The organization was founded in 1991 by John Baker, a former alcoholic staff member of Saddleback Church with the support of Pastor Rick Warren.

[5] Promotional materials assert that over 5 million people have participated in a Celebrate Recovery step study in over 35,000 churches.

[8] Celebrate Recovery uses both the 12 steps developed by Alcoholics Anonymous and a very similar set of eight sequential principles that are understood as a lesson of Jesus' Beatitudes.

[13] A study of Celebrate Recovery participants published in 2011 by the Journal of Religion and Health, found that levels of spirituality were associated with greater confidence to resist substance use.

[17] Group facilitators must be trained and agree to a list of expectations,[9] including standardized guidelines[18][19] at each meeting.