IMPORTANCE OF CR INSIDE STRESSED AT 2010 SUMMIT
By David Jones, OK Eastern State Rep

Mike Pitocco addresses Workshop #1 Mike Pitocco addresses Workshop #1 Hector, Richard, and Stek present Workshop#2 Hector, Richard, and Stek present Workshop#2 CR Founder John Baker introduces Hector CR Founder John Baker introduces Hector

The second week of August 26, 2010 again saw an awesome Summit at Saddleback Church in California.  The weather couldn’t have been more pleasant as they experienced one of the coolest Augusts on record.  Over 3000 people attended and experienced encouragement, excitement, and enthusiasm, through meaningful worship, inspired speakers, thought provoking workshops, moving testimonies, and oh, by the way…great comedy sketches by the Skit Guys.

Celebrate Recovery Inside played a major role as part of the Outreach segment of this year’s Summit.  John Baker addressed the attendees and reminded us of the biblical messages that speak to our responsibilities as Christians to reach out to the hurting, and specifically to prisoners.  He then introduced our National Director, Hector Lozano, who elaborated on that theme.  Hector, in turn introduced Jamie Brooks, who delivered a meaningful and moving testimony regarding the direction of her life and the powerful healing influence of Jesus Christ.

CR Inside workshops were also an important component to the Summit experience.  “Prison #1”—How to Start Celebrate Recovery Inside, a workshop conducted by Hector and Mike Pitocco (CRI State Rep CA-Central Coast) dealt with the basics of starting a CR ministry inside a jail or prison facility.  As described in the workshop overview, the presentation provided “basics on curriculum, format, and approach” and concluded with a question and answer session with close to a dozen state reps on hand.  The room was filled with participants whose interest was evident as people continued to remain even after the time slotted.

CR Inside continues to pursue the needs of the incarcerated as they approach release and upon release; as part of the continuing vision that the National Team has expressed.  It was in keeping with this vision that “Prison #2—From Incarceration to the Community” was the theme of another Inside workshop; held twice (as was #1).  Hector shared duties with State Reps Stek Steck (Texas), and Richard Bojorquez (CA—South).  The session was clear and concise, focusing on “the fundamental transitional elements of mentoring, support, guidance, and accountability prior to and following release”, and stressed “the importance of seeking out available public and community support services”.