It all started when a group of people wanted to start a recovery program at Adventure Church. We prayed, met faithfully and began our journey by courageously sharing our stories on a piece of cardboard in our church services one late summer weekend of 2013. Met enthusiastically with the support of the church, this crew officially launched Celebrate Recovery at Bayside Adventure in September of 2013.
Within the first year, our forever family launched a few step studies and truly experienced what it meant to live beyond ourselves. In late December of 2013, we hosted a Recovery Round Up and ended this 24-hour conference with a New Year’s Eve celebration! That would be followed by hosting the regional Celebrate Recovery One Day Seminar, which brought over 1000 leaders to Adventure to be equipped and inspired by the Celebrate Recovery National Team. By the second year, we graduated our second round of step studies and hosted another regional One Day Seminar.
Over the years, we’ve had some amazing guests, including Lisa Daggs and Hosanna Poetry, as well as heard from speakers like Mac and Mary Owen, as well as many of our pastoral team members, whose support has been so encouraging. We have been blessed in many ways, and as we look back over the years, we most importantly remember the stories of those who found hope and healing in the message of Jesus. Stories of healed marriages, stories of sobriety, stories of forgiveness, and stories of redemption. To date, our program has graduated over 80 people from step studies, which is a one-year program of intensively working through the 12 Steps and 8 Recovery Principles.
Over the years, we have come together as a team of amazing dedicated people, all with the same purpose, to exalt Jesus and help others. During these years we have seen tragedy and triumph. We have shed tears and praised God in pure joy. We have loved people where they are and have made friendships that last a lifetime. We have touched people silently and their stories have inspired and changed our lives.
Through all the highs and lows of this ministry, we find ourselves relying on God even more and never quitting before the miracle. For it is in the journey, not the destination, that we find willing hearts to help others in the trenches of life. And we faithfully celebrate that every Sunday night!
We are very blessed to have had some amazing leaders and volunteers over the years, and we want to thank you for being a part of the miracle. We could not have done it without an amazing church and supportive staff. We have never felt like “Those People” in our Adventure home. And we’re looking forward to what the next five years holds!
To God be the glory!
