Encouragement Acrostic

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus. Romans 15:4

It is great to see his work and how he is transforming lives all over Australia and New Zealand through CR. I would like to extend a huge welcome to the newcomers in the last couple of months and pray Christ’s blessings on your Celebrate Recovery ministries as you enter the 90 day start up and commence CR at the start of next year. It’s absolutely great to see fantastic growth of CR in the Oceania Region. We have such an awesome God! That I am never cease to amaze what He does!

Last December once again God talked into my life about moving onto the next paradigm with Him. Since attending the CR summit at Saddleback 2007 and 2008 He has been challenging me about taking CR to the next level, so during the year I stepped out of my comfort zone into were He has been doing another work and change in me on my recovery journey.


Romans 12:2 (NLT) says” Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what is good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” For so long I copied the behaviours and custom as of this world with my addictions, that when I learnt to put the steps into my life with Jesus Christ as my Higher Power that I had a total change from the way that I used to think and behave-( which was “Poor me Poor me, Pour me another drink!’ Give me more, give me more) no longer was alcohol, sex and drugs my Higher power.

In CR we like acrostics and one word that comes to mind from that verse is TRANSFORM so here goes-

Totally surrendered to God’s will- Early in recovery I learnt the term “Surrender to win.” It’s only when I gave my heart and life and recovery fully into Jesus hands that God started to move mountains in my life. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:2, NIV).

Set your sights on becoming more like Christ. Focus on him and ask him to transform your thinking. Study appropriate Scripture passages as you surrender a particular area of your life. If you desire anything less than permanent transformation, you are not considering surrender; you are considering nothing more that a New Year's resolution that is waiting to be broken.

Realize you are not God. In CR we are not here to fix anyone only Jesus Christ can do that. It’s only by sharing our own experience of what Jesus Christ has done in our own lives through working the principles and Christ centred 12 steps that people will come to want what we have. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29
In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. 2 Corinthians 6:4

Action. As leaders of Celebrate Recovery groups we need to be working the principles and 12 steps as well as we can’t pass onto to others what we haven’t got. If you don’t think you
need recovery- ask yourself why you are leading a Celebrate Recovery group? The bible says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

New Healthy Small Groups-
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

• Start new issue & gender specific Open Share Small Groups

• Start Step Study Small Groups on a DIFFERENT night

1. Try to always have Step Study Group open to newcomers

2. Future Leaders will come out of Step Study Small Groups

3. Step Studies provide further healing

4. Stop having Steps Studies and your growth STOPS!

Safeguard the INTEGRITY of THE CELEBRATE RECOVERY PROGRAM

People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9
Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10
-There are many benefits to using the Celebrate Recovery name.
(See “The Value of Using the Celebrate Recovery name”)
-Many Celebrate Recovery programs fail because they loose their focus
-Integrity provides stability. Integrity is not what we DO as much as what WE ARE.
Integrity builds trust, has high influence value, and facilitates high standards, results in a solid foundation
– not just image. Integrity means living it Myself BEFORE leading others.

(John Maxwell – Developing the Leader within You )

Fruit shown- WHEN WE GROW IN HEIGHT AND DEPTH THE RESULTS ARE CHANGED LIVES!

If you give up your life for me, you will find true life. Matthew 16:25

The growth and development of people is the HIGHEST CALLING of leadership.
John Maxwell – Developing the Leaders Around You

• A changed life brings dignity – Commitment to Christ

• A changed life brings unity and reconciliation – Amends and forgiveness displayed

• A changed life brings satisfaction and gives purpose – Serving in ministry

• A changed life brings Glory to God - Through daily Worship

Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Matthew 25:31-38

Ongoing Leadership Training- providing ongoing leadership training and encouragement is necessary for the health of your Celebrate Recovery ministry. Training provides the opportunity to put the right people in the right service opportunities for the right reasons
Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

2 Timothy 4:2 And Christ gave gifts to people – He made some to be apostles, some to be
Prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God’s people. Christ gave those gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. Ephesians 4:11-12

Recovery Resources- support CR nationally from purchasing your CR resources through our website. This allows us to support and provide training for you.

Mission-How can the ALL the ministries within CR reach out to Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth? The Encourager Coach can brainstorm, dream and help cast the vision with the other T.E.A.M. Coaches. They can decide how to share the opportunity of outreach with EVERYONE that attends CR.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Jerusalem – Regular Church Crowd
_ Have a Resource Table at weekend service
_ Church Bulletin
_ Displays
_ Encourage CR Leaders to be involved in other ministries of the church
_ Have CR presence at all Major Church events if possible.

Judea – Our Community
_ Help other churches start CR
_ Reach out to the places that care for people (Salvation Army, Pregnancy
Homes, Women's Refuges, Doctors, Lawyers, Health Facilities, Counselors, etc.)
_ Have the BBQ and/or Worship Team offer their services at community
events.
_ Encourage attendance at Secular (non Christian) Recovery Groups.
_ Exchange Speakers
_ Testimonies to go

Samaria – Messy, High maintenance places that we would like to avoid
_ support National CR
_ Help start CR in local jails & prisons
_ Take a speaker panel to Treatment Centers
_ Facilitate Meetings in rehabs
_ Put CR on the list of approved recovery options for the Court System

Ends of the Earth – the Mission Field!
_ Take short-mission trips
_ Help others to go on a CR Mission Trip.
_ Help the Assimilation Coach with an Outreach Workshop

Finally………….”Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3:16.

If anyone has any personal stories of encouragement, we would love to hear how your groups are going and your stories will be included to help encourage other CR groups.

Penny
National Encourager CR Oceania