I just returned from the 3-day Celebrate Recovery (CR) Summit at Saddleback Church in Southern California. The worship songs are still running through my brain. I am totally fired up and excited to move forward in serving in this ministry. I venture to guess that there isn’t a single person out of the 3,400 attendees who doesn’t feel similarly. The Summit is like CR on steroids with thousands of people who all want to bring or advance this ministry of hope and healing at their churches.
On the Saddleback campus
International Mission Focus
This was my third trip to the Summit in my ten years of recovery. My previous two trips were with leader teams from two different churches. This time I traveled alone, representing Pine Lake Covenant Church (PLCC), where I now serve as a CR leader. I was sent as an envoy for the international mission I am leading to Spain in the fall.
My focus for this Summit was to meet other CR leaders who run this program in foreign countries and learn as much as possible about their unique obstacles and cultural differences. Although I’m an introvert by nature, for this 3-day Summit, I was a woman on a mission with a razor sharp focus–meet international leaders.
I attended the session on International Mission Strategy and a late night connection event with international leaders or others going on short-term CR missions abroad. I hung out daily at the international tent meeting representatives from other countries. On my last day at the Summit, I had a one-on-one meeting with the new director of International CR, Jana O’Guin.
Other Summit Activities
I am grateful that this wasn’t my first time to the Summit. I knew the lay of the land: my way around the Saddleback campus, my way around Orange County, the 3-day schedule of events, and the line-up of speakers. Even with all of that though, the information never felt stale or boring. It was all inspiring and encouraging with multiple sessions of daily worship, powerful testimonies of redemption, and a chance to laugh at ourselves through the biblical wisdom and wit of The Skit Guys, like “God’s Chisel.” All of this time and money was a great investment in advancing God’s Kingdom abroad.
My favorite times were the few times I got to unwind a bit with some CR leaders over dinner. One night it was with a group from a local CR that I met on my flight to California. One of those leaders is also going on a mission next month to China. My last night in California, I had a relaxing dinner with a friend who moved to California shortly after we met in CR at PLCC last year. These recovery-related conversations served up good food for thought and were a welcome time of fellowship.
While at the Summit I also took time to meet with my favorite authors: Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. I have been a big fan of their work since I first read “Boundaries” and “How People Grow” early on in my recovery journey. We’ve met several times over the years. (They’ve spoken at every Summit for the last 18 years.) I could easily write a post just about each of their presentations.
I Don’t Stand Alone
My biggest takeaway from the Summit was that I am not alone in my Call to bring CR into another country. Jana has been on over 25 mission trips into places like South Africa and Rwanda. CR materials have been translated into 28 languages.
When I first started to tell other international CR leaders about my short-term mission to Spain, they eagerly suggested connecting my missionary partners in France and Spain with them. These international CR leaders are pioneers in Christian recovery across the globe. They have persevered over the years to break ground in their native country. Often times they had to fund the translation and publishing of the CR materials in their native language as well. Now it is Spain’s turn.
This is not an easy task. It is not a ‘parachute’ ministry. It will take follow-up trips to Spain by me, my missionary partner from France, or others who are experienced in CR and called to share this Good News abroad. I’m grateful that I’m not alone; and I’m grateful that the path has been blazoned before us. We’ll do our part; the rest is up to God.
Countries where Celebrate Recovery is established, developing, and has been introduced.
Mission update
This week I got approval from Timberlake Church, Redmond, WA to fully fund the start-up materials for several Spanish churches and for the seminar this fall. That was welcome news on this joint church partnership with PLCC.
Only 6 more weeks!
I’ll be leaving in six weeks, and the mission is not fully funded yet. Won’t you please consider giving to this mission of hope and healing—not just for Spain, but to share the message in France as well? Click here to donate online or fill out my contact form to support the cause through prayer.
If you live locally, I’m inviting you to hear me speak on Monday, August 18, 7 PM at Pine Lake Covenant Church in Sammamish, WA. I’ll be casting the vision for the mission and sharing more about CR International endeavors and my Call to Spain. Hope to see you there.
Making Me Bold 