Temple Baptist Church

Anniversary of CR at Temple
Walking in Faith: A Word From Our Deacons
Monthly Memory Verses
Book of the Month
Introducing B.L.A.S.T.
Fall Small Groups
Calendar
Who Is Teaching This Wednesday?
What Will We Be Covering in CR?
We Need You!
Get Connected

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ centered ministry that operates in all 50 states and in multiple countries around the world. Celebrate Recovery exists to help people find freedom from sin and healing from their hurts, habits, and hang-ups through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Celebrate Recovery began at Temple Baptist Church in 2008. Although many people came to Temple to take part in the program, the church wanted to continue to expand the program and see it succeed as they had once envisioned.

In 2017, the CR ministry at Temple was on rocky ground with very few participants and little church support. At this point the Lord put a leadership T.E.A.M. together consisting of Jay Strickland, Jennifer Edmonds, Felicia Jones, Larry Jones, Danny Moncrief, Wanda Moncrief, Stan Pittman, Betty Pittman, and Deborah Brinson to change the culture and perception of Celebrate Recovery at Temple.What does T.E.A.M. stand for? Training Coaches, Encourager Coach, Assimilation Coach, and Ministry Leader.

Per Jay Strickland: Celebrate Recovery is all about creating an environment of compassion, mercy, grace, and love, so that people who would normally never step foot in a church can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus came for the sick, the weak, the poor, the downtrodden, and my hope is that God the Father will Recover some of His lost sheep through CR at Temple, and when that happens, we want to Celebrate that Recovery. Celebrating True Recovery can only be found through Jesus Christ.

The Temple Celebrate Recovery ministry would not be what it is without Betty Pittman, our church momma, who wanted to extend the love of Christ through homemade meals every Saturday night. People literally come to CR not just spiritually hungry, but physically hungry as well, and Mrs. Betty and her team put together a meal that can take our CR participants back to grandma’s kitchen.

One such person, who started in the kitchen and is now a vital part of the CR T.E.A.M., is Jennifer Edmonds. Jennifer said she had not planned to be a part of the CR team but when Betty Pittman approached her one day with the question that changed it all, “Do you like to cook?” In true Jennifer fashion, she just looked at Betty and replied, “How did you know I wanted to be a food network star? Cooking is one of my gifts.” When asking Jennifer about her CR experience, this is what she had to say:

I started coming to Celebrate Recovery because I had a loved one who struggled with sin, and little did I know God had a plan for me. Betty started pouring into me and my family. Every Saturday we would meet in the kitchen at 2 o’clock and start preparing meals for that evening. Serving in the kitchen actually became my small group. I was able to open up and talk about issues in my life, and God began to work. Through every meal that we prepared, we were giving people hope, healing, and Jesus. Betty showed me the love of Christ, and it all began with serving in the kitchen. So today, I am able to give back by sharing my experience, strength, and hope that I found at Celebrate Recovery.

Since 2017, Temple’s Celebrate Recovery Ministry has grown significantly, from around 15 people in attendance in 2017 to 100 plus every Saturday in 2026 due to God's favor and provision. Our CR ministry is partnered with other organizations in our community such as Crossroads, Life Under the Son, and Turning Point. A huge part of what God has done in growing our numbers is through Brother Danny Moncrief, Wanda Moncrief, Deborah Brinson, Carl Jones, and others faithfully providing transportation services for Saturday night attendees.

Wanda Moncrief had the following to say on Facebook:

To see what can happen when a person who struggled with addiction gets clean and sober is a miracle. To see forgiveness, families restored, and God’s grace poured out is a blessing. If you have a loved one struggling, please don’t give up on them; pray for them. Times can be terribly rough; pray and continue to pray. Forgive; Christ shed His blood to cover all our sins. We have all sinned and to have unforgiveness in your heart is a sin.

As Celebrate Recovery at Temple approaches its 18th year Anniversary on September 5, 2026, we estimate that over 20,000 people from all over the country have visited our CR, which is amazing considering our remote location. The impact that Temple’s CR has had for the Kingdom of God is something that the leadership of Celebrate Recovery can’t begin to understand, but we are sure grateful to be a part of what God is doing.

Celebrate Recovery is a wonderful ministry held at Temple Baptist Church every Saturday evening; 5:00 Meal, 6:00 Large group (Praise & Worship), 7:00 Small Group. Celebrate Recovery is for anyone that falls short of God's glory.

Hello church family! Whether you see me on Sunday mornings playing the piano, helping lead worship, or rushing off to fix a technical glitch or a stubborn thermostat, I truly count it a joy to serve alongside you. I especially love seeing our church body come together, which was so evident this past Sunday night at our Fifth Sunday Night Sing. I am so proud of our church family for the heart and coordination on display. Not only was the music wonderful, but the fellowship and food that followed were a prime example of spiritual gifts in action—specifically the gifts of hospitality and service.

While some talents are visible on stage, so many essential spiritual gifts operate behind the scenes or in our classrooms. I want to shine a special spotlight on Beth Tilson and Stephanie Hoechst for the devotion they pour into our first and second graders every Sunday morning. I may be biased because my son, Henry, is in that class, but I see firsthand how they go above and beyond to create lasting spiritual memories. Tying fun activities directly back to Scripture for that age group is no small task, and I applaud their dedication.

This kind of faithful service happens all across our church family, because every believer has been given unique spiritual gifts. You see it in the welcoming faces of greeters at the doors and the ushers taking up the offering. It is in the security team members monitoring cameras to keep us safe, the decorating team creating beautiful seasonal displays, and those who quietly pick up trash to steward our campus well. Behind the scenes, our audio engineers, broadcast and presentation technicians faithfully run our live services, alongside the individuals using their practical know-how to keep our buildings running and comfortable.

We are also incredibly blessed by our faithful teachers, administrative helpers, and the nursery volunteers who lovingly care for infants and toddlers so parents can fully engage in worship. The same is true for the youth ministry leaders and chaperones who mentor our middle and high school students. Throughout the week, our prayer warriors faithfully intercede for our church leadership, while others visit shut-ins and seniors at home or in the hospital. We have members who bring comfort to the grieving and use their own past medical trials to encourage those walking through similar battles. Through it all, leaders and volunteers in Celebrate Recovery are actively reminding the broken that they are deeply loved by the Father, and mission-minded servants are reaching our community and the world with the Gospel.

Nothing that happens at Temple Baptist Church would be possible if it weren't for the collective contribution that everyone brings to the table. Never consider your contribution meaningless. As a believer, the same Spirit that was sent to dwell with us after Jesus ascended into heaven abides in every single one of us who loves the Lord. And the power that comes from the Spirit is immense! By this same power, the Holy Spirit distributes unique gifts—such as wisdom, healing, prophecy, and teaching, among other gifts—to equip believers to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

So, what will you do with that power that lives in you? God hasn't called us to be spectators; He has designed each of us as a vital part of the body of Christ. If you have ever wondered whether there is a place for your specific gifts and talents here, the answer is an absolute yes, even if you haven't fully discovered your true calling in the church. We are all on a pathway to grow spiritually as we follow the process of sanctification to become more like Jesus. God gives us purpose, ability, and strength to be His hands and feet. Let us continue using our gifts to edify one another, build up the church, and glorify God in everything we do.

In Christ,

Brandon