It has been an amazing, God-honoring year for our Celebrate Recovery forever family in 2011. There have been many great things happen, and I want to use this article to focus on a few (I'm sure I will leave out some important ones, so please forgive me if I do). I want to begin by talking about my favorite - the testimonies. In 2011 we had the privilege of hearing 23 testimonies. Out of those 23 people that shared, 17 of them were new testimonies! That just might be a CR at MRCC yearly record of new testimonies for one year.
During the summer God blessed 10 of our CR family members to travel to Catacamus, Honduras to build a low ropes course and provide Celebrate Recovery leadership training sessions and general meetings to all who wanted to attend. We had a fantastic time meeting the local Hondurans, and we did our best to encourage them in their faith and recovery journeys as much as they uplifted us in ours. We received word about one month ago that their step studies are going great and that their general meeting night is underway. Praise God! Is it not great to be a part of a Christ-centered ministry that is helping people worldwide? Exciting!
This past year was busy with Celebrate Recovery trips (CR Honduras, CR Summit and Skit Guys night at Park Plaza), great monthly trainings, great food every week, several step studies graduated, chain testimonies by both men and women that exemplified the importance of relationships and the kick-off of CR at the Capital Hill Church of Christ. With the help and direction of the Lord, a focus group team worked together to kick-off CR at Capital Hill on Monday, October 17. There have been some challenges along the way the past three months, but overall God has done some great things with this new CR group that is meeting. Let’s all be in prayer that the Lord will bless the efforts of this new program. Perhaps, you are looking for a way to give back? This would be a great way for you to serve.
This great year where God really used us to bring glory and honor to his name was capped off by having a special guest with us on December 16. Tommy Woodard, one of the Skit Guys, was with us in Large Group. He really shared from his heart about the importance of letting go of our past baggage and saying “yes” to God in service. He inspired us with his great talent to illustrate lesson points through drama. His individual skits were powerful and moving. He really challenged me to give back to others what God has given me in a deeper way.
Finally, our CR forever family year of 2011 ended with the passing of one of our own, Bob Utley. His battle with cancer ended on Sunday, December 18; however, he would want me to tell you that his life has really just begun. For he is no longer in pain or struggling with his cancer or any of his hang-ups and habits. That battle is over. And now all he gets to do is sing angelic songs to the King of Kings at the top of his lungs for all eternity. Let all of us in 2012 continue to live out Bob’s legacy: love one another; serve one another; let us do good to one another. Here’s to another year of accomplishing that resolute goal.
Until the Whole World Hears – Grateful Believer,
Micah
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