Contact:
Brian Burch, (616) 233-0500
Developed with John Baker, founder of Celebrate RecoveryForward by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven® Life
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 25, 2007 – The world’s fastest-growing and highly effective Christ-centered recovery program, Celebrate Recovery, will soon have the support of a designated Bible. The Celebrate Recovery Bible, developed in partnership between Zondervan, the world’s leading Bible publisher, and Saddleback Church pastor John Baker, will release in September 2007.
The Celebrate Recovery Bible is specifically designed to provide readers hope, encouragement and the empowerment to rise above the hurts, hang-ups and habits with which they struggle. Based on the proven and successful Celebrate Recovery program, the Bible includes articles explaining the eight Celebrate Recovery principles and accompanying Christ-centered 12 steps, 112 lessons offered in practical terms, in addition to numerous real-life recovery stories that provide encouragement and hope.
“The Bible teaches that all of us have addictions in our lives. We at Saddleback developed a biblical recovery program based on the Beatitudes of Jesus; we named the program Celebrate Recovery. The goal of the program is not simply to recover from past sins and hurts, the goal is to become Christ-like in our character,” said Rick Warren. “To date, more than 9,000 hurting people have participated in Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback Church and have experienced a biblically balanced approach to repentance and recovery.”
During the past 16 years, Celebrate Recovery’s expansion has grown considerably beyond Saddleback Church to encompass more than 500,000 people in nearly 10,000 churches and prisons worldwide realizing its promise of freedom from life’s hurts, hang-ups and habits. President George W. Bush has commended the ministry as one that does something government cannot – “change hearts.”
"The power of God’s written word is unmatched, and the Celebrate Recovery ministry has effectively connected the gospel with individual accountability to help people recover from addictions or other life struggles,” said Paul Caminiti, publisher of Bibles at Zondervan. “The Celebrate Recovery Bible is a new and indispensable resource, along with the Celebrate Recovery Participant’s Guides, for members of the program to utilize. While it was designed to serve as a foundational resource for the Celebrate Recovery ministry, anyone who is facing struggles in their life can turn to this Bible for help.”
“The purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to celebrate God’s healing power in our lives through the gospel. By working and applying biblical principles, we grow spiritually and free ourselves from addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors,” said John Baker. “This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy and – most importantly – a stronger personal relationship with God. I speak from experience, as my life is a testament to the grace and healing power of our Creator.”
As a leader with his own personal experience of addiction and redemption, Baker defines himself as a believer who struggled with alcoholism, whose identity is found in Jesus Christ. For years Baker was a functioning alcoholic. And although he never lost a job and was never arrested, his hurts, hang-ups and habits cost him his close relationship with God and his family. It wasn’t until Baker admitted his powerlessness to manage his life that he accepted that only a power greater than himself could restore his spirit and get his life back on track.
It was following his recovery and membership at Saddleback Church that Baker developed the vision of Celebrate Recovery. The program has grown to help people with issues including drugs and alcohol, sexual addiction, anger, gambling, codependent relationships, eating disorders, smoking addiction, sexual and physical abuse and many more.
Baker currently serves as pastor of Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback Church and is nationally known as a speaker and trainer, helping churches start their own Celebrate Recovery ministries. These ministries, in thousands of churches, reach out not only to their congregations but also to their communities in helping those who are facing seemingly insurmountable struggles.
Baker concluded: “It was exciting to work on this project with Zondervan, and I’m confident that the Celebrate Recovery Bible will serve as a valuable resource to those going through the program, as well as anyone who is struggling with problems that seem bigger than themselves.”
The Celebrate Recovery Bible features the trusted New International Version translation, the most popular modern English translation of the Bible in the world. It will be available in stores in September 2007 and will retail for $34.99 (Hardcover, ISBN: 0-310-92849-4) and $24.99 (Softcover, ISBN: 0-310-93810-4).
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
Youth Specialties,
Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at
www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).
