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Local church launches “Celebrate Recovery” |
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Friday, May 30 2008 |
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By MICHELLE BERRY
REPORTER
One of Borger’s local churches is doing its part to help local citizens who are struggling with certain addictions.
Fellowship Baptist Church, located at 305 North Deahl, is launching a “Celebrate Recovery” program starting at 7 p.m. June 13.
Bill Sizemore, who is pastor of the church, said interest in doing such a program began when people struggling with addictions came to know the Lord within the church body.
“As the Lord began to build that ministry, it was just kind of a natural thing that we had to start looking for something that would bring accountability for those individuals coming in with addictions, which was a great problem to have,” he said.
Sizemore said he began looking for material for such a program, and was led to the “Celebrate Recovery” program. He said the program, which was written under the guidance of Pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” was Christian-based and takes certain principles used to treat addictions and puts God back into them.
He said the program will last a year, and will consist of men’s and women’s social groups led by Von and Casey Lusk that meet on Friday evenings, and STEP groups led by Shawn Dunnigan and Betty Bullard that will meet on Sunday evenings. The STEP groups will be more of a classroom learning type of setting.
Sizemore said the church has spoken with local judges and probation officers, who have voiced their enthusiasm for the program. He said over 5,000 churches in the country are involved in the program, several of which are in Amarillo.
The program is based on eight principles that mirror the 12-step process, and are based on the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5.
Sizemore said the program at FBC will focus specifically on drug addiction, and as there is necessity, groups for battered and abused husbands and wife may possibly begin, as well as a group for those battling alcohol problems.
“Celebrate Recovery is going to be a ministry of our church, but it’s not going to be necessarily in the church,” he said. “We’re using the church facilities, but it’s pretty much a program within itself. It is self-sustaining.”
He said anyone is welcome to attend the groups on Friday evenings.
However, if they wish to go further and participate in the STEP program, there will be a small charge for materials, which will be a year in length.
Sizemore said the program itself from start to finish is a year. The church plans to launch another year of the program once this one is completed. Those who choose to do the STEP program must keep up with the program for the entire year.
In terms of the Friday night program, the first hour will consist of Sizemore teaching on the principle for the night, and the second hour will be the accountability groups. After that, the church plans to have a coffee house or some other type of fellowship activity.
Plans are also in the works for a “Celebrate Recovery” picnic on July 4 at the park, and the gazebo at Huber Park has also been reserved for the event.
“We’re pretty excited about that,” Sizemore said. “I think that will be a good way to show the community what we’re doing.”
He said when people participate in the program, they can expect to find a safe place where they can come and be real and still be loved.
“We are committed to accepting anybody just like they are,” Sizemore said. “That’s what I would want people to expect. They can expect solid Bible teaching that is going to help them in their daily life.”
He said people shouldn’t expect an immediate recovery, because it can take time, and they shouldn’t expect him to try to fix somebody who doesn’t want to be fixed, because that is something the person should desire.
“We’re not trying to be real showy,” Sizemore said. “We’re just trying to be real.”
He said there will be a praise and worship time as part of the program that will be led by a praise band, but that is not the main focus behind the program.
Sizemore said he is hoping to bring healing to the local community through the “Celebrate Recovery” program.
“I think there is an underlying subculture of drug addiction that nobody likes to talk about, but it is most definitely there,” he said. “In all honesty, I want to tap into that. Everybody needs Christ, but I believe they are searching more than other people. I hope to be able to give them the answers they’re looking for.”
Sizemore said the desire for such a program has been on his heart for five years, and he has been learning how to help people through their difficulties, namely drug addiction.
“Everyone has some type of addiction, some type of hurt or hang up or habit that they need help with,” he said. “The Lord has really been teaching me specifically about drug addiction, things to look for, why people find themselves in drug addiction. It’s been a long learning curve, but I think we’re ready.”
Sizemore said he feels the program goes deeper than just the church and he hopes it will be able to touch the community with it.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the “Celebrate Recovery” program can call Fellowship Baptist Church at 273-7127.
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Last Updated ( Monday, June 02 2008 )
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