The Rev. Shue renews Celebrate Recovery

Baker was a recovering alcoholic who thought Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous were good programs, but they talked about God as a higher power and never put a face to God. That is what he wanted to do, thinking it would make a greater difference in people’s lives.

“We believe when we talk about a higher power that we put our faith in Jesus Christ,” Shue said. “CR believes that’s what makes the program work. When we are struggling and we can put a face on whatever it is that brings us through our issues, it just makes us stronger and it works. … People have to understand for any 12-step program to work it’s about relationships. We try to help them understand the only way to have a true relationship is through Jesus Christ. We talk about that in every fashion and form.”

Baker took the Beatitudes in Matthew and crafted them into the eight principles Celebrate Recovery would follow.

“We have a 12-step program, but it is not just for alcoholics or people with addictions. About 30% of the people we serve are that way, but the other 70% have issues with things like anger, pornography, grief, co-dependency and other things. We call them ‘hurts, hang-ups and habits,’” Shue said.

The program started about six or seven years ago in Parsons and Fredonia by former pastor Charlotte Coates of Faith United Methodist Church. Church leadership changed and did not have a pastor involved for a couple of years and then it ended because of the pandemic.

In July 2022, Shue sought to re-establish the program, which is now going strong.

“It helps for the group, as well as the community, when there is a minister involved in the program,” Shue said. “We get people from all walks of life.”

CR places brochures in the V.A. clinic, the Labette Center for Mental Health Services and the probation office.

The program starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Faith United Methodist Church and features a dinner cooked by the pastor’s wife with the help of other people. On a weekly basis, there are maybe 15 to 20 people, including volunteers. Following the meal, everyone gathers in a large group in the chapel for a short worship service in which they sing a few songs. The group may receive testimony from people (locally or elsewhere) who have been in the program or recite the eight principles or 12 steps. They also may complete a worksheet. They then divide into small groups. Men are in one and women in the other.

“The program has found there are certain issues men and women just don’t feel comfortable sharing with the opposite sex, and sometimes the opposite sex is the problem,” Shue said.

The small groups can last 15 to 30 minutes. Each person is given 3 to 5 minutes to share if they want.

“We always introduce ourselves, like I will start the program, ‘Hi, my name is Claude. I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ. I struggle with …’ in my case it is anger issues and grief issues and PTSD,” he said. “We just go by first name. Some of the people who are a part of my church, I don’t even know their last names, it’s not important.”

Sometimes people may just come for the meal and then not return for a week or two, then they may go to the large group but not the small groups. When they finally attend small groups, maybe the first several times they may not share.

“And that’s OK,” Shue said.

The groups are facilitated only by people who have been trained and who agree with a list of expectations and standardized guidelines and format.

Everyone agrees that everything that is said is confidential and is not shared outside the groups.

Anyone needing a ride is provided one. Shue picks up the men and his wife provides a ride for the women, in accordance with church and CR policy.

Day care is currently not offered to participants, because they do not have the staffing to do that, but it is something they would like to offer in the future.

The program receives some funding from the Parsons Area Community Foundation to help cover the costs of volunteer training, curriculum materials and meals. Participants are also able, but not required, to make donations for the meals. Donations sometimes come in from the community and other churches.

Shue said they also have fundraisers to support the program, such as one taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 25 at the church, 3035 Crawford, in Parsons.

“We’re planning a chicken noodle dinner and bake sale. People can dine in or pick up. We are doing it by donations rather than a set price,” Shue said. “The dinner will be chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes and green beans. And then ladies are going to bake some things up and we’ll sell that separately.”

If there is a group that would like Shue to talk about Celebrate Recovery, Shue said he is happy to oblige.

“I think it is a needed thing in the community. The community has been very supportive of us in many different ways. Most of the people are very supportive,” Shue said. “A lot of people know people and have children or grandchildren, or husbands or wives who need the program.

“Anyone has to understand, relationship is central to our overcoming those hurts, hangups and habits, and we have to work with that to build upon it. We have our own Bible that we give out to people that was made by the big organization that is packed full of different things about relationships and stuff and all kinds of different information that they are able to grow with. It has a good face to it.”