As Director for the ARC, I am happy to welcome Kurt Koestler into membership in the ARC. Kurt was a student at The Master’s Institute Seminary when I served there as president which provided me the opportunity to get to know him. I have no doubt he is going to be a great blessing to our band of brothers and sisters in the ARC, and I’m certain we will be a blessing to him. Kurt writes the following:

“My wife Katy and I live in St. Paul and are proud parents of three children – Gretta, William and Isaiah. Apart from family activities and work in the corporate world, most of my time is devoted to leading New Dawn Ministries, a healing and deliverance ministry under the covering of Home Church Ministry Center in Lino Lakes, MN (Pr. Steve Gaustad).

"Nothing brings me greater joy than to see lives improved and eyes opened wider to the depth of the Father’s love through Christ and by powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. Our passion is for people to walk in freedom and the fullness of their God-appointed destinies so the Kingdom can be most effectively advanced. To that end, NDM has been called to serve through: individual prayer, teaching, partnering with churches, cross-cultural ministry, discipleship and equipping Christian leaders.

"I am very excited to be part of the ARC and share in its Lutheran heritage, dependence on the Holy Spirit and vision to reach the least and lost for Christ. I look forward to forming new Kingdom relationships, and growing and learning from others.”





Welcome aboard the ARC, Kurt!

On November 21-22 the ARC hosted its first-ever Life Together Days at the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute (CLBI) in Alberta, Canada. Leaders gathered from Saskatchewan and Alberta for two days and one night of fellowship, worship, teaching, and prayer and prophetic ministry – and some great food!

It was so wonderful to see brothers and sisters coming together in the same place at the same time with Holy Spirit and one another. During our days together some new relationships were begun and existing relationships were reconnected and nurtured. Leaders set aside “to do” lists, relaxed, and were refreshed and renewed in the depth and freedom of worship. Many received God’s ministering touch in a variety of ways: just by being with one another and sharing conversations over coffee and good food; by receiving personal prayer and prophetic words; and by God just sovereignly downloading healing and encouragement.

A special highlight for me personally as former president for The Master’s Institute (MI)Seminary was being with and working alongside MI alums Jay Dyrland, Joy and Richard Frenette, and Garfield and Marianne Vikse. Jay was our worship leader, Joy shared a wonderful teaching on Tending to Our First Love, and Garfield led us in celebrating the Lord’s Supper. It was so good to be with these MI alums again and to see how God is using them for His kingdom purposes since their graduation. Another highlight was the presence of long-time Canadian pastor and Lutheran Renewal Canada leader, Glen Carlson. Glen is one of the fathers of the Lutheran renewal movement in Canada and it was a blessing to have him with us.

Thanks to Harold Rust and the staff and students of CLBI for their warm hospitality and the Spirit-filled atmosphere of this wonderful school. And thanks to all the ARC leaders and friends of the ARC who made time to come together these days. God continue to bless, guide, and empower you all in carrying out the mission He has given you in Canada.

The ARC is blessed with a number of gifted, creative artists. One such artist is 13-year old author, Karis Sellers. Karis is the daughter of ARC pastor and published author, Graeme Sellers and his wife, Jennifer.

I began reading Karis’ book, Dragon Warriors, thinking it might be a good book to recommend for teenagers, especially with Christmas coming up. However, I found myself being drawn into the story and characters to the point I had to finish it; I literally could not lay it down.

Dragon Warriors is the story of a fierce battle of light versus dark, with the lives of the world's children at stake! “You will lead charges and help command the army. I will train you. Wearing armor and on a Dragon Horse, you cannot fail or fall. Please, Michael!” Natalie begged. Michael threw his hands up in frustration. “I can’t fight! I don’t have it in me to kill people. I’m too weak!” Kat touched his arm. “Everyone has strength inside them if they only have the courage to find it. You have that courage. It’s inside you. It’s your job to find it. But it’s there. Think about it.”

I highly recommend this book for your own reading and for gift giving. Get a copy for yourself here, or for a teen for Christmas and support one of the gifted, creative artists we have in the ARC.

 As I mentioned in the last edition of our ARC E-News, one of the many wonderful blessings God has given us in the ARC are a large number of gifted young leaders. In October, another of those young leaders was ordained. Jessica Charney, youth pastor at Living Water Church in Elk Grove, CA was set apart for leadership and service as an ordained pastor in the Alliance of Renewal Churches. Following are reflections from senior pastor, Joel Midthun:


On Sunday, October 20, we were thrilled to be able to ordain Jessica Charney as Pastor of Youth and Family at Living Water Church. We have had a vision at our church to add an associate pastor for a number of years but the timing was never right until now. After finishing her M.Div. at APU in Southern California in 2011, Jessica became our Youth Director. She and her husband Nick (and now baby Kacie!) both grew up in Elk Grove but never anticipated that God would call them back to their hometown to minister. They are a great team and each brings different things to the table; Jessica was raised in the church while Nick became a believer as a teenager.

Some of Jessica’s passions in ministry are living in authentic community and ministry to the whole family. She especially has a desire to see that our youth and young adults are connected to our ‘big church’ as that is one of the main indicators of whether youth will leave the faith when they grow up. Jessica observed in her own youth group growing up (which research is confirming as a trend) that as many as half of her friends from youth group no longer attend church as adults.

Jessica is a shepherd. She is very natural at caring for people and including others. She also is a first rate teacher-preacher and very gifted at interpreting the Bible. Our Elder board, composed of men and women, has as one of it’s purposes, to “bless what God is doing” in our midst; that is, to discern what God is doing and then support and encourage those ministries and people. To date we have been able to bless many in our church who are attempting ‘God sized’things from fighting human trafficking to starting a Cause Marketing non-profit. As we witnessed what God was doing in and through Jessica’s life and leadership in our midst, the decision was made to call her and set her apart for ordained ministry in our congregation and in the ARC. Ordaining Jessica is another way to "bless what God is doing" in our midst and give her more formal recognition in our church and in the community.

Jessica writes, “My ordination service was attended by family members, my former youth pastor and his wife, good friends, and colleagues from our time in seminary, along with many members of our church family and small group. It was encouraging to have so many people from different areas of my life there to encourage me and support my formal ordination into the ministry. All of these people have been a part of inspiring me in my Christian faith and call to ministry and it was such a blessing to have them there. While ARC Director, Mike Bradley, was unable to be there, he gave a powerful greeting and blessing via video. Each step of the ordination process involved some challenges and helped me to really look at my calling and prayerfully seek God’s guidance for my future in ministry."

As Director for the Alliance of Renewal Churches, I welcome Jessica to the ranks of ordained ministry. We’re thankful to have you as a member of this band of brothers and sisters who are on mission together!

This is the mission God has given the ARC. Toward that end we will be bringing training seminars to ARC congregations in various areas of the country to “provide ministry training for the members of congregations.” If you’d like us to bring a ministry training seminar to your congregation and region, just contact ARC Director Mike Bradley at: safeplacemb@gmail.com.

Following are three of the seminars the ARC will be presenting in 2014:

Building Healthy Leaders – ARC leader Robert Walter will present a seminar on developing healthy leaders and disciples at Hope Lutheran Church in Westminster, CA (SoCal region) on January 22-24. Robert will provide a model for training to help us develop leaders and disciples who are growing in their relationship with Christ; are developing their competencies for ministry; and are becoming more emotionally, relationally, and spiritually whole. This seminar can be used to develop healthy leaders in every ministry of your church including ministries such as Alpha, Blackberry Bush, and 3DM

Immanuel Prayer: A Model for Healing Prayer – ARC leader Danny Mullins will present a seminar on a model for healing prayer called Immanuel Prayer in Tampa, Florida on February 7-9. He will address the biblical foundation for healing prayer, present a model for healing prayer of wounds in our past that are influencing our present in unhelpful ways, and facilitate practicing this model with one another.

 A Safe Place for the Gifts of the Spirit – ARC leaders Dave Heinrich and Mike Bradley will present a seminar on the gifts of the Spirit. Their training will address the purpose for the gifts of the Spirit, how we discover and grow in the gifts God has given us, and how to set healthy boundaries that will make your church a safe place for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. The seminar will be held in May at Penasquitos Lutheran Church in San Diego, CA. The dates for that seminar are still to be determined.

Transforming the world through the scandalous love and power of God. What’s scandalous about the Lord’s love and power? That will be the focus of our keynote speaker, Dr. Greg Boyd.

Greg is a published author, seminary professor at The Master’s Institute, and lead pastor for a church in St. Paul, MN. His insights and perspectives of Scripture are refreshing and challenging all at the same time. Greg has a passion for the Lord, for forgotten ones, and to be faithful to God’s Word. He will help us experience afresh the depth and power of God’s love as he helps us remember that the way Jesus loved and those whom Jesus loved seemed absolutely scandalous to the religious and self-righteous.

Greg connects really well with teens and adults alike. That’s important for us because we will once again have a strong youth participation in both San Diego and Minneapolis. Teens will meet with us for the evening sessions and during the during the day a teen-specific schedule will be led by ARC youth pastors - Danny Scarborough, Dirk Duhlstine, and Derek Luptak in the Southwest,and Brendon Fairley and Corey Paxton in the Midwest.

Both gatherings will include a number of workshops to help equip members of your church to go home and transform the world through the scandalous love and power of God. Workshops will include: Sharing Your Story, Prophetic Evangelism, Everyday Encounters – Having Spiritual Conversations and Prayer, Developing Missional Communities, Breaking the Stronghold of Fear in Sharing Your Faith, and Helping Teens Talk with Their Friends About Life, Faith, and Christianity.

The Southwest Gathering will be held at Penasquitos Lutheran Church on July 17-19 in San Diego, CA, and the Midwest Gathering will be hosted by Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley, Minnesota on November 6-8.

Each gathering will include much time for building and nurturing our relationships with one another; unhurried worship in depth and freedom; vision casting keynote sessions; and workshops that will help equip and empower you and your members for fresh boldness and effectiveness in ministry. As always there will also be time for personal prayer and prophetic ministry.

Please put these dates on your calendar now and plan on attending. We will have registration information on the ARC website in the near future.

There has been much erosion in church activity in the last generation, and this has hit small and medium sized churches especially hard. At Robinwood Church, here in California, we lost at least ¼ of our membership during the Great Recession as our families moved away, seeking less expensive places to live. We had to do something about that--and with very little money available with which to do it! Our rent was eating away half of our offering, and we couldn’t generate the typical programs that draw people in from the outside.

We had been running the Alpha Course since day one, but in small congregations it can be hard to keep it going; kinda like running out of firewood for a campfire. Thus was born The BlackberryBush Course. We designed the course to solve the following problems (some are all of which your church may well share):

1. We needed to do something to backfill the spaces of those leaving the church.
2. We needed to do it on a small budget. (Running BlackberryBush costs your church about $7 a week).
3. We needed to combine discipleship for our members and evangelism/catechism for our new people. I’m the senior pastor and only very part time. We don’t have enough resources to run a separate ministry for both.
4. We needed something fresh. Something where even the most seasoned church member wouldn’t know where the teaching was going to land.
5. We needed something that was sustainable in a small church. Most courses tend to lose attendance over time. We developed a compounding attendance model that ensures that if you start with one or two tables on your first BlackberryBush semester, you can easily have three after a year and a half.
6. We wanted a course that would actually provide adult conversions and baptisms. We are doing baptisms this Sunday for adults who have come to faith in recent months. We’ve done over 30 since starting the course a couple of years ago.
7. We wanted something more culturally, ethnically, and generationally flexible. Especially in California.
8. We chose for the highest level of streaming video technology. If you have a tablet and a flat screen, you can run the Course.
9. We departed from all pedagogical (teaching children) models and instead enlisted experts to ensure the highest level of andragogical (adult) learning. Adults like to affect the outcome of a session. In keeping with this, there are no “leading questions” that try to get you to land in a certain place. We trust your group dynamics and the Holy Spirit to take care of that.

We succeeded, by the grace of God, and now would like to offer what we’ve found to you! We took the basic outline of Luther’s Large Catechism (Three major segments on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and added a dash of CS Lewis, a dash of Wimber, a pinch of Stott, a puree of Morris and Larry, and voila, the Course was born. The course comes in 8-week segments. Currently there are three (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). There will be more coming. Think of each 8-week series as an 8-week spiritual treasure hunt. It’s also flexible. Once you purchase a license, you can use the course anytime/anywhere in your ministry area at no extra cost. At any pace, for any purpose. Creative congregations are using the course as a library for:

• Home groups
• Small groups at church
• Youth discussions
• Evangelistic gatherings in restaurants and pubs
• Workplace evangelism

You can afford it ($7/week).

We will help you run it. This is nothing you have to figure out on your own. The Course is relational and so is the national movement. Let’s set aside some time to talk. Contact me at hbhous@gmail.com or call/text to 714 907 3835 to set up an appointment and we can help you get this running in your church in less that two weeks.

The benefits for your church will start right away!

• A place to which you can invite your new people and visitors.
• A fresh course for long time church members. Good for morale.
• Adult conversions and adult baptisms in increasing numbers.
• The Senior Pastor only has to bless it. Course can be run in a small church with about 1 and ½ volunteers.

One of the many wonderful blessings God has given us in the ARC are a large number of gifted and emotionally, relationally, and spiritually healthy young leaders. On September 7th, one of those young leaders was ordained. Brendon Fairley, an associate pastor at Bridgewood Community Church in Blaine, MN was set apart for leadership and service as an ordained pastor in the Alliance of Renewal Churches. The service that day was a wonderfully anointed time.


 Brendon’s father and uncle, Brian and Joel Fairley, both ordained pastors, were among those who spoke to Brendon as part of the service. After sharing personal words with Brendon and his wife, Shanna, they laid hands on him in prayer and placed his grandfather’s ministerial robe on his shoulders. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. ARC Pastor Sean Kelly, a longtime mentor and friend to Brendon, shared the message, speaking from his heart to Brendon and to those gathered. I was honored to preside over the service and Bridgewood senior pastor, Mark Spencer, opened in prayer. ARC worship leaders Chris Barrett and Matt Schurr led a gifted team who invited us into worship and enjoyment of God’s presence during the day. The day was made especially meaningful as many members from Brendon’s previous church assignment at Penasquitos Lutheran Church in San Diego, CA made the trip to join the members of Bridgewood in celebrate his ordination.

Before the ordination Brendon had encouraged those of us leading the service to listen to anything Holy Spirit was impressing us to do or say and then to step out in faith in obedience. As a result, a prophetic word was spoken over Mark and Morgan, the two young youth pastors at Bridgewood whom Brendon has trained and mentored. This was a particular blessing for Mark Spencer as the senior pastor at Bridgewood who following the service said, “It was great to see Morgan and Mark get ministered to. They are integral to what's happening at Bridgewood. Furthermore I am believer in that when one part of the body is being recognized (i.e. Brendon) all the other parts better be ready to be impacted!” Of the service Mark also noted, “I was really touched by the Father's blessing from Brendon’s dad...what an incredible inheritance Brendon has!”

When asked what the day had been like for him, Brendon said, “I was overwhelmed, moved, and taken back by the loving encouragement from Sean. His message was dead on! I was emotionally destroyed by my dad's blessing over me; and by my uncle and dad passing my grandfather's mantle on to me. It was a life-changing moment. It is rare for a father to bless his son in the way my dad blessed me. That will surely be a moment I will never forget. Having my family there to celebrate with me in what Jesus is doing was something I'll never forget. The whole service has become a pivotal highlight of my life. Lastly I was overwhelmed and humbled by all of the love and encouragement of not only my friends and family, but of my Bridgewood family. What a wonderful church to be called to!”

Congratulations, Brendon! Your fellow pastors in the ARC rejoice with you and look forward to many years of being beside you as we seek to live on the radical edge with God, kicking at the darkness until it bleeds daylight!

God is sending leaders from the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC) around the world to minister His love and healing touch to others. As these leaders go, they are taking the non-negotiable values God has given us to make real to Christians and non-Christians alike. ARC Leader, Joe Johnson, is one of those God has sent overseas, having recently returned home from ministering at the Oase Conference in Norway. Joe is the Director for Heart of the Father Ministries and has been a longtime friend and mentor to many of us in the ARC (including ARC Director, Mike Bradley). Following are some of Joe’s reflections on his time in Norway.

Oase conferences are held annually in Norway. For the last 15 years I have been teaching and praying during Oase conference and weekend seminars. The last two years I provided inner healing counseling prayer ministry during the conference. I am also doing this at home in ARC churches like Living Water, Sacramento and Wonderful Mercy, Gilbert, AZ.

Summer Oase is a wonderful setting to do healing prayer ministry. Everyone is soaking daily in worship and teaching with hearts expecting to hear from God for five days. It is like a Bible camp with ministries for all ages. Many of the 3,000 registered for at least part of the week are living in tents right next to the meeting hall and eating together with family and friends.

Beginning on July 10th, I taught on healing and overcoming shame. I shared with those gathered that joy and honor heal shame, encouraging them to remember a time they received honor. Then I asked them to tell someone, and smile at them and enjoy the smile they returned. When someone is glad to see me I experience joy and this joy can impart God’s healing touch within.

On Saturday of the conference I invited everyone who longed for a father's, mother's or sibling blessing, love, affection to come forward to be held by whomever Jesus reveals is holding them. About 80 participated in being held and holding one another. During the sharing time after this experience one man expressed gratitude for receiving healing of a sister's love (she died from suicide). During my teaching I shared that part of healing of my father wound happened when I forgave my father for dying. After the seminar a young adult was very excited to tell me that when I prayed with him during Oase 2012 I invited him say to his mother, "I forgive you for dying and leaving me." After we prayed he had been set free to sleep after years of not sleeping well or very little. How blessed I am to participate with Jesus' healing ministry.

Following Oase I preached Sunday morning at Mortensrud Lutheran Church in Oslo. Wonderful friend and Senior Pastor Trond Løberg asked me to speak on “Father’s Love.” This is my life message. When fathers walk out the front door of our lives by being absent, unavailable emotionally or do nor give us affection or express delight in being in us shame walks in the back door. We believe something is wrong with us, it is our fault, we are to blame. I taught on how to receive healing for this shame. Tears in saying goodbye to Norway surprised me. Tears also surprised me when I flew into Tromsø (after Oase) and saw the beautiful mountains coming down to the sea and when I saw the Midnight Sun for the first time. Tears for me are a response to the manifest presence of God. I also believe tears are a sign people are l praying for me. I appreciate all you who have been praying during a wonderful ministry time in Norway.

“God’s Improbable Provision” in a year of living more generously is a word from the Lord to us in the ARC these days. It is one of the keynote messages we hope will be preached, heard, and received throughout the ARC this year. It is more than merely a message; it is a reality already being experienced by a number of ARC members.

If you have not heard this word yet, you can through one of two ways. ARC Director Mike Bradley is preaching this keynote message in ARC churches and you can invite him to be in your church this year to preach this word. Another way is by going to the ARC website at www.arcusa.org and click on the “ARC Spotlight Message” icon on our home page There you will find a series of four messages by ARC leader, Graeme Sellers, unpacking this word for the ARC.

God’s Improbable Provision does not merely concern financial provision, though it does include that. Following is a testimony from one ARC member concerning God’s improbable provision for a relationship which she thought was irreparably broken. As you experience God’s improbable provision this year, please write your testimonies and send them to Mike Bradley at safeplacemb@gmail.com so we can build up each other’s faith for God’s improbable provision in our lives and our churches.

From California 
I was sitting at the church my husband pastors, listening to our dear friend, Mike Bradley give the sermon. That morning Mike was preaching on God's improbable provision. Being a pastor's wife, I am intimately acquainted with many narratives in the room and I am often praying that the message would touch specific people. I really liked this topic because there were people with financial, marital, substance abuse issues standing right near me that I just knew would be encouraged and transformed by this message.

As Mike shared and had each of us search our own lives for ways God might be wanting to do something improbable, a disrupted friendship flashed across my radar. It passed quickly because I felt like this one was "far too improbable," in fact I really had lost all hope and didn't want to test my faith even contemplating God's movement on this one. Later, Mike revisited the idea that we might have something to lay before God for him to do something improbable. I again was struck by this ruptured friendship but at best could only mutter a prayer of "Lord this one is probably just what it is..."

When I returned home from church that day, I finished making lunch for our family and the phone rang. I stared for a moment at the contact name...it was Sarah. The first words out of her mouth were, "I am so sorry. I have no idea what has been happening to me. Will you forgive me?" We talked for some time and Sarah cried, sharing how difficult the issue that had disrupted our friendship had been and how much she had struggled to express it to anyone.

I reflected when I got off the phone to the image of me standing in church, barely able to hold a thought about God doing something so incredibly improbable. I find that in ministry I am always looking to see where God might move in others and often leave myself out because my needs are not the right size or nature. This was an incredible reminder that God sees me and wants me to trust him to supply all of my provisions, no matter how improbable they may seem.

There is a lot going on in the ARC this summer. The works of Jesus (see Luke 4:18) are being carried out through a variety of strategies including a longtime summer staple – Vacation Bible School. A number of children – and teens and adults – are still being impacted for the kingdom of God through Vacation Bible schools. We are hearing exciting testimonies of God working through this long practiced strategy from churches in the White Mountains of Arizona (Grace – Show Low) to a Midwest mega church (North Heights Lutheran) to the left coast (Good Shepherd in Irvine, CA), and more. Along with VBS, a number of leaders and members of ARC churches have launched out in missions of various sorts, including ARC leader, Bob Mabry, who is on his way to Indonesia! Outreaches to the homeless, ministry to the poor and hungry, and loving the forgotten in places such as crisis pregnancy centers are happening through the ministry of ARC churches across the United States. All this and so much more. Thank you all for continuing the works of Jesus through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Following is some of what we have in the works this summer to help serve you more effectively as you and your congregations continue serving the Lord:

• Prayer – There is continual, contending prayer going on in the ARC this summer. Intercessors, prayer groups, and congregational prayer meetings are engaging in prayer. Prayer is preparing the ground for the work God is going to be doing in and through the ARC this year. There is also intentional, personal prayer going on for each of you as ARC leaders by name – prayers for you, your families, and your congregations. If you have a specific request you’d like to have prayed for, email it to ARC Director, Mike Bradley, at: safeplacemb@gmail.com. Or, send him a message via Facebook.
• Ongoing pastoral and leadership care-giving. ARC Director, Mike Bradley, along with other ARC leaders, continue to provide ongoing care-giving for pastors and leaders in ARC congregations throughout the summer. 
• Planning and Preparation – Planning and preparation for our 2014 ARC National Gatherings, Life Together Days, and Life Together groups is ongoing this summer. The planning and preparation we are doing now will help set the stage for what God wants to say to us and do in us as we gather together in the same rooms at the same times with one another and Holy Spirit.
• Continued prayer and preaching on God’s Improbable Provision. We continue to pray for and preach a message God has given us for the ARC concerning His improbable provision in a year of living more generously (see testimony on this in this edition of your E-News). 
• Advancing leadership development. Plans are underway to continue advancing leadership development in the ARC through the hosting of Building Healthy Leader seminars and working in partnership with The Master’s Institute School of Ministry in five different locations this year. Providing teams for ministry training. Teams are being organized and prepared to be sent out around the country where requested to provide ministry training for members of ARC congregations in regards to various ministry skills which can help equip them for ministry in their congregations, workplaces, and homes.

The Fall ARC Life Together Days (LTD) are scheduled. We will host the Midwest LTD on September 12; the Arizona LTD on September 19th; the SoCal LTD on September 24th; and our first ever Life Together Day in Florida on October 29th. The Life Together Days are designed to provide a safe place where ARC leaders and friends of the ARC can meet as peers in an intentional manner to share life and grow in authentic relationship with one another; worship together in depth and freedom; and receive teaching and prayer ministry to encourage and equip us.

Bill Bohline of Hosanna in Lakeville, MN will be our teacher for the Fall Midwest Life Together Day. We’ve asked Bill to share lessons he’s learned over a lifetime which can be important for all of us, no matter what stage of ministry we are in. Following his time of sharing we’ll provide opportunity for you to ask Bill some questions and then in small groups we’ll take time to identify a lesson he shared that struck a chord in our hearts. We’ll pray with one another, and as always, share a good meal together. The speakers and topics for the Arizona and SoCal dates will be announced soon. I will be sharing at the Florida LTD.

Be sure to put these dates on your calendar now and make plans to join us. Also, be thinking of who you might invite to attend with you – spouses, staff members, ministry team leaders, and other pastors you are in relationship with. See you there!

As I look back on my ten years as executive director and president for The Master’s Institute, I am thankful for the almost 500 students who have graduated our seminary and school of ministry programs. Just think, there are almost 500 people who have been transformed to think, speak, and act more like Jesus; have been grounded solidly in God’s word; and have grown in their leadership skills. They’re out there now, across our country and overseas, making a difference in people’s lives. I wonder how many people are being impacted for the kingdom of God through these graduates?

As great as these past 10 years have been, I am looking forward to the next 10 with an even greater sense of anticipation. On the approaching horizon for The Master’s Institute is the very real possibility of accreditation and the development of educational technology which will allow us to expand MI’s sphere of influence. This accreditation and educational technology will allow us to take the MI mission, values, and philosophy of education across the country and overseas to impact another 500 leaders, and more.

MI is doing seminary and leadership development the way it should be done. We are equipping the heart, head, and hands of leaders in the kingdom of God through spiritual and character formation, biblical teaching, and leadership training. This has been our God-given mission for 12 years and will continue to be the mission as we move into the future God has purposed for us.

For the last five years I have served The Master’s Institute and the Alliance of Renewal Churches on a part-time basis. Both ministries are on a growth trajectory which requires each having a leader who can provide a full-time presence and focus. That both ministries are growing and need full-time leadership is exciting. However, I cannot be the full-time leader of both. Thus, it is with mixed emotions I announce I will be stepping down as President of The Master’s Institute on June 28th and transitioning into a fulltime position as Director for The Alliance of Renewal Churches.

As I do, I am very blessed to know God is already providing leadership of great character and competency to lead this school forward. Our Board of Directors is conducting a thoughtful and prayerful search for our new president. As this process is carried out, I am very pleased to announce we have identified and appointed an Interim Director who will lead the staff and students of The Master’s Institute into the Fall without missing a step. Our Dean of Students, Kevin McClure, has accepted the position of Interim Director and I could not be happier.

Kevin is a mature, gifted, and proven leader; he is a man of godly character and has been tested by fire. Having worked closely with him for the past 4 years, I’ve had the opportunity to see Kevin in action and have been blessed by his leadership, wisdom, and authenticity. Our Board of Directors could not have made a better choice. So it is with great pleasure that I invite you as leaders in the ARC to join me in encouraging and supporting Kevin McClure as he provides leadership for the staff and students of The Master’s Institute this year. God bless you, Kevin, and The Master’s Institute.

Empowering leaders and congregations to live fully into their God-given destinies by building kingdom friendships and strategic alliances, advancing leadership developing, and providing ministry training for the members of congregations. This is the mission of the ARC. One way we carry out this mission is to form ARC Ministry teams who go into churches to continue building those friendships, and provide leadership development or ministry training seminars. If you would like a team to come to your church contact us at info@arcusa.org and let us know how we can help you.

In April, the ARC sent Kevin McClure and Sharon Franta to Midland, TX. Kevin and Sharon are ARC members and also serve as staff at The Master’s Institute. The trip was planned to bless Pastor Steve Mohr and the Leadership Team of Our Savior’s Lutheran through teaching and preaching, along with the ministry of presence—being with one another in the ARC is valuable. They also went to share information about The Master’s Institute School of Ministry; a 9-month discipleship training course designed to bless pastors and congregations as a resource for training and equipping lay-leaders in the church.

As they talked with Pr. Steve Mohr to prepare for the trip, it quickly became apparent that Our Savior’s Lutheran is a church that is hungry for God and all that He has for them. Their heart for building the Kingdom of God comes in various forms such as Love Midland – a grass roots outreach to their city, church studies on the Holy Spirit, discipleship training and more. As one leader said, “We want to be a church that does more than acknowledge the Holy Spirit; we want to live by the Holy Spirit.”

Kevin and Sharon arrived on Friday evening. On Saturday, Kevin and Sharon taught a workshop on Creating a Prophetic Atmosphere where they addressed how to create an atmosphere that embraces the gift of prophecy in your church culture, on Sunday morning and in your own hearts. On Sunday, Sharon taught Sunday school and Kevin preached a message on addressing how ministry must flow from our identity as sons and daughters, followed by a time of prayer ministry.

Pastor Steve also had a baptism that day; for his 2 year old grandson. It was Steve’s first baptism since taking the call to Midland and it was a wonderful moment for everyone. When his grandson was wrapped in a towel and placed in his father’s arms, he raised both hands and exclaimed, “Ta-daaaa!” To which the congregation responded with clapping and cheers of joy.

What we saw at Our Savior’s we see at ARC churches across the country; a bond that ties us together with kindred spirits and a heart for Kingdom ministry. Please be praying for Our Savior’s as they whole heartedly pursue Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pure joy. That is how I feel as I look back on this year’s ARC retreats for pastors and leaders. As Director for the ARC it was pure joy for me to watch all of you enjoying soaking in God’s presence during our times of worship, being ministered to by the Lord and one another, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

Pastors and leaders gathered in the Southwest on April 9-11 and in the Midwest on April 15-18 for this year’s retreats, including a couple home on furlough from mission in Nepal. ARC National Leadership Team member, Robert Walter, presented our theme, “Grace for Shame.” Retreat participants were challenged afresh with the powerful reality that the Gospel offers not only forgiveness of sin, but also healing for shame. As biblical truth became revelation through the teaching and inner healing prayer appointments it became more than merely an informational download; it became a life-transforming experience.

“The authentic relationships, depth and freedom in worship, and life-transforming teaching and personal ministry made this the best pastor’s retreat I’ve been on in 30 years, hands down.” This was the testimony of a highly respected pastor who attended our California retreat. Another retreat participant said, “This retreat was worth making the time and effort to go to. I was challenged in looking at the difference between guilt and shame, to reflect on whether my preaching focuses only on sin and forgiveness or also on healing for shame.” Another said, “I was surprised how much more shame is mentioned in Scripture than guilt; and was reminded that the culture of the Middle East is one of shame and honor whereas our Western culture is one of guilt and innocence.” Still another shared, “This is going to impact and transform my counseling, teaching, and preaching, not to mention my own life!” Perhaps the benefit of hosting these retreats were best summed up when one pastor said, “I’m going home much freer!”

Retreats such as this will continue to be one of the ways we offer support, encouragement, and equipping for you as members, and as friends, of the ARC. We are already in the prayer and planning stage for the 2014 Retreat for Pastors and Leaders, as well as for our 2014 Regional Gatherings for all the members of ARC congregations. Keep watching future mailings of this e-newsletter or check out the ARC website for details at arcusa.org. God bless you all!

Leaders and friends of the ARC came together in April at Life Together Days hosted by the ARC in Arizona and Minnesota. In Arizona, ARC Leader, Danny Mullins, shared his journey of how God used Psalm 27 to bring him out of a dark season of life. His story was compelling, encouraging, and it highlighted the power of inner healing prayer as instrument of God’s renewing and refreshing. In Minnesota, author and friend of the ARC, Lee Grady, shared a message about God’s desire for the recovery of Apostolic Christianity in and through our churches. Lee identified six characteristics in particular in need of recovery and ARC leader, Robert Walter, is helping us identify one other. Together these make up seven marks of Apostolic Christianity the Lord wants to help us recover more fully in our own lives, and in our congregations. We’ll be communicating more with you about this word in the weeks ahead.

Many of you have been giving testimony to common elements from both the Arizona and Minnesota Life Together Days which blessed you. They include things such as enjoying being with like-minded brothers and sisters; meeting some new people while also spending time with those you already know; experiencing a religion-free zone and a freedom to be authentically who you are; being blessed and challenged by the teaching; and enjoying just soaking in times of unhurried the worship. Our thanks go out to hosts, Eric Bluhm in Minnesota and Graeme Sellers in Arizona; and to our worship leaders - Dirk Duhlstine in Arizona, and Eric McIntyre and Joel Bidderman in Minnesota.

Life Together Days are intentional appointments on our part to get in the same room at the same time with Holy Spirit and one another. We try to schedule these on a quarterly basis and as we do, our experience is that God often transforms our intentional appointments into His divine appointments. As we gather at our Life Together Days we are consistently experiencing God encountering and impacting us through authentic relationship, depth and freedom in worship, outstanding teaching, and testimony, and personal ministry.

We will keep you informed of Life Together Days coming up in each region this Summer and Fall. God bless, empower, and guide you!

By Mike Bradley, ARC Director

Improbable Provision in the Year of Living More Generously: This is a Word I believe the Lord is speaking to us in the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC). It is a word to be heard, received, and experienced as individuals, families, and congregations.

The Lord first began to speak to me about improbable provision as I brewed a good strong cup of coffee and met with Him in the story of Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 21:1-20 one morning. As I read this passage I heard the Lord speak the words, “improbable provision” into my mind. Improbable Provision. Hagar and Ishmael were certainly in a situation where they needed it. There were dying and there was absolutely no help on the horizon. Their backs were against the proverbial wall. But…don’t you just love all the “buts” in Scripture? But then, God intervened and He made a way where there was no way, He made a provision no one else could provide. He provided a well where there had been no well. The God for whom nothing is too hard, nor too difficult, nor impossible made an improbable provision of water that saved their lives and enabled them to live into the future God had in store for them. This is what God’s improbable provision does. It affirms God’s care for us personally; meets our immediate need; and makes it possible for us to live into His purposes for us and through us.

I was convinced this was a Word from the Lord and shared it with the ARC National Leadership Team when we met together in January. They discerned and affirmed this was indeed a word from the Lord for members of The Alliance of Renewal Churches. In fact, Graeme Sellers was so certain, he was moved to preach a sermon series on God’s Improbable Provision in the Year of Living More Generously in his congregation (Wonderful Mercy Church, Gilbert, AZ). My wife, Debi, and I happened to be worshipping at Wonderful Mercy while on vacation just as Graeme began this series. We were so encouraged by these messages that I’ve asked Graeme for permission to place them on the ARC website so you can listen to them. Please make the time to do this. Encourage your congregational leaders to do so. Then together, pray and discern if this is a word for you and your congregations. You can access the messages at: arcusa.org. Once on the home page, look under the “Resources,” then “Media,” then “Audio” and "Podcast" links (Resources>Media>Audio>Podcast).

In addition, I am also preaching on this word in ARC churches around the country this year. I will be speaking at Hope Community in Long Beach, CA in early April and Radiant Church in early May. If you’d like to me to preach this message in your congregation, contact me at safeplacemb@gmail.com and we’ll get it scheduled.

Lord, may this be a season of Your Improbable Provision in the Year of Living More Generously. Amen!

THE STORM IS RISING... Pastor Jonah Borden loses the life savings of an elderly widow when the First National Bank of Grand Lake, Minnesota, is robbed. Now he is playing detective, trying to solve the crime and recover the widow's money. But his friends in law-enforcement can't seem to help him, and information about the case mysteriously disappears. In the meantime, he faces professional challenges, and to top it off, his own relationship with the beautiful Leyla Bennett is in troubled waters.

Jonah must overcome a malicious plot against his life, the ghosts of his past, and face the fury of Superior itself, if he is to save himself and the ones he loves.

Superior Storm is set amidst the wild beauty of Lake Superior. Featuring dry humor, and a cast of unique, memorable characters, this is part of the Lake Superior Mystery series written by ARC pastor Tom Hilpert. The books do not have to be read in order.

Go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2V76IG to get either the paperback, or the kindle edition, or search "Tom Hilpert" on Amazon for his books.

With over 21,000 downloads, more than 75 reviews, and an overall 4.5/5 rating, this series is growing fast in popularity.

By Mike Bradley, ARC Director

As Director for the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC), I want to thank you ARC leaders and your congregations for your financial support thus far in January and February. It is very helpful to have a consistent, monthly financial stream to enable us to carry out our mission to empower leaders and congregations to live fully into their God-given destinies through building kingdom friendships and strategic alliances, assisting in the development of leaders, and providing ministry training for the members of congregations.

From time to time I will send you an update on what’s happening throughout the ARC. Following is a short bullet-point update to inform you of some of the things going on in the ARC these days:

• ARC leader, Kevin McClure, recently spoke at a Men’s Retreat for our newest ARC member, Northgate Church. Northgate pastor, Steve Perkins, said the men were very blessed by what God did that weekend. Way to go Kevin and Steve!
• ARC leader, Fred Thoni is giving leadership as a site leader in a new School of Ministry which focuses on Responsible Prophetic Ministry at his church, Elmwood E. Free in the St. Paul, MN area. 
• We continue to prepare for the Grace for Shame retreats for pastors and leaders on April 9-11 in the Southwest and April 15-18 in the Midwest. I honestly believe these are going to be among the most worthwhile retreats I have ever attended in all my years in ministry. I cannot encourage you strongly enough to make time to be there. You will leave better equipped to minister God’s freedom to people in bondage to toxic shame; and there are literally thousands in our ARC churches and millions in our American culture. In addition, you will leave more refreshed as you rest in peaceful retreat settings, spend time in unhurried worship, enjoy being with other like-minded leaders, and experience God encounters in personal prayer and prophetic ministry. See you there! 
• We are in the process of beginning to prepare for two regional gatherings in 2014 which are open to not only ARC leaders and Friends of the ARC, but to all the members of their churches. We will host one in the Southwest and one in the Midwest. The focus in 2014 will be on evangelism with the intent being to help cast fresh vision for congregational and personal evangelism; and to help all ARC churches develop and put in place intentional, strategic initiatives for sharing the good news of what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. 
• We are currently working to plan regional youth retreats in the Midwest and Southwest. Both retreats are in the initial planning stages. More details will be coming soon. 
• ARC Ministry Teams continue to be sent into congregations to assist in leadership development and ministry skills training for the members of congregations. 
• ARC leaders and congregations are hosting leadership development classes, partnering with The Master’s Institute Seminary. Most recently classes were hosted at Wonderful Mercy Church in Gilbert, AZ and Robinwood Church in Huntington Beach, CA. 
• We are also providing leadership and ministry skills training for the members of ARC churches and Friends of the ARC by partnering with the School of Ministry (SOM) from The Master’s Institute. ARC congregations currently host School of Ministry sites at Robinwood Church in Huntington Beach, North Heights in St. Paul, MN, and Elmwood E. Free Church in the St. Paul area. Next year we will partner with SOM at Penasquitos Lutheran Church in San Diego, CA, Bridgewood Community Church in Blaine, MN, and possibly at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Midland, TX and back at Elmwood E. Free for another year. 
• Ongoing pastoral care continues to be provided for ARC leaders through visits with pastors on a one-on-one basis by phone, and by google+ video; and through ongoing Life Together Days in three regions in the country; and through the planting of Life Together Groups which meet on a weekly or bi-weely basis. 
• We are excited to be working with new church plants who are becoming part of ARC. We are partnering with Life Together Churches (ARC member, Tom Hilpert) and Family Room Churches (ARC leader, Kevin McClure) to provide relationship and support to the leaders of these new church plants. 
• We are in the process of welcoming new congregational members into the ARC: Northgate Church of Ramsey, MN-Pastor Steve Perkins and Radiant Church of Garden Grove, CA-Pastor Jeremey King. 
• We also are welcoming new individual members, the most recent being Pastor Chris Byars from Florida, and Jude McClure, a student at The Master’s Institute Seminary.

These are just a few snap shots of what’s going on in the ARC. We will continue to uphold you all in prayer, and continue serving and helping to empower you in the purposes of God for your lives. Be sure to let us know if there is any way in particular we can serve you. You can contact me at: safeplacemb@gmail.com. God bless, empower, and guide you all!

By Mike Bradley, ARC Director

I am excited to announce the addition of Brendon Fairley to the National Leadership Team for the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC). Brendon was formerly on staff at Penasquitos Lutheran in San Diego, and is currently serving as Associate Pastor for Bridgewood Community Church in Blaine, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis). Brendon brings a wealth of experience in youth and young adult ministry, leadership training, strategic thinking, and a passion to see the ministry of Jesus continued in the power of the Holy Spirit to the Leadership Team and to the ARC at large. I asked Brendon to introduce himself to you in this article. He writes the following:

“My wife, Shanna, and I have been involved in the ARC since 2008 and have continued to be impressed and touched by the work God is doing through Alliance of Renewal Churches. Soon after celebrating our five-year anniversary, Shanna gave birth to our first child, Grace Maisie who this past November, at 3 months, experienced her first ARC gathering.

God revealed His call on my life to become a pastor at the age of 17. Since then I have served in several different ministries as a youth and college pastor. Recently, I served as the Director of Youth Ministries for Penasquitos Lutheran Church in San Diego from 2007-2011. In the fall of 2011, Shanna and I answered the call to serve at Bridgewood Community Church in Blaine, Minnesota as an Associate Pastor. Even though the cold is a thorn in our flesh, we have been very blessed to be part of the work God is doing at Bridgewood.

I am extremely excited to begin being part of the ARC on a leadership level because I believe God is using the ARC to transform lives for His kingdom. I love that the ARC has a heavy emphasis on creating and cultivating relationships and it serves as one of the main reasons why I am eager to be part of this ministry. I have a deep respect for the other members on the leadership team and consider it an honor to serve alongside them.“

You can send Brendon a note of welcome or encouragement at: bfthumbs@yahoo.com.