1. health and fitness
2. addiction

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OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADER
TRAINING
OPEN SHARE GROUP FORMAT
NEWCOMERS 101
MODULE 6
TRAINING OPEN SHARE
GROUP LEADERS
O
ver the years there has been some confusion about the
difference between Open Share Groups and Step Study Groups.
Questions that have been repeatedly asked are, “Which group
follows the Large Group Meeting? Why can’t I have both Open
Share and Step Study Groups after my Large Group Meeting?
Which group uses the Participant’s Guides? Which groups are
recovery-issue specific?” This module will clarify that difference
and answer those questions.
Open Share Groups are often the first group that people will attend,
with separate groups for men and women. It is vital that you train
qualified and committed Leaders to consistently lead these groups.
By facilitating the Small Group Guidelines, these Leaders will
create a safe environment for all people in recovery. When people
realize the group is safe, they will also realize that recovery is safe.
We also have included a guide about how to facilitate a
Newcomers 101—the group for first time attendees.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.1
OPEN SHARE
GROUP LEADER
TRAINING
TRAINING TIP:
You will be discussing the Small Group Guidelines (Module 8) and
a DENIAL Bulletin Insert. Be sure to have those with you before
you begin the training. Underlines reflect the content of the
Handouts. An underlined special handwriting font reflects the
fill-ins found on the Handouts.
Allow 2 to 3 hours for this training.
Handouts needed for this training:
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Open Share Group Leader Training
Open Share Group Format
DENIAL Bulletin Insert
Open Share Groups must be established before you offer Step Study
Groups. The Open Share Groups are funnel groups to Step Study Groups,
and will ensure that there is always an open meeting available for a
Newcomer. Bear in mind that Open Share Groups are not just for the
Newcomer! These groups also serve those who have worked the Celebrate
Recovery program and are available as Sponsors or Accountability Partners.
Ideally, Open Share Group Leaders should have at least one year of
recovery and have worked through the 12 Steps. This is important because:
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Leaders must be well on the road in their personal
recoveries and ready to minister to others.
Leaders are more likely to be successful in dealing with
group dynamics.
Leaders are familiar with the program, and understand the
progress that is made through each Step.
When you are beginning your Celebrate Recovery, you may not have
people with recovery experience. That’s okay. As a Leadership Team,
you should begin working through the Steps together, so that you have
finished the first Participant’s Guide before you launch your ministry.
6.2
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
Your Leaders should be several Steps ahead of the group and familiar
with the program and process.
Please refer to page 34 of your Celebrate Recovery Leader’s Guide for
the suggested pathway of growth for new groups.
Open Share Groups should be geared toward recovery-specific issues.
Suggested beginning groups are Men’s and Women’s Chemical
Addiction, and Men’s and Women’s Co-dependency. Be sensitive to
your leadership. Start with groups with which your Leaders identify.
Always have a Leader and a Co-Leader for every group. New recoveryspecific groups will develop over time as people complete their 12 Steps
through a Step Study Group.
We have included the standard Open Share Meeting Format at the end
of this module. Print it out, 3-hole punch, and place in an Open Share
Leader notebook. Your leader will have the format readily available at
each meeting.
The Small Group Guidelines are an important part of the Open Share
Groups, and help maintain a safe environment for every participant.
The Open Share Group Leader facilitates these Guidelines.
The Open Share Group does not use the Celebrate Recovery Participant’s
Guides. The Open Share Group is designed to meet the recovery needs of
a broad range of participant’s and to serve as a funnel group to Step
Studies, where the Participant’s Guides are used.
Here is the script for you to use when training.
Open Share Groups Script
Allow two hours for the workshop, with a break.
Supplies: Pens or pencils.
Handouts
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Open Share Group Format
Open Share Group Leader Training
Bulletin Insert with focus question
Welcome to the training for Open Share Group Leaders.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.3
TRAINING TIP:
Point out the location of the handouts, refreshments, facilities, etc.
Explain the format of the training, including timing and breaks.
Opening prayer
Let’s get started. Turn to your handouts.
There are four objectives of the Open Share Group training:
1. The first objective is to train
Share Groups.
and equip new Leaders
for our Open
If our Celebrate Recovery is to grow, we need to have trained
Leaders and Co-Leaders in place, ready to welcome Newcomers
and provide a safe place for them to share their hurts, habits, and
hang-ups. As you have completed, or are completing your Step
Study, be praying for God to show you where He wants you to
serve. God may be leading you to start a new Open Share Group
to deal with a recovery issue that is currently not being covered.
We welcome that, and are excited that you are here at the training.
2. The second objective of this training is to communicate
“How To’s” of facilitating an Open Share Group.
the
We will walk through the Open Share Group Format, and talk about
each part of the group. We want you to leave with a clear
understanding of the meeting and why it is structured this way.
3. The third objective of this training is to ensure
Celebrate Recovery.
the model
of
We want to honor what God is doing and do our best to keep the
model of Celebrate Recovery intact. Celebrate Recovery meetings
are being held throughout the country and we want to ensure that
when a visitor walks into an Open Share Group, they feel safe, at
home, and feel comfortable to share openly, even if the music or
style may be different from their home Celebrate Recovery.
We want to be on board with what God is honoring, and we want to
resist the temptation to tweak it to make it a little bit better, or to fit
our own personality more comfortably. We must do our best to
ensure that the model is upheld.
6.4
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
4. The last objective of our training is to talk about accountability
and integrity.
Our Celebrate Recovery must be a safe place for all who come
through our doors—for all who God sends us. We need to facilitate
the group Guidelines and also live by them. We know that a little
bit of gossip can cause serious damage. We are here to help and
want to do our best to keep this a safe place for anyone to come and
share their struggles, knowing that what is shared in our Open
Share Groups, stays in our Open Share Groups.
Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the
growth of our fellowship together.
ROMANS 14:19 PH
Those are our objectives. Now let’s discuss the Group Leader’s role.
The Open Share Group Format is one of your handouts. Take out your copy
of the Open Share Group Format, as we will be referring to this handout
along with the handout you are currently working from. (I keep a copy of
the format in my Open Share Group Leaders notebook so it’s handy and a
ready reference at every meeting.) Let’s walk through the Meeting Format.
Before the meeting starts, you’ll want to check your room to make sure
it is set-up and ready. You also want to be available to greet people
when they arrive immediately after the Large Group, not scurrying to
find chairs or to set-up your room.
Give people a few minutes to find the room and get settled. To start your
meeting, welcome participants by introducing yourself. Always state
your name and that you are a believer who struggles with ___________
(state your issue).
“ My name is ____________________. I am a believer who struggles
with ________________________.”
Remember our identity is in Christ and not in our addictions. Stating the
struggle helps Newcomers identify, and affirms that everyone in the
group relates to the specific area of recovery.
Let’s look at the Group Leader’s role:
5. It is the group Leader’s objective to facilitate the Meeting Format .
It is up to you to see that the meeting starts and ends, on time, and
that all of the elements are covered.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.5
Open the meeting in prayer. Keeping the opening prayer simple, like the
short version of the Serenity Prayer, takes into consideration the wide
range of participants. It will meet most people where they are spiritually.
After the opening prayer, an option would be to read ‘The Problem’ or
‘The Solution,’ on the Information Sheet for your specific group. This
helps focus the group and helps the Newcomer identify with the issue.
It also fills in time for smaller groups.
Introductions. Introduce yourself again, and then go around the room.
Indicate who you would like to follow you, and in which direction you
want the circle to go. This helps with any anxiety the Newcomer may
have about the introductions; they know what to expect and when it will
be their turn.
“My name is ___________________. I’m a believer who struggles
with ___________________.”
Open Share Groups should be recovery-issue specific and ONLY for
those who are exploring this area of recovery for themselves. PLEASE,
NO VISITORS. By visitors, we mean those who are not attending the
Small Group for themselves. Examples would be:
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Local college students working on a school paper
A person who is attending the meeting with someone they
are supporting
In the case that someone shares this during their introduction, invite
them to attend Newcomers 101, and excuse them from the group. Let
them know that you would be glad to meet with them during Fellowship
Time after the Open Share Meetings.
A person who is visiting from another church who does identify with the
particular area of recovery is welcome and encouraged to participate.
That is one of the reasons why Celebrate Recovery has designed
standardized formats that are used nationwide! It ensures that we have a
safe place to go when traveling, vacationing, or visiting friends and family.
After the introductions, read the Small Group Guidelines. The
Guidelines must be read aloud and facilitated before you open the
meeting for sharing. They are designed to provide a safe and productive
meeting for everyone, and are to be honored throughout the meeting.
This is one of your most important roles as a Leader.
6.6
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6. The Open Share Group Leader is to ensure that the
Guidelines are followed.
Small Group
Please refer to the Small Group Guidelines section of the Open
Share Group Format. I know you are familiar with the Guidelines.
You will find them listed on your handout. They are an important
part of our meetings and are essential to the safety of our groups.
Let’s go over them.
When you are first starting out, or if you have several new people
in your group, you’ll want to explain each Guideline in detail. Once
your group has been together for a while, simply read the Guidelines
as listed in the format. If you notice that a particular Guideline is
being broken, include the explanation the following week to remind
everyone. If someone continues to break the Guidelines, talk with
them privately after the group has concluded.
The first Small Group Guideline is:
1.
Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings.
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This means not talking about your spouse’s, boyfriend’s, or your family
members’ hurts and hang-ups, but your own. We want our participants
to be focusing on themselves. This will benefit their recovery as well as
others in your group. Encourage members to stick to “I” or “me”
statements, not “you” or “we” statements.
Limit your sharing to three to five minutes, so that everyone has an
opportunity to share, and to ensure that one person does not dominate
the group sharing time.
2.
There is NO cross talk.
Cross talk is when two people engage in conversation excluding all others.
Each person is free to express his or her feelings without interruptions.
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Cross talk can be making distracting comments or asking questions
while someone is sharing. It can also be speaking to another member of
the group while someone is sharing or responding to something that has
been shared. Additional types of cross talk would be handing a tissue or
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.7
tissue box while someone is crying during their time of sharing. This
interrupts feelings. Remember, there is healing in tears!
3.
3.
We
are
here
to
support
one
another,
We are here to support one another, not
not “fix”
“fix” one
one another.
another.
This
keeps
us
focused
on
our
own
issues.
This keeps us focused on our own issues.
W
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We do not give advice or solve someone’s problem in our time of
sharing, or offer book referrals or counselor referrals!
Celebrate Recovery groups are supplemental to, and are not designed
to be a replacement for clinical, licensed counselors, psychologists, or
therapists. They cannot diagnose or recommend treatment methods or
procedures. It is up to the participants to include outside counseling to
their program when they are ready.
4.
Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements.
What is shared in the group stays in the group.
The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
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We are not to share information with our spouses/family/coworkers.
This also means not discussing what is shared in the group among other
group members. This is called gossip.
One may think it is harmless to discuss what others have shared in the
group with coworkers because they will never meet the person. I assure
you this is NOT always the case, and this lack of discretion may come
back to hurt someone! If a Guideline is broken, the group member is
warned. If it happens again, inform your leadership. The member who has
broken this Guideline should be asked to leave the group indefinitely.
Please be advised, if anyone threatens to hurt themselves or others, the
Small Group Leader has the responsibility to report it to the Celebrate
Recovery Ministry Leader.
6.8
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
TRAINING TIP:
Educate yourself and your Leaders on your church’s and state’s
mandated requirements for reporting abuse.
5.
Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.
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Therefore, we ask that you please watch your language. The main issue
here is that the Lord’s name is not used inappropriately.
We will have some people coming who are very much “in the world.”
Show grace. If it continues to be a problem, talk with that person
outside of the group, privately.
We also avoid graphic descriptions. If anyone feels uncomfortable with
how explicitly a speaker is sharing regarding his/her behaviors, then you
may indicate so by simply raising your hand. The speaker will then
respect your boundaries by being less explicit in his/her descriptions.
This will avoid potential triggers that could cause a person to act out.
These Guidelines are critical to the success of our Celebrate Recovery.
If we bend them, or don’t follow them, our ministry will fail. They are
that important! If our groups aren’t safe, they will fail. This is a life and
death ministry, so we want to do everything we can to be successful—
and safe. Please follow these Guidelines in every meeting. It’s your
most important role as a Leader.
TRAINING TIP:
If you offer training on the Small Group Guidelines, inform the
group when the next training will be held and encourage them to
attend. If you don’t have this training in the near future, you may
want to include the “Helpful Phrases” section of these Guidelines.
These are located in the Small Group Guidelines module of this
training kit.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.9
TRAINING TIP:
As the Trainer for this section, you should have a hard copy of the
DENIAL Bulletin Insert to show to the class during this talking
point. You will find this in the Bulletin Insert section of the kit.
The participants also should have one in their handouts.
The next point in the format is the Leader’s focus.
This is essential in ensuring that the sharing time is focused on recovery.
By utilizing a Focus Question based on the lesson taught during Large
Group time, participants begin to relate the 8 Recovery Principles to
their own lives. This is also crucial for Newcomers and encourages
them to transition into a Step Study Group.
The group Leader should spend a few minutes going over the acrostic
and fill-ins from the Bulletin Insert.
7. The Leader presents the Focus
Question.
TRAINING TIP:
If you are utilizing the Focus Questions included and are adding
them to your bulletins, show a current example and inform your
Leaders that the questions are on each Bulletin Insert. If you are
not including the Focus Questions in your Bulletin Inserts, explain
that Leaders can find these questions in their Participant’s Guides,
under the lesson being taught. Encourage them to choose one or
two ahead of time. You will find the DENIAL Bulletin Insert at the
end of this module.
Take out your DENIAL Bulletin Insert.
This particular lesson is on DENIAL. Let’s read down the acrostic.
D—disables our feelings; E—energy lost; N—negates growth, etc. As
you can see, it is important to attend the Large Group Meeting before
coming to the Open Share Group and to be ready with your fill-ins.
Complete the acrostic, read the Leader’s Focus Question, and ask those
who would like to share on the topic to share first. The group starts with
a focused discussion and then naturally transitions into open sharing.
6.10
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
Sharing can go around the circle in order, starting either at the Leader’s
side, or with the first person to volunteer. With this method, participant’s
know when it will be their turn and can prepare as their turn draws near.
Or, you can have random, “popcorn sharing,” where participants share
when they are ready, by raising their hand, or simply stating they’d like
to share. In the random strategy, be prepared to have minutes of silence,
as people formulate their thoughts. This is fine, don’t interrupt the
silence; someone will share. It is up to the Leader’s discretion how the
sharing will proceed. Use the method that you are most comfortable
with, staying consistent so participants know what to expect.
Although we cannot control all aspects of someone’s sharing, this
focused discussion will help limit the amount of non-productive sharing.
Make sure each person who wants to share has an opportunity. Don’t
force anyone to share; be encouraging. If someone has been in the
group for several weeks and still is not sharing, talk with them before
the meeting and encourage them to share during this meeting. Or, after
the meeting, thank them for attending and challenge them to have
something to share the following week. Someone sitting in the group
week after week and not sharing can damage the feeling of safety for
the other members of the group. Go easy; it can take time for some to
have the courage to share.
The Leader’s Focus Question is not intended to be taught by the group
Leader. The lesson was already taught during the Large Group Meeting.
8. Remember, the group Leader’s role is to facilitate the format and to
participate, sharing from experience and victories in your own life.
Please do not monopolize the discussion, or allow any participant to
do so. We are not therapists, we are not counselors. We are people
who share a common struggle and want to share what Christ has
done in our lives to help us overcome those struggles.
After sharing time, thank everyone for participating; this is not a time
to cross talk and fix participants. It is the Leader’s responsibility to
wrap the meeting up on time, at the end of one hour, allowing time
for closure. You want to avoid coming down to the last minute and
having the meeting end abruptly, or having it go on and on.
This is an ideal time to acknowledge various lengths of sobriety/
recovery and to welcome the Newcomer. By handing out chips, we
have an opportunity to celebrate our recoveries and bring honor to
our higher power, Jesus Christ. (Celebrate Recovery Sobriety Chips
may be purchased on www.CelebrateR ecovery.com.)
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.11
To award chips, have someone stand in the center of the circle and
ask, “Is there anyone here for the first time tonight, and would you
like to accept a welcome chip?” Then acknowledge various lengths
of sobriety (you will find Definitions of Sobriety in the Appendix),
or recovery. “Is there anyone here with 30 days, 60 days, and 90
days?” Then ask, “Is there anyone here celebrating an anniversary;
1 year, 2 years, and so on.”
This is a great assignment to give to someone in the group, perhaps
someone who hasn’t taken a step into service yet.
9. Encouraging first steps into service is one of the roles of an Open
Share Group Leader.
This is also a time to provide for individual prayer requests. Have
index cards or notepaper available, perhaps in a basket on the floor
in the middle of the circle. Anyone wanting to hand in a prayer
request may pick up a card and write out their request. If they
would like a phone call or e-mail during the week, they can list that
information on the card, as well. When finished, each person
returns their request to the basket. When everyone who wants to
participate has done so, each person participating picks a request,
and commits to pray for that person for the following week. These
are confidential prayer requests.
The prayer requests are another great opportunity for someone in
the group. They commit to bringing the box or basket each week,
stocked with supplies and ready to go.
The CLOSING PRAYER should be kept simple. Feel free to end
with the Lord’s Prayer.
GIVE AN INVITATION to continue the meeting unofficially with
the Fellowship Time afterwards, for example, at the Solid Rock
Cafe. Encourage attendance.
10. It is the role of the Open Share Group Leader to encourage
participants to find Accountability Partners and a Sponsor.
11. Encourage participants to attend the Fellowship Events that are
available. They will begin to make new, healthy relationships, and
find those important connections needed for recovery.
Remind your group of that fact and keep it in the forefront.
6.12
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
How wonderful it is, how pleasant when brothers live together in unity.
PSALM 133:1 NIV
That covers the meeting format, so let’s conclude this part of our
meeting by modeling a Fellowship Time. Let’s break for 15 minutes.
Welcome back…
God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth in love… like
Christ in everything.
EPHESIANS 4:15a MSG
We’ve talked about the meeting format, now let’s talk about who
will attend our meetings. Let’s look at our first handout, Open
Share Group Leader Training.
The Open Share Groups attract a wide range of people, and as a Leader,
you will need to be familiar with those who will attend your group.
Know Your Attendees:
1. Newcomers:
a. You will have people who are brand new
to recovery,
who may not even know why they are there; they may have been
encouraged to come with friends or a spouse.
b. You will have new believers, who have recently found Jesus Christ.
They may be attending church or might have just joined your
church, and are on fire for the Lord. They are ready to do some
housecleaning and to get their lives in order.
c. Your group will attract nonbelievers.
They may be hurting and looking for help, who don’t have a
relationship with Christ, or may have had discouraging or hurtful
dealings with a church in the past. They will come looking for
something different, something more; even though they don’t
know what that “something” is.
d. And you will have people come with experience in secular
recovery, but who are new to a Christ-centered recovery.
This may be the first time they have been able to combine their
recovery with their faith, openly and honestly.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.13
You can see that you will have Newcomers in many different places in
their lives.
2. You will have those in your group who are working through a
Step Study during the week.
They may have been around Celebrate Recovery awhile, or they may
be new; they have made the commitment to join a Step Study and
work through the four Participant’s Guides. You can watch as they
grow, heal, and become encouragers for the Newcomers in the group.
3. Some will attend because they need court
meetings.
mandated
recovery
Pray that they will hear the messages, and the hope in the sharing,
and that this will be the beginning of their heartfelt recovery.
4. Our Celebrate Recovery Leaders will attend.
Get to know your Co-Leader and work together to facilitate a safe
environment for your group. If there are any personality conflicts or
leadership issues, deal with them outside of your group time.
5. If you are fortunate, you will have some “Old Timers” in your group.
“Old Timers” are those who have been in leadership in the past,
have completed a Step Study, and have retired. You also may have
experienced Celebrate Recovery Leaders who are leading a Step
Study Group during the week, leading one of your church’s other
ministries, or are taking some time off to recharge. They will share
their victories with your group and be a beacon of hope. They seek to
give back and stay connected with recovery and their accountability.
Welcome them to share, to encourage the Newcomers, help with
Accountability Partners, and Sponsor those they can. You will find
support and help from these valuable members.
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are
my disciples.
JOHN 13:35 NLT
6.14
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
As you can see, you’ll have a wide range of people attending your
group. Remember, your role is to facilitate the meeting format and make
sure it is a safe place. It’s an incredible dynamic to watch. Listen as
they share and pay attention to where they are along their “Road to
Recovery.” Keep this in mind as you are encouraging them.
Take a look at the handout titled “Open Share Group Format.” This is a
summary of what we have just discussed in detail.
Celebrate Recovery ®
Open Share Group Format
Leader:
“Good Evening. My name is _____________________________________ ;
I am a believer that struggles with __________________________ .”
1. Welcome and Opening Prayer
Optional: Short version of the Serenity Prayer
God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know
the difference. Amen.
Leader:
“This meeting is specifically for those who struggle with ________________ ,
and for those who are exploring this area of recovery for themselves.”
Optional: Read “The Problem,” “The Solution,” or the Group’s Information Sheet to help focus the
group, to help the Newcomer identify and to help fill-in the extra time typical of smaller groups.
2. Introductions
Leader:
“Let’s take a minute now to introduce ourselves. I’ll begin, and we’ll go
around the room. My name is _______________________________________________ ;
I’m a believer that struggles with ________________________________ .”
3. Read Group Guidelines
Leader:
“Before we open the meeting for sharing, I would like to share our Small
Group Guidelines. These Guidelines are designed to provide a safe and
productive meeting for everyone. Please listen carefully and honor these
Guidelines throughout the meeting.”
• Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings. Please limit your sharing
to 3–5 minutes.
• There is NO cross talk please. Cross talk is when two people engage in a dialogue during the
meeting. Each person is free to express feelings without interruptions.
continued
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
M06_02A
continued
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.15
Open Share Group Format, continued
Celebrate Recovery ®
Open Share Group Format, continued
• We are here to support one another. We will not attempt to “fix” one another.
• Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What’s shared in the group stays
in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
• Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.
4. Leader’s Focus
Leader reads through lesson acrostics from Bulletin Inserts passed out during the Large Group Meeting,
then presents the focus question. For example: What part of the testimony touched you the most?
5. Focus Question and Open Sharing
Ask those who would like to respond to the focus question to share first, and then transition the
meeting to open sharing for those remaining.
6. Wrap Up
After sharing time, thank everyone for participating.
Optional: For groups with definitions of sobriety; state this is a chip meeting and read
“The Definition of Sobriety.”
Leaders:
“We like to acknowledge various lengths of sobriety. I’ve asked
______________________________ to pass out chips.”
Optional: Individual prayer requests as time allows.
7. Closing Prayer
Leaders:
“Now, after a moment of silent prayer for those who are still struggling,
let’s close in prayer.”
8. Invitation to Solid Rock Cafe
Encourage attenders to use this time to connect with others in the Open Share Group and find
Accountability Partners or Sponsors.
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery
M06_02B
The last topic we will cover is our Newcomers 101. This group is a
special Open Share Group that you will have the opportunity to
facilitate and will want to be familiar with.
6.16
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
NEWCOMERS 101
Newcomers 101 is a “one time only” Open Share Group that meets each
week after the Large Group Meeting. The goal of the Newcomers 101 is
to explain how Celebrate Recovery works including the fellowship
events, the Large Group Format, the Open Share Group Format, the
Small Group Guidelines, and the curriculum. By the close of the
Newcomers meeting, the attendee should be able to identify the right
group to attend the following week.
When someone attends for the first time, they come with a lot of
apprehension and concern. This group encourages the participants to
ask questions, letting the Newcomer know, from their first meeting, that
Celebrate Recovery is a safe place.
Newcomers 101 Format
Two Leaders, a man and a woman, will always facilitate the Newcomers
101 Open Share Group. This remains the same whether you have one or
two first time attendees, or forty.
Set Up
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Make sure the room is ready fifteen minutes prior to the
Newcomers 101 group’s arrival.
Directions and signage—make sure it is easy for a
Newcomer to find.
Things to have ready:
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Chairs ready—a semi-circle works best, making sure that
everyone can see the video.
Television is ready—plugged in, VHS or DVD is working,
and the tape or DVD is in place and ready to start.
Tools—Participant’s Guides, Life Recovery Bible, the
bulletin from that evening’s meeting, Pizza Parlor pass,
Solid Rock Cafe/Barbeque coupons if you need them.
Have Information Sheets for all Open Share Groups
available. You can get these from the Information Table—a
few of each is fine.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.17
Newcomers 101, continued
Meet and Greet
One of the Leaders should stand outside the open door to the meeting
room and shake everyone’s hand before they get in the door. Smile and
welcome them warmly.
“Welcome to Newcomers 101, please come in and have a seat.”
Have one Leader build a rapport with the Newcomers inside the room,
while the other is outside shaking hands and directing people.
6.18
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
Newcomers 101, continued
Celebrate Recovery ®
Newcomers 101, continued
8. The Leaders explain the different components of the program
a
TRAINING TIP:
This task should be divided with each Leader taking half of the
points. The Leaders can switch off and do every other one, or in a
group, whatever works best for your Leaders.
a. Give a brief history of Celebrate Recovery (page xx).
b. Explain the Open Share Groups.
1) Explain the Celebrate Recovery Participant Guides, The Life Recovery Bible, and
Step Study Groups; how they work, days and times.
2) Read the Small Group Guidelines and explain each one.
3) Describe Accountability Partners and Sponsors.
4) Review the Format:
Leader:
“We have dinner or barbeque at 6:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. we meet
for Large Group Meeting. At 8:00 p.m. we break up into our Open
Share Groups. After our groups, at 9:00 p.m. we go to Solid Rock
Cafe for coffee.”
9
TRAINING
TIP:
This should all be covered in the first half-hour of the group. It is a
lot to cover. Don’t stress! One suggestion is to ask for all questions
to be held until the individual group meetings.
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.19
9. Divide into Men’s Groups and Women’s Groups
a. Encourage the Newcomers to give their name, what brought them to Celebrate Recovery or to
pass if they are not ready to share.
b. Explain that we say, “Hi,” and repeat the person’s name after they introduce themselves.
c. Explain that we applaud as an affirmation after they have shared.
d. In order to keep to the Guideline concerning the 3 to 5 minutes sharing time, the Leader of the
group will give a signal indicating the sharing time should conclude. Open the conversation
with something like this:
continued
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
M06_03B
Celebrate Recovery ®
Newcomers 101, continued
Leader:
“This is where we will run through a sample Open Share Group
Meeting and answer any questions you may have. We’ll start with
introductions. We will start on my left, and go around the circle.
I’m going to ask you to say your first name, and if you’re comfortable,
what brought you here tonight.”
e. After sharing is completed, open the discussion time up for questions.
f. Encourage members to attend a group several times before trying a new group.
g. After questions have been answered; encourage men/women to talk informally among
themselves. We explain that this is an opportunity to form their first accountability group by
agreeing to meet for Fellowship Time the following week or to meet for a Step Study Group.
h. Those unable to share in front of the group are spoken to one-on-one in an effort to guide
them to the appropriate group.
10. Conclusion
Ask them to talk with you in the weeks ahead and let you know how they are doing.
11. The Men’s / Women’s Groups are closed in prayer
Each Leader may close in prayer, or ask the group to recite the Lord’s Prayer together.
Before the attendees leave, invite them again to Solid Rock Cafe, and next week’s Barbeque or
Pizza Parlor. If possible, walk over to Solid Rock Cafe together.
Be available for a few minutes after the group to see if any of the attendees need your direct help.
Look for Newcomers at Fellowship Times to follow up with them and to answer any other questions.
What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of
every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and
trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and
encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort that God has given us.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3–6 LB
12. Wrap Up
13. Closing Prayer
14. Close
Pack up the tools for the meeting and pick up the signs! Close the room and return any items to storage.
REMEMBER: Newcomers 101 is going to be, for the most part, the first time any of our Newcomers have
seen the workings of Celebrate Recovery. Please be professional, warm and godly, but most of all have fun!
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
6.20
M06_03C
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
TRAINING TIP:
The three handouts that follow are copies of the handouts that the
attendees will be using. The answers for these handouts have been
incorporated in your training script, as a handwriting font.
Open Share Group Leader Training
Celebrate Recovery ®
Open Share Group Leader Training
Main Objectives
1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
Notes
3. ___________________________________________________
4. _________________________ and ___________________
Let us concentrate on the things which
make for harmony and the growth of
our fellowship together.
ROMANS 14:19 PH
Group Leaders Role
5. It is the Group Leaders role to facilitate the
__________________________________________________ .
6. The Open Share Group Leader is to ensure
the ______________________________ are followed.
7. The Leader presents the _____________________ .
8. Remember, the Group Leader’s role is to
facilitate the format and to participate,
sharing from _______________________________ and
victories your own life.
9. Encouraging first steps into ___________________
is one of the roles of an Open Share Group
Leader.
10. It is the role of the Open Share Group Leader
to encourage participants to find _____________
___________________ and a _________________________ .
continued
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
M06_01A
continued
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.21
Open Share Group Leader Training, continued
Celebrate Recovery ®
Open Share Group Leader Training, continued
11. Encourage participants to attend the
_______________________________ that are available.
Notes
How wonderful it is, how pleasant when
brothers live in unity.
PSALM 133:1 NIV
God wants us to grow up, to know the whole
truth in love, . . . like Christ in everything.
EPHESIANS 4:15a MSG
Know your Attendees
1. Newcomers:
a. New to _______________________________________ .
b. New __________________________________________ .
c. ________________________________________________ .
2. You will have those in your group who are
working through a ______________________________ .
3. Some will attend because they need
_________________________ _________________________
recovery meetings.
4. Our Celebrate Recovery _______________________
will attend.
5. If you are fortunate, you will have some
_________________________ in your group.
Your love for one another will prove
to the world that you are my disciples.
JOHN 13:35 NIV
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
6.22
M06_01B
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
Open Share Group Format
Celebrate Recovery ®
Open Share Group Format
Leader:
“Good Evening. My name is _____________________________________ ;
I am a believer that struggles with __________________________ .”
1. Welcome and Opening Prayer
Optional: Short version of the Serenity Prayer
God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know
the difference. Amen.
Leader:
“This meeting is specifically for those who struggle with ________________ ,
and for those who are exploring this area of recovery for themselves.”
Optional: Read “The Problem,” “The Solution,” or the Group’s Information Sheet to help focus the
group, to help the Newcomer identify and to help fill-in the extra time typical of smaller groups.
2. Introductions
Leader:
“Let’s take a minute now to introduce ourselves. I’ll begin, and we’ll go
around the room. My name is _______________________________________________ ;
I’m a believer that struggles with ________________________________ .”
3. Read Group Guidelines
Leader:
“Before we open the meeting for sharing, I would like to share our Small
Group Guidelines. These Guidelines are designed to provide a safe and
productive meeting for everyone. Please listen carefully and honor these
Guidelines throughout the meeting.”
• Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings. Please limit your sharing
to 3–5 minutes.
• There is NO cross talk please. Cross talk is when two people engage in a dialogue during the
meeting. Each person is free to express feelings without interruptions.
continued
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
M06_02A
continued
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
6.23
Open Share Group Format, continued
Celebrate Recovery ®
Open Share Group Format, continued
• We are here to support one another. We will not attempt to “fix” one another.
• Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What’s shared in the group stays
in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
• Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.
4. Leader’s Focus
Leader reads through lesson acrostics from Bulletin Inserts passed out during the Large Group Meeting,
then presents the focus question. For example: What part of the testimony touched you the most?
5. Focus Question and Open Sharing
Ask those who would like to respond to the focus question to share first, and then transition the
meeting to open sharing for those remaining.
6. Wrap Up
After sharing time, thank everyone for participating.
Optional: For groups with definitions of sobriety; state this is a chip meeting and read
“The Definition of Sobriety.”
Leaders:
“We like to acknowledge various lengths of sobriety. I’ve asked
______________________________ to pass out chips.”
Optional: Individual prayer requests as time allows.
7. Closing Prayer
Leaders:
“Now, after a moment of silent prayer for those who are still struggling,
let’s close in prayer.”
8. Invitation to Solid Rock Cafe
Encourage attenders to use this time to connect with others in the Open Share Group and find
Accountability Partners or Sponsors.
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery
6.24
M06_02B
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
TRAINING TIP:
This is the handout that the attendees will be looking at during
your training.
Celebrate Recovery ®
DENIAL
Principle 1:
Realize I’m not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and
that my life is unmanageable.
Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.
MATTHEW 5:3a TEV
Step 1:
We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had
become unmanageable.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
ROMANS 7:18 NIV
Disables our
________________________
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of destructive habits—for a man is a slave of
anything that has conquered him. (2 PETER 2:19 GNB)
Energy __________________________________
He frees the prisoners, . . . he lifts the burdens from those bent down beneath their loads. (PSALM 146:7b–8 LB)
Negates ________________________________
Then they cried to the Lord in their troubles, and he rescued them! He led them from their darkness and shadow
of death and snapped their chains. (PSALM 107:13–14 LB)
Isolates us from _________________________
God is light; in him there is not darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 JOHN 1:5b–7)
Alienates us from _______________________
Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are
hurting ourselves. (EPHESIANS 4:25 LB)
L
engthens the ___________________________
God’s promise: I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds. (JEREMIAH 30:17 LB)
LEADER’S FOCUS QUESTION
In what areas of your life are you now beginning to face the truth and break the effects of DENIAL?
© 2006 Celebrate Recovery®
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS
M06_04
6.25
NOTES
6.26
MODULE 6: TRAINING OPEN SHARE GROUP LEADERS