A Letter to Celebrate Recovery

Hi, my name is Nick and I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with pride and codependency.

LAST WEEK:
Can I use the word “riveting”? I think that’s a good descriptor for Erik’s testimony. I mean I was drawn in hook, line, and sinker (for all you fishing people). I LOVE stories of overcoming. I LOVE stories of victory! I LOVE stories of hope and freedom and new life! I can’t help but feel like I’m hearing my OWN story every time someone else shares. I’m like, “Yup, I remember that…oh and that too…uh-huh I did that…” and on and on. It’s GREAT! Not that someone has had to go through the same crap I went through…NO…it’s GREAT that I’m NOT alone! I’m surrounded by people who are just as jacked up as I am. We’re ALL struggling with some hurt, habit, or hang-up. Yes, ALL of us…don’t believe me? Read Romans 3:23. Take it up with God, I’m just delivering His message.

THIS WEEK:
What brought you to Celebrate Recovery? What inspired you to walk through those doors? What was happening…IS happening in your life that you simply wanted to stop? On the flipside, what is it that’s keeping you away? What is it about that thing that you don’t want to stop? This Friday, Steve (our fearless Ministry Leader), will share one of the BEST lessons of the year: SANITY. We all want it, but few know how to get it or where it is. For most of us, SANITY is more like a unicorn or fire-breathing dragon…it’s fantasy…it’s made up…it’s not real.

That’s because we’re stuck in the cycle of INSANITY. Yes, the cycle, as in never-ending. We do the same things over and over and over and over again, expecting different results each time. THAT’S insanity. Learn how to break FREE from the bondage of whatever it is you’re struggling with. It’s time to LET GO. It’s time we learned how to actually LIVE.

NEWS & UPDATES:
Here are 5 things I want to share with you…

#1 It’s Step Study Time—tonight (Monday, February 11, 6:30-8:30p) we launched another Step Study, giving us 5 total (1 open; 3 closed). That means 60 people are learning how to find healing from past hurts, present habits, and embrace God’s future promises! I’m PUMPED to see the transformation, the radical life change that takes place, the freedom that is found, the healing that is experienced, the leaders that are developed. It’s so EXCITING! If you’re a lady or a woman or a girl over 18 and you’re interested in participating in the Step Study, please email celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org

#2 It’s Soon to Be Step Study Time Again—I’m in the planning stage, as in choosing a night of the week, to launch a new MEN’S Step Study. My hope, my plan, and my prayer are to have this group launched within 2 weeks. I don’t know about you, but I’M ready to be in a Step Study again. I NEED the accountability and WANT the friendships. If you’re a dude and interested in participating in a Step Study, please email celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org (it’s about a 1 year commitment and the books cost $17).

#3 Celebration Station is BOOMING!—Our Celebration Station is continuing to grow week after week after week. Since it launched on January 4, we’ve seen 2-3 new students each week. That’s AWESOME! Hold on, this part’s even BETTER, this means there’s a great OPPORTUNITY to serve and be a part of this dynamic program that we’ve seen some incredible life change take place (HELLO! One of the boys asked to be baptized AND his mom did as well!!). If you’ve always wanted to be a part of something BIG, a part of something that’s leaving a last IMPRESSION, a part of something that is just AWESOME…then Celebration Station is the place to be. I’d love to see 6-7 MORE leaders sign up! All our volunteers are background checked for the safety of our kids. If interested, please email celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org (tell your friends, like ALL of your friends).

#4 The Landing Has Landed—Yes! This is another area that I’m super EXCITED about! Here’s why, our leaders have decided to extend The Landing from 9p all the way to 11p. So, now our students will be able to hang, chill, play, eat, pray, study, share, grow, and be challenged each week from 7-11p. They’ve extended The Landing by 2 hours to provide a SAFE place for students (6th-12th) to hangout on a Friday night. The basketball hoops come down. The table fills up with snacks. The music turns up REALLY loud. And the rest is just AWESOME! Send someone a text and let them know all about it!

#5 Cleaning Up Is the Hardest Part—No, I’m not talking about detox, I’m talking about leaving the building in BETTER shape than when we arrived. That’s right! I said it! Clean up! Pick up a broom! Grab a mop! Stack some chairs! Take out the trash! Wash some dishes! Do other stuff! I want to give a BIG thanks to all the people who hung out last week to clean up and a BIGGER thanks to Ken and Regina for hanging back to ensure the kitchen was left in tiptop shape. This is NOT a task that should be left in the hands of a few, but tackled by a LOT. If we all pitched in, it wouldn’t take but 10-15min (which is FAR LESS than the 45-60min we normally stay after). Imagine Uncle Sam is pointing his finger saying, “I Want You!” only my name is Nick.

THE END:
Principle 2: Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover. How are you doing with this Principle? I want to hear from you. Email me at celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org