after he was discouraged in his Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step program. In his testimony or welcome video he explains that after trying to talk about Jesus Christ as his higher power, he was ridiculed. Consequently, he set out to make a group that used many of the same 12 step principles, but tailored it specifically for Christians who are struggling.

There are 8 main principles in his recovery group, which spell the acronym RECOVERY. I will give you the summarized version.

R = Realize I’m not God (You have a problem and need help)
E = Earnestly believe God exists (God will help you with your problem)
C = Consciously choose (turn your life and problem over to God)
O = Openly confess (confess faults to God, yourself, and someone you trust)
V = Voluntarily submit (ask God to change you)
E = Evaluate relationships (forgive others and ask for forgiveness)
R = Reserve a quite time (develop a daily time with God to improve your relationship)
Y = Yield yourself to God (share this good news with others)

With recovery groups all over the world, they tend to be located closer to major cities. It is kind of difficult to use their search engine to locate a group. So instead I have found the recovery groups for San Francisco. All you need to do is replace San Francisco with your city and hit search. You will then be presented with the leaders name, phone number, hosting church and time they get together.

When you do call let them know you Sexual Addiction Men’s Group (or SA for men) or if your looking for women’s group let them know you want the Sexual Addiction Women’s Group (or SA for women). They also have groups on anger, food addiction, chemical dependency, and financial recovery.

Also there is a message from Pastor Rick Warren explaining why the 8 step program was created and what you are truly signing up for.

I should also mention that Celebrate Recovery has a one-day seminar. Currently they only have it in two locations, Idaho and New York.

If you have the desire to begin your own recovery group, a church of any size can implement these materials. All the materials can be bought at their website. They have student and teacher edition recovery guides, and everything else you can think of. If you are looking for support organizing a recovery group, Celebrate Recovery has 5 blogs to assist you. They are on the home page about half way down (in the blue box).

By searching the site I have found a jail ministry with the 8 step program. I haven’t had the privilege of being involved in a jail ministry, but this is a fantastic opportunity for them as well. You will have to email Celebrate Recovery for more information on this.

I'm currently working on my resouces for recovery groups. Sorry these posts take so long I can only do this part time.

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