Written by: CR - Mary Ann in Celebrate Recovery, Local Sites, Longwood on June 12, 2012

Celebrate Recovery in Scotland!

Part of our CR family (Laurie Jean, Carl, Nina, Susan, and Kelli) will be leaving for Scotland this Saturday, June 16. The purpose of this year’s trip is to meet with local pastors to present the Celebrate Recovery program with the hope that they will start CR in their own congregations. Our team will be meeting with 3 different pastors representing churches in 3 different communities.

Unlike the United States, there are not a lot of programs for addicts and almost none for their families. This is in spite of the fact that heroin addiction is an epidemic and has destroyed the lives of thousands in Northeast Scotland.

The Scottish people are loving and take great pride in caring for their own. However, in recovery we know we are as “sick as our secrets”. Secrets, especially those surrounding addiction, are carefully guarded and families of addicts many times live in quiet despair. What can begin as an attempt to simply take care of one’s own can easily become a stronghold of Satan as he perpetuates the lie of isolation. As you can imagine, codependency is very common and can continue to keep entire families in hellish bondage.

I am asking for us to put on the entire armor of God. Would you please consider joining me and setting aside one day between now and June 16 for prayer and fasting for our team, their families, the pastors, the facility where our team will be staying, all travel mercies, emotional and physical health, and the precious people of Scotland.

Mark 9:29 tells of a boy with an evil spirit whom the disciples had been unable to cast out. The boy is brought to Jesus who of course heals him. The disciples then ask Jesus why they had been unsuccessful. He replied, “This kind can only come out by prayer and fasting.” Here is the interesting part. All versions don’t add fasting. You may simply see a tiny footnote. The King James and the New American Standard versions both include fasting in the text. This was brought to my attention while in school and I immediately began a weekly fast for my son who was at the time struggling with drug addiction.

I certainly understand if you are unable to fast from food especially if there are health considerations. Would you please consider then fasting from something else you love for this one day? And of course please pray!

We will be commissioning the team this Friday night in Celebrate Recovery at Northland.

May we all go with them in spirit as they carry the Banner of Christ to the battlefield of Northeast Scotland! Thank you CR family.