Celebrate Recovery is offering support to community members through a Christ-based program designed to help individuals overcome various personal challenges and habits.
Celebrate Recovery Leadership Team member Tammy Zitzka said the organization serves as a recovery group for anyone suffering from a hurt, hang-up or habit that has hindered their ability to move forward. Zitzka said the program operates as a support group that provides a safe environment for people to share their experiences without fear of judgment.
“Celebrate Recovery, I think it’s just honestly it’s one big family,” Zitzka said. “You tell your secrets to a perfect stranger and then after, the relationships go deeper than family sometimes because they understand, people have gone through the same circumstances, and they get it.”
Zitzka said the Crossville-based program works alongside other community groups to address broader needs such as housing, food, or medical assistance. Zitzka said the organization utilizes sponsors and accountability partners to help encourage participants to make positive choices.
“God obviously is the center of everything and with him all things are possible and it’s more of a support group and somebody to lean on,” Zitzka said.
Zitzka said the program meets on Friday evenings and begins with a fellowship meal provided by the organization. Zitzka said the meetings transition into a large group session that lasts approximately 30 minutes to cover program principles and rules.
Zitzka said the large group sessions alternate weekly between guest speakers sharing personal testimonies and lessons based on the 12 steps. Zitzka said the participants then move into gender-specific small groups, while newcomers attend an introductory class to learn how the program operates.
“We actually learn how those principles fit into our lives and how to bring them to life,” Zitzka said. “With being able to lean on God and I think that that’s the thing that people are missing, they all are searching for something to fill this void. And when they come to Celebrate Recovery, they’re able to realize that it’s not the boyfriends, it’s not the drugs, it’s not splurging at the grocery store… it’s not those things, it’s God that’s missing.”
Zitzka said the path to recovery generally celebrates the first step: admission to having a drug addiction.
“You always hear about people admitting that they have a problem, but actually doing something about it is huge because now they’re saying, ‘I’m ready to change, I’m ready for this commitment and I want a better life.’ Whether it be for their children, their family, themselves, they want to get on the right path,” Zitzka said.
Zitzka said the program is designed to help fill a void for people dealing with issues ranging from substance abuse to smaller habits like caffeine consumption or hoarding.
“I think family is the biggest, knowing that somebody is cheering for you and on your side I think is huge,” Zitzka said. “Finding that safe place where other people understand what you’re going through… everybody has a hurt habit or hang up that’s hindering their growth in some manner or way and I think that Celebrate Recovery helps fill that void.”