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.