CELEBRATE RECOVERY is a ministry that was founded in 2001 by John Baker at Rick Warren’s Saddleback church. Celebrate Recovery is devoted to those with hurts, habits, and hang-ups (we all have them to some extent). It is based upon God’s healing power in our lives.

We are seeing lives “changed" week by week as we share our experiences, strengths, and hopes with one another. We open our doors and hearts every Tuesday evening to embrace the hurting people of our community, assist them on their road to recovery, and lead them to Jesus Christ. Our literature is based upon eight principles (see below) from the beatitudes and biblical comparisons to twelve step programs.

The Celebrate Recovery Team is a strong team of approximately 12 people who each bring something different to our group. We offer a warm meal, share a praise and worship time, teach a lesson and then break up into small groups where they share their deepest concerns. Perhaps the most important thing we do is to open our arms to people who haven’t felt accepted or loved in a very long time. After all, isn’t this what Jesus calls us to do?

We are thankful for the many meals our church family helps provide and for the prayers for this ministry. If you feel it in your heart to provide a meal, please let us know.

​— For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God: Romans 3:23 

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Celebrate Recovery's 8 Recovery Principles

Realize I’m not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. (Step 1)
          “Happy are those who know that they are spiritually poor.”
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him and that He has the power to help me recover. (Step 2)
          “Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step 3)
          “Happy are the meek.”
Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. (Steps 4 and 5)
          “Happy are the pure in heart.”
Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. (Steps 6 and 7)
          “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires”
Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)
          “Happy are the merciful.” “Happy are the peacemakers”
Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. (Steps 10 and 11)
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)
          “Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.”