God
wants to bring healing and hope to the people of Mexico; He sees first
hand the depth of their suffering. Levels of stress in the family are
associated with violence, abuse, hunger, depression, victimization,
neglect, poverty and the list goes on. We believe the Celebrate Recovery
program can be used as a tool to help transform Mexico from a nation
filled with oppression into a nation of hope in Jesus Christ.
Many people think that recovery is only for drug addicts and alcoholics -
people whose lives seem out of control; but that's just not true. We've
all blown it, we've all made mistakes. We've hurt ourselves, we've hurt
other people and others have hurt us.
Celebrate Recovery is a biblical based recovery program. The goal of the
program is not simply to recover from past sins and hurts but to become
Christlike in our character.
October 14 was the 3rd annual Celebrate Recovery Information Seminar.
Our Guest Speakers Cesar and Olga Villarreal were fabulous! The
information given, the testimony shared, the questions answered ... all
of it made for a great day.
Thank you Cesar and Olga for spending the day with us and sharing what God has taught you over the years.
We look forward to October 2018!!
Many
sets of hands were involved in the planning and preparing of this
event. Welcoming table, Information table and Food table ... all were
important, all were appreciated.
~
The Celebrate Recovery worship team opened the day and brought us to
the foot of the cross where true healing happens. ~ Cesar walked us
through our handout and explained how to set up a Celebrate Recovery
program in our local church. ~ Olga gave her testimony and shared how
Celebrate Recovery has been a tool for her in overcoming her past. ~
Thank you to Sergio and Karla for translating throughout the day.
Testimony from Cesar, our main speaker at the Information Seminar:
My name is Cesar and I am a faithful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with addiction to drugs and sex.
My childhood was fairly normal or at least it was in my eyes. My father
was a hard-working man who was easily frustrated and quick to explode in
anger and violence. My mother was our protector as she wanted to
prevent us from going through the same violence she was witness to
growing up. I was insecure and had low self-esteem. I learned that
pleasing my parents meant I would not be screamed at. It didn’t matter
what I wanted to do, pleasing others became more important as it made me
feel accepted and loved. At age 12 a close relative much older than me
pursued me. At first he talked about women, sex and pornography, but
eventually he started to touch me inappropriately. I was totally
confused; I did not understand what was going on or why. I was afraid
to talk to my parents and I did not have the courage to say NO to this
family member. I was 14 when I started attending church with my mom.
Church was just another place to wear another mask. My life was still
the same, watching pornography, receiving visits from this family member
and looking for personal satisfaction.
In my second year of college, I met the woman who is now my wife. We
started dating in October 1994. I thought that with a stable
relationship my wounds and bad habits would end but I realized that I
could not stop living my double life and tried to end our relationship.
She asked for an explanation and all I could share was part of
my past; she accepted me and encouraged me to move forward together. In
August of 1999 we got married. We had our own business and after a
couple of years our first daughter was born and a few years later our
second; but little by little our relationship grew colder. I went to
work while she took care of our daughters and the house. Every day I was
looking for excuses to stay in the office longer and spend less time at
home. I thought I had control over my life; I had my own business,
provided for my family, and did what I wanted. Although I had given my
life to Christ at 14 and attended church, I was not willing to yield my
will to Him. My thoughts were on the things that selfishly satisfied
me.
One night in 2007 while I was coming home from “working late”, I spotted
a young woman on the side of the road. I offered her a ride and she
offered me sex for money – I accepted and we went back to the office.
She offered me a drug called Stone Cocaine. I tried it. This was the
beginning of a horrible nightmare for my family and I. After just 2
months of experimenting with the drug, I was an addict. I could not hide
my problems anymore and my wife confronted me. I finally recognized
that something was wrong. My wife began to seek help and insisted we
speak to our pastor. It was a long process where we tried everything
but nothing worked. After spending 2 months in a rehab center I left and
went back to using drugs.
.
My wife took our daughters and moved out. I tried to fill the empty void
but all I managed to do was continue on with my self-destructive
behavior.
2009 brought a
glimmer of hope. After sending in an application for a job, I was called
for a position out of the city. I went to see my wife and talked to her
about the opportunity to start over. She was willing to try again. It
wasn't easy as I relapsed a couple of times, but little by little our
relationship was restored. We joined a church and got involved in
ministry.
Without a doubt restoration took time, time for our personal recovery and for our marriage to be restored, but it was worth it. Three years later we were blessed with the birth of our son.
I was growing deeper in my relationship with Jesus and felt that God
placed in me the desire to serve him full-time; I just didn't know how.
In early December 2012 I received a job opportunity in Mexico City; it
came with better pay and the opportunity to grow in an international
company. After much prayer I declined the offer only to receive the
news that the plant where I was working would be closing in less than 2
months. We moved back to our original home town at the end of January
2013. When I arrived at church, I spoke to the pastor about my past life
and about the desire to serve God. He told me about some materials
called Celebrate Recovery that he had and that he had been praying for a
couple of years for someone to take the lead of this ministry. My wife
and I read the materials and knew that this was what God wanted us to
do. God used Celebrate Recovery to change our lives. In September 2013
launched our first general meeting.
Our walk in CR has been incredible. We have been able to see God's love
and mercy working in the lives of many people. After almost two years of
CR meetings, God opened the doors to work with our city's judicial
system. In January of 2016 we began receiving in our CR group people
sent with an order by the Judge to work on their recovery. God is great!
We had to open additional Step Study groups because of the growing
number of people being sent to us. In October 2016 we made the decision
to leave our secular jobs to be involved full time in the ministry that
God has entrusted us, it has not been easy but we have seen God move all
around us.
This was not an easy decision. We have gone through many different
crises from time to time and my insecurities continue to surface and my
fear of not doing things right haunts me. I know I'm not perfect, there
are still many things that I have to work on, but I also know that the
One who started the work in me will conclude it. I know there is hope in
Jesus Christ, for anyone who feels that his life is lost. For the one
who has lost all hope, God can use even the most destroyed life if we
just let him work on it. I am grateful to God for the opportunity to
serve and share this testimony with you,
Thank you for letting me share.
Thank you to all who were able to attend the Information Seminar -
it was a great day!
A new session of CR step studies will be
starting again soon at Calvary Chapel Rosarito. Please contact Karla
664-407-7086 for more information.
Celebrate Recovery is growing and we are so excited to have you join us.
Pastors and Church Leaders:
October 14 is the Celebrate Recovery Information Seminar. If you are in
the Rosarito area PLEASE set this day aside to join us. Guest speakers
for the day are Cesar & Olga Villarreal.
At the beginning of a school year I am often reminded of "going back to the basics". Some of you may be new to Celebrate Recovery and haven't been introduced to the 8 Principles of the program; while others of you may need a reminder to "go back to the basics". These 8 Principles are based on the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5.
SUMMER FUN: Friends, Food, and Fellowship
At the end of July we had a team of ladies come into the prison with us to share the Good News of Jesus. We were blessed by our St. Albert Alliance team! Thank you for loving on our ladies in such a way that it will never be forgotten.
pictured from Left to Right: Sherry, Cindy, Arlene and Melissa
Sherry and Karla sharing the Word with our girls on the inside.
Cindy and one of our girls on the inside - food, fun and fellowship makes for a memorable day.
A testimony from one of our Recovery Ministry Leaders: Karla
My name is Karla and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with insecurity, anxiety and fear.
I grew up in a traditional conservative family where I am the youngest of seven. My parents were very loving and they always made us feel that we were unique and special. They strove to make us feel safe, protected and loved.Over the years, I realized that my parents were having problems between themselves and the situation began to worry my older sisters. In their innocence, my sisters sought help through a person who read Tarot cards; they even invited the card reader to our house. Let me tell you, the spirit world that these people enter through reading these cards is not good. The card reader said that my father had a very strong spell of black and red magic on his life and the goal was to drive him crazy, destroy the family and lead to conflicts of all kinds in our lives. We were terrified. The card reader recommended a friend who was a "white witch". He told us this was not a problem, that this was of God and that God had placed these white witches on earth to help people like us.
That same week the white witch came to our house. This was the beginning of the nine year nightmare my family lived being involved in witchcraft. It was our family secret. We were ashamed. Being involved in witchcraft changed my character and my personality; I became suspicious, fearful, and anxious. I lived a quiet lifestyle as I did not want anyone to know what was going on.
One day my aunt shared with us about Jesus and what He did for us at the Cross of Calvary. Because of the emptiness we were experiencing and the horror we were living none of us could resist the Good News. As a family we left the world of witchcraft and entered into the Family of God. I thank God for His infinite mercy and unfailing love that lead us to Him.
My life changed as I experience the reality of God's forgiveness but I found it difficult sometimes to accept the promises of God as I felt unworthy. I was still struggling with fear, insecurity, anxiety and trust. I knew I needed to talk to someone but I did not have the courage. It was easier to pretend that everything was fine but it was a lie. God brought me to Celebrate Recovery and used this program to experience His healing power.
I experienced freedom and healing being a participant in the Celebrate Recovery program. It has allowed me to know God in a more personal way. I continue to give my fears and anxieties over to God and in doing this I have learned that strength comes from Him, forgiveness and healing comes from Him, and He not only wanted to forgive me but to walk with me through the journey of recovery. My shame and guilt has been turned into a song of praise and thankfulness. Victory is ours!
Thank you for letting me share.
Would you like to know more about Celebrate Recovery? Check out our CR Newcomers 101 video:
October 14 is the Celebrate Recovery Information Seminar. If you are in the Rosarito area PLEASE set this day aside to join us. Guest speakers for the day are Cesar & Olga Villarreal.
Cesar Villarreal is the Ministry Leader in his local church and is the first Celebrate Recovery State Representative of Mexico. He has been married to Olga Rangel for over 18 years. Together they have served in Celebrate Recovery for more than 4 years. In October, 2016 Cesar & Olga started serving full-time in ministry working as missionaries training leaders and pastors through out Mexico.
~ our upcoming Information Seminar on October 14
that people would come and learn about this incredible tool God has provided
~ strength and wisdom for our leadership team
we are on a battlefield in an active war against satan
~ that God would raise up Monthly Supporters
He is our Provider and we trust in Him to meet our needs through supporters
My name is Beatrice, I am a believer in Jesus Christ
in recovery and I battle with anger, sadness and doubt.
Before my recovery I had a lot of resentment towards
my family because I was rejected due to my disability.My self-esteem was low because I did not
received love or protection and didn’t understand why God made me this way.
I married a man who loved and treated me good; he even
let me go to church.I didn’t know God
and was easily dominated by the things of this world and that is why I failed. Not only did I fail God but also my husband as
I had an affair. The lowest point in my life was when I neglected my daughter
to the point that she died. Her death is the reason I am in prison.
Today although it doesn’t make sense I thank God for
being here because I have been able to really get to know Him. I was invited to
the Celebrate Recovery Program and I realized I wasn’t the only one suffering,
I identified with all the participating inmates.I have been able to forgive and the
communication with my family has gotten better.I have learned to trust and know God, I know He loves me and I am
important to Him.Principle 2 says “Earnestly believe that God exists,
that I matter to him, and that he has the power to help me recover.”
I thank God for the Celebrate Recovery Program because
my heart is being restored little by little.I thank God for my group and the sisters from YUGO because they come
with lots of love not only to share the lesson but because they strive to
provide us with our basic needs.
