MORGANTOWN — Just as every person is different from the next, so are their hurts, traumas and addictions.
That’s why Suncrest United Methodist Church put together its Celebrate Recovery program.
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., the Suncrest United Methodist Church hosts the Celebrate Recovery program to help those in need of a safe place share any issues they may be facing.
This nationwide program, hosted by over 30,000 churches, is a 12-step recovery program designed to help those dealing with anything from substance abuse and relationship issues to depression and anxiety.
“We started it here at Suncrest because we saw a need in our community for a recovery program for people dealing with addictions, but as we started working on it, we realized there are a lot of other hurts that people are experiencing,” said Matt Johnson, pastor of Suncrest United Methodist Church. “We’ve heard stories of people finding sobriety from substance addiction, stories about people overcoming trauma from childhood abuse and stories of people overcoming shame and anxiety.”
Each gathering begins with a large-group meeting. During this time, there is a worship service, a prayer and a time for testimony when participants are free to share their stories.
After the large-group meeting, participants are welcome to divide into small, need-specific group discussions. This allows people facing similar issues to connect and support one another.
“It is a way to develop relationships so that there is peer support and community support as you try to work through your own recovery,” Johnson said.
Throughout the entire meeting, participants are welcome to share as much or as little as they like, allowing them to decide their level of engagement. Anything shared remains confidential, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all in attendance.
“Just like an AA group, nothing is recorded, nothing is photographed, and we value people’s anonymity and their confidentiality,” Johnson said.
All leaders of the program at Suncrest were previous participants in the program, including Johnson. Because of this, he said he can speak firsthand about the differences attending the program can make in someone’s life.
“It has helped me find ways to forgive people that I needed to forgive,” he said. “It has been a really freeing experience.”
To make the program more accessible, the church teamed up with Mountain Line to provide transportation for those interested in attending.
The Red Line leaves from the Mountain Line Depot at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday. The bus makes multiple stops — including at Black Bear on Pleasant street at 5:40 p.m. and Wesley United Methodist Church at 5:45 p.m. — and stops directly at the Suncrest United Methodist Church.
The group also provides daycare for parents who may need it for their children. During the meeting time, children learn the same information their parents, but in a kid-friendly way.
“My kids are in the elementary school group, so when we come home, we can talk about what denial looks like or what powerlessness looks like, and we have learned the same things and we have a shared language, which is really cool,” Johnson said.
Johnson and other leaders of Celebrate Recovery recognize that walking through the door the first week is a big challenge. However, Johnson said someone admitting they need help is the first step to recovery.
“If you can say you can’t do this on your own, that’s the first step to find healing,” Johnson said. “If you come to Celebrate Recovery, you can find people who will support you and encourage you and care for you and help you walk that journey because you can’t do it alone.”
