ASHLAND – Knowing many of their neighbors were struggling with opiate use and other addictions, leaders and congregants at six area United Methodist Churches began to pray.
They wanted to do something to help, but they weren’t sure what, said Jenny Whitmore, associate pastor at Ashland’s First and Christ United Methodist churches.
The group found a faith-based 12-step program called Celebrate Recovery and began holding weekly meetings at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at First United Methodist Church.
Co-directed by Whitmore and Jake Heskett, who is pastor of Nankin and Polk United Methodist churches, Celebrate Recovery is sponsored by Christ, Faith, First, Nankin, Paradise Hill and Jeromesville United Methodist churches.
“This really started as a response to the opiate crisis and the number of children we have in custody and just the way that it impacts families,” Whitmore said. “The Holy Spirit just led us to where we are today.”
A year after the group’s launch, Celebrate Recovery has become a safe and supportive place for anyone working through hurts, habits or hangups.
“It’s transforming lives and we couldn’t be more humbled and appreciative,” Whitmore said.
The group celebrated its one year anniversary Wednesday with a spaghetti dinner followed by worship music and open share group sessions. Several attendees earned chips for committing to work on new issues or for reaching recovery milestones.
Celebrate Recovery centers on eight recovery principles based on the Beatitudes from the gospel of Matthew. The eight principles are read aloud at each meeting.
After a welcome, a full-group worship time and a lesson or testimony, participants break off into open share groups including a women’s mixed issue group, a men’s mixed issue group and a “Welcome Home” group for male veterans. (Organizers say they would start a female veterans group if a need arose.) The evening ends with optional communion.
People in recovery can, and often do, bring their families. Celebrate Recovery offers a middle and high school youth group called “The Landing” as well as a “Celebration Place” for elementary students. There’s even nursery care for mothers and fathers of young children.
Among those in attendance at the one year anniversary dinner Wednesday was 16-year-old Leanna, who comes to the teen group each week. She said the group has helped her become less controlling and open up more to other people.
Keith, an Army veteran who attends the Welcome Home group, said Celebrate Recovery has given him more confidence and helped him tackle his depression and isolation after the death of his wife.
Lee, who helps coordinate Celebrate Recovery and has been in recovery many years, views the program as a way of continuing his own recovery by giving back to people who are just starting in their own recovery journeys.
Heskett said he has been amazed over the past year by how willing people are to be vulnerable and talk about their issues.
Whitmore, who has been in recovery over 10 years herself, said she believes people are actually desperate for that kind of openness and community.
“People are looking for connection in a culture that is increasingly disconnected. People are seeking community, and this is a healing community,” Whitmore said. “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is community.”
