The Startup, Wash., Church began the "Celebrating Life in Recovery" program for people with addictions of any kind in mid-July. This program will continue every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. until Oct. 12.
This program is run by Tina Anderson, a newly baptized member and sister in Christ. Anderson is a recovering addict and was inspired by Cheri Peters, True Step Ministries founder.
Peters was born to 14- and 16-year-old addicts, abused and unwanted. At age 13, Peters ended up on the streets and the last 10 years the streets of Los Angeles. Drugs, alcohol and abuse were her life.
By age 23, she was burned-out, drug-addicted, suicidal, and desperately looking for a way out. She found the way out in an incredible encounter with God. This led to meeting a woman who began mentoring and encouraging Peters to fight for her recovery. At that time, Peters was fairly illiterate, strung out on heroin, and lacking healthy life skills.
Miraculously, Peters recovered from her addictions, learned to read and began working with addicts. Peters has now celebrated more than 30 years of recovery, authored two books, and hosts worldwide television and radio shows. True Step Ministries Inc. (USA) was founded in 1996.
The "Celebrating Life in Recovery" program is a subset of True Step Ministries. The program was born to meet the following need: Provide people with a way to connect with and enter into an addiction-recovery program on a local level, in a safe and healthy environment. This resource uses a holistic approach to healing and recovery, incorporating elements of spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing.
It is intended to enable participants to, not only deal with their issues, but also find a sense of hope and self worth from a God who loves them; a God who will equip them to stand up and truly "celebrate life in recovery"... ; and they in turn, may go on to help others find the same. Steps to Christ is used as a cornerstone for the spiritual aspects of the meetings.
The "Celebrating Life in Recovery" program will end on Wednesday, Oct. 12, with dinner and a guest appearance by Peters and her husband, Brad. On Thursday and Friday the two will give their testimony at the church. On Sabbath, Peters will be at the Startup Church to lead the worship hour. A seminar may follow sometime after fellowship dinner.
After the recovery program's conclusion, the Startup Church we will be conducting Simple Solutions from Lifestyle Matters, as presented by Vicki Griffin MPA, Edwin Neblett, M.D., and Evelyn Kissinger. Find out "Is what you are eating, eating you?" Also, how to lower stress levels and depression, improve immune health, lose weight, and reduce risk for lifestyle diseases and many other benefits. This is a four-part series, one night a week (Wednesdays) at 6:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 19. The program has variety.
It is free and open to the public. For information and to register for Simple Solutions, call 360-793-0066.
Pictured here are those who are attending the meetings, along with members of the Startup (Wash.) Church who are supporting Tina Anderson.
