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The First United Methodist Church of Andalusia is starting a new community outreach ministry called Celebrate Recovery beginning in the fall.

“Celebrate Recovery is designed to help individuals recover the image of Christ in their lives. Come enjoy a ‘safe place’ as we seek healing from those things that keep us from growing into who God has created us to be. CR helps everyone gain a healthy, balanced, and Godly life. Celebrate Recovery is not just for those with addictions and is for everyone,” a CR statement read.

FUMC will begin the program beginning September 15 and host the program each Thursday night. Dinner will begin at 5:15 p.m. followed by a large group meeting at 6 p.m. Men’s and women’s open share groups will take place at 7 p.m. with dessert fellowship at 8 p.m. The program is scheduled to conclude around 8:30 p.m.

Topics that will be covered at the ministry include hurts, habits, hang ups, bitterness, loss, grief, worry, PTSD, anxiety, shame, low self-esteem, depression, resentments, adultery, divorce, loneliness, stress, abuse, drugs, rage, gossip, self-pity, people pleasing, regret, workaholism, trauma, abandonment, procrastination, self-centeredness, failures, compulsive behaviors, overspending, pride, guilt, anger, sin, lying, alcoholism, perfectionism, sexual addictions, insecurity, gambling, codependency, fear, discontentment, hypochondria, pornography addiction, overeating, and need to control.

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!”

Celebrate Recovery was born after 43 people attended the first night. CR began with only four open share groups: men’s and women’s chemical dependency and men’s and women’s codependency. Since then, 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 there are now 35,000 Celebrate Recovery churches around the world. “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.”

For more information email CR1stMethodistAndy@gmail.com or call 334-222-5018. The First United Methodist Church is located at 403 East Three Notch Street in Andalusia and has services on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m.