Fall 2014 Update Newsletter by Aldersgate Renewal Ministries

THE

ALDERSGATE RENEWAL MINISTRIES UPDATE

ALDERSGATERENEWAL.ORG

Holy Spirit Falls On Aldersgate ’14 Approximately 1125 people from 34 states, Brazil, and the United Kingdom went to Springfield, IL in July for Aldersgate ’14. A woman from Ohio commented: “The Spirit fell in a great way! I could hardly stand on my feet because of the heaviness of the Spirit.” And a pastor from Michigan wrote: “The most refreshing and anointed worship I have experienced. The presence of the Lord was tangible each service.” A number of people were moved by the banner and flag ministry as well as the Communion service.

innovation, and the sessions encouraged us to do new things.” Pastors were refreshed at Aldersgate ’14. One from Wisconsin wrote: “God restored to me the joy of my salvation and filled me afresh with a renewed call to continue in ordained ministry.” And a pastor from Illinois expressed it this way: “Thank you for Aldersgate. I feel like I have found my home in the United Methodist Church.” Words

from

FALL 2014 Equipping the local church to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Our Pleasure to Serve You...............................2 Partnering With United Theological Seminary ��2 Four Reasons Why You Need A Day Apart ��3 Excerpts From Hopscotch To Holiness ��3 Reckless Abandon to God at The Gate 2014 ��4 Gate Camp: Genuine Faith In A Generic World ��4

God were spoken into peoples’ lives at 175 private prophetic First time attendees were “Can’t wait to see appointments during the blessed by investing conference and people how our group their time with the Holy were deeply touched will continue Spirit during Aldersgate and encouraged by ’14. One shared, “I this experience. Prayer this weekend received Baptism in the ministry was offered at in our church!” Spirit, new gifts and a many sessions of the new calling. Aldersgate has allowed God conference, sometimes with miraculous to show Himself to me as ‘Daddy’ rather results. One participant testified: “One of than simply ‘Heavenly Father.’” the prayer teams prayed for healing in my leg and back…I have not needed any pain The Spirit moved in the 65 equipping medicine since then. Praise God!” session opportunities offered over two

how our group will continue this weekend in our church!” And another woman wrote: “We are returning to our home church invigorated and with encouraging words for our pastor.”

afternoons of the conference. A woman from Illinois who attended the sessions commented: “I appreciated the interactive nature of many of the equipping sessions. Jesus was a person of action and

At Aldersgate ’15 join the first time attendee from Indiana who wrote: “I hadn’t experienced Aldersgate before this year! We will be back!” July 9-12, 2015, Lexington, KY.

And what did participants take away from the conference? Encouragement, healing, refreshing, new insights, new teaching, new resources, many good things! A woman from Ohio said: “Can’t wait to see

Four Reasons Why The MSR Is Vital For Your Pastor and Spouse ��5 ARM International Ministry ��5 Fuel for the Fire �� 6 Board & Council Nominations ��7

DID YOU KNOW? 5 Ways ARM is Partnering with United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry in Supernatural Ministry Master of Divinity in Church Renewal with a Global Charismatic Emphasis The only ONLINE Course of Study for Local Pastors Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance Conference Ginghamsburg Church Ginghamsburg, OH December 4-5, 2014 Light the Fire Healing Conference North Naples UMC North Naples, FL January 22-23, 2015 For more information on any of these events, visit United.edu or contact Dr. Frank Billman at fbillman@AldersgateRenewal.org.

It’s Our Pleasure to Serve You

JONATHAN DOW

When you say “thank you” to the employees at one of our local fast food restaurants, their response is usually, “my pleasure.” Behind the smile and the words is a heart postured to serve.

It is with the same heart that I say that it is the pleasure of Aldersgate Renewal Ministries to serve you and your church. How? Let me share 4 ways that ARM can serve you and your church.

ARM is here to minister to your minister. Those called to leadership in your local church have a difficult task. While there is joy in serving God, there is also a significant level of sustained challenge in ministry to God’s people. While there are many wonderful attributes of sheep, they also bite, are skittish, and are prone to wander. While ministry can be wonderfully fulfilling, it also can be lonely, wearying, and frustrating. Who ministers to the ministers? ARM offers a Ministers’ Retreat and a Minister and Spouse Retreat designed to meet the unique needs of ministry leaders. ARM is here to minister to your family. There is not a junior Holy Spirit. He is not smaller, less active, or limited as He ministers in and through youth and children. Just as Paul longed for Christ to be fully formed in the Galatians, ARM longs for youth and children to be fully Christ-like by the power of the Holy Spirit. Gate Youth and Gate Kids Ministry are strategically designed to equip young people to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“God uses the local church to reveal Christ to the world.”

ARM is here to refresh and encourage you. Are you dry, or discouraged, or weary in well doing? Ministry experiences of ARM are specifically designed to allow you to encounter the love of the Father and the restoring grace of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Events that we host are designed with built-in time for worship through song, prayer, reflection, and response to the revelation of the presence of God.

ARM is here to educate and equip your church. God uses the local church to reveal Christ to the world. A healthy church grows in the fruit of the Spirit and flows in the gifts of the Spirit to the glory of God the Father, just as Jesus did. ARM’s teaching curriculum is grounded in the Word that equips participants to live in the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, worship in the Spirit, share their faith journey empowered by the Spirit, and to minister in the Spirit. Why? So that every participant learns to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel in the character and in the power of Jesus Christ.

As ARM moves toward its 38th year of ministry, we whole-heartedly reiterate: “Our pleasure!” It is our joy to serve you and your church as we fulfill God’s mandate to equip every church to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. Visit AldersgateRenewal.org to discover all the ways that ARM can serve you. It’s our pleasure.

EXCERPTS FROM

From Hopscotch to Holiness: Growing up in Christ BY MARGIE BURGER What leads you in a passionate pursuit of God? From Hopscotch to Holiness compares that pursuit to the game of hopscotch.

Growing in Holiness: As you pursue Growing in Grace: From my holiness, have you experienced the perspective, being obedient to God’s discipline of the Lord? Did you sense it will in our life seems easiest when we was for your good? Those are important understand God’s will for our future. questions for you to reflect on. Each of us Absolute, unreserved trust in the Lord is has a personal journey with the Lord. And an entirely different challenge. Perhaps the path we take toward holiness may that’s why Habakkuk 3:17-18 is so vary greatly. But our pursuit of godliness meaningful to me. “Though the fig tree and holiness will invariably contain does not bud and there are no grapes on elements of trials and tribulations. As we the vines, though the olive crop fails and are in training with the Lord, we should the fields produce no remember 1 Timothy 4:8. food, though there are “For physical training no sheep in the pen and is of some value, but “Trusting God no cattle in the stalls, yet godliness has value enough to rejoice in I will rejoice in the Lord, for all things, holding I will be joyful in God the Lord even when promise for both the my Savior.” Trusting present life and the life every circumstance God enough to rejoice to come.” Especially as in our lives would in the Lord even when we endure trials, we every circumstance in need to ask the Lord for scream otherwise is our lives would scream eternal perspective. a choice the prophet his otherwise is a choice Godliness has great understood.” the prophet understood. value in this present How do we live like that? life and is required for We rely on the grace of God. eternity. Our mandate from the Lord is to pursue godliness by allowing the Lord to There is grace for unanswered questions. strip away anything in our lives that does Truthfully, we all have some unanswered not reflect the divine qualities of God. questions. When God’s provision seems delayed, when his healing is not My testimony is that I resisted God and forthcoming, when relationships dissolve his discipline often before I understood because of sin or self-centeredness, we that the Lord was always working all have honest questions for the Lord. for my benefit. I looked more at my He understands. That’s when we need to circumstances than I did at the character rely on God’s grace the most. God’s grace of Christ being developed in me. Often I enables us to persevere with a heart of allowed grumbling and complaining to thanksgiving and praise to God, perhaps seep into my daily walk. Or worse yet, I especially when we do not understand sometimes compared my circumstances God’s ways. Living a life saturated in to others and became bitter or resentful. God’s grace today gives us hope for I found peace only when I consistently tomorrow. Receiving and giving grace asked God to reveal more of his love for becomes our daily experience. That’s how me. to live a Spirit-filled life.

SPRING DAY APART WOMEN’S CONFERENCE February 6-7, 2015 Aldersgate Renewal Center Goodlettsville, TN

KEYNOTE SPEAKER Tina Roach

WORSHIP LEADER Pam Dow

For more information visit: AldersgateRenewal.org/sda

Four Reasons Why You Need A Day Apart 1. God created us to need seasons of Sabbath rest and refreshment. (Leviticus 16:31) 2. Life and ministry are both stressful. A Day Apart fills us with fresh vision and strength for the journey. (Acts 3:19) 3. God placed us in community. We need others in the body of Christ. (Acts 2:42-47) A Day Apart is a great opportunity to network with others who share your passion for growing in Christ. 4. Your personal spiritual renewal will have lasting impact on your family, your church, and your community. (Acts 22:1415) Setting aside time to be refreshed in God’s presence is vital to your witness.

When you hear the phrase “Recklessly Abandoned” you might get a picture in your mind of mass chaos: loud, smelly, and things flying through the air – including bodies! After 13 years in youth ministry, I am conditioned to imagine similar things - mostly because I’ve seen them! But at the Gate 2014, the atmosphere was much different. When you allow the Holy Spirit to be in control, He sets the tone! The Gate was a time of learning what “Recklessly Abandoned” really means: and it is far from mass chaos. We were challenged at the Gate to recognize that living a life of reckless abandon requires taking a risk. Instead of sitting around waiting, sometimes you have to consciously disregard what’s at stake and go for it! A life of reckless abandon also means that sometimes we are called to grossly deviate from what ordinary Christians may do in the same circumstances. Our love and our faith will show up in every day actions that are extra-ordinary! Lastly, we were challenged by the truth that a life of reckless abandon is a daily choice – an intentional pursuit – constantly seeking the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. Was there reckless abandon at the Gate 2014? Yes! Mass chaos? No! Sometimes the reckless abandon was found in the silence and the stillness of the deeper work of hearts surrendering to God. Each message dug deeper, each question more challenging. Inviting us all to look deep within ourselves and decide who we wanted to be, what we wanted to see God do, and then to go after God with reckless abandon. Could God charge you with living the Christian life in reckless abandon? I hope so!

GateConference.org

Reckless Abandon to God at the Gate 2014 KOURTNEY BROWNLOW

Gate Camp: Genuine Faith in a Generic World One of my 2 year old daughter’s favorite toys when we travel in the car is my bobble-head Jesus. Buckling her into the car seat, she will point to the toy and say “Jesus”. “Yeah, baby that’s Jesus”, I say. “Do you want Him?” “Uh Huh”, she replies with a cute high pitched voice. When I hand him to her, she gets a huge grin on her face and exclaims, “JESUS!”

and living God. June 7 – 12, 2015, Aldersgate Renewal Ministries will be hosting the first Gate Camp | A Mission Experience at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, TN. This is a “church camp” meets “mission trip” experience.

Youth will serve people in local communities in “mission trip” projects picked to both accomplish tasks and to encounter and “Youth will find engage people. Youth themselves seeing will find themselves seeing the real Jesus the real Jesus through the faces of through the faces of those they serve.

When we talk, pray, or sing about Jesus, I’m pretty sure this bobble-head Jesus is the image in her mind. Right now at 2 years old – that’s who Jesus is to her. Unfortunately, those they serve.” Back on campus, this image of Jesus is opportunities for fun not isolated to my 2 small group activities and worship year old. Sometimes culture-shaped experiences will challenge youth and believers in our churches and youth in equip them to discover how to have a our youth groups see Jesus that same Genuine Faith in a Generic world. way: a “hip, cool homeboy”: plastic The fee of $315 per person (before Jesus. 12/31/14) is all inclusive (lodging, One of the ways that God is calling the meals, mission projects, programming, Gate to be a catalyst of transformation t-shirt, and more). Visit GateCamp.org among young people is by creating for detailed information and register opportunities to encounter the true your youth group today! GateCamp.org

Why the Minister & Spouse Retreat is Vital for Your Pastor and Spouse

As ARM prepares to host their 17th Minister and Spouse Retreat, we are reminded of how significant this event has been in the lives of those who attend. While ministry is exciting and fulfilling, it is also challenging and wearying. Sending your pastor and spouse to the MSR could be a life and ministry changing experience. Here are four reasons why. They need time to return to their first love. At no other time in history have pastors been this accessible. Not only can church members “stop by,” but also they can call, email, text, FaceBook message, direct message, instant message, and snapchat. Yes, snapchat. They are “on call” even when they are not “on call.” And when the pastor

is “on call,” the pastor’s spouse is “on call.” This pattern of attentiveness to others can undermine attentiveness to their First Love. The MSR creates a safe environment where couples can have undistracted time to focus on Jesus Christ.

occur. Now just imagine the intensity of the environment that your pastor and spouse live with on a daily basis. Their marriage needs time for maintenance. The MSR provides ample time, including a “date night,” for couples to spend quality time together.

They need time to heal. When your skin becomes raw from brush burns, it needs an application of a healing balm… and time to heal. Constant abrasive contact creates painful calluses. In the life of ministers and spouses, sometimes brush burns and abrasions come from interactions with harsh parishioners. Extended seasons of abrasive contact can create calluses on the heart. The MSR is strategically designed to allow the grace of God to be a healing balm for the wounds of ministry.

They need time to be refilled. Your pastor and spouse live their lives as outpouring vessels. Their lives are emptied as they expend emotional energy thinking about the church and the people. They pour out in prayer and in counselling, let alone in study and in preaching. It is easy to dry up if there is not an intentional plan for refilling. The MSR can be an important part of that plan!

They need time to nurture their marriage. Just like your car needs regular maintenance, so does your marriage. The more intense the driving environment, the more frequently maintenance needs to

Consider sending your pastor and spouse to the Aldersgate Renewal Center in Goodlettsville, TN, April 7-10, 2015. The $199 registration fee covers their hotel expense, catered meals, and some special surprises along the way! For more information, visit AldersgateRenewal.org/msr.

INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY ARM’s International Ministry is alive and well! We continue to hear of great hunger among Methodists around the world for renewal and revival in the power of the Holy Spirit. Around 1,000 people continue to attend Aldersgate in ALDERSGATE PHILIPPINES

the Philippines the first week of January each year. An international team from England and Estonia went to Lithuania (our 14th country!) in October to do a Life in the Spirit Seminar for the Lithuanian United Methodist church. Rev. David

Winstanley will be leading a Life in the Spirit Experience at Nuthall Methodist Church in Nottingham, England in November. We are working with Methodist Bishop Paul in Pakistan to bring a Life in the Spirit team there. We are working with Superintendent Minister Derick Richards to bring ARM ministry to Trinidad. We are contemplating a return trip to Tanzania. And we already have a date set for next September to bring ARM to Singapore. Pray for a great worldwide outpouring of God’s Spirit among Methodists! Pray for God’s provision of team members and finances to make these opportunities happen. If you have interest in being a part of any of these trips, or if you would like to contribute financially to support the cost of international ministries, contact Dr. Frank Billman at fbillman@AldersgateRenewal.org. 5

FUEL FOR THE FIRE:

Rev. Jacquie Leveron and Bishop Ricardo Pereira John Wesley described his encounter with God on Aldersgate Street in 1738 by saying that he felt his heart was “strangely warmed.” 277 years later, that same fire of God will stir in the hearts of the participants of the Aldersgate conference in 2015. Fueling the fire of the Holy Spirit will be keynote speakers Bishop Ricardo Pereira and Rev. Jacquie Leveron.

Aldersgate 2015, hosted in Lexington, Kentucky, is going to be a powerful celebration of the relentless love of God, fueled by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Register today and join us July 9-12, and bring a friend with you for this heart-warming transformational encounter with God!

Rev. Jacquie Leveron Known for her fiery preaching, powerful anointing, and prophetic gifting, Rev. Jacquie Leveron will be used by God to challenge listeners to put away lesser things and to pursue God in relentless abandon. Her down to earth approach of speaking Truth in love winsomely invites people to deeper intimacy with God. As Jacquie says, “I’m telling the truth and shaming the devil!”

Bishop Ricardo Pereira A Bishop of the Methodist Church of Cuba since 1999, Ricardo Pereira has a passion for the hearts of Methodists in Cuba. He unashamedly declares, “You must have a heart that burns with the desire to do the Lord’s work. Methodists are called to have that burning heart. We can’t sit still. If your heart does not burn, no program is going to fix it.” Beyond maintaining the church, Bishop Pereira has a passion for expanding the church. His approach with pastors is not “if” you will plant a church, but “when” you will plant a church.

ALDERSGATE 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SPIRIT FILLED LIVING

JULY 9-12, 2015 Lexington Convention Center Lexington, KY REGISTER BEFORE APRIL 15, 2015 AND SAVE 10%

For More Information Visit:

ALDERSGATE2015.ORG

14 October 6, 20 s,

Dear Friend

THE GATHERING 2015 March 12-14, 2015

Aldersgate Renewal Center Goodlettsville, TN Every year in March, the Board of Directors and Advisory Council of Aldersgate Renewal Ministries gather to fellowship, worship, pray and review the state of the ministry. The Gathering is open to all those who would like to learn more about the inner workings of the ministry. It is also a great way to introduce people to the ministry. We invite you to come join us in 2015 as we plan for the future!

For more information visit:

AldersgateRenewal.org/gathering

son the chairper ar to serve as ye M). is R th (A y s it ie un tr al Minis an opport ew ve en ha R to e d at pr se sg sing to ay, uly bles r Alder uch for choo ent Team fo I have been tr m m so op u el yo ev k D an ship . to th source ARM of the Leader opportunity ovision to re e to take an pr lik al ld ci ou an w I fin t Firs d to offer promote, an participate, se prayerfully k you to plea as or to e lik ld of Directors , I wou for our Board hering in 2015 e ch at at G ar e in M m th r ed no fo is n you to ies (rev In preparatio or might prompt ewal Ministr on rd en rs R Lo e pe e at y th sg an ho itted by ws of Alder consider w bm La su yrd B be e oa B ay Th e uncil. ations m on to th Advisory Co llows: 1 pers ates: “Nomin fo st ve 1 as ha 4. e M 5. w R w A h ap ge in ho butor to 2014) paragr t This is a chan ancial contri bu .” , fin ly st a al pa nu as e an th ed l Council in ory counci y is group record or dv is A e ns dv io th A at d to an min rsons of Directors entation of no and up to 3 pe s to the Board oader repres ing in the on br ad rs a le r pe fo ’s ed w od at lo G nomin ess will al d discern oc an pr ay is pr th n at ca we believe th opment Team ership Devel that the Lead ies. ARM ministr leadership of on minate a pers the Lord to no y ar by d ss le ce el ne fe ts d y-Laws an e documen B th e t th es of or qu n re rg io al.o u may e criter rsgaterenew y Council, yo If you meet th at pdow@alde k of the rd or Advisor or ow oa D w B e e m th th Pa r er fo for eith helpful ry to you from d ve le be ai ld m ou or t. d r 1s . It w to be emaile day, Decembe es@gmail.com itted by Mon vvance.stluk bm su ns io at myself at re min have any no committee to in al Ministries sgate Renew !” er it ld ir A Sp lp y he ol of the H doing to in the power all you are ld r fo or w u e yo th k Again, than to minister to e local church “Equipping th Blessings, Vance Rev. Dr. Rick opment Team ership Devel ad Le n, so er Chairp

THE METHODIST SCHOOL FOR SUPERNATURAL MINISTRY

SESSION 7 HEALING PART 2

Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing …” John 14:12

February 25-28, 2015

Aldersgate Renewal Center Goodlettsville, TN

Confirmed Leadership Include: Dr. Frank Billman Rev. Aaron Brown Don & Kathy Hershman Rush and Barbie Hunt Cinde Lucas

for more information visit: SupernaturalMethodist.com

Upcoming Events 4-5 Dec 2014

For more information about our events visit AldersgateRenewal.org

Holy Spirit Seminar: Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance

7-10

 GINGHAMSBURG CHURCH, TIPP CITY, OH

2015

Apr

6-7

Spring Day Apart 2015

Feb

7-12

 ALDERSGATE RENEWAL CENTER,

June

2015

25-28 Feb 2015

GOODLETTSVILLE, TN

 ALDERSGATE RENEWAL CENTER, GOODLETTSVILLE, TN

Gate Camp

 ALDERSGATE RENEWAL CENTER,

9-12 July

NEW FOR 2015!

 MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE, PULASKI, TN

2015

The Methodist School For Supernatural Ministry: Session 7 GOODLETTSVILLE, TN

Minister and Spouse Retreat

Aldersgate Annual Conference  LEXINGTON CONVENTION

2015

CENTER, LEXINGTON, KY

121 East Avenue Goodlettsville, TN 37072 Equipping the local church to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit

ALDERSGATE RENEWAL MINISTRIES

Seize an Amazing Opportunity to Double Your Year-End Gift! As you plan your final 2014 charitable giving, gifts designated “year-end” will be matched dollar for dollar up to $60,000! The math is simple but the potential is extraordinary! God can use you to make all the difference. Transformed lives are used by God to transform lives! Because of your generosity, every year, ARM reaches hundreds of people ready to give up in ministry, give out from weariness, and give in to discouragement. Through dynamic equipping experiences, people of all ages are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live and love like Jesus.

Will you seize this amazing opportunity? Give... up to God in thanksgiving, give... out to those who will receive life-changing ministry, and give... in to resource operational needs. On behalf of the pastor who will be encouraged, the adult who will be equipped, the youth who will be infused with courage, and the child who will walk in the assurance of the Father’s love... thank you. Want to triple your year-end giving? Check with your employer to see if they will match your charitable gift!

Your Gifts $60,000

$120,000

Matching Gifts $60,000

3 Ways to respond:  AldersgateRenewal.org/support-us 

By Phone: 615.851.9192



Make sure to put “year-end” in your check memo line.