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!