How to Find a Christian Recovery Group
To find a Christian recovery group, start by asking your pastor and calling two or three larger churches nearby. Then search online for “Christian recovery group,” “Celebrate Recovery” or “Christian 12-step” with your town’s name. Pick the one that meets at a time you can keep, go at least three times, and then decide.
That’s the short version. The rest of this page is about choosing well, because the group you settle into will shape your first year more than almost anything else.
Know what kinds of groups are out there
“Christian recovery group” can mean a few different things:
- Christian 12-step groups. They work the same Twelve Steps, openly naming Jesus as the God of the steps. Our page on Christian 12-step programs explains how they work.
- Church recovery ministries. Run by a local church, often with worship, teaching and small groups. Celebrate Recovery is the best known. See recovery ministry and Celebrate Recovery vs. 12-step meetings.
- Regular 12-step meetings with many Christians in them. Not Christian by name, but often full of believers. Some meet in church basements. Our guide to Christian AA meetings covers how to find these.
None of these is the only right answer. The best group is one you’ll actually attend.
Where to ask
Your own pastor. Even if your church has no group, your pastor probably knows which churches nearby do.
Large churches in your area. Call the main office and ask, “Do you have a recovery ministry, or know of one?” Office staff field this question often.
People already in recovery. If you’ve been to any meeting, ask someone after it ends. People in recovery know the local map better than any website.
Online directories. Many ministries list their meetings on their own sites. Search with your town’s name and check that the listing is current by calling ahead.
Christian counselors. Counselors who work with addiction usually know which groups are healthy.
How to try a group out
Go early, sit near the front if you can, and introduce yourself as new. Then watch and listen.
Questions to ask yourself afterward:
- Did people talk honestly about drinking, or only in general terms?
- Was Scripture used to point to Jesus and to real change, not to shame anyone?
- Did I meet anyone with a year or more of sobriety?
- Is there a way to get a sponsor or a mentor here?
- Did anyone ask for my number or offer theirs?
- Could I see myself coming back every week?
If the answers are mostly yes, make it your home group. If they’re mostly no, try another one. Give each group a fair shot first. Almost every first meeting feels strange.
Warning signs in any group
- Leaders who discourage you from seeing a doctor.
- Pressure to give money, or to cut off family.
- Gossip about people who aren’t in the room.
- Teaching that says real faith means you’ll never struggle again.
A healthy group points you to Jesus, to the Bible, to other people and to medical help when you need it.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
Why it’s worth the effort
The writer of Hebrews told believers not to give up meeting together, so they could stir each other up to love and good works. Recovery works the same way. Alone, our thinking bends. In a room of honest people, it straightens back out.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Solomon put it simply: two are better than one, because when one falls the other can help him up.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
While you look for the right group, Jimmy and Sarah can walk the steps with you, and they'll keep asking whether you've made it to a meeting this week.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
Do this today
Write down three churches near you. Call one of them before the end of the day and ask if they have a recovery group. If they don’t, ask who does.
A prayer for finding your people
“Lord, lead me to the people You want me to walk with. Open the right door and give me the nerve to walk through it. When it feels awkward, help me keep coming back. Amen.”
Common questions
What if there's no Christian group near me?
Go to a regular 12-step meeting nearby and bring your faith with you. Add an online Christian group, a church small group, or a pastor who checks on you. You can build a Christian recovery life from several pieces.
Do I have to be a church member to join a church recovery group?
Usually not. Most church recovery ministries are open to anyone who wants help, whatever church they attend or don't.
How many groups should I try before deciding?
A common suggestion is to try a group at least three to six times before judging it. First meetings are often awkward for everyone.
Can I go to a Christian group and a regular 12-step meeting?
Yes. Many people do both. One gives them the steps and a sponsor, the other gives them worship and prayer with people who share their faith.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
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