“God’s Improbable Provision” in a year of living more generously is a word from the Lord to us in the ARC these days. It is one of the keynote messages we hope will be preached, heard, and received throughout the ARC this year. It is more than merely a message; it is a reality already being experienced by a number of ARC members.

If you have not heard this word yet, you can through one of two ways. ARC Director Mike Bradley is preaching this keynote message in ARC churches and you can invite him to be in your church this year to preach this word. Another way is by going to the ARC website at www.arcusa.org and click on the “ARC Spotlight Message” icon on our home page There you will find a series of four messages by ARC leader, Graeme Sellers, unpacking this word for the ARC.

God’s Improbable Provision does not merely concern financial provision, though it does include that. Following is a testimony from one ARC member concerning God’s improbable provision for a relationship which she thought was irreparably broken. As you experience God’s improbable provision this year, please write your testimonies and send them to Mike Bradley at safeplacemb@gmail.com so we can build up each other’s faith for God’s improbable provision in our lives and our churches.

From California 
I was sitting at the church my husband pastors, listening to our dear friend, Mike Bradley give the sermon. That morning Mike was preaching on God's improbable provision. Being a pastor's wife, I am intimately acquainted with many narratives in the room and I am often praying that the message would touch specific people. I really liked this topic because there were people with financial, marital, substance abuse issues standing right near me that I just knew would be encouraged and transformed by this message.

As Mike shared and had each of us search our own lives for ways God might be wanting to do something improbable, a disrupted friendship flashed across my radar. It passed quickly because I felt like this one was "far too improbable," in fact I really had lost all hope and didn't want to test my faith even contemplating God's movement on this one. Later, Mike revisited the idea that we might have something to lay before God for him to do something improbable. I again was struck by this ruptured friendship but at best could only mutter a prayer of "Lord this one is probably just what it is..."

When I returned home from church that day, I finished making lunch for our family and the phone rang. I stared for a moment at the contact name...it was Sarah. The first words out of her mouth were, "I am so sorry. I have no idea what has been happening to me. Will you forgive me?" We talked for some time and Sarah cried, sharing how difficult the issue that had disrupted our friendship had been and how much she had struggled to express it to anyone.

I reflected when I got off the phone to the image of me standing in church, barely able to hold a thought about God doing something so incredibly improbable. I find that in ministry I am always looking to see where God might move in others and often leave myself out because my needs are not the right size or nature. This was an incredible reminder that God sees me and wants me to trust him to supply all of my provisions, no matter how improbable they may seem.

There is a lot going on in the ARC this summer. The works of Jesus (see Luke 4:18) are being carried out through a variety of strategies including a longtime summer staple – Vacation Bible School. A number of children – and teens and adults – are still being impacted for the kingdom of God through Vacation Bible schools. We are hearing exciting testimonies of God working through this long practiced strategy from churches in the White Mountains of Arizona (Grace – Show Low) to a Midwest mega church (North Heights Lutheran) to the left coast (Good Shepherd in Irvine, CA), and more. Along with VBS, a number of leaders and members of ARC churches have launched out in missions of various sorts, including ARC leader, Bob Mabry, who is on his way to Indonesia! Outreaches to the homeless, ministry to the poor and hungry, and loving the forgotten in places such as crisis pregnancy centers are happening through the ministry of ARC churches across the United States. All this and so much more. Thank you all for continuing the works of Jesus through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Following is some of what we have in the works this summer to help serve you more effectively as you and your congregations continue serving the Lord:

• Prayer – There is continual, contending prayer going on in the ARC this summer. Intercessors, prayer groups, and congregational prayer meetings are engaging in prayer. Prayer is preparing the ground for the work God is going to be doing in and through the ARC this year. There is also intentional, personal prayer going on for each of you as ARC leaders by name – prayers for you, your families, and your congregations. If you have a specific request you’d like to have prayed for, email it to ARC Director, Mike Bradley, at: safeplacemb@gmail.com. Or, send him a message via Facebook.
• Ongoing pastoral and leadership care-giving. ARC Director, Mike Bradley, along with other ARC leaders, continue to provide ongoing care-giving for pastors and leaders in ARC congregations throughout the summer. 
• Planning and Preparation – Planning and preparation for our 2014 ARC National Gatherings, Life Together Days, and Life Together groups is ongoing this summer. The planning and preparation we are doing now will help set the stage for what God wants to say to us and do in us as we gather together in the same rooms at the same times with one another and Holy Spirit.
• Continued prayer and preaching on God’s Improbable Provision. We continue to pray for and preach a message God has given us for the ARC concerning His improbable provision in a year of living more generously (see testimony on this in this edition of your E-News). 
• Advancing leadership development. Plans are underway to continue advancing leadership development in the ARC through the hosting of Building Healthy Leader seminars and working in partnership with The Master’s Institute School of Ministry in five different locations this year. Providing teams for ministry training. Teams are being organized and prepared to be sent out around the country where requested to provide ministry training for members of ARC congregations in regards to various ministry skills which can help equip them for ministry in their congregations, workplaces, and homes.

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!