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.