HEALING FOR HURTS, HABITS, AND HANGUPS

Sunday morning at church. Perfectly primped, prepared, and ready to meet and greet others with that oh-so-proper smile on the face, hiding the turmoil underneath. Putting on the mask of perfection that hides the depression, anxiety, or addiction that we don't want others to see at church because we've been taught that God's house is not the place to air "dirty laundry." We walk into the sanctuary and only half-heartedly worship the Father because our minds are clouded and our attention is swayed by the weight of our problems.

But church is not meant to be a hotel for saints…it was designed to be a hospital for sinners! Jesus called believers to reach out to each other to empower recovery from life's hurts, habits, and hang-ups. To this end, GABC has joined thousands of churches around the world in offering CELEBRATE RECOVERY (CR), a Christ-centered, Bible-based, 12-step recovery program designed to help people connect with God in a fresh, new way and experience healing and hope.

Look around you. Chances are, you know someone who could benefit from the power of participation in CELEBRATE RECOVERY. Perhaps that someone is YOU!

www.celebraterecoverygabc.com

CR is a biblical program based on 8 principles that Christ taught in His message from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). There are only two things needed for someone to start recovery: a desire to stop living in the past and a desire to start living in the truth. In CR, our focus is on spiritual progress as opposed to perfection, and as we work through the Christ-based 12 steps, we become willing to accept God's grace and forgiveness in solving our life problems. We learn that our identities are not based in our past behaviors. We are believers recovering in Christ who struggle with past hurts and habits, and we come to the realization that we cannot keep what we have unless we give it away; therefore, the ultimate goal of recovery is to produce purpose-driven disciples who take the message of recovery in Christ to those who still suffer. Lessons are taught by ministry leaders and others, including guest speakers.

Resources Contact Us 903-533-1817 cr@mail.gabc.org Visit the official Celebrate Recovery website http://www.celebraterecovery.com/ Bryan Duncan's Radio Rehab http://www.radiorehab.com/

Regardless of the problem—whether emotional, financial, spiritual, relational, sexual, chemical, or other—the steps to recovery are the same. Each of us needs repentance and recovery in order to live our lives the way God intended. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 3:23 and 6:23)."