In October, an ARC team led by National Leadership Team member Robert Walter ministered at Bridgewood Community church in Blaine, Minnesota. Robert, who recently founded a new ministry—On God’s Trail—led a seminar titled Grace for Shame. In addition to the seminar presentation, he and other team members facilitated inner healing prayer appointments where many people were impacted by God’s manifest presence, love, and power. Asked how the seminar went, one staff member said she could sum it up it two words: Joy unleashed. That is what those who attended the seminar saw and experienced.

In the seminar Robert unpacked the toxicity of shame and how cultivating joy in our lives overcomes shame and in fact releases more joy. In a description of the seminar, he writes:

“Where would we be without the grace of God? Nowhere. Running the race of faith often doesn’t seem to be getting us any closer to God. It feels like someone keeps moving the finish line. In this seminar we explore a dimension of grace that is often left out of the story of the Gospel. And we’ll see how recent discoveries in brain science confirm what the Bible has been saying all along about the source of our strength. With stories, scriptures and small group sharing, people are helped to take a giant step forward on the journey of faith.”

Sharon Franta, an associate pastor at Bridgewood shared: “The effects of shame are toxic and no one is immune. In our communities, lives, and churches, shame doesn’t allow us to see all that we are in Christ Jesus, Instead, it focuses us on what we don’t have or how we are not measuring up. In this seminar, we learned how to begin addressing this epidemic. We were able to see God move through the teaching, prayer ministry and worship to undo what shame had done. It was a powerful and grace-filled message from the One who created us to live with abundance and joy.”

Seminars and teams such as this are one of the many resources the ARC has to offer you and your congregation. If you would be interested in bringing Robert in to teach and minister on this topic you can contact him at: ongodstrail@gmail.com. If you have need of another team or focus of teaching for your congregation, contact ARC Director Mike Bradley at: safeplacemb@gmail.com

You can find Robert Walter's website at: www.ongodstrail.com

God effecting a shift in the atmosphere for good; people receiving a gift of repentance from the Lord toward one another and a desire to be set free from sin; numerous prayers for the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit; prophetic words of encouragement; relationships being reconciled; equipping in moving in the gift of prophecy in a responsible manner and training in praying for others for the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and prayers for a wide variety of needs in their lives or in the lives of people they know and love. All this and more marked the Spiritual Renewal Weekend at Celebration Lutheran Church in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The ARC sent a team comprised of Fred Thoni and Mike Bradley to be with and serve the leaders and people of Celebration on October 3rd through 5th. Members of the congregation and visitors from the community attended the renewal weekend, which was comprised of keynote sessions and workshops, personal prayer appointments with church staff members, worship, personal prayer and prophetic ministry following the keynotes sessions, and divine appointments over coffee, tea, or meals shared together.

A gifted young adult worship team led by Nick Kelm filled the atmosphere with harp and bowl worship. On Saturday morning, Fred taught two workshops, one on “A Responsible Use Of the Gift of Prophecy,” and the second on, “Praying for Being Baptized in the Spirit.” Mike shared keynote sessions on “Don’t Settle For Less,” “Everyday Encounters,” and “What’s In The Air Makes A Difference” during the weekend.

When asked his thoughts on the weekend, lead pastor Cory Illingworth said: “After having Mike and Fred here I have had a smile on my face that just hasn’t been there for a while. These two faithful servants of the Lord were such a rich blessing to our staff, our congregation, and me. Mike spoke three times while he was with us and all three times the laughter and joy in our sanctuary was refreshing. He spoke with honesty and sincerity, and shared biblical truth. Fred did two teaching sessions with us on Saturday morning. He was so filled with the Holy Spirit’s presence. If you are looking for an incredible resource to facilitate a renewal weekend at your church, then you need look no further then Mike Bradley as a main speaker and Fred Thoni as a great resource in teaching on the Holy Spirit. They were a gift to a weary shepherd who needed a fresh wind at the right time.”

Looking back on the weekend Fred said: “God’s message of his Scandalous Love of God, the topic for the weekend at Celebration seemed truly relevant and extremely timely for Celebration. It was so touching to see how the Father poured out his love and grace on the staff members. The anointing of the Holy Spirit was powerfully tangible during the ministry times each evening and Sunday morning. It was obvious that God was moving as so many times tears were flowing down the faces of these precious brothers’ and sisters’ faces.”

It was a great time with a wonderful group of God’s people. We are very thankful to have a congregation such as Celebration a part of the ARC network. If you would like an ARC Ministry Team to come to your church, contact ARC Director Mike Bradley at: safeplacemb@gmail.com.