From Mike Bradley, ARC Director: As I travel around the country I am so encouraged by the effective resources for life and ministry I see in the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC). From time to time I will highlight them so you as ARC leaders can be aware of the resources available within our own network and keep them in prayer. This article highlights a counseling resource ministry led by Michelle King, wife of ARC Pastor, Jeremy King (Radiant Church – Garden Grove, CA). Michelle is an incredibly gifted sister in Christ, a leader in her own right, and a whole and healthy person which of course is important in any leadership role. I’ve asked Michelle to share about The Paved Road, a counseling resource for ARC churches in Southern California. Michelle writes:

     “For the past 16 Years, I have been either vocationally or relationally been in ministry. Currently, my husband and I serve at Radiant, a church plant in Orange County, California. I became deeply aware over the years of the need for a place for those in congregations & those on ministry staff to have a safe place to examine life. This past spring, a team of us came together to develop The Paved Road Individual and Family Therapy Center. It is a counseling center with a heart to serve local churches. As a group of Christian marriage and family therapists, we recognized that current and old wounds exist in every church and some need more time and space for healing. 

     Our center provides a secure relational base from which the patterns of life can be considered and reshaped. Each of our therapists comes alongside individuals (including children), families, & couples as they work through issues such as abuse, addictions, adoption, affairs, anxiety, crisis of faith/spiritual formation, depression, domestic violence, eating disorders, grief/loss, infertility, marital, parenting, premarital, self-esteem, self-harm, & sexual issues including identity struggles. 

     If you would like more information about connecting your church or general information about The Paved Road and its therapists, please log on to www.thepavedroad.com or email me at mking@thepavedroad.com.”

By Derek Luptak, Associate Pastor, Grace Church – Show Low, AZ

Distance Student at The Master’s Institute Seminary

Here at Grace Church in Show Low, AZ, when we do VBS, we go all out. We know that summer can be a hectic season and very often events like VBS can be just another thing to get through, but there is something about seeing the good news of Jesus Christ break into a child’s life that makes it worth it all. When Amanda (my wife) came on staff as Family Ministry Coordinator 4 years ago, we both sensed a calling to make VBS a major event in our church year. We believe that having fun with children as they learn about God’s love for them is an enormous opportunity for the Kingdom in our community. One thing we’ve learned is that children want to come to Jesus and it’s up to us to not hinder them from coming. The crowning moment of this year’s VBS was an interaction I had with a 3^rd grader who exclaimed excitedly, “Learning about God is so much fun!”  I told him that he was right, and it never stops being fun, even when you reach old age (mid-thirties) like me. Looking back on our VBS week, knowing that at least one child’s heart was opened to the joy of knowing God, I can only thank God for having a part in it.

Over the years, we have learned a lot about putting on a VBS week that kids want to come to. First, we decorate the entire church, so that the whole congregation gets a chance to get excited and support it with prayer and donations. During the week, you will need the strength of others’ intercession. It will be exhausting and there will be spiritual attacks from the enemy, but it is well worth it.

This year, our theme was Treasure Quest – inspired by Indiana Jones and other adventure movies. Our sanctuary was transformed into a treasure cave, complete with stalactites. The Narthex was converted into a jungle and waterfall. Our children’s wing was another series of caves and our fellowship hall became a puppet theater where the youth group put on puppet shows for the kids, helping them learn the daily lessons and bible verses. I spray-painted some ordinary garden sculptures metallic gold and they became the treasure. Each “artifact” was used as a visual representation of a day’s theme: golden armor, a golden serpent, a golden lantern and a golden cross. We have learned that if we write our own curriculum, we can save a LOT of money that could be better spent in other places. At the end of the day, we set up an inflatable waterslide and a member of the congregation who is an ice-cream truck driver comes by.

A vibrant VBS comes from finding volunteers who are willing to share their gifts and talents with the kids. Last year we had 5 different members of the congregation come by and share their creativity. There was a painter, a personal trainer, a dance instructor and a chef. They all came by and taught the kids that God created them and we all have creative gifts to share. The kids learned to paint, exercise, dance and make a perfect French omelet. But they also learned that God was an artist who created each one of them and put His signature in their hearts. At the end of the week, we simply invite the children to come to Jesus, give their lives to Him and become part of His family. No fear, guilt or manipulation. The kids respond overwhelmingly every year. We don’t have to cajole them to come to Christ, just as He said, we only need to get out of their way.

We have also found that VBS is a great week to partner with other churches in the community. Some smaller churches can’t afford to put on a VBS of their own, but are happy to join in with another church. We joined with three other churches this year and had 145 kids attend. Of that number, 50 opened their hearts to a relationship with God through Christ and came into the Kingdom. VBS, like anything else in ministry, is a wonderful opportunity for Kingdom expansion and adult volunteers also get something out of it. It is a great reminder that knowing God and being in His family is “fun” (a great adventure) when compared to the life of guilt, shame and defeat that our enemy wants for us. VBS is a great opportunity for a congregation to step into that adventure together for the sake of the kids they are reaching!

If you’d like to have Derek and Amanda consult with your children’s ministry staff, you can contact them at: derek@graceshowlow.com

Time for creating and nurturing friendships.

Intimate and passionate worship.

Challenging keynote messages and equipping workshops.

Personal prophetic prayer ministry.

These and more were our experiences during the 2012 Southwest ARC Gathering. But if I had to sum up the Gathering I’d do it with two stories: one of a stranger in our midst, the other of an ARC member.

First, the stranger’s story. She came to the Gathering as a result of a chance meeting with two folks from Hope Community Church at a July 4^th party in Long Beach. This stranger and her best friend, both visiting from out of state, were hungering for a spiritual retreat. The two HCC members invited them to the Southwest Gathering the next week. They came. And here’s her testimony:

“While at a 4th of July party we met a couple that invited us to come to the conference with them. We came! I was so blessed and was so spoken to!

“One thing I [want] to share is that I was healed. I have suffered for several years with pain in my liver; my blood tests come back that my enzymes are too high. There's never any reason for this and it's a constant battle for me, as the pain wakes me in the night; sitting or bending over is also quite painful. I slept Saturday night and have every night since, completely pain free and I cannot feel pain in my liver any more. Praise the Lord!”

Next, the ARC member’s story. He writes:

I struggle a bit with moving in the prophetic gift the Lord has given me. I worry about hearing or interpreting incorrectly and don't share as often as I probably should. I’ve spent a lot of time talking with God about what I am supposed to do with this gift and how I can use it for kingdom purposes.

Early in the Gathering, Holy Spirit drew my attention to a particular couple. He was telling me that he was going to do something remarkable through their children. I sensed that they had either lost a child or had difficulty conceiving. I was afraid of hurting or upsetting them. Even more I was afraid of being wrong – what if they had no problems conceiving children and everything was just fine? I sure would look the fool!

During a break I approached them and shared what I was hearing about God's plan was for their children but did not share what I was sensing about problems conceiving or the loss of a child. The wife was obviously moved and the husband volunteered that they had one child but had been trying for a long time for another.

I was chagrined and encouraged to be bolder in sharing what I was hearing. Had I shared all that I heard God saying, the weight of word confirming their present reality may have amplified and reinforced the encouragement.

Saturday night I received prayer from that couple. Their prayers for me centered on me being bold and courageous to share encouragement, like the encouragement I had given them. They also shared a vision of me in a place that should be in shadow but I was bathed in Christ's brilliant light and shone out of the darkness.

Another thing happened at the Gathering for me. I used to have only a guilt-induced motivation to read the Word. Now I find a hunger for the Word. I become annoyed if I don't find a way to slip off for a few minutes of Bible time. This is not a conscious decision nor is it, as far as I can tell, the direct result of any teaching received. It is, I think, the work of Holy Spirit, working through the teachings and prayer times. When I received prayer on Saturday the prayer team did ask Holy Spirit to fill me with a desire for the Word!

All this and more was our experience at this year’s Southwest Gathering. We give thanks to God for speaking to us and moving in our lives, and we trust we were a blessing to Him.

Please join us for the 2012 Midwest ARC Gathering, November 1-3 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. The Gathering will feature wonderful times of worship together, inspiring messages, soaking worship time, personal prayer appointments, equipping workshops, and lots of time to hang out and grow in authentic relationship with one another.

See you there!

The Apostle Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” This is an important exhortation as we live at a time when, as one ARC leader puts it, “a war is being waged for our hearts and our minds.” Being a “people under the word” is a key to victory in this war. In this opening session, ARC National Leadership Team member, Graeme Sellers, will cast the vision of what it means to be a people under the word who are letting the word of Christ dwell in them richly; and call us to be a people who are making a home for the Word, knowing that whatever fills us, controls us. This message is an important one if we are to be known as a network where God’s people are making a home for the Word and living under the Word.

A new religious pluralism defines the modern religious world; and in this world truth is viewed as being relative, with each individual holding the authority to determine what is or is not, truth. In this context we do not want to be arrogant or ignorant or ethnocentric or neurotic or even be seen as such, and yet we believe that somehow, the Bible is our final authority. What do we mean by biblical authority? Why is it important for life and ministry? What do we need to know about the postmodern world in relation to maintaining biblical authority that will enable us to bring God’s healing combination of grace and truth to bear on peoples’ lives? In this session, Dr. David Glesne will show us there is a confident way and place to stand in our day that we all might experience the reality of Jesus’ words, “You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

We are living in a time in which we often read more books about God’s Word than we read God’s Word itself. The result can be a growth in knowledge about God, but not necessarily growing to be more like Him. In short, we can be spiritually dehydrated and thus hindered in growing in our relationship with the Lord, and in partnering more effectively in His mission in the world. In this session Mike Bradley, Director of the ARC, will share his passion that the Lord make the ARC a soul winning and discipleship making network, and how this is connected to being a “people under the word.” He will exhort and encourage us individually and corporately to be saturated in the Word of God for transformation and mission. Mike will call us to be followers of Jesus Christ who are being so saturated in the Word of God that we are being transformed to think, speak, and act more like the living Word; and be empowered for every member ministry in the world, wherever God sends us.

It is always exciting to hear what God says and see what He does when we commit ourselves to gather in the same place at the same time in the presence of the Lord. In this session, Joel Bidderman and Friends will lead us in a refreshing time of soaking together in the presence of the Lord, ministering to Him and worshipping Him even as Paul, Barnabas and others did in Acts 13. What a privilege it is to minister to the Lord. How refreshing it is to soak in His presence. How encouraging it is when we hear Him speak a fresh word of direction or hope. How reviving it is when we experience a fresh touch of His freedom and love. Come join us as we soak in worship and the word.

The Holy Habit of Daily Devotions

Nathan Hoff, ARC Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church-San Pedro, CA

Lectio Divina

Bill Gaultiere, Director, Soul Shepherding, Irvine, CA

The word of God is living and active. It restores broken souls, it renews tired spirits, it guides us in God’s good path -- if we listen with soft hearts and live it out. Sadly, we often read the Bible too quickly, trying to get through it or get our sermon finished. In this workshop Bill will mentor us in Lectio Divina, an ancient art and discipline for praying a Bible passage to hear God’s voice. Come to learn the Biblical foundation for Lectio Divina and to get a vision for how you can use this practice in sermon preparation or leading groups in your church. Come to be refreshed by an experience of the Word of God breathing life into your soul.

Rules of the Game

Jeremy King, ARC Pastor, Radiant Church-Garden Grove, CA

Reading the Bible is essential for following Jesus. Most Christians would agree on that. However, unless we consider how we read the Bible, we may find ourselves ill-equipped for engaging with real people in the real world. How we read and talk about the Holy Scriptures will deeply affect how we represent Jesus to our friends, neighbors, and family. In this workshop we will discover, and practice together, practical tools for reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible in a responsible manner. We will also work on a foundational understanding of the origins of the Scriptures, how to evaluate and select bible translations, and how to appropriately read and apply from each of the literary genres found in the Bible. 

The Power of a Word of Testimony

Heidi McClure, ARC Administrator and MI School of Ministry Assistant

Our testimonies are one of the most powerful things about us. Although people can try to argue about the authenticity of Christianity’s claims, no one can argue with what Christ has done on a personal level in someone’s life. An anonymous person once said, “A man with a testimony is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.” Testimonies are a great way to reach the lost, the broken, and the hurting. In this workshop we will learn more about why it is on God’s heart for us to be sharing our testimonies, how to effectively write and share a testimony, and how to incorporate testimonies into your ministry.

Teaching the Bible

Dave Housholder, ARC Pastor, Robinwood Church, Huntington Beach, CA

People don't bring their Bibles! They don't read them daily! Biblical illiteracy is on the rise! This seminar will give you clear steps on how to solve these and other problems. In this workshop, Dave will help us focus on creating a Bible culture in our churches through modeling and promotion. We will also focus on which kinds of Bible teaching lead to a more participatory Bible culture. Be sure to bring your Bible to the session

Reaching Non-Christians with the Word of God

Dave Housholder, ARC Pastor, Robinwood Church, Huntington Beach, CA

We want the ARC to be known as a network God is using as a soul-winning, discipleship-making network. So, its important for us to ask questions such as: What intentional efforts are we making at reaching non-Christians? How many teen and adult baptisms did we have last year? Many of you may have tried the Alpha Course, but it can be hard to maintain a critical mass in a smaller church. Pastor Dave Housholder and the team at Robinwood Church have developed The Blackberry Bush as one strategy for reaching out to non-Christians. They have five tables full of participants every semester and have been able to assimilate dozens of new people into the congregation: socially, spiritually, and catechetically. Come hear what it is all about in this breakout session and see if it might not be of help to you in your cultural context, or, spur some fresh ideas which you can take home and work with you team to develop strategies which uniquely fit your context and geographic region.

Prayer Ministry: The Word Coming Alive Through You

Denise Siemens, Lutheran Renewal Administrator and Director of Arise! Women’s Ministry

When we pray for others, we allow ourselves to be a channel through which the life, love, and healing of the Lord can flow. Jesus, the Living Word, wants to use us as letters of the Spirit to write upon the hearts of those around us—not just those in our church meetings, but everyone we meet. No one is safe from a blessing! Imagine if every ARC member were equipped to pray with those God brings across our paths? In this workshop, Denise will bring solid teaching and practical insights, and we will take time to practice listening to Jesus and praying for each other.

Nathan Hoff                      The Holy Habit of a Daily Devotional Life

Heidi McClure                  The Power of a Word of Testimony

Jeremy King         Rules of the Game

Bill Gautiere         Lectio Divina: Connecting to the Word of God with Heart and Head

Dave Housholder       Reaching Non-Christians with the Word of God

                                   

As Director for The Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC), one of the great joys is to see multi-generational ministry happening throughout the ARC. From the nursery to children’s ministries to youth and young adult ministries, all the way to senior ministries, God is at work in and through the generations in the ARC. One of the exciting young adult ministries happening in our midst is in the Sacramento-El Grove, CA area, where ARC leader, Jonathan Miller is involved in Remedy – an outreach to young adults. Jonathan is leading a team into the Czech Republic soon and I commend him and what he writes below to you. Thanks for keeping him in prayer and as the Spirit may prompt you, thanks for sending financial support you can to them – Mike Bradley, Director, Alliance of Renewal Churches.

ARC leader, Jonathan Miller is the Director of Music Ministry at ARC church, Living Water, in Elk Grove, CA.  He is also the co-director of a thriving college-age and young adult ministry in the Elk Grove area called REMED. REMEDY was established in 1998 and has been going strong for 14 years by the grace of God, with thousands of college-age and young adults passing through.

This year, REMEDY is coming alongside a former "REMEDian", Tomas Mojzis and his wife, Misha, and Josiah Venture, a Christian outreach camp for the youth of Eastern Europe. The REMEDY team of 6 will be travelling from July 17th-August 1st to the Czech Republic where they will have the opportunity of ministering to the youth of the Czech Republic. Most of them are atheists, and the team will be able to share the Gospel with them through teaching them English, hanging out, playing sports, and having deep conversations (Josiah Venture is an organization that puts on English/Sports camps every week in the summer months). We are hoping that our words, thoughts, and actions all reflect that of Jesus and that these kids will receive Jesus by the end of the camp week, and decide to follow Him whole-heartedly from that point on.  Tomas and Misha live in the Czech so they are able to continue the discipleship process after many of these kids depart from camp.

We are asking for the ARC churches to come alongside us in prayer and supplication! Below are some prayer points that will guide all of you in your prayer sessions. Thank you in advance for your prayers!  We greatly need them!

TEAM:

·       Unity for our team both before we leave and each day that we are there. 

·       That satan and his demons will be bound and gagged from causing discouragement, harm, sickness, and fear to me, and to the rest of my team.

·       That Jesus will provide sufficient funds for all to go.

·       For His strength, wisdom, protection as we serve -Heb 6:10, for integrity and endurance as we prepare -Eph 3:20

·       That Jesus will go before me to soften hearts to be open to His love; alongside me to strengthen me as I serve; and after me to clean up any messes I might make.

MISSION FIELD: