"Step 12 of the AA Twelve Steps essentially tells us to reach out to others who are hurting and to live one's sobriety in the spirit of the twelve steps. When I found out the Crossing was starting a Celebrate Recovery program, God as my higher power moved me to become one of the leaders. This allowed me to really live out Step 12. Since the launch of Celebrate Recovery in April of 2005, I have been encouraged by God on numerous occasions as I have seen men and women touched by the ministry. The closeness, camaraderie and trust afforded in the small groups allow people to share their hearts and be accepted by others on this long journey of recovery. I have been blessed to be a part of it."

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"I feel that the Lord led me to Celebrate Recovery during one of the most vulnerable times in my life. Ever since, CR has been a place of worship, fellowship and healing for me. Besides my co-dependency, God has been revealing other hurts, habits and hang-ups in my life & has been faithful to help me in overcoming them"

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"I have been in 12 step for 15 years but it wasn't until I began attending CR that I was able, with the help of God, to recover from bulimia which I had suffered from since the age of 5, and cutting since the age of 7. Having God as the center of the program enabled me to have his support along with the people in my small group. I tried for years with regular meeting and conventional counseling and got nowhere. But once Christ was introduced to the mix He made me able to day-by-day gather time. I have slipped a couple of times and still have the support of CR and God to help me get back on track. Without CR I believe with my whole heart that I would still suffer from these addictions."

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"It is such a blessing to have a place to share and receive encouragement, love and support with those areas the Lord has revealed to me in my life."

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"I felt all alone. I felt hopeless. Where was God in all of this? Through Celebrate Recovery, I have made significant strides in getting my life back. Jesus Christ is the answer"

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"I found a place where I am completely loved and accepted just as I am. And a safe place to work through my issues."

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"I've grown in my walk with the Lord as a result of CR. I think the sharing and praying, in small group, has definitely helped."

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"Celebrate Recovery has helped me to realize that I am the person I am today because of some of my past failures. God can take the mistakes I have made and use them to make me better able to serve Him and help others in the area of my past weakness."

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"CR has been an important part of my recovery from isolation, codependence and food addiction. The relationships are growing. Trustworthy and honest people share their hearts and grow together as they work the 12 steps together."

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"It is hard for me to believe it has been 4 years since my surgery. So much has changed. 4 years ago I was married to an abusive, drug-addicted husband. I was overwhelmed by life. I weighed 320 pounds, wore size 4X/28, and could not walk up a flight of steps without gasping for breath. I was being treated for diabetes, high blood pressure, GERD, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and depression. I was a woman of faith, but had no real hopes, dreams or aspirations for the future.

It was my faith and a program of recovery (Celebrate Recovery), which led me to the decision to have gastric bypass surgery.

Within the first year following surgery, I had lost 155 pounds. I went from a size 28 pants to a size 14; 3x tops to mediums. I could walk for miles without becoming breathless. The only pills I took were supplements. I reached all my goals -- sitting in a bathtub; riding the carousel; wearing heels; etc. I asked my husband for a divorce, sold our house, and fell in love with an amazing, generous, kind, loving man.

Unfortunately, with the good also came certain trials. While I had planned to help others who struggled with food addiction, instead I became proud and vain. I stopped going to Celebrate Recovery meetings, Barix support groups, and even church. I wanted to live life to the fullest -- or what I perceived to be the fullest, making up for lost time, as it were. I got blindsided by alcohol along the way, developing alcoholism about a year and a half after my surgery. That took me down hard and fast. It took 2 years for me to get 90 days sober.

Today, while I did have some regain, I have maintained a 135 pound weight loss. I now attend weekly OA meetings and AA meetings. I sponsor others who are struggling both with food addiction and alcoholism. I have 85 days of food abstinence today, and will have a year sober on Thursday. I have learned the importance of recognizing and dealing with my emotions as they come up. I continue to develop a relationship with my Higher Power and to maintain my recovery using the 12-Steps.

The most important thing I can convey to people is that God met me exactly where I was, but He sure didn't leave me there. Even through all the difficulties, trials and struggles, I have received immeasurable gifts of recovery and healing. I have been given the ability to have hopes and dreams again. I, along with all of you, have become uniquely useful to those who struggle with obesity and food addiction."