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  • Posted:
  • December 19, 2024
  • Categories:
  • Local & Global Impact

Celebrate Recovery: From Calgary to Colombia!

My husband and I were born in Colombia. We were raised in Catholic families—I (Brigitte) in a large family of nine people, and my husband (Misael) with four sisters. We emigrated to Canada 21 years ago with our two children, sponsored by a Catholic church. After 2 years of living in Canada, I began attending an evangelical missionary church. I became involved in various Bible studies and volunteered at the church. Together, we received Jesus in our hearts, and I was baptized in 2008. Shortly after, we felt called by God to step up and serve so we became part of the mission team and committee.

Through this involvement, we learned about a project they supported in Colombia—the Rose of Sharon school. This school provides children with quality education and equips vulnerable women with employable skills through vocational training. It is located in La Playa, Barranquilla, a marginalized area where 80% of the population lives in poverty, and many children are raised by single mothers. The school offers education from kindergarten to grade 12, serving approximately 350 children. Although the school receives support from various organizations, it isn’t enough to meet all the needs of the children.

In the summer of 2017, my husband and I heard about the “Life’s Healing Choices” program at FAC. I joined that year and later participated in the “Step Study” program. Since that time, we have developed a deeper connection with Jesus, and we have seen significant changes in our lives. We all carry wounds from others, have hurt others or ourselves, and struggle with various hurts, habits, or hang-ups.

God has worked powerfully in our lives through Celebrate Recovery. These programs have been transformative for us. We have seen Jesus’ power at work and learned that true change requires a connection with Him and the humility to allow Him to work in our lives. It still is a process—and we take it one day at a time. As we witnessed the transformation in our own lives, we began sharing our experiences with others.

In 2017, we also began working alongside the Rose of Sharon school and the Camino de Fe church, which we have supported since 2014. We joined a group of nine volunteers, each bringing different skills and interests, such as teaching English classes, leading sexual education talks, and implementing a program for young people called “Heroes.” This program equips youth with tools to navigate challenges, enhancing their resilience, well-being, and sense of purpose.

For the men’s and women’s ministry, we facilitated the “Life’s Healing Choices” program. During the COVID pandemic, we continued working on this program via Zoom, reaching Latin people from various countries, including the USA, Peru, and Colombia. We have continued sharing this program every year.

This February, we travelled to Colombia with youth pastors from Camino de Fe and provided training for 70 youth leaders from different churches. We introduced the Celebrate Recovery programs for youth—Landing (for ages 11–18) and CR Place (for ages 8–11). In January of next year, we plan to continue supporting these leaders in their work. 

Misael was also baptized in 2021. That same year, when we visited Barranquilla, we held a soccer camp at the Rose of Sharon School for girls, led by our daughter Daniela. Since then, they have continued promoting soccer for girls, something they had never done before. In 2022, we returned with our nephew and organized a basketball camp for boys, which they also enjoyed. God has taught us that He is faithful and merciful and that He fulfills all His promises!

Honestly, I was skeptical when I first joined these programs, but as I opened my heart to Him, He began to transform every area of my life. Misael and I have been freed from many struggles, including depression, anxiety, anger, physical and emotional abuse, mental health issues, trauma, abandonment, rejection, hurt, bad habits, and codependency.

Through Celebrate Recovery, I found real accountability partners, friends who accept and support me, even when I relapse. I was reminded that we are not alone. And Jesus offers this freedom to everyone, not just Christians. I invite you to open your heart to Him and allow Him to work in your life!

We thank God for Celebrate Recovery programs and for giving us the opportunity to share them with others. Wherever we go, we can bring CR!

Thank you, Brigitte and Misael, for sharing your story!

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