I came to Hillside with my husband, Durwood, in 1995. I had just come out of a Seventh-Day Adventist church and was looking for a new church that taught only from the Bible and had good fellowship. Hillside was an immediate fit, and we have been members of the Voyager and Generation classes ever since.Previously, in the late 1980s, in the midst of my first marriage with a compulsive gambler, I found myself in a 12-step program. This opened my eyes to many issues in my own life such as enabling, fixing others, financial abuse and religious abuse. I walked through these programs, along with counseling, for three years, enrolling in every support group I could find. 

About 14 years after I started attending Hillside, in 2009, the church starting planning a Celebrate Recovery program, and was looking for people with 12-step experience. As I was retiring from teaching elementary school and looking for a way to serve at Hillside, this seemed like a logical fit. That winter, I ended up being the Ministry Leader for Celebrate Recovery, and over the past 14 years, I have led many people through the 12 steps, trained many leaders, and worked with many CR teams. Celebrate Recovery is a Biblically-based program that claims Jesus as our Higher Power – it is only through Him that healing is complete.

Over the years, I have seen healing of all kinds: marriages, jobs, purpose, anxiety, depression, relationships, grief, addicts in the family, pornography, sexual issues, as well as addictions. Those with addictions become abstinent and often find many of the previously mentioned issues underneath their addictions. Participants work to complete the 12-step program, which takes about 9-12 months, and go on to leadership in CR or even other church or community areas.Hurting people with habits or hang-ups find a safe place to share (in gender-specific groups) their struggles and find a closer relationship with Jesus. Many have been Christian churchgoers all their life, and CR helps them learn what is in the way of their relationship with God and others. Some of the participants have even been baptized at Hillside after going through the Celebrate Recovery program. My initial thought in being the Ministry Leader for Celebrate Recovery was to give back… but the reality is that I had other issues that needed help. Because of my legalistic background, I didn’t recognize that I was a sinner – I had followed all the rules and been a “good girl.” But working through the CR program, God revealed some things in my heart: unforgiveness, my part in my failed marriage, unbiblical beliefs, envy, judgmentalism, and more. I saw many inadequate, insecure feelings, and had hidden myself away in a classroom of kids for 34 years. Leading adults was a scary thing for me, as I had issues with authority figures and was afraid to speak up in front of adults. In time, I learned that my teaching skills were just as useful in CR as they were in an elementary classroom – and CR was a safe place.

As the years progressed, Jesus calmed my fears (“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7) and gave me power and strength in my weaknesses (“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9).I learned to rely on Jesus and to claim it as God’s ministry, and He was the one that sent those who were struggling with something.  

I am so passionate about this program and feel that it is a privilege to be God’s ambassador through it. It’s so rewarding to see people find serenity and peace with Jesus, and grow into a closer relationship with Him. Many who have gone through Alcoholics Anonymous have also come into CR, and they love being able to call their Higher Power, Jesus only. In the mixed issues platform, the addict hears how the codependent really cares about them and the codependent hears how their behavior is a negative impact on their addict. This doesn’t happen in a single issue platform.   

Today, I continue to work Celebrate Recovery alongside others with the same heart for recovery. CR changed me from a seat warmer to a leader and from a codependent to a God-dependent.   

If you are struggling with anything, CR is a safe place where anonymity and confidentiality are strictly followed, and, after six visits, Celebrate Recovery has a special gift for you.

By: Sharon Clark
*All photos are leaders that don’t claim anonymity and gave permission to use.