Step by step

What sponsees can expect

Whether you are looking for a sponsor or becoming one, the process is clear, private, and human. Nothing should surprise you.

1 Getting started

Start at your community's page

Find your Celebrate Recovery community's page on The Beacon. You can get the link from your CR leadership, group bulletins, or your church's website. No account is needed to get started.

2 Intake

Fill out the intake form

Answer questions about your recovery pace, personal style, and how you handle relationships. The intake was developed with a licensed therapist to help identify the best-fit sponsor for you.

Only share what feels comfortable. You can skip questions or mark "unsure" without affecting your eligibility.

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Encrypted on your device

Sensitive answers are encrypted in your browser before they leave your phone. The server stores them locked and cannot read them.

3 Matching

Matching begins

Your profile enters your community's matching pool. The system compares your answers with available sponsors across several areas — approach, relational style, conflict, shared context, and availability — and sends a connection request to the best-fit sponsor.

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Sponsors decide

The sponsor reviews the context and decides whether to accept. This decision always belongs to the sponsor. Leadership has visibility into the process throughout.

4 Outreach

Sponsor receives request

The best-fit sponsor is notified through their preferred channel. You do not need to do anything while they review.

If they decline or don't respond in time, the system moves to the next eligible sponsor automatically. No one is notified that they declined.

5 Connection

Connection created

Once a sponsor accepts, a private encrypted conversation is created for both of you. All messages are end-to-end encrypted — the server delivers them but cannot read what they say.

6 Claiming

Claim your profile

Create a secure account by verifying your phone number and setting a password. Intake is account-free so the barrier to entry stays low — you only create credentials once a connection is confirmed.

7 Access

Your dashboard

Sign in to access your conversations, update your profile, and manage notification preferences. Choose SMS, email, or in-app — every channel is opt-in, and you can change them at any time.

The Beacon handles the connection. The real work of recovery happens in meetings, step studies, and daily human relationship. Your sponsor is a recovery peer, not a therapist or pastoral counselor.

1Getting started

Get the intake link

Get the sponsor intake link from your CR leadership, a meeting bulletin, or your church's website. No account or registration is needed to get started.

2Intake

Fill out the sponsor form

Share your recovery experience, how you approach sponsorship, your availability, and how you handle relationships. There are no wrong answers — the goal is building the best possible connections.

3Verification

Verify your phone

Enter the verification code sent to your phone by text message. Phone verification is required before your profile can be reviewed and approved.

4Approval

Admin review

Leadership reviews your profile to confirm you are ready and verified. This is a readiness check, not a grade on your intake answers. Once approved, you enter the matching pool and are eligible to receive connection requests automatically.

5Matching pool

Enter matching pool

Your profile is now active. When a sponsee submits their intake, the system compares their answers with yours across several areas of compatibility and identifies the best-fit sponsor.

6Connection

Receive connection requests

When you are identified as the best fit for a sponsee, you receive a connection request through whichever channels you have set up. The request includes enough context for you to make a thoughtful decision.

7Response

Accept or decline

Accepting creates a private encrypted conversation. Declining is completely normal — the system moves the request to the next eligible sponsor automatically. No one sees that you declined.

8Claiming

Claim your profile

Set a password and verify your phone to get full access to your dashboard, messages, and settings.

9Access

Your dashboard

Sign in to see your connection requests, manage your availability, and message your sponsees. All messages are end-to-end encrypted. Choose how you want to be notified — every channel is opt-in.

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Network affiliations

If you want to make yourself available beyond your home community, you can request affiliations with other Celebrate Recovery organizations or regional networks.

The Beacon handles the connection. The real work of recovery happens in meetings, step studies, and daily human relationship. A sponsor is a recovery peer, not a therapist or pastoral counselor.

Resource guide

Sponsors, Therapists & Pastors

Know which kind of support you need, what each role can offer, and where The Beacon fits.

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Your Sponsor

A volunteer peer who walks the steps with you, shares lived experience, and offers steady accountability.

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A Therapist

A licensed professional who helps with clinical care, trauma, mental health patterns, and deeper treatment needs.

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A Pastor

A spiritual leader who offers prayer, discipleship, and biblical direction. Each role is an expert in its own lane.

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Ready to start?

Take the next step.

Start walking through the recovery journey together in community.

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