A church in Lufkin, Texas has embraced an addiction treatment program based on the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. The First Christian Church welcomes anyone struggling with addiction to its Celebrate Recovery program. The national program began in the Saddleback Church in California, home to Pastor Warren, the author of "The Purpose Driven Life.""
The Celebrate Recovery curriculum was written in 1993 by Warren and John Baker and has since been published and translated into 17 languages. The Celebrate Reovery program began at the First Christian Church in Lufkin about three years ago. The program focuses on "hurts, habits and hang-ups which could be anything that separates us from where we need to be in our spiritual walk," said Pastor Jim Riggs.
One man, David Alexander, has found peace through the Celebrate Recovery program. Alexander has been going to weekly meetings at First Christian Church for about a year and a half now.
"I always thought I had control," Alexander said. "My biggest problem was worrying about things that had not even happened yet. Through this program, I’ve learned that if I turn my willing life over to the care of God that I don’t have a lot to worry about anymore. It’s not that it does away with the problem, I just have a new way of handling it."
Bible scripture is an integral part of the program.
"Once you get into recovery, you realize that the only thing that will keep you clean and sober is Jesus Christ," Alexander said. "This is just another way for a person to work the 12-step program and use the Bible at the same time."
