This pandemic has altered the course of many of our ministries. One of the ministries most affected is Celebrate Recovery. JIBC had one of the strongest and healthiest Celebrate Recoveries in our area. I have often said that we would be pleased if the founder of Celebrate Recovery, John Baker, dropped in on any given Sunday to visit with our CR mission and ministry.
Because of Covid-19, Celebrate Recovery, like all of our missions and ministries had to make adjustments. We temporarily ended in person meetings but quickly went to online meetings. Then we took the step to start and add meeting in person for large group teaching. Once that was established and the group started growing again, we added to the large group teaching time the women’s small group and men’s small group. Our CR Team leader, Darryl Young, has told us CR is ready for the next steps. So, we are reaching out for prayer and volunteers. The next step to help CR get back to full strength is paid preschool workers. Many of the people who desperately need to attend CR cannot afford child care and often do not have families that can help. It is not as easy as having those who have children take turns keeping the nursery. Many of them have legal reasons why they cannot work in a nursery. So, we are looking for two people to fill a paid nursery position for 2 hours every Sunday night. If you would be interested in this mission, please let us know. You can call the church office or Scott at 843-762-0244. They will be glad to talk with you to see if we have a match.The next step, which will happen sooner rather than later, is adding the “celebration” back into the mix. We will start having live in-person worship led by Pastor David and his team. We have been playing music, but we will soon be adding live music each Sunday night. This is a really important part of Celebrate Recovery. It has been on hold because of Covid-19.
The final piece that will come back is the fellowship meal. This provided a much needed opportunity to enjoy fellowship with fellow strugglers. In the past our faithful Kitchen Krew served a great meal with lots of variety. We were supplemented by The Charleston Crab House and Kickin’ Chicken and a donor who generously paid for pizza once a month. This may be the most difficult part of Celebrate recovery to add back. We may go back to a very basic menu of hamburgers and hot dogs! Any volunteers to help cook, or serve or clean up? It is great fellowship and it helps meet a great need.
So, now you see how to pray for Celebrate Recovery. The next steps are big steps. Let’s join them in prayer trusting God to provide for these next steps.
See you Sunday, good Lord willing.
Pastor Tom
