Lately, I have been spending time in Psalm 78 which chronicles God's deeds on behalf of Israel and His ceaseless mercy.  What challenges me is the recurring theme of Israel's ingratitude and forgetfulness.  Israel had committed to “Tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might and the wonders that he has done.”  But verse 11 tells us that "They forgot what he had done, and the miracles that he had shown them."  Verse 32 indicates that “they still sinned; they did not believe in his wonders.”  Ten verses later, “They did not keep in mind his power, or the day he redeemed them from the foe; when he displayed his signs... and his miracles...”

After reading that, I felt prompted to reflect on some of the signs and wonders of God at work in Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.  I looked at the conception and birth of The United Methodist Renewal Services Fellowship Inc. (ARM's incorporated name) and I looked at the legacy of the life-changing Aldersgate conference.  I thought about the hundreds and hundreds of local church renewal events where God was tangibly present in small congregations across the country and around the world... from a correctional facility in Virginia to a small School of Theology in Liberia, Africa.  Then I thought about the miraculous rescue of the ministry with the purchase of the Aldersgate Renewal Center.  I paused with a deep sigh.  Just for a moment, I found myself slipping into a "Yes, those were the..." and before I finished reciting the sentence in my mind, a silence-shattering thought pierced my melancholy bubble;"You are living like your biggest miracle is behind you."

The thoughts continued to flow; "Son, your biggest miracle is not behind you... your biggest miracle is in front of you!"

I sat down and thought, “If our biggest miracle is behind us as a ministry, what's to look forward to?  Why go on?  Why keep investing?  Why keep praying?”  My thoughts overflowed in a simple statement to God.  “God, I don't want to just bumble along, looking in the rear-view mirror like the best has already been.”  Then came these words of reassurance, “Son, your biggest miracle is in front of you.  It's currently disguised as challenge, but on the other side of this challenge is a miracle.”

A fresh fire of expectancy exploded within me.  On the other side of challenges are miracles: opportunities for supernatural interference, intervention, and favor: opportunities to equip the local church to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. In March, the 2010 stats on United Methodist Membership in the United States came out; 7,570,980 United Methodists, 44,386 clergy, and 32,893 local churches.  Big numbers?  Big God.  What if every one of our members were proclaiming and demonstrating the Gospel to their neighbors in the character and power of Jesus Christ?  What if every one of our clergy were walking in the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit, leading to their fullest potential?  How would communities be impacted if every one of our local churches were growing in the fruit of the Spirit and flowing in the gifts of the Spirit?  Big challenges? Big miracles.

What is ARM's role?  Our role is to equip the local church to minister in the essential power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Great Commission.  ARM seeks to come along side local churches and educate people to exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit while maturing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Through dynamic learning experiences, we want to see what Paul described as, “fully formed” disciples of Christ, equipped to pray, worship and share their faith empowered by the Holy Spirit.  It is our heart to “Go,” proclaiming the good news, “‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”  Ultimately, we want to exemplify a willingness, led by the Holy Spirit to, as John Wesley said, "Do all the good you can.  By all the means you can.  In all the ways you can.  In all the places you can.  At all the times you can.  To all the people you can.  As long as ever you can."

How can you engage?  We invite you to pray, participate, promote and be a source of God's provision for all that God is doing in Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.  Pray specifically for United Methodists, clergy, and local churches. Pray for ARM! Participate in ARM sponsored events, volunteer, become a team member for the local church equipping events.  Promote what God is doing!  Use the 360 degrees of your influence to share with others how God is at work equipping local churches to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Be a source of God's financial provision.  ARM ministers all year long in the local church, in our renewal center, and through media resources - all of which require the investment of financial resources to fulfill God's call.  Become a financial partner.  Invite your church's missions committee to invest in the outreach of ARM as they minister within the United States and in foreign countries.

Our biggest miracles are in front of us!  Big numbers? Big God.  Big challenges? Big miracles.

Session #4 of the Methodist School for Supernatural Ministry [MSSM] was held at the Aldersgate Renewal Center February 15-18.  The theme was “The Rest.”  It was not about the peace and rest that we can find in God, it just meant “the rest of the subjects we have thought about and have not covered so far!”

Ninety-two people plus leaders gathered from 19 states to be a part of this session.  Jonathan Dow gave the opening message: “Throw Off the Baggage.”  Mike Seth spoke about supernatural children’s ministry in “Providing a Place for His Presence” and “Raising and Releasing Children in Revival.”  Munday Martin spoke about Raising the Dead, Trances, Heavenly Translations, Transportations and Other Amazing Miracles. Kevin Basconi, author of two books about his encounters with angels, spoke on “Embracing Angelic Ministry”, “Angels and the Gift of Discerning of Spirits”,  and “Angels that Serve.”  Tommy Hays spoke on “Restoration of our Land, Transformation of our Culture.” Around 20 people took advantage of live web stream!

During one ministry time, Kevin invited participants to call people who needed to be touched by God. Several were touched and healed over their cell phones.  During a time of worship the voices of an angelic choir were heard singing with us.  There were many manifestations of the Spirit and prophecies were given.

What did people have to say about this session?  On the evaluation forms, in answering the question:  The Highlight of MSSM #4 for me has been…, one person wrote, “Just being able to attend these schools and hear the speakers talk about subjects I have never heard spoken about before.”  For another the highlight was seeing angels.  For another, “Being challenged to stretch my understanding of God.” For another, it was soaking prayer.

A pastor wrote:  “I saw visions.  Twice prophetic words were spoken over my life as a direct answer to prayer.  My knee was healed, a continued healing that began in October at MSSM #3.”  Another person wrote, “I had an overwhelming sense of God preparing me for more in Him.  I was refreshed and affirmed.”  Finally, one wrote—“I don’t know where this is going, but it will be fun!”

Our Executive Director, Jonathan Dow, commented during one of the sessions, "Where else can Methodists go for something like this?" meaning that ARM is providing something very unique to our church.  

Please note:  DVDs of MSSM #4 sessions are now available through the ARM resource center.  Call Darlene toll free at 1-877-857-9372 or email her This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The question has been asked,  “Are you going to start these sessions of the MSSM again?”  The answer is “Yes,” but not in Tennessee.  We’re taking them on the road!

MSSM #1 “The Basics”  October 3-6, 2012
• Will be held at Jumonville, a premier  Christian Retreat Center in Southwestern, PA.
• Western PA Regional Fellowship will serve as “local committee”
• Confirmed leadership:  Dr. Scott McDermott, Dr. Frank Billman, Margie Burger, Nic and Rachael Billman
• Event registration to be handled through ARM office at SupernaturalMethodist.com
• Meals and housing will be handled through Jumonville, linked from the ARM website

MSSM #2 “Hearing God and Prophecy” will be offered in Southwestern, PA in October 2013 and MSSM #3 “Healing” will be offered there in October 2014.  

In addition to offering MSSM live in Western PA, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH, one of our United Methodist seminaries, will be offering MSSM Sessions 1-4 as part of their non-degree online courses starting this August.  Go to United.edu for more info.

The next question we are often asked is, "Will there be any more sessions of the MSSM?”  Again, “Yes,” there are actually two more sessions!

MSSM #5 “Faith Catalyst” February 6-9, 2013 at the Aldersgate Renewal Center
A person who is a catalyst is someone who precipitates a process or event without being changed by the consequences. In this session of the school we are going to ask the unchanging Holy Spirit to come and speed up the growth of our faith as resource people share the supernatural ways that the Holy Spirit has used them.  Bill Johnson has stated “Those who are exposed to the miraculous expose others.”

Confirmed leadership apart from ARM staff:  Will Hart (from the Furious Love DVD); Dudley Perio [humble oil rig engineer used supernaturally by God]; musician and evangelist Cinde Lucas; and prophetic worship leader Don Hershman.

MSSM #6 “Power Evangelism”  February, 2014 at the Aldersgate Renewal Center
• This session would be about evangelism that is dependent upon the supernatural power of God
• Topics include:  Biblical and Wesleyan Foundation for Power Evangelism; Evangelism by the Presence of God; Evangelism through the unity of churches; Treasure Hunting; Prophetic worship in power evangelism; Spiritual warfare to break strongholds

DVD curriculum based on session #5 and #6 will also be produced. Why not consider using the MSSM DVD sets in your Sunday School Classes this fall?