Local churches getting involved with drug abuse solution through new Celebrate Recovery program

Leaders of the Logan County Celebrate Recovery group join in musical worship at the start of a recent meeting at Union Station, 613 Hamilton St., Bellefontaine. The group, which meets at 6:30 p.m. each Friday, aims to help combat the drug and alcohol problem through a Christ-centered approach to recovery. (EXAMINER PHOTO | REUBEN MEES)

Written by REUBEN MEES, Bellefontaine Examiner
​Members of the local religious community have begun to tackle the drug problem with a number of new programs aimed at individuals with substance abuse issues or other unhealthy habits.

The largest group is the Celebrate Recovery program, which began in October and meets at 6:30 p.m. each Friday at Union Station, 613 Hamilton St.

“Our church had been talking about some way to get more involved with this issue,” Pastor Tony Doehrmann, formerly of Jubilee Mennonite Church, said. “Almost simultaneously, Pastor Eric Cook (of Vineyard Christian Church) was talking about starting up a Celebrate Recovery group again; so we thought this would be a perfect fit.”
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Celebrate Recovery, which has had at least one prior incarnation in Logan County, is a 12-step program, much like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Overeaters Anonymous except it is founded in the Christian religion, Pastor Doehrmann explained.

“The primary piece is that this is a Christ-centered program,” he said. “We refer to Jesus not to a higher power.”

The group also welcomes individuals struggling with any “habit, hangup or hurt” but is otherwise like many other sober support groups, he said.
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“Support-wise this group is really caring and the accountability and grace is amazing.” Meetings begin with music and singing, followed by a video lesson on one of the 12 steps and the eight principles that make up the program. The whole group then prays together before dividing up into smaller groups of men and women who share their own personal experiences with drugs or negative behaviors.