Celebrate Recovery is more than a 12-step program, according to local group leader Sue Crawford — it is a place of encouragement, love, anonymity and support for any struggle.
“Living life alone when you’re struggling is not the way to go. So that’s why Celebrate Recovery is such a great ministry because anybody can come in,” she said.
The faith-based program helped her beat smoking in 2002, and since then she has leaned on Christ and fellow CR members to fight her anxiety and depression.
CR is a national program. The Poplar Bluff branch meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at First United Methodist Church for a free meal followed by a worship service and lesson. Childcare is provided and admission is free. Though held in a church and biblically based, Crawford said CR is not affiliated with a denomination and identifying as a Christian is not a requirement.
“We do the 12 steps, and there are biblical comparisons and we’ll read through them. We’ll do the other eight recovery principles, and they’re all based on the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount,” she said.
Members arrive for a variety of reasons, including divorce, co-dependency, abuse, depression and addiction. She has seen lives change drastically once people realize they have a safe, supportive space, Crawford said, and often find faith as well.
This was the case for Jenifer Kemp, who was required by an upstate drug court to attend.
“I didn’t really listen the first, second, third meeting, because I was mad they were making me go. But I was given a recovery bible, and the CR and the recovery bible kind of went together for me,” she explained.
She was “ecstatic” to find another group when she moved to Poplar Bluff.
“CR is the first faith-based meeting that taught me God loves you even though you’re not perfect,” she added.
Others came to support someone else or were invited by friends.
“A friend of mine asked me to go to a meeting... After I went with him one time, I was kind of hooked. God is good,” recalled member Johnny Fox, who has attended CR groups in Greenville and Poplar Bluff for a decade.
Specifically, the group helped him process his grief at losing his mom.
Fox’s friend Todd Barker was also referred to CR by the court system. He had no desire to change his life, but soon realized his substance use was more than recreation — he was dealing with underlying issues that CR empowered him to address.
“CR digs to the heart of the problem for me,” Barker said, and though he knows it is not an average recovery story, he credits God with completely removing his addiction.
He and his wife are now ministry leaders.
“If you just try three meetings, come back three times, you’ll find something you can bring back,” he added.
Crawford emphasized there is no judgment at CR meetings, and members respect the courage of people walking in the doors for the first time.
“When they’re saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to come out of denial so I can live a better life,’ and if they’re willing and courageous enough to do that, you have to honor and protect that,” she said.
Crawford agreed that people come when they realize, “I can heal myself, but I can’t heal myself alone.”
“And that’s the key right there, is you can’t do this alone. You need to do it through with Christ through the people at CR, the ones that will be there for you every step of the way and be available to you,” she said.
The Poplar Bluff CR operates within FUMC’s Hope and Healing Ministry, which aids people around the community.
“Thankfully, the church has been very gracious and very generous with helping support this,” Crawford said, and she hopes the program keeps growing. She hopes to someday start youth programs beyond childcare.
FUMC is located at 500 N. Main St. For more information about CR, contact Crawford at 520-481-3541 or church secretary Cynthia Gonzalez at 573-785-1439.