Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program designed to help individuals overcome a wide range of hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Founded in 1991 by John Baker at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, with the support of Pastor Rick Warren, it combines biblical principles with a structured recovery process to address issues such as addiction, codependency, anxiety, depression, and other personal struggles. The program is rooted in the belief that true healing comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ, and it adapts the traditional 12 steps—originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous—into a framework explicitly tied to scripture, including eight recovery principles based on the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

The program typically involves a weekly meeting format that includes a large group session with worship and either a teaching or personal testimony, followed by smaller, gender-specific, and issue-specific discussion groups. These smaller groups provide a safe, confidential space for participants to share their experiences and support one another. Celebrate Recovery is not limited to substance abuse; it welcomes anyone seeking freedom from life’s challenges, emphasizing community, accountability, and spiritual growth. Additional offerings often include Step Studies—year-long, in-depth group explorations of the 12 steps—and specialized programs like Celebration Place for children and The Landing for teens, which mirror the adult curriculum.

Since its inception, Celebrate Recovery has grown significantly, now operating in over 35,000 churches worldwide, as well as in recovery houses, rescue missions, universities, and prisons. It’s a self-funded ministry that relies on donations and the sale of its standardized curriculum materials, which are required for groups using the Celebrate Recovery name. The program’s global reach and emphasis on practical tools for healing have made it a popular choice for those seeking a faith-based approach to recovery, with millions having participated in its various formats over the years.