Recovery Family

Many have asked me what a CR budget should look like, for starting up and sustaining a Celebrate Recovery ministry. For some, the church pays the way for the first year. For others, there is the pressure of being self-supported from the start.

Typically, one of the goals of a church-based Celebrate Recovery is to be self-funded. Although the startup costs and a small operational budget is desired, it has been my experience that the growth of the ministry will come from giving.

There are lots of variables to consider, but as a helpful tool for discussions, please print out a PDF file of my talking points, to review with your pastor or budget planner. Let me know if this is a benefit to you.

Journals are meant to be kept at the church or with the Leader so that the journals do not wind up lost or under the child’s bed collecting dust-bunnies. This also enables journals to be re-cycled, i.e., we know unfortunately, that sometimes kids may or may not be considered “regulars” so if one week “Johnny” does not come but little “Susie” shows up, Johnny’s weekly lesson page can be provided to Susie. Since weekly lessons are not “done over” or “made up,” this allows Susie to feel connected. This is sort of like the adult Large Group meeting each week. We don’t start over the teaching for the newcomer, they just start in where we are. So do the kids.

Like the kit, you may be able to find a better price by going to other sources like ChristianBook.com (currently $7.99 each). But if you’re going to buy FIFTY or more, then Group Publishing is your best price ($5.99, and can get free shipping).

Celebration Station, the new resource companion to Celebrate Recovery, was launched at this year’s 2009 Celebrate Recovery Summit. Whether you have heard of Celebration Station or not, the information below highlights some of the “life-changing” components of the program for our CR children.

• Celebration Station is the 52-week companion resource for your Celebrate Recovery program – co-written by John Baker, Johnny Baker and Christine Yount Jones – designed to coincide with the adult program. While adults explore topics that bring healing and wholeness, your kids will also be discovering the same truths in age-appropriate ways! Literally, the adult program has been translated into “kid-language.”
• Celebration Station provides kids hope, truth, joy, and friendship by helping them to discover Jesus loves them and equipping them to overcome the patterns of hurts, hang-ups and habits.
• Celebration Station teaches kids 5 – 13 to apply what they learn to daily life. The Celebration Station Kit has everything needed to lead kids as they make Jesus the enduring, rock-solid foundation of their lives.
• Highlights -
  • Lessons are undated. The program can begin at any point during your adult Celebrate Recovery program.
  • The Celebration Station starter kit is value driven – you use it year after year after year, just like your CR curriculum and is modestly priced ($199.99 retail).
  • The program doesn’t “require” a large volunteer base, nor special skills. Even your teens can assist, which gives them the opportunity to “give back” to the ministry.
  • Extremely easy to use!
  • Additional kid’s journals, music DVDs and CDs are available for purchase at anytime to accommodate future needs.
    (Music DVDs and CDs are GREAT for sending the “Celebration” home to keep kids excited!)

Celebration Station is designed to equip our children with faith strengthening tools, life changing processes and ways to encourage their families as they progress in their recovery. There are no invasive conversations or false pretenses, just a safe and positive environment for the kids to play, learn, grow and get a warm hug from God!

Just as Celebrate Recovery is changing lives by the healing power of the one true Higher Power – Jesus Christ, Celebration Station will bring this same healing power built from the Eight Principles taken from Matthew chapter 5 on the Beatitudes. The lessons they will learn will build their toolbox for the choices they will be faced with as they grow and mature. Celebration Station begins the process of putting an end to the cycle of dysfunction.

Please visit the Celebration Station website for more information, FAQs, samples and more.

And don’t forget to check the “CURRENT BEST PRICES” list. Really good price on the Kit right now.