Celebrate Recovery

The Basics

Celebrate Recovery is for anyone who has a Hurt, Habit or Hang-up in their life– which is everyone. You’ve probably heard the expression, "Time heals all wounds." Unfortunately, that isn't true. We have people come to Celebrate Recovery who are still carrying hurts from things that happened to them decades ago. The truth is, time often makes things worse. Wounds left untended often fester and spread through your entire body like an emotional cancer. Time only extends the pain if the problem isn’t addressed in a healthy, biblical way. Freedom is possible!

The Celebrate Recovery meeting on Thursday night is made up of three separate components that work together to promote healing: Large Group, Open Share Groups, and Crosstalk Café.

Large Group

The first part of the night is the Large Group Meeting. This is where we all come together to have a time of worship followed by a lesson or testimony. Our CR Worship Band starts our meeting with live worship because we celebrate a God who already has victory over our Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups. We also celebrate the victories that people are having in what we call a Chip Ceremony every other week. On occasion, we'll also have live skits or videos that help us learn about the healing process.

Open Share Groups

After Large Group, we split up into smaller gender and issue specific groups called Open Share Groups. People attend Celebrate Recovery for many different reasons, so we have different groups. This is where you'll get to share your own experience based on the lesson or testimony shared in the Large Group meeting, and where the healing really begins. Celebrate Recovery 101 for Newcomers is a special Open Share Group for those attending Celebrate Recovery for the first time. Leaders will share a little about their own story, walk you through the program and help you figure out which Open Share Group to attend next week.

Crosstalk Café

Dinner is available in the Upstairs Café from 5:30–6:20 pm. The cost is $3 per adult.

The Celebrate Recovery meeting is for adults only. We do, however, believe in healing the entire family through a relationship with Christ, which is why we have a corresponding meeting for students grades 6 and above, The Landing.

Childcare is available for children ages 12 months (walking)–grade 5. The fees for childcare are $12 for one child, $18 for two and $20 for three or more. Click here to register for childcare by noon on the Tuesday before each meeting. Registration is required. Walk up registration is not available.

We know your first night at Celebrate Recovery can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with our church. Don’t let the direction deter or frustrate you. No matter which door you come in, you’ll be able to find us. That being said, here’s some helpful guidance: once you’ve followed the directions to Brookwood Church at 580 Brookwood Point Place in Simpsonville, you’ll enter a small traffic circle at the church entrance. Keep going toward the large church building. You will see that the parking lot makes a giant circle around the church. Follow the parking lot until you get to the West side of the building. We'll have friendly greeters to help you find your way to the Chapel.

The Process

The reason Celebrate Recovery works is because it’s based on the Bible and the words of Jesus. The goal of Celebrate Recovery is not to check off a list of steps, but to use those steps to discover the purpose God has for your life. No matter where you are in your spiritual walk, we believe God has a purpose and a plan for your life.

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered ministry with foundations firmly established in Biblical truth. The 12 Steps and the 8 Principles based on the blessings found in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (often called the Beatitudes) offer participants a clear path of salvation and discipleship bringing hope, freedom, sobriety, healing, and the opportunity to give back.

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors- that our lives had become unmanageable.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 7:18

2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God...this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:40

5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

James 5:16

6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

1 Corinthians 10:12

11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us, and power to carry that out.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Colossians 3:16

12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore them gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6:1

The following steps are based on the same 12 steps used by people overcoming all types of Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups in Celebrate Recovery, but have been tailored by national Celebrate Recovery leaders to meet the specific needs of those overcoming physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

1. We admitted we were powerless over the past and as a result, our lives have become unmanageable.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 7:18

2. We came to believe that God could restore us to wholeness, and realized His power can always be trusted to bring healing and wholeness in our lives.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

3. We made a decision to turn our lives and wills over to the care of God, realizing we have not always understood His unconditional love. We chose to believe He loves us, is worthy of trust, and will help us understand Him as we seek His truth.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God?this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, realizing all wrongs can be forgiven and renounced the lie that the abuse was our fault.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:40

5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of the wrongs in our lives, including those acts perpetrated against us as well as those wrongs we committed against others.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

James 5:16

6. By accepting God?s cleansing, we renounced our shame and were entirely ready to have God remove all these distortions and defects of character.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings, including our guilt. We released our fear and submitted to Him.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

8. We made a list of all persons who had harmed us and became willing to seek God's help in forgiving our perpetrators, as well as forgiving ourselves. We realized we have also harmed others and became willing to make amends to them.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

9. We extended forgiveness to ourselves and to those who have harmed us, realizing this is an attitude of the heart, not always confrontation. We made direct amends, asking forgiveness from those we have harmed, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

10. We continued to take personal inventory as new memories and issues surfaced. We continued to renounce our shame and guilt, but when we were wrong, we promptly admitted it.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

Corinthians 10:12

11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God and our understanding of His character, praying only for knowledge of His truth in our lives, His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Colossians 3:16

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as we accepted God?s love and healing through these steps, we tried to carry this message of hope to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs, claiming God's promise of restoration and wholeness as new memories and issues surfaced.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore them gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6:1

The 8 Principles correspond with the 12 steps and are based on the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount (often called the Beatitudes). The principles create an acrostic with each principle represented by a letter in the word RECOVERY. You will find that most lessons at Celebrate Recovery use an acrostic.

  1. 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.

    Matthew 5:3
  2. 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.

    Matthew 5:4
  3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step 3)

    Happy are the meek.

    Matthew 5:5
  4. 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.

    Matthew 5:8
  5. 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.

    Matthew 5:6
  6. Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)

    Happy are the merciful...Happy are the peacemakers.

    Matthew 5:7,9
  7. 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)

  8. Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Steps 8 and 9)

    Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.

    Matthew 5:10

To create a safe environment, these five guidelines are read and honored at every Celebrate Recovery Open Share or Step Study Group. Our leaders will also share additional explanations of these guidelines to help you understand them better.

  1. Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings, using "I" statements to talk about your own actions or thoughts. Limit your sharing to 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. There is NO cross talk. Each person is free to express his or her feelings without interruption.
  3. We are here to support one another, not "fix" one another.
  4. Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
  5. Offensive language has no place in a Christ centered recovery program.

Beyond Thursday Nights

Real healing happens on Thursday nights, but for those who want to dig deeper into overcoming the struggles in their life, we strongly encourage you to join a Step Study. Step Studies are gender specific groups that meet on a day other than the regular Celebrate Recovery meeting. The same group of people meet weekly for 6-10 months and work through four participant guides that move you through the twelve steps of healing and recovery. These groups have a high level of accountability and transparency which leads to a life-changing experience. Those who graduate a step study are celebrated during a graduation ceremony at a regular Celebrate Recovery meeting.

A vital part of overcoming our Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups is building healthy relationships and community. That's why Celebrate Recovery offers fellowship opportunities on a regular basis. Fellowship events are announced on Thursday nights, are listed at Sign-up Central during Crosstalk Cafe and are listed with detailed information in the events section of our Celebrate Recovery Facebook page. Whether it's flag football, a cookout, crafting or a family game night, these events are a great way to experience community in a new and healthy way.

In addition to our regular fellowship events, we also have a number of special events throughout the year. We know the holidays can be difficult for some people. That's why Celebrate Recovery often offers special meetings or events on holidays like Thanksgiving. We also host large-scale events like SummerFest where we invite other Celebrate Recovery ministries to fellowship with us. These events are announced on Thursday nights, are listed at Sign-up Central during Crosstalk Cafe and are listed with detailed information in the events section of our Celebrate Recovery Facebook page.

Celebrate Recovery believes in reaching out to those who are hurting. That's why Brookwood Celebrate Recovery sends leaders into the community to share the love of Jesus through this healing ministry. We currently have ongoing meetings at Perry Prison, Serenity Place (a residential treatment center for pregnant women, young mothers, and their preschool-age children), and The Carolina Center for Behavioral Health.

To stay informed about our meetings, fellowship events, training, and get regular encouragement, join our Facebook page.


Events

Celebrate Recovery

Whether you’re struggling with anger, food issues, codependency, chemical addiction, overcoming abuse, relationship hurts or any other struggle, Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to heal and grow within a supportive community. Meets weekly.

Childcare Available

Moms of Children with Special Needs

Join us as we gather to celebrate the trials and triumphs of being mothers raising children with special needs. The group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month

Begins Thursday, November 14
Childcare Available
Registration Open

Alzheimer's: Caring for the Caregiver • Workshop

Whether it's a loved one struggling with Alzheimer's or you are a caregiver for someone with this disease, this workshop will provide education, best practices, communication tips and stories of hope.

Saturday, November 23
Registration Open

CR Thanksgiving • Evening of Gratitude

Celebrate Recovery and the Landing will share Thanksgiving dinner, a devotional and a time of gratitude. All are welcome!

Thursday, November 28
Registration Open

Financial Peace University • Watch on Your Own

We're excited to offer a Watch on Your Own class for only $25 per person (formerly $129). You and your family can study at your own pace or join a virtual class.

Registration Open

Grieving Through the Holidays

This seminar will provide tools to help those who are grieving set boundaries and prepare for the challenges of the holiday season.

Tuesday, December 3
Registration Open

Pass It Forward

Whether you are skilled in carpentry, plumbing, demolition, lawncare, or simply enjoy showing southern hospitality, we have something for you.

Multiple Dates