First post!

Hello World Wide Web! This is the first post for Celebrate Recovery ("CR") at First Baptist Church Clermont ("FBCC"). We have not launched CR at FBCC yet, but we are working on it. My name is Matt and I am helping launch CR at FBCC. Here are a few things we have done and are doing:

• We are attending CR at Real Life Christian Church on Friday nights. Unless out of town, we are there every week. They have their BBQ at 6 p.m., large group at 7 p.m. and open share groups from 8-9 p.m. Lastly, they have a cafe with coffee and desserts available from 9-9:30. Childcare is available. Join us there this week!
• Jim Voss and I attended a CR workshop at Christ's Church in Jacksonville, FL on February 21. John and Cheryl Baker facilitated the majority of our seminar titled: The Seven Keys of Celebrate Recovery. John is the founder of Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback Church-Cheryl is his wife.
• Chris Berg, Jim Voss and I attended a CR at Real Life together and then met with Pat Obrecht. Pat is the CR representative for Central Florida (and other parts of FL right now!).
• I gave an overview of CR to the Deacon body of FBCC March 1.

What is coming up next?

• Well, I am going to Illinois for vacation later this month. On the way, I am going to attend an Advanced Leadership Training seminar in Hendersonville, TN (outside of Nashville).
• We are starting to build our leadership team. How? By getting the word out that CR is coming to FBCC. This Blog is part of that effort. We also look to visit the Connection Groups at FBCC and do a bulletin insert. We will also start getting the word out to possible referral entities (counselors, physicians, court officials).
• Tomorrow, March 4, First Baptist Church Orlando launches their Celebrate Recovery ministry. Pray for many people to hear God's good news through this ministry there. Here is a link.

What about a link for Celebrate Recovery's main Web page? No problem, just click here. Next time, what a typical night at CR looks like and for what kinds of issues participants might be seeking recovery (here's a hint, ONLY ONE IN THREE Celebrate Recovery participants are there for alcohol or drug addiction). We will also look at possible volunteer slots we will be inviting people to fill. Exercising God-given gifts to serve Him and those seeking recovery is awesome. If you need to contact me by email please do so. I'll get back to you as soon as I am able.

Matt