The Better Place News

2011 City Reachers Fresh Encounter Conference

Now is the time to make plans to attend the City Reachers FRESH ENCOUNTER CONFERENCE that will be held in Syracuse, NY on the 9th and 10th of September 2011.

Following the paradigm of Prayer, Care and Share, Conference leaders Henry and Richard Blackaby will lead Conference participants during an inspiring rally on Friday evening and during several teaching sessions on Saturday. A brochure with the Conference schedule and registration information is available.

The third and final session of the Regional School of Prayer was held on the 25th of September 2010 in Gerry, NY. This was a one-day School that ran from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The topics for the day were: “Call to Humility,” “Call to Pray,” Call to Seek God” and “Call to Repent.” These teaching were all based on 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The responses of the participants to their experience were all glowing, as usual. Here is a sampling of those responses: “I especially liked how biblical it was and how willing the leader was to help.” “I learned more about prayer than I ever knew before.” “Each session was more involved and provided challenges etc. and gave opportunity to share and to experience growth.” “The Holy Spirit is invited to come and stay and to work amongst us, to engage us together as one-on-one, as a small group or as the whole group in unity.” – And so the comments go.

God was palpably present as he always is at these events. People were ministered to in life transforming ways. – At the beginning of the day, Dr. Miller asked the participants what expectations they brought with them. Some of those expectations could not have been anticipated by anyone other that the Holy Spirit and the Spirit was ready to meet people at their points of need. At the end of the day when the question, “Were your expectations met?” was asked, the answer from everyone was a resounding YES!

This session of the Regional School of Prayer will be the last session for some time to come. See Prayer Letter #21 to learn about the direction that will be followed in 2011.

This October we had the smallest Agape Prayer Ministry School we have ever had. There were just six students and all of these students were first-timers. But size sure did not limit power or the work of the Holy Spirit. – If people of the world can say, “holy cow” when they are really amazed, I guess we will just say, “Holy Spirit!!!!” Wow! The joy, the victory, the freedom; wow! God showed up; just like always.

This School was held over two very intensive days – from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Friday the 8th and from 7:45 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday the 9th – at the Warren Wesleyan Church in Warren, PA. Due to the small size, we were able to meet around tables in the library/lounge of the building. Worship times and some other events were held in the church sanctuary.

Take a look at some of the accompanying photos to see our leads, our students and our gourmet cooks.

Here are the ministry recipient responses to our little response forms that they complete after receiving ministry at the School:

Was there an atmosphere of love and acceptance?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Did the team listen and pay attention?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Was the Holy Spirit free to work?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Was there unity among the team?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Was the session helpful to you personally?

Yes, yes, yes, very, yes, yes, yes very much – thank you!

Please make any comments regarding any strength or weaknesses of the School to help us improve in the future.

Strengths – I really like that you put a mix of people in the room. With their different gifts and such, it really rounds out the experience.

Having the session part of this School is very helpful. Being a part of and having this session helps with learning the set up and how it works.

I AM FREE!!  Praise God!!

My session: Great listeners to me and to God. Teaching: well done. Atmosphere: very good. Food: outstanding

[And this e-mail was sent later to some of our leads from a recipient who did not have time to write comments on the form]: Good morning, I just wanted to thank you so much for all your time, energy, and love in helping me … – You’ve shown me a whole other side to the word AGAPE… not just God’s agape love, but human agape love for others. I’m so grateful…. we all were! Please extend my thanks to the whole team for their agape love. It was incredible to feel so much unconditional love in one place to help us move from condemnation into conviction.

On the 2nd of October our Director, Roy Miller, led a Saturday morning workshop at the Fredonia First United Methodist Church in Fredonia, NY. Several area congregations of the Church were represented. The topics that were covered that day were: “Why You Can Pray with Authority” and “Prayer Walking.”

When The Fredonia FUMC hosts a workshop they begin with breakfast. It was a great time of fellowship as workshop participants gathered around the tables. That was at 8:30. Then at 9:00 everyone went to the sanctuary for a time of uplifting worship led by the FFUMC praise team. Teaching began at 9:30, but times of singing – led by the praise team – were woven into the schedule of the morning.

The first topic, “Why You Can Pray with Authority,” prepared the participants to pray with faith believing. That was in preparation for putting the second topic, “Prayer Walking,” into practice.

There was a break between the two teaching segments. Many participants took advantage of this time to go to the book table and purchase books on prayer that The Better Place makes available at all such workshops. They also purchased many copies of Dr. Miller’s book, My Gospel, and also the Companion Study Guide. The FFUMC Prayer Facilitation Team announced their plan to use these resources in their mid-week small groups. (Since people from other congregations were invited to join them, perhaps the small groups will not be very small.)

Following the Prayer Walking instruction, participants picked up prayer walk assignments that were printed on cards and they went into the streets of Fredonia to pray. – Luke 10:17 records how the disciples “returned with joy” after Jesus had sent them out two-by-two. The prayer walkers at the Fredonia Workshop also went out two-by-two and they also came back rejoicing! As testimonies were shared, everyone was encouraged by what God had just done.

What did the participants say about their experience when they turned in their evaluations? Here are some responses to the question, What did you especially like or appreciate about the Workshop?: “No beating around the bush. It is very clear!” “The excitement and energy that flow from Rev. Miller” “The Power-Point and personal stories – We are witnesses of God’s love, glory and power” “Roy’s total awareness of God’s Spirit” “The walk” “Speakers – Materials offered / emphasized” “Scripturally sound – good application to everyday living!” “I appreciated everything about the workshop and how well organized it was.” “The subject content and an excited prayer-driven leader! Printouts ready to go” And there were many more, but these responses reflect the flavor of them all.

To schedule a Better Place led workshop at your church with Dr. Miller, go to the Seminar Topics description page on this web site and you will see what is available and how to go about setting up a workshop.

2010 REGIONAL SCHOOL OF PRAYER UPDATE

The second session of the Regional School of Prayer was held on Saturday the 12th of June in Gerry, NY.

As always, God showed up.

The topics covered that day included: “Building our House of Prayer,” “Corporate prayer,” and “Healing Prayer.” Participants practiced what they were learning during the School and reports since the day of the School are that many participants are implementing their new understanding in their congregations.

Eight different congregations were represented by all of the participants. This is one of the constant strengths of these School sessions. Where there is unity, God commands a blessing and this blessing is experienced over and over again at the Regional Schools.

The next Regional School of Prayer session is scheduled for Saturday the 25th of September. The September topic will be, “The Four Calls of 2 Chronicles 7:14” – The Call to Humility, the Call to Prayer, the Call to Seek God and the Call to Repent.

Anyone may register now by using the printable form from this web site. The location of the 2010 version of the Regional School of Prayer is the auditorium in the lower level of Schwab Manor on the Heritage Ministries Retirement Campus in Gerry, NY.

Questions?? You may e-mail The Better Place Director at:

Roy@TheBetterPlace.org

or call 716-488-9918.