Winter 2011 Update

Lift Your Eyes Now by Jonathan Dow

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for your presence in the life of Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. Your prayers, promotion, participation and gracious provision are being used by God to impact the lives of people across the country and in places around the globe.

In Genesis 13, God invited Abram to “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are – northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever… Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” (13:14-15, 17 NKJV)

Look From the Place Where You Are

I invite you to take a moment and think about your involvement in Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. Lift your eyes and look around you. Behind you is a 33 year legacy of equipping the local church to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate a rich heritage of ministry to churches, clergy, and individuals.

Beside you, God is raising up gifted and passionate co-laborers who are hungry to live like Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father. Throughout the year, team ministry is taking place within and beyond the United States.

Now look in front of you. Before all of us lies an opportunity. Much like Peter and John in Acts 3, Aldersgate Renewal Ministries been called to serve by extending an equipping hand to the local church in the name of Jesus Christ. God invites us to lift one another up and to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the commands to “go” in Matthew 28:18-20 and in Matthew 10:6-8. We are compelled by love and motivated by the potential impact on the world if every local church were witnessing, praying, worshiping and serving in the power of the Holy Spirit. God can turn the world upside down! (Acts 17:6).

Arise, Walk in the Land

The invitation God gave to Abram echoes through the generations to us today: “On your feet! Travel the length and breadth of the country, for I mean to give it to you.” (NJB) There are more than 33,000 United Methodist Churches just within the United States. I believe it is God’s heart that every local church be equipped to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is our privilege to walk in the land and fulfill the Ephesians 4:12 call to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

To walk the land in this season ahead will take our full participation: prayers, promotion and provision of resources. As we come to the close of 2011, I invite you to make an investment of yourself into the lives of those who will be touched by God through Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. Your year-end gift will do two things: it will assist in removing the balance on the ministry credit line which is at 88% of its capacity and will resource future equipping ministry.

For I Give it to You

ARM is unashamed to pursue what it means to live and minister in the fullness of the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures indicate that we have not seen, nor heard all that God has prepared – but He is giving glimpses by His Holy Spirit. There’s still more! Let’s make this journey together and ask God to accomplish all of His purposes for Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.

Thank you for making a year-end gift. We are grateful for your generosity and for the privilege of partnership in ministry.

Gratefully,
Jonathan

Many Suddenly Undone at Aldersgate 2011

Bishop James Swanson of the Holston annual conference addressed the pre-conference session of Aldersgate 2011 by saying “Aldersgate has become a city of refuge for me, a place where I can come and I can magnify and praise the Lord—a place where you are stripped of all titles… and you can just enjoy the goodness of the Lord. …The Council [of Bishops] has not assigned me to Aldersgate. The Holy Spirit assigned me here. I come of my own volition as I have become a regular attendee.” This 35th annual national conference on Spirit-filled living sponsored by Aldersgate Renewal Ministries [ARM], was held in Dayton, OH July 27-31. 1317 children, youth and adults gathered at Dayton for this United Methodist family conference.

Worship at the adult conference was led by a worship team from the UGA Wesley Foundation who sang traditional hymns woven together with contemporary worship songs. Dancers, banner bearers, and an artist all ministered during the celebrations. Worship artist, Mary Ellen Martin of Joelton, TN also led an equipping session on prophetic art. A clergywoman from Ohio wrote on her evaluation form regarding the worship: “A question: Why is this an ‘arm’ of the UMC and not The UMC? Worship like this should be part of our conferences and churches.”

As a part of the conference, 132 “Prophetic Prayer Appointments” took place offering an individual 15 minutes with a 2 person team with gifting in prophecy and in words of knowledge who would pray and then speak God’s words into the attendees’ lives.

The children’s ministry celebrated the theme TRANSFORMED. Kids learned lessons from people who encountered Jesus, the ultimate transformer. Highlights included creative games, a global prayer night and worship leadership in the Sunday morning Holy Communion celebration.

At the Gate 2011, 314 young people begin to desire and discover an extraordinary life of faith; becoming ‘Devastated by God’s Love and Ruined for the Ordinary.’ One young man said of his experience, “I have been a Christian since I was 12. I thought I was living a life that was very pleasing to God. I never smoked or drank, but that truly was not all that mattered. I found out I need more of God in my life, and I need to give more of myself to Him and now feel that God is giving me a calling.”

Adult session speakers were; Rev. Jasmine Smothers from Norcross, Georgia; Rev. Dr. Jeff Greenway from Reynoldsburg, OH; Rev. Jacquie Leveron from Wellington, FL; Rev. Dr. Mark Virkler from Buffalo, NY; and Rev. Dr. Craig Green from Livingston, TN.

When asked, “How has the conference helped you in your spiritual journey?” a lay woman from Pennsylvania answered, “Re-filled, renewed, resting in the arms of my God!” A Kansas participant wrote, “It’s so refreshing to know that there are Spirit-filled Methodists in place around the US and the world. We’re expecting a mighty move of the Holy Spirit to sweep through the Methodist church soon!” A clergy person from Indiana answered saying , “Inspiration to persevere in local church ministry. It gives me hope for the future of the UMC; God’s not finished with us yet! I’m refreshed, revived and ready to initiate new prayer ministries in the church I pastor.”

Since the conference ARM has received testimonies of physical healings, people being filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues for the first time.

Does attending an Aldersgate conference really make a difference? A father from Tennessee wrote: “I loved it so much but I didn't realize the full extent of what God was doing until the ride home. He has healed areas I didn't know were broken. He has broken off things I didn't know I had. Monday, my 11 year old daughter asked me ‘What happened to you in Ohio? You are different, what did they do to you? You are so much nicer.’ And thanks to the equipping sessions [with Mark Virkler], I now understand my dreams. God is showing me the difference between my thoughts and His voice. He really speaks a lot if I will only listen, and since I left Aldersgate 2011, I have been.”

Bishop Ernest Lyght has already welcomed the Aldersgate conference back to Charleston, WV July 11-15, 2012 saying, “We have started praying for Aldersgate 2012 that it might be a marvelous Pentecostal experience for all participants.” You can go to www.Aldersgate2012.org to register for next year’s conference. Keynote speakers for that next conference are Rev. Bernadine Daniels (Pastor of Yale UMC), Rev. Jasmine Smothers (Associate Director, Connectional Ministries at North Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC), Richard Rhodes (founder of Fire in the Mountains Ministry) and Bishop João Carlos Lopes, (President of the Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church of Brazil).

Transformed Children

Throughout the gospels we learn of people who encountered Jesus and were forever transformed. Because that’s what Jesus does…He is the ultimate transformer who is able to transform anyone and anything.

The idea of being TRANSFORMED shaped the entire children’s ministry at Aldersgate 2011, as we sought to learn lessons from those in scripture who were changed by Jesus. From the widow whose son was brought back to life to the thief on the cross to the blind beggar, we learned that one encounter with Jesus is all it takes.

For those who may not know much about the children’s ministry at Aldersgate, believe me when I say that God is doing a mighty work in this young generation. I marvel when I watch the youngest of hands being lifted in praise during times of worship or when I hear the names of God being uttered by those who can barely read… “Adonai”, “Jehovah”, “Elohim”, these are the names by which this young

generation knows our God. Nor is there hesitancy to speak truth when asked, whether it be about the truth of the gospel or about the harder questions of life. If you have ever wondered about the faith of a child, know that for these kids it is both deep and wide.

In looking forward to this incredible ministry at next year’s Aldersgate Conference, we would covet your prayers. In particular, we would ask that you pray for a deeper understanding and partnership with God in the work He is doing among our children. Pray that we would have the privilege of watching God pour out His Spirit on the world through these kids.

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ARM Church Partners

ARM Church Partnership is a mutual relationship of prayer, participation, promotion and provision renewed annually. Financial support from the local church helps resource life-giving, transformational ministry to individuals and churches across the United States. ARM gratefully reciprocates by providing registration discounts, complimentary resources and praying for your church. For more information on this exciting program click on ARM Church Partner.

Pastor’s Retreat Scheduled at the ARC

Focusing on themes of Returning, Reclaiming, Recalibrating, Redefining and Reigniting, a retreat for pastors and those in ministry leadership is scheduled for September 17-19, 2012. Whether single or married, this event is designed for clergy and ministry leaders to be spiritually refreshed through worship, fellowship and exhortation from seasoned ministry leaders who have both passion for God and a heart to encourage those serving in ministry. Registration for the event will be $99 and includes two nights hotel stay. Save the date and be looking for promotional materials in the fall of 2011.

Regional Affiliates

In several annual conferences across the country, ARM has established Regional Affiliate Renewal Fellowships that work within an annual conference to spread the work of ARM and work for renewal. They encourage local churches to host our Local Church Renewal Events like Lay Witness Mission, Lord Teach Us To Pray and Life in the Spirit Seminars. They often have an annual one day or weekend retreat. Some sponsor events at their annual conference session. Many provide an ARM display in the exhibit section of their annual conference.

If you would be interested in more information on forming a Regional Affiliate Renewal Fellowship in your annual conference, please contact Rev. Maryanne Ditter . If you are interested in staffing an ARM display at your annual conference session, contact the ARM office at 1-877-857-9372.

Help Us Keep You Informed!

If you already receive email communication from us, thank you! If not, and you have an active email account, won’t you help us save costs by providing your email for communications from Aldersgate Renewal Ministries? By doing so you help us stretch our resources. Just send a current email here to have that added to our database. Please note that if you don’t have an email address you will still receive our mailings via USPS mail.

Is Your Minister and Spouse Ready for A Break?

Recently ARM hosted our 14th Minister and Spouse Retreat. Scheduled the week immediately following Easter, this mid-week event is designed for ministers and spouses to return to their first love, rekindle the flame in their marriage and to reclaim the power to serve. Led by couples seasoned in balancing the unique challenges of life and ministry, this retreat is a spiritually safe place for clergy and spouses to take time to rest and receive. The $199 registration fee includes three nights at a hotel, catered meals and a special “evening out.”

Mark your calendars now and plan to send your minister and spouse to the 15th Minister and Spouse Retreat to be held Tuesday through Friday, April 10-13, 2012. This event would be a special gift that your church can give to bless your pastor and spouse!