Special Guest Speaker Rhonda Bear to Address Celebrate Recovery

The Biblically based 12-step recovery program will celebrate its first birthday this Thursday, May 3, at New Life Foursquare Church, in Vinita

For the past year, Celebrate Recovery~Vinita and South Grand Lake has been helping area people who are struggling with hurt, pain and addictions to discover the road to recovery.

On Thursday, May 3, the Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program will celebrate its first birthday by hosting special guest speaker Rhonda Bear at its regular Thursday meeting.

Bear understands celebrating recovery. A drug addict at the age of 12, Bear’s long battle with drug addiction led to multiple arrests, twice losing of custody of her children and serving prison time. It was when she was sentenced to 10 years in prison that she determined she was going to get clean and change her life so she could get her children back.

While behind bars, Bear renewed her commitment to Christ, completed drug counseling and found guidance through Stand in the Gap Ministries when she was released on parole after serving 19 months.

She worked hard, regained custody of her children and remarried. Today, Bear is an attentive and involved grandmother. She is also back in prison. But this time, Bear is a Department of Corrections-approved volunteer, teaching Stand in the Gap’s Women in Transition curriculum to female inmates across the state of Oklahoma.

In addition to her work with Stand in the Gap, Bear founded two ministries to help other formerly incarcerated women turn their lives around. Based out of Claremore, she serves as the director of His House Outreach Ministries, a program that includes multiple faith-based transitional homes and programs for women recently out of jail or prison and recovering from drug addiction, as well as She Brews Coffee House, which provides employment opportunities for women reentering into society after dealing with problems like drug addiction.

The Celebrate Recovery meeting is open to anyone who wants to hear Bear’s inspirational message of overcoming obstacles to obtain personal success.

“Rhonda’s life experiences allow her to relate to incarcerated women. And, her testimony opens the door to immeasurable hope for women in prison and serves as inspiration to others in recovery,” said Shannon Baker, who, along with her husband, Kevin, serves as the pastor at New Life Foursquare Church, which hosts Celebrate Recovery~Vinita and South Grand Lake.

The 12-step Biblically based program seeks to help those who have a hurt, habit or hang-up gain freedom, acceptance and accountability. It is open to all ages.

“Everyone has had a hurt, habit or hang-up,” said Baker, who invites anyone interested to come hear Bear speak and learn about Celebrate Recovery.

Celebrate Recovery~Vinita and South Grand Lake’s weekly Thursday meeting always starts at 5:45 p.m. with a free dinner. The service or large group meeting, which will includes a time of prayer, praise and worship, begins at 6:30 p.m. Small men’s and women’s open share groups normally follow at 8 p.m. However, organizers are not expecting to hold the small groups at this week’s meeting to allow more time for the guest speaker.

A nursery is provided for infants and toddlers from birth to age 3. Children ages 4 years through fourth grade are invited to attend Celebration Place classes during the service.

New Life Foursquare Church is located at 442989 East 335 Road, in Vinita.

Transportation is provided with pick up locations at Oklahoma State Bank parking lot at 5:15 p.m., the Route 66 Inn at 5:25 p.m. and the Park Hills Motel at 5:35 p.m.

For more information, call or text Steve Wheeler at (918) 257-1472 or Carley Gibson at (417) 529-2207.