Read what's happening in Celebrate Recovery in response to the COVID-19 crisis

August 5, 2020 

Celebrate Recovery® Thrives During COVID-19 Crisis

For 29 years, Celebrate Recovery has been a ministry for people who are working through hurts, habits, and hang-ups in their lives. While major changes to the ministry’s operations were brought on due to the COVID-19 crisis, the mission and purpose have remained the same. People are still finding hope and freedom through this crucial ministry.

In fact, Celebrate Recovery groups have been growing since the start of the pandemic. Online crisis response groups have allowed people to grow deeper in their faith and recovery while staying safe at home. Others have been meeting at our Lake Forest campus to participate in socially distanced open-share groups. This past month a couple dozen people received a chip at a drive-thru event to celebrate various milestones in their recovery.

When the pandemic first hit Southern California, Celebrate Recovery leaders were forced to decide whether to cancel the ministry’s annual summit that is attended by about 6,500 people, or find a way to do it online. They chose the latter and prayed that God would still move in the hearts of those who are in recovery.

The online event was wildly successful. A total of 17,000 people from every state and 46 different countries registered for the two-day summit, called Come Rejoice. Traditionally the event is geared toward Celebrate Recovery leaders, but this year’s summit was designed to help people at every stage of their recovery. Video topics included drug and alcohol addiction, codependency, shame and guilt, and more. It was a life-changing experience for all who attended, some of whom are just days or weeks into their recovery.

For many people, the COVID-19 crisis has brought to light the hurts, hang-ups, and habits they carry with them on a daily basis. Celebrate Recovery is, and will continue to be, a place where they can work through brokenness, grow in community with others, and experience freedom in Christ.

May 13, 2020  
Celebrate Recovery® Hosts Drive-Thru Chip Event

Many people have been dealing with fear and anxiety during these unprecedented times. At the start of this global pandemic, Saddleback launched Celebrate Recovery Crisis Response groups so people could have a safe and confidential place to express themselves and work through unhealthy habits or feelings brought on by the pandemic.

While these groups have been meeting virtually for the past several weeks, Celebrate Recovery (CR) Lake Forest recently had an opportunity to host a drive-thru chip event so members could celebrate their sobriety from hurts, hang-ups, and habits in person while social distancing. Roughly 30 CR leaders showed up to serve at the event.

There was a gauntlet of cars that honked for every person who came to get a chip. Many of the people who came held up signs with the length of their recovery on it. Some were celebrating days or months of sobriety while others celebrated years of freedom from past addictions. There was even someone who came and took a “newcomer” chip, symbolizing a step out of denial and the start toward a recovery journey.

One CR leader named Blake received his five-year chip at the event — he marked five years of sobriety just days before stay-at-home orders were issued. He said it has been a huge blessing to continue meeting virtually during the pandemic. But being able to fellowship in person, even at a distance, was overwhelming.

“Turning the corner into the parking lot and seeing everyone there was like turning a corner into a parking lot of love,” he said. “It felt like a parade, and it was a way to publicly acknowledge all of the changes God has made in my life.”

April 21, 2020 
Care Callers Comfort the Vulnerable

When statewide stay-at-home orders were issued in California more than a month ago, Saddleback staff members and volunteers launched a number of ministries to meet the various needs of our communities. Since the beginning of this crisis, it was clear to our church that people would need human connection, especially those who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and can’t leave their homes in any capacity. Saddleback’s solution was a new ministry called Care Callers.

Our Care Callers have been working on a daily basis to contact people who are stuck inside their homes and struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation. We are also meeting people’s spiritual needs through prayer and finding out what their physical needs are so other ministries can deliver food and supplies to them. These calls have been life changing and life giving to those who have been contacted.

One volunteer reached out to a 61-year-old man who had a stroke three months ago, which impacted his speech and use of his left arm. He previously worked as a caregiver in an elderly facility for 20 years prior to his stroke. The facility owner is allowing him to live there temporarily, but he is struggling to pay for meals because he is no longer working. While the two were on the phone, our volunteer filled out a Care Kit delivery form for the man and had it sent to the facility. During a follow-up conversation, the Care Caller said the man sounded much more hopeful about his future. He was so happy with the food and supplies we sent to him, and he was appreciative that we cared enough to reach out to him multiple times.

Another Care Caller contacted a woman who was facing some very serious emotional and relational struggles during this time. Her husband had just returned home from rehab before the pandemic hit. They both had been in counseling, but that is mostly on hold for them during this crisis. The woman told our team member that the isolation of being home together is setting off old triggers for them. She also said they are facing employment and financial issues. Our volunteer was able to pray with the woman and then connect her with a number of mental health and financial resources at Saddleback as well as ways to engage with Celebrate Recovery® and belong to a small group.

We heard from another woman who was making calls to a nurse at Mission Hospital treating COVID-19 patients. When the two were on the phone together, our volunteer noticed the exhaustion in the nurse’s voice. She was able to encourage the woman, and the two spent some time in prayer together. This was not a one-time contact. This Care Caller checks in with her new friend at least once a week to encourage her and her team of medical professionals and pray together.