In 2002, David and Debbie O’Brien began Celebrate Recovery at Blue Ridge. As they prepare for the 15th anniversary of the group, they shared what it’s been like to take this journey together.

Q: How did you come to start CR?

Debbie: It was born out of a desire to minister to other families, especially because of what we went through in our marriage. David’s addiction to alcohol led to 4 1/2 years in prison. Though that time was extremely painful, David essentially went to seminary in prison, given all the books he read. He came out ready to help others.

Dave Kountz had been to a conference at Saddleback Church and brought back a Celebrate Recovery curriculum. Dave gave it to Steve Baker who helped us get started.

David: Even while I was incarcerated, I was learning about the steps of recovery. I wound up serving my time in a prison in Texas because of overcrowding in Virginia. I remember reading about a CR in a New Mexico jail. It was one of their first satellite programs. God put a call on my life to serve full time because I was living a selfish and self-centered life. It was scary, because what does that look like coming from my background? God gave me foresight of the ministry He was calling me to.

Q: What did it take to get CR started at Blue Ridge?

David: When we got introduced to curriculum, we first did a group with four couples. We only had the participants’ guide to start. I didn't see all of [the curriculum] until we went to a conference at Thomas Road [Baptist Church] and Rick Warren was speaking about the purpose-driven church. Debbie went to the one-day seminar on CR. It was the first time we heard John and Cheryl Baker and saw the vision of CR.

Debbie: Having people like John and Cheryl and other people from the national team mentor us was so important. When we started CR here, we were the only church in the area doing it.

David: I volunteered for 8 years before coming on staff. I was driving a truck during the week and my route was to California. Sundays were CR day because it was the one day I was sure I'd be off the road. Debbie was working full-time, doing ministry, raising a family and then came on staff part-time at Blue Ridge to coordinate the benevolence ministry (which eventually turned into a full time position with Benevolence and CR).

Debbie: The minute they brought David off the road and onto staff, CR exploded in a good way. It doubled in size.

Q: What was challenging along the way?

Debbie: Blue Ridge provides excellent support. But our first few years, we struggled.

David: I remember being asked, “Are you willing to let it die?” And we were willing; we just didn’t believe that was in God’s plans.

Debbie: God finally brought the one or two people we needed. Tom and Charlotte Current were instrumental — so encouraging. They offered to help head up worship. At the time we were just using a CD player for worship at Old Forest.

When we first moved into this current building [New London] in 2005, we met back in what’s now the video office. Then, we were in a conference room, then the high school room and now in the auditorium.

We could not do this ministry without the amazing servants that we get to do this with. All of them have a story of redemption and restoration through Jesus. We are so blessed to call them friends, our forever family!

Q: You’ve both become ambassadors for CR in Virginia. How did that happen?

Debbie: In 2006, I became a state rep. For a long time we and a couple in Northern Virginia covered the whole state. We’ve helped start dozens of CR sites, and it’s really like launching a parachurch. It’s like church planting. There's a DNA we keep to, but any church can start it. They make it as accessible as possible. Blue Ridge’s CR is model CR for this area, and we often have people visit who are starting a new CR.

Q: When did you begin sharing CR in jails?

David: We had been doing CR about 10 years before we began going into jails. I’m now the CR Inside state rep.

I had thought about doing prison ministry. My heart was to grow CR first, but He was preparing me. I needed to be off the road to do jail.

My background (having a record) was originally an issue. But I was finally cleared to go to the Bedford jail. Then, to Amherst. We started first with the Re-entry Councils for people who were being released from jail.

Debbie: Feb. 14, 2014 was my first time meeting with women inside. I couldn't go in on the first day (the week prior) because of a snow storm. I remember walking in that first day and saying, “See how much Jesus loves you. He brought me to you on Valentine's Day.” I love it. I love going to the jails. It’s a big part of what we do, bigger than we thought it would be, and I am blessed to be building a team of women who take it in with me.

Q: What are some other highlights from your 15 years?

David: Having my story in the CR Bible. They had a contest to pick 50 stories to go in the first CR Bible. I wrote mine, comparing my life to Jonah’s — how he ran from God. My time in prison was like being in the belly of a big fish.

Debbie: The cool thing is that we didn’t know he was picked. There was a change in my email, and we never got the news. So we were at a CR summit in California and I was looking through the Bible. We were in the middle of a small group when I saw David’s story. At that same moment, the group leader asked us to turn to the book of Jonah. That’s when he first saw the story.

Q: You’ve seen a lot of challenging situations through CR. What’s kept you going?

David: I think part of what’s kept me going is what God did to begin with in my life and the call that spurred me and us into ministry.

Also, taking care of myself, being in recovery myself. Sticking to God's word and accountability. Using the tools I talk about for myself. I continue to go to outside meetings.

I think CR saved our marriage. Most alcoholics, real alcoholics, are in and out of sobriety until they're either too old or sick to drink. This is a great ministry for couples. I'm blessed to have [Debbie] on board. We're on the same page, supporting each other … that has preserved us.

Debbie: Also learning to not own someone else’s drama ... to carry the message, not the mess. And like David said, living out CR’s principles in our own life makes us available to others in recovery. Everyone in it is a participant.

Q: Who should come to the CR Anniversary Celebration?

David: Anyone! Anyone who has a hurt, habit or hangup, or even remotely curious about CR, should come and hear a great story and enjoy a meal with us.

RSVP to the CR Anniversary Celebration by visiting blue-ridge.org/cr15. The event is 4:30-6 pm May 7, 2107.