History of CR
Celebrate Recovery started at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., in 1991.
The ministry was a vision of Pastor John Baker. Baker was a recovering alcoholic who realized secular 12-step programs didn’t provide the depth and focus on Christ needed for the true recovery of body, mind and spirit.
Baker approached Senior Pastor Rick Warren with details of his vision and hope for a new recovery ministry. Rick promptly replied, “Great… do it!” And with that, CR took its first steps as a ministry to adult men and women with hurts, habits and hang ups.
Since 1991, more than 500,000 people have participated in the program. More than 10,000 churches worldwide have implemented CR, as well as a prison ministry called “CR Inside.”