First Posted: 1/16/2015
DELPHOS — Kelly Baeza has been through addiction, depression, a divorce and the loss of a son. She attended recovery meetings while trying to put her life back together and came across a Celebrate Recovery meeting after taking her son to one.
According to its website, Celebrate Recovery is a biblical and balanced program that helps us overcome our hurts, hang-ups, and habits. It is based on the actual words of Jesus rather than psychological theory.
Twenty years ago, Saddleback Church launched Celebrate Recovery with 43 people. It was designed as a program to help those struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process. Celebrate Recovery has helped more than 17,000 people at Saddleback, attracting more than 70 percent of its members from outside the church. Eighty-five percent of the people who go through the program stay with the church and nearly half serve as church volunteers.
Celebrate Recovery is now in more than 20,000 churches worldwide.
“I ended up there by default with my son. As I went in with him, I wished it had been around when I went through my divorce. After my son died, I remember during the viewing looking at the long line of people and wondering where do I know them from? They would say, ‘I don’t know if you remember me, but I am part of Celebrate Recovery,’” Baeza said. “It’s like an extended family.”
Baeza is bringing Celebrate Recovery to Delphos beginning at at 2 p.m. Jan. 25 at Delphos Wesleyan Church, 915 S. Bredeick St. These meetings are open to the entire community and surrounding areas. Baeza said she believes if someone is hurting, this group can help. It isn’t just for narcotics, but includes depression, abuse, sexual abuse, self-esteem issues, eating disorders and grief.
Meetings will be held at 2 p.m. Sundays with a children’s program and child care provided. Baezasaid she hopes to include a teen program in the future.
Baeza is now a recovery counselor.
“Everything has fallen into place for me personally,” she said. “It is gratifying to help someone, but you walk away with a blessing yourself. God has a way of putting the right person where they need to be, when they need to be there.
“Celebrate Recovery is a safe place offering comfort, healing and loving one another,” she added.
For information contact Baeza at 419-890-2482.
WBGU’s Scenic Stops filmed area sites
LIMA — The Wassenberg Art Center and the Fire Museum, located in the lower level of The Central Insurance Co. on South Washington Street in Van Wert, were highlighted on WBGU’s program “Scenic Stops,” which aired Thursday.
The weekly travel/tourism show is hosted by Lima resident Kathleen Phipps and produced by an Emmy Award-winning staff. The half-hour program highlights the unique, unusual or unknown people and places in Northwest Ohio.
Segment ideas can be submitted to http://scenicstopsohio.com.
Previous programs can be watched at http://wbgu.org.
Mount Victory honors Buckeyes
MOUNT VICTORY — Mount Victory, located in Hardin County, changed its name to Buckeye Victory for two days in honor of The Ohio State Buckeyes against the University of Oregon in the national championship game on Monday.
The mayor of the village of Mount Victory, Mike Trout, and Village Council members were inspired to change the name.
Trout said the idea of changing the name resonated with many town residents, so on Saturday at the monthly council meeting, they made an official proclamation to name the village Buckeye Victory for Jan. 11 and Monday. The village resumed its name on Tuesday.
Cooper Farms donated 190,000 pounds of meat
OAKWOOD — Cooper Farms donated more than 190,000 pounds of meat in 2014 to organizations in northwest and west central Ohio. The product donations were in addition to the monetary donations provided through the Cooper Family Foundation. The at-cost value of the 2014 donations totaled more than $513,000.
Cooper Farms works with organizations with a goal of helping to provide quality protein to as many hungry individuals as possible.
The majority of the meat donations went to food banks serving the company’s main areas of operation. The largest total quantity recipients of the products included CALL Food Pantry in Celina, Dayton Food Bank, St. Mary’s Catholic Food Bank in Defiance, Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, and West Ohio Food Bank in Lima.
