VIDALIA — Locals suffering from hurts, habits and hang-ups will have a safe place to express themselves, share experiences and gain support.

Celebrate Recovery, a free, biblically-based recovery program, will have a home at Vidalia First Baptist Church beginning April 7.

The Rev. Bill McCullin of Vidalia First Baptist Church said Celebrate Recovery is not a 12-step program.

“This is not treatment,” McCullin said. “We are not here to fix people, we are just offering a support group.”

Celebrate Recovery’s curriculum is designed to help people with issues ranging from chemical dependency to sexual addiction, abuse, divorce and compulsive disorders like over-eating and obsessive compulsive disorder.

“It’s a fantastic thing, and something this area needs tremendously,” McCullin said.

Celebrate Recovery will be open to the community every Thursday night beginning at 6 p.m. A light meal will be served until 6:30, followed by a full worship service until 7:15. A speaker will discuss the topic to be explored in small groups.

Then the Celebrate Recovery participants will be separated into four groups — two for men and two for women, where they will focus on either chemical dependency or life issues.

Celebrate Recovery graduates will lead the groups.

McCullin said loved ones of those seeking recovery are invited to come be a part of Celebrate Recovery.

McCullin said while the program has a Christian basis, participants from all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to join.

“It’s open for anyone,” McCullin said. “We don’t beat people over the head with the Bible. That’s not our purpose. But we are where we are today because we try to handle things ourselves for so long. We want (participants) to know there is an alternative, a higher power, and his name is Jesus Christ.”

McCullin said Celebrate Recovery will be every Thursday night going forward, and participants can jump into the program whenever they are ready. Childcare will be provided.

Call Vidalia First Baptist Church at 601-336-7111 for more information.