BRADFORD, Pa -- A ministry that will help those dealing with a variety of personal struggles will be launched in November at the Open Arms Community Church on East Main Street in Bradford.

"Celebrate Recovery" sessions will start at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 after the regular church service and will continue every Saturday.
Brian Mahaney, member of the leadership team for Celebrate Recovery, says the sessions will vary from other recovery efforts that solely focus on alcohol, or drugs.

This ministry is meant to help people find freedom from a number of issues, including drugs and alcohol, as well as other issues, like gambling addiction, sexual addictions,and food addictions, he said. The program also addresses emotional issues stemming from divorce, domestic violence, and codependency.

"Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to overcome and conquer any hurts, hang-ups, or habits that are negatively affecting someone's life," Mahaney said. "If your pain is stronger than the fear of ridding one's life of their issues, this is the place to get help."

Celebrate Recovery will focus on scripture principles to guide members into grasping personal responsibility, forgiveness, and finding strength to overcome temptations.

"People should expect to come out of Celebrate Recovery with a new life," he said. "One without the weight of past baggage hanging around their neck" Mahaney remembers a 17-year long battle to rid of drug and alcohol dependency. Those events led him to immerse himself in the Bible.

"I applied what I was learning through Christ to break addictions and deal with past hurts," he said. "The beauty of Celebrate Recovery is that God wants the best for your life. You just need to accept that help and apply what God wants for you. It is a challenge, but so is covering up your hurts hangups and habits."

Additional information is available at the church's website, www.openarmsbradford.org

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