This past Friday, I was in the waiting room, anticipating the news of my son in surgery. The Doctor told us it would be an hour and a half max. Well, after 2 and a half hours, I started to get a little freaky. Then finally the doctor came out and said everything went fine. Thank you Jesus!
Deb and I couldn’t wait to get back to the recovery room to see him. I’ve got to tell you as Devin was coming out of anesthesia…I did something I never really do…I JUST STARED AT HIM. This worked well because he was asleep. I thought about how SPECIAL he is….what a GIFT he is….what a GREAT young man he is….and how blessed Debbie and I are to have him. Thank you for all your prayers for him!
Interesting…. that Saturday NorthwayChurch.tv hosted a regional Celebrate Recovery Conference for the entire Northeast. Celebrate Recovery is a ministry for people who are struggling with hurts, habits and hang ups. It was founded by John Baker…one of the pastors from this little struggling church in California…you may have heard of it…it’s called Saddleback Church. You know…Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven church guy, Rick Warren. This guy is one of my heroes and a long distance mentor.
It was an honor to have John and his wife, Cheryl, and the whole CR team with us! They did an outstanding job! We had over 55 CHURCHES represented from 11 different states and even some friends from Canada! I was so blessed to watch all these people in CR worship their hearts out. I was quickly reminded of how I felt about my son, as I stared at Devin in recovery, and how our Heavenly Father must feel as he sees and stares at his children in Celebrating Recovery.
SPECIAL, GIFTS, GREAT!
Pastor Buddy,
this is a letter I received…
As I spoke to you about expressing what Celebrate Recovery has done for my life, I am excited and honored to be a part of this wonderful program. Since coming to Northway Church last July, and starting with CR the following Monday, my life wll never be the same. For years I have floundered,looking for the motivation to stay clean and sober. It has been through CR that I found this! I have always known that only God could help me to change my life, and by attending faithfully each week I havelearned so much about how the Bible has all the answers! This Christ centered 12 step program and it’s Biblical comparisons are the cornerstone to my recovery. I love all the people who I have met through CR and my support network is made up of primarily of women from CR. Without this program I would not have the joy and commitment that I have acquired. This has been a life changing experience in my life and I thank all who are a part of it. I am looking forward to being more active in this program as I grow in Christ and Northway Church.
Audrey G.
Dewey- God is really using CR to change the hearts and minds of people all over the Northeast and beyond who are struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups! You did a great job this weekend with the conference. Thanks for sharing Audrey’s story with me. –Buddy
Dear Pastor Buddy,
This past weekend I attended the Recovery program in Clifton Park and was totally revitalized in my faith when the band started playing and the audience was so loud you could hardly hear the band. One thing John Baker said which I thought was profound was that if you’re saved, you probably belong in Recovery. There are many reasons people come to Christ, but in the end I believe it’s to have a lasting relationship with God, and to be free of the baggage they’ve carried their whole life on their own. I know for myself (accepted Christ at 50) there was such a relief and freedom in my life that day. I regularly attend the Recovery services on Monday night and it’s helping me come to a place where I can talk about my hurts and hangups which go very deep. Thank you for Recovery, and thank you for Northway Church.
Pastor,
Waiting in the surgical waiting is always a tough place to be. When it is news about one of our chilren the wait feels like an eternity. Devin is a very talented young man ,I am happy all is well.
Pastor, just a coment about the ‘Nuts and bolts’ things. Sometimes when a program is put on and it is as sucessful as CR was, the leaders are so joyful with their sucess that they forget about things like cleaning up and putting things back the way they belong. Not so with this group. Part of the joy for the leadership of CR seemed to be “taking care of business” all business. It was such a joy to work with people that are real and as we did,I was shown again what a great bunch of people we have here at Northway and the people of CR are some of the finest. You have the right man for the job, he’s good!
I can’t even express the awe I feel looking back on the past 16 months. I started going to Northway Church back in March 2006, and then began Celebrate Recovery in May 2006. I went from being an jewish athiest with a non-functional existance, to a Christ follower with a new found zest for life filled with God and my amazing extended church family in Celebrate Recovery. The unconditional, non-judgemental love and support I receive every week in group helped to strengthen me and continues to bless me everytime I go. After finishing all 12 steps by the beginning of the this year, I decided it was time to become a leader when we started up Celebrate Recovery in Clifton Park back in February. I was so convinced up until 16 months ago that I WOULD NEVER believe in God. In my head, I was the LAST PERSON that would ever be WHERE I AM TODAY!!! I see that as a testimony within itself!!! Because of this drastic change, I am filled with the holy spirit and want others to feel the healing that I have experienced. I am NOT saying that everyday is a walk in the park, but I find that everyday that I connect with God and give up more and more control to him, my baggage gets just alittle lighter. THANK YOU again Pastor Buddy for allowing God to mold you….for listening to God when he told you to start this church. This church along with Celebrate Recovery is and will continue to be such a blessing to the Northeast!!! I am so excited to see the growth that occurs now that the word has been put out there through John Baker’s seminar!!
Dewey- The wait can be unbearable when it comes to our children, but knowing they are in God’s hands makes it easier. Thanks for the prayers and praises for Devin. -Buddy
Lou- I couldn’t agree with you more…the CR VIP’s are amazing as are all VIP’s at Northway! -Buddy
Buddy,
That’s right all VIPs that serve at Northway are incredible. Also they are some of the most joyful people I know. I believe one of the ways to find joy as a Christian is to serve, like holding out your hand to greet someone or help someone find a seat at Church, to prepare a meal for someone who just had an operation or is sick. To see the smile on the faces of or children in KidzWay and know they are safe. Watching a middle school student as they go from middle school to high school in our student ministry. There are so many ways to find joy serving at Northway.
Larry- Your story is right on! I believe we are all in recovery or in denial! Thanks for serving like you do! -Buddy
Your story is amazing! I love what God is doing in your life! Keep sharing your story and you are exactly why we started Northway Church! The props need to go to our amazing CR team! thanks to Chad, Dewey, and Dom and the rest of the team!
Pastor Buddy: My continued prayers for your son and the continued health of your family.
To Northway and the CR Team: What an amazing, faith affirming experience this past weekend was for me. I am honored to be part of this life changing, far reaching movement that is CR and to be given the opportunity to serve God in ways that are creating amazing changes in me that were unimaginable to me a few short months ago. God continues to speak to me through the voices and actions of members of CR and the church who God has put in my life. He is molding and shaping me into the woman that I’ve yearned to be but lacked the tools – softening my heart and opening my eyes to see God’s plan for me, freeing me to give back to others what God has given so freely to me. I’m finding God’s toolbox for doing life is immense…
Anger and the fear behind it have paralyzed me emotionally for years. I was lacking joy, purpose and most days – self centeredly not wanting to get out of bed. Lives can be changed by CR; my own is changing because of my new family of choice, the women of CR. CR allows me to give God’s light and air to the habits, hang ups and lies I’ve chosen over the years to cover up the hurts. Truths are being revealed and taught; my masks are being retired with old hurts. God continues to bless me, allowing me to “do me” with a newfound mission where I am, thankfully, not the center of my own little universe anymore. I can “let it rip,” healing in the safety and security offered by CR and Northway. I am guided with love, compassion and honesty to keep learning God’s plan – although it’s a bumpy ride sometimes, it is all good. CR’s been incredibly freeing. I am sticking around to continue to witness and be part of the miracle of God’s grace at work for all of us.
When we came to Northway, over two years ago, my husband was involved in CR. He would tell me how awesome it was, so one night I asked if I could come along. That was the beginning of a journey that has changed my life. I am going to be 57 this year and thought that many hurts had been dealt with in my life. In 1974 my two year old son, Jason, died in an accident. I had blamed myself since I was his mother and was with him on the day. A portion of our neighbors fence fell on him when we were in our backyard. When he died, which was the day before his second birthday, I felt God had punished me. Little did anyone know that four months before he died, I was pregnant and my husband at the time did not want another child. We had three children already. I had an abortion, even though I did not want to. Within a few months after our son died, my husband, decided to leave me. This was in 1974. I thought that the pain had been dealt with. Once I started CR, I began to see that I spent many years wearing different masks to hide my pain and shame on many issues. It was being faithful to attending meetings that God and my wonderful sisters in Christ, began to dig deep and heal wounds that were very deep. Little did I know that last year, we would face a crisis with our other son, Clinton. At 29 years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was married, just moved into a new home two weeks earlier and had three children. When we found out that he had a tumor, I walked to the ladies room, and I heard in my head, “Your son is going to die, just like your other one.” I thank God that I immediately began to praise Jesus and knew that we would see a miracle and we did. God had prepared me through CR to deal with this crisis with my son and with his grace and strength, we faced his surgery. In closing, I wanted you to know that on the day of my son Clinton’s surgery, June 12, 2006, it was 32 years earlier on the exact day that my son Jason died. Only God could give you the peace that he gave me that day!! You are never to young or old for CR. I feel at 57 that my journey with God is just starting on a new level and I am excited for the support and love my sisters and brothers in CR have given me and my family.
Dewey- Hey man, I couldn’t agree with you more. Those personal touches make all the difference. -Buddy
Sheilah- Way to let it rip! It’s awesome to hear what God is doing in your life! I’m so glad to hear about the friends you are making and the support you are getting from CR. Your story is powerful….and as I often say there is nothing more powerful than your own story…..I pray God’s continued healing for you and God’s best to you. Thank you for sharing your story! -Buddy
Josephine- I’m speechless. God bless you Josephine. I thank God for you and the peace and healing He is bringing you. I cant imagine the pain you have been through….what a story and you are just beginning a new season! Ive always been a huge CR fan but your story takes it even deeper. So glad to hear your son is doing well.. I’m honored that you shared this with me.
Last Saturday just revealed to me how God is so faithful and full of Mercy, as Dewey took the step of faith and was obeident. 3yrs ago God began to open doors for CR, and Pastor Buddy who is a very humble man allowed CR to start 3yrs ago and what a blessing it has been and a journey I will never forget, I have seen miracles and lives change. I also started 3ys ago and i tell you i am not the same person I still have issues but the lord has done a mighty work on my anger and saved my marriage (hallelujah)I thank God for CR it has been like a family to me, even though i have my own family, sometimes I feel more closer to the women there because they understand we are all in this together.
Debbie – I can’t believe it has been 3 years already. I am so glad that we were able to start this incredible ministry here and that we’ve had the opportunity to touch and bless so many lives including yours. -Buddy