While we at Southside try to reach out to the community in a diversity of ways, many of our outreach information is actually on our Events page -- for example, the dances we hold to reach out to our community and give a nice night out without having to feel like "the bars" are the only place to go to socialize with others.

However, one new outreach program that we are beginning in the Fall of 2004 is Celebrate Recovery!, a group based on recovery the eight beatitudes.

From the flyer for the program:

The Purpose
The purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to encourage fellowship and to celebrate God’s healing power in our lives as we work our way along the road to recovery. We are changed as we share our experiences, strengths, and hopes with one another. In addition, we become willing to accept God’s grace and forgiveness in solving our life’s problems.
By working through the principles, we grow spiritually and we are freed from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy, and most important, a stronger personal relationship with others and with Jesus Christ.            --John Baker, Developer of Celebrate Recovery

Who Are We?
We are people who struggle with life’s hurts, hang-ups, and habits. But we are on the road to recovery, and we invite you to come and join us. We don’t have all the answers, but we do have faith that God loves us and wants us to be free from those things that continue to hurt us and keep us from living with joy and peace.
Our church offers a safe place for us to get together, get to know each other, and share God’s healing power in our lives. We do this through a program that that is Christ Centered. We welcome you!

Are your hurts, habits, and hang-ups killing you? Come and find freedom through a recovery program based on eight principles from the Beatitudes
Everyone is welcomed! If you desire recovery, join us Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Starting October 6, 2004

For information, contact the church at:
phone: 574.291.1156
email: ssccdocsb@juno.com

The Eight Beatitudes

Is This For Me?
Do you suffer from addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors? Are you struggling with substance abuse involving drugs or alcohol or food? Are you involved in dysfunctional relationships with your partner or spouse, your children, or your parents? Are you in an abusive relationship? Relationships can be emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive. Do you harbor grief, resentment, painful memories, and/or depression about the past?

We are here to offer spiritual and emotional support and encouragement in a small group setting. Our leaders are not counselors, and we can’t and won’t try to fix each other. But we can offer a safe, caring environment for healing.

Does God really care? Does God understand?
Consider these words from scripture:

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. When I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. Wretched person that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:15, 18b, 19, 21b, 24, 25

I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and comfort them. Peace to all, near and far, says our God.
Isaiah 57: 18a,b, 19a,b