I am very happy to inform you that Pastor Eric Bluhm has been added to the ARC National Leadership Team. Eric is a pastor at North Heights Lutheran Church in Roseville and Arden Hills, Minnesota. He writes, "I am honored, humbled and excited to be part of the ARC leadership team for several reasons. First, I am all three of those because of the people on the team. Relationship is a core element of the ARC, and these particular relationships will draw me closer to Jesus and raise my game. Secondly, I am all three of those because of the unique nature of the ARC and its potential. As I survey the landscape of possible congregational affiliations, nothing has what the ARC has to offer, and its values deeply mirror my own and what I desire to see increase among churches."

Eric brings a love for the Lord, a heart for outreach to the forgotten ones, and a proven track record in hearing God and moving out of revelation in very strategic ways. He will be a wonderful addition to the Leadership Team and will help the ARC continue growing into who the Lord knows she can be.

Mike Bradley is the new Director of the Alliance of Renewal Churches. For the past two years Mike has been serving the ARC as Director of Development. In that role, he has been connecting with pastors and congregations, especially in the Midwest and Southwest. Mike and I have been in conversation about a possible transition for some time. He has been assuming some of the responsibilities of the director by initiating, planning, and executing the Gathering events. Those who have attended can see his administrative and leadership gifts coming into play for these rich conferences. He has also been planning the agenda and overseeing the monthly conference calls with the National Leadership Team. So this transition is an easy one.

History is again repeating itself. Mike was called as the Executive Director of The Master's Institute Seminary in 2003. Within a year he was assuming some of the responsibilities of the president because of his gifting. I went to Mike and said, "Your title says that you are Executive Director, but you sure look like a president to me." We planned the transition with the MI Board, and it proved an efficient and effective handing off the baton. Now we will do it again on May 1 st , this time with the ARC. Mike will serve 2/3rds time with MI and 1/3 rd with the ARC. Both boards are in favor of this arrangement, which will be reviewed after one year. Mike has already shown his ability to give oversight to these two ministries. MI is expected to beef up its staff to offset the hours that Mike will be giving to the ARC.

I have continued my relationship with MI, serving these years as Chancellor. Now I have another title to put after my name. The Leadership Team decided that with the role I will be filling both locally and in my travels, I should be called "Ambassador" to the ARC. I happily concur with their decision. In fact, since I have been in a transition out of the leadership of the ARC I have strangely had more vision for the growth of the ARC than ever. I step back not with quiet resignation but with joyful expectation of the ARC serving as a kingdom wineskin in this critical hour.

I continue to serve as Director of Lutheran Renewal. I am also giving more attention to a young adult ministry in our home that continues to expand. I am thankful for people more gifted than myself who can lead the ARC into this next phase of its development while Karen and I give greater attention to the release of these young people into their God-appointed destiny. Stay tuned.