Celebrate Recovery - Alternative to A.A.

[wmc1982]

I used to go to AA, but I had a problem with it. They say you can rely on a "higher power" as your guide, but they say this "higher power" can be whatever you want it to be.

Now I understand how AA works and I know it has a high succession rate. But they aren't specifically a Christian organization.

I have found a place called Celebrate Recovery.

http://celebraterecovery.com/

They have meetings all over the US and is 100% Christian.

Just spreading the word to those of you who might want a Christian alternative to A.A.

God Bless,

Will

 

[Terri]

Thank you Will.

I have heard of Celebrate Recovery here on this board. Checked it out and found there is a local church that has it.

It's on my list of things to do...just have a very long list right now.

I'm fortunate that there are mostly Christians in the AA groups here locally. Have been to one groups' business meeting where we prayed in Jesus' name even. Been taken to two different churches by two different AA members. They are mostly all Christians.

Yeah, I'm not real fond of that generic "higher power" term. Not sure I would go if most everyone around here wasn't Christian.

The good thing about the AA meetings is that I lead a very isolated life at the moment and need the human interaction that so many meetings at so many different times of the day offers. Think I heard someone say that locally we have 250 AA meetings a week. Yep, alot of drinking in my area. A whole lot of drinking!

 

[UnitynLove]

Thank you this will bless someone!

 

[LazeyWinde]

Yeah... AA isn't for everyone (Though I know it has changed many people's lives for the better). I'm not an alcoholic but am friends with several alcoholics and collect alternatives to AA since AA really didn't help one of my friends.
http://www.womenforsobriety.org/ is supposed to be good since I guess AA tends to be kinda male dominated.
*Adds Celebrate to her list*

 

[justanobserver]

I went to one in central coast CA and enjoyed the experience. On friday nights they had a pizza dinner for 5 bucks then the serivce was afterwards. singing, testimonies, etc then split off to the meetings.

the one I went to had meetings for the dependants - kinda like AlAnon going on at the same time as the recovery meetings.

It was a pleasant memory for me.

 

[kanga22]

Yeah... AA isn't for everyone (Though I know it has changed many people's lives for the better). I'm not an alcoholic but am friends with several alcoholics and collect alternatives to AA since AA really didn't help one of my friends.
http://www.womenforsobriety.org/ is supposed to be good since I guess AA tends to be kinda male dominated.
*Adds Celebrate to her list*

Thank you for this link. I will definetly be checking it out. I've found great help, and lots of woman on http://www.e-aa.org too. But, I agree that AA does seem to be male-dominated.

I've been to three f2f meetings. At one I was the only female. At another I was the only person born as a female. The other female in the room was obviously going through the transformation from male to female, so I'm not sure how to count that person. At any rate only one meeting of the three had a few females in attendance.

I've thought about going to celebrate recovery, but there aren't nearly as many meetings available as AA meetings. On the bright side, maybe we can help lead an unsaved person to Christ by attending AA meetings with them.

 

[Prodigal7]

Personally, I love AA but I admit it isn't right for everyone.

In the book "As Bill See's It", Bill Wilson admits his higher power was Jesus Christ. He says he became convinced that Christ could do anything.

I used to wonder why are people with different higher powers able to get sober? My higher power is Jesus Christ. I wasn't always a Christian in AA though.

Does God work with us before we open ourselves to him?? Look at the Apostle Paul. He didn't seek to become Christian. God drafted him, so to speak.

Before I got sober I was hardly sane. My thinking wasn't sane and my living wasn't sane. Some people compare alcoholism or addiction to demon possession. That sounds crazy but I was at that point where I was totally double minded. I would say one thing and do another.

To me, getting sober in AA is no different than going to work in a place where people have different religious beliefs. I take my Christianity seriously but I don't think it's God's will for me to isolate from the rest of humanity.

This being said, I would certainly attend meetings of a Christian recovery group. I don't think I would stop going to AA however.

I've seen too many people start drinking again after leaving AA. I do know some though who remained sober through Church only. I think some of it depends on whether you've had a deep Christian conversion or whether your superficial.

I knew guys that could quote scripture left and right. They couldn't stay sober even a day and their spirituality was shallow to say the least. I used to wonder why doesn't God help these guys?? A lot of AA people are big on James - "Faith without works is dead".

 

[spiersdodgerblue]

I am a Celebrate Recovery Leader in my home church.
I have been one for just over a year now and have been very blessed in doing so.
If anyone has any questions that were not answered from the web site provided at the begining of this thread, please feel free to pm me and I will do the best I can to answer them.

God bless
A Celebrate Recovery Leader

 

[justanobserver]

.

 

[leftoverture]

I used to wonder why are people with different higher powers able to get sober?

Sure it's possible to get sober without Christ. Satan is a subtle foe and if you are willing to believe in a different higher power he will be much obliged to let you follow that path. I know people who've stayed sober for decades this way. But. . .what does it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his soul? It doesn't take Christ to get you sober. . .but it does take Christ to get you to heaven.

I used to lead a Celebrate Recovery meeting. My wife still does lead one. It is a great tool for recovery and growing deeper in relationship with the Lord and other Christians. AA meetings are fine, too, if you are struggling and need support it is a place where you can be and not drink. But remember, AA is not just about getting you sober. . .AA's Big Book says "our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and our fellow man."

AA is designed to lead you to God. . .the real God. . .Celebrate Recovery is where you will meet Him.

 

[kanga22]

It doesn't take Christ to get you sober. . .but it does take Christ to get you to heaven.

Good point.

I used to lead a Celebrate Recovery meeting. My wife still does lead one. It is a great tool for recovery and growing deeper in relationship with the Lord and other Christians. AA meetings are fine, too, if you are struggling and need support it is a place where you can be and not drink. But remember, AA is not just about getting you sober. . .AA's Big Book says "our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and our fellow man."

AA is designed to lead you to God. . .the real God. . .Celebrate Recovery is where you will meet Him.

Interesting.

I feel extremely uncomfortable at f2f AA meetings. It's tiring to always keep my references to God to a minimum or with the disclaimer that "that's my higher power". According to non-christian AA members, I might offend someone. On the other hand, as a Christian, I feel that AA meetings are like a mission field where I can help others to want to know Christ.

Right now I'm torn about whether to seek out Celebrate Recovery, stay in AA, or do both.

 

[leftoverture]

It's tiring to always keep my references to God to a minimum or with the disclaimer that "that's my higher power". According to non-christian AA members, I might offend someone. On the other hand, as a Christian, I feel that AA meetings are like a mission field where I can help others to want to know Christ.

Right now I'm torn about whether to seek out Celebrate Recovery, stay in AA, or do both.

I talk about God in AA all the time. I'm not worried about offending anyone if I say Jesus or God. If they are offended, so what? I keep my comments focused on helping others and when that requires talk about God, I talk about him.

Funny thing. . .these days. . . I talk about Jesus at AA and people get upset. But if someone talks about another religion, a different higher power, they cheer and congratulate them for their progress. It is indeed a fallen world.

And AA's need Christ. . .when I'm at AA I am His ambassador. . .

 

[justanobserver]

.

 

[angelgabrielle1973]

We do have AA groups in Laredo but no CR groups. The closest CR is in San Antonio about 150 miles away. I, too, am a bit hesitant to join AA because I would think that yes, it's dominated by males ... but I'm not going to allow that to stop me either. God has a plan. And yes, we are his servants no matter where we might find ourselves.

I would much rather be in a CR group than AA because my higher power is God. Let us remember though, that we must be the light in the darkness. Also remember we must lead Christian lives so that others can see Jesus lives in us and they'll want to know him as well. If you're in an AA group, stick with it, and allow God to move within the group and in your life so others may come to the cross.

I've already made a phone call to the local AA group and I plan on going tonight. I guess the plan for me would be go through the 12-steps, stay sober for a year, and then open a CR group at my home church. Now does that sound like a plan or what?

I've been reading, for the 2nd time, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I'm on day 29. It talked about serving God. If there's no CR group in your town, would you be willing to serve God in this capacity? Oh I get so excited!

You know, I do have testimony about what God has done in different areas of my life, but my testimony about overcoming alcohol addiction is about to take place!

 

[angelgabrielle1973]

Just got back from my first AA meeting. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There were quite some interesting people there ... lots of professionals and even a firefighter.

There was a woman there who touched me with what she said. She seems to have anger towards God because she was so used to getting what she wanted. I believe she's been in recovery for 13 years. She talked a little bit about forgiveness. She mentioned how in the 12 Steps, we're suppose to forgive others for the hurt they've caused us but she said she wasn't God to forgive people. Yes, this is a field ready to be harvested. I wanted to say to her that we must forgive as God has forgiven us of our sins just like in the "Our Father." And also, once we forgive others, we begin the healing process. I think she's at the verge of beginning the healing process ... oh but surely, this is a great place to be at!

In Christ,
~Angel Gabrielle~

 

[LoG]

Just got back from my first AA meeting. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There were quite some interesting people there ... lots of professionals and even a firefighter.

Glad you made it to a meeting, Angel.

It's great you have a drive for 12 Step work but remember there are 11 others before you get to that point.
It's what I learned in the first eleven that formed the basis for what I do in Step 12.

Early on in my journey through AA, I was under the false impression that the majority of AA members believed in some higher power other than the God of the bible, but after praying for the Lord to open my eyes to the truth I came to realize that the bulk of the strong members were in fact christians who simply didn't wear it on their sleeves for the sake of the new people. Too often new people have had bad experiences with so called religious people or bodies that they need to overcome before being able to come around to entertaining the concept of a Christian God.
It is with this in mind that AA stuck with the idea of "God as you understand Him". In this way they do not deny anyone the chance for sobriety.

 

[Healed_IHS]

As a believer in Jesus who is battling alcoholism, I strongly recommend Celebrate Recovery. For me, personally, the AA meetings were all just getting repetitive, speaker meeting started sounding the same, etc... felt it was time for a change. I also don't agree with things post Bill W. that have been added to the AA program. (Digressing) But I found a home at celebrate recovery.
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