CELEBRATE RECOVERY INSIDE
Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Springfield, MO
Inside OCC

CRI was established on September 15, 2006, with just a few men and has now become a necessity for many of its 100+ members. It is sponsored by Ridgecrest Baptist Church of Springfield, MO.

The various groups meet three nights each week as follows:

  • Friday 6:00 - 8:00 PM Large Group Meeting including worship with the prison band
  • Saturday 7:00 - 9:00 PM Step Studies (Session I)
  • Sunday 7:00 - 9:00 PM Step Studies (Session II)
  • In addition, there is a weekly training class (various topics) every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM.

The meetings are facilitated and organized by inmates and outside volunteers. There are ten Volunteers in Corrections (VIC's) and eight prison leaders, including the TEAM structure (Training, Encourager, and Assimilation Coaches and the Ministry Leader), step study leaders, and assistants.

Large Group - The large group meeting is our most important recruiting tool. Inmates interested in joining Celebrate Recovery must attend at least three Friday night sessions to qualify. This allows them to understand the small group dynamic and also demonstrate their commitment. During the evening, the prison band performs for 30-45 minutes, testimonies are given, and a CR lesson is taught by the Friday night facilitator (usually the Assimilation Coach). The last 45 minutes of the meeting are small groups. These cover general topics and / or sharing issues or concerns that everyone is dealing with.

Step Study- The step studies are the life changing tools that have allowed many individuals to transform their attitudes and get rid of the hurts and/or hang-ups that they have struggled with for many years. The men follow the CR-Inside Manual which lasts approximately 26 weeks. Each small group has its own leader and all share following the small group guidelines and the planned lesson from the book. Confidentiality is crucial in order to create trust and share the deepest struggles. What’s said in the group stays in the group. We have witnessed many accomplish true attitude change through these studies that allowed them to be reunited with their families.

CR graduates have shown a tremendous amount of growth and are taking a leadership role in society not only in their recovery but that of others.