Sandy and I thought the trip to the Celebrate Recovery Summit was worth every effort and ounce of energy we had. The guest speakers and the work shops are awesome, but the fellowship with other CR leaders from around the world with the same passion for the hurting was phenomenal. We heard from Pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay Warren. Henry Cloud and John Townsend both spoke very well on leadership. There were many lessons on the seven keys to Celebrate Recovery including numerous work shops. We also witnessed the ordaining of Pastor John Baker the Father of CR. Being part of Saddlebacks Celebrate Recovery general night on Friday to end the summit was a very special event for Sandy and I. There were over thirty five hundred people in the Large Group and sixty men in my Open Share group. I was impressed with how easily the OSG Leaders handled that amount of men. All that was great, but for us the best parts were the testimonies and the changed lives. This was our second time to the Summit and we were much more relaxed, because we knew where we were going and the ins and outs of the entire Summit. Because of this, we found extra time to fellowship and connect with people from around the world. We've already begun to send emails back and forth with those we connected with. We also enjoyed meeting other CR Ministry Leaders. We have learned that we (as a CR group) are very blessed not only because it is ordained by God, but that He has gifted this ministry with a great TEAM of leaders but also because our Head Pastor. Pastor Steve supports CR and gives the ministry a home and the resources to run and maintain it properly. We heard many stories that other CR's just don't have the same support. God has brought together a great group of leaders here at MSF CR and that group is expanding. The group of leaders that went this year made us proud; they handled themselves with humility and grace. I have to mention the nine of us were together for over twelve hours a day and we all got along amazingly well. Usually Wayne and Sandy get caught cross talking which makes our "T's" cross; not really, we all had so much fun enjoying the company of one another. With all the fun though, all of our leaders focused on and made it to all the work shops, sessions and lessons; they were great stewards of what was given to them. We're looking forward to implementing some of the exciting ideas we learned in those sessions. We're also excited to watch God at work this next year as He draws in newcomers and calls the experienced to begin to serve as new leaders, God willing some of those new leaders will have the privilege of attending CR at Saddleback Church next year. By the way the CR summit is already scheduled for August 11 to 13, 2010. It's never too early to begin asking God if it is his will for you to attend next year. In closing, it was a blessing for us to watch and join CR leaders around the world worshiping with the zeal that people celebrating their recoveries do (you know, no one worships with more passion then CR participants) just ask one of our worship leaders. Our prayer is for those who still live in fear, hurt, addiction, pain and those hiding, ashamed, filled with resentment or consumed with guilt will find peace in Jesus Christ by any method but we are prepared to serve the hurting and happy to point them in the direction of Jesus and his promises of truth and freedom if we live as he has taught us. John 8: 31-32(NIV) Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Are you ready?
