‘Celebrate Recovery’ presents musician as guest speaker

Published 6:44 pm Friday, May 13, 2016

Each Monday, Clanton First United Methodist Church holds a “Celebrate Recovery” meeting with this week’s holding even more meaning.

Musician Buddy Causey, who will appear as the guest speaker at the event, has dealt with his share of temptations during his life.

Musician Buddy Causey will make an appearance as the guest speaker during Monday’s “Celebrate Recovery” meeting hosted by Clanton First United Methodist Church. (Photo Contributed)

Musician Buddy Causey will make an appearance as the guest speaker during Monday’s “Celebrate Recovery” meeting hosted by Clanton First United Methodist Church. (Photo Contributed)

He has traveled around Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina spreading the importance of God with “Celebrate Recovery” since 2014.

According to Causey, he ended up getting caught up in the life of a musician traveling on the road.

Eventually he found himself overwhelmed with the temptations of alcohol, drugs and women.

“I know what the highs and lows are,” Causey said. “For so many years I fought them.”

Causey suffered a stroke in 2007 that left him partially blind and unable to sing due to a damaged throat.

“After that, I promised God that if he gave me my gift back, I’d sing for him,” Causey said.

He regained the ability to sing although in a raspier voice compared to before the effects of the stroke took hold.

“A lot of people are embarrassed to admit that they have a problem,” Causey said. “Everyone is welcome to share their past experiences at ‘Celebrate Recovery,’ and no one is judged.”

Mickey Hardwick is in charge of ministry with “Celebrate Recovery” in Clanton and has faced his own demons as a recovered alcoholic for 14 years.

Clanton First United Methodist Church hosts the “Celebrate Recovery” meetings each Monday, but the events are non-denominational.

“Our goal every Monday is not to pull people away from their churches,” Hardwick said. “It is just to help people regardless of who it is or where they come from.”