NNE NEWS.....
CHRISTIAN RIDGE CHURCH SPONSORS A CHRIST-BASED
RECOVERY MINISTRY - "ELLSWORTH CELEBRATE RECOVERY"
Submitted by Reverend Jody Patterson (Director of Ellsworth Celebrate Recovery)
Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-based 12 Step recovery program that was developed over 15 years ago, originating out of Saddleback Church located in California, but is now offered in hundreds of churches around the United States. Celebrate Recovery is an encompassing program for all hurts, habits and hang-ups in life-struggles that include depression, anxiety, anger, fear, food addiction, infidelity, grief, codependency, self image, as well as substance abuse. Celebrate Recovery is a "forward looking" program, unlike many other 12-step programs that center around individuals looking more thru the rearview mirror rather than the windshield. In CR, the outline includes reflecting on your past, making amends, and stepping into the freedom God called us to live in as His children. CR provides solid, Bible-based principles and tools that help break the chains of self-destruction.
Isaiah 1:8 "Come now, let us settle this says the Lord. Though yours sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool."
God had been birthing in my spirit a calling to reach and minister to the broken and downtrodden and drug addicted. I shared my burden to Pastor Daigle, who immediately handed me the leadership guide for CR. He had purchased the program several years prior and had been waiting for God to send someone with the burden to teach it. We started the CR program one year ago at Christian Ridge Church of God, known as Ellsworth Celebrate Recovery. We launched the program within the church first; the program promotes the need to raise up leaders first who can then be used to go forth in outreach to the community. What we found is good Christian people getting set free from bondages in their lives resulting in them becoming more spiritually healthy and strong so they could be better used to further the Kingdom by helping others. Through this process our church congregation strengthened. Through this process we became more effective in our outreach, not only to the commuity but also to each other.
Matthew 28:19 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...."
Only He knows the future for Ellsworth Celebrate Recovery. The program continues to change lives. We are in the midst of our second cycle of classes and have several people from the community who attend regularly. All classes are posted online and we have been amazed at the number of hits on these videos, people from all over the world. I recently received an email form a lady in Iowa who has been using some of my videos for a prison ministry she is a part of. Just last week, we were contacted by our local prison ministry director to join their team, thus providing another forum to teach the principles of CR. You just never know what God is going to do! But we do know that He delights in setting the captives free and we love watching Him work!!
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PRAYER & PRAISE CONFERENCE
The annual Prayer & Praise Conference was a great success. The services were filled with anointed music and powerful preaching. Our quest speakers were Dr. David Griffis, Assistant General Overseer - Church of God and Reverend Tim Cushman, Youth & Discipleship Director - TN. The entire conference focused on prayer, worship and the Word. A pre-service prayer session was conducted each night with special prayer for the region. It certainly was a time of spiritual renewal and refreshing. A special thanks so our guest, the host church and leadership, the regional team and all of the volunteers that worked very hard during the conference.
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SENIOR PASTOR'S MARRIAGE RETREAT
There will be a Marriage Retreat for Senior Pastors conducted at the New Beginnings Church of God in Waterville, ME on May 18 - 19, 2012. Dr. Bill & Luann Leonard, Director of the Church of God Ministerial Care in Cleveland, TN, will be the retreat speaker. Dr. Leonard is certified in Critical Incident Stress Management, Pastoral Crisis, individual grief and trauma and marriage & family counseling.
Schedule:
Friday: 7:00 - 9:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am - 1:00pm
*Registration Fee: $75.00 per couple
*Rooms are available at this time: Senator Inn - Augusta, ME 207-622-5804
For more information, please contact Alan & Melanie Imes at 207-873-1554.
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