The Better Place News

THREE COUNTIES CONVERGE FOR AGAPE PRAYER

The spring 2010 Regional Agape Prayer Ministry School was held in Sinclairville, NY on Friday and Saturday the 23rd and 24th of April. Participants came from Warren County in Pennsylvania, from Cattaraugus County in NY State and also from Chautauqua County. There were nine first time students at this School, as well as several veterans.

Linda Carson was released as a “Lead” at the conclusion of the School. This means that she has been judged to be qualified to lead ministry sessions at future Schools, to teach and to provide supervision of others who are coming up “through the ranks” toward being released as “Seconds” and then “Leads” themselves.

This School is sponsored by The Better Place twice each year. The fall 2010 School is scheduled for the 8th and 9th of October in Warren, PA. See the “Equipping” pages of The Better Place web site for more information about the Agape Prayer Ministry and future Schools.

Here is some information regarding the Agape Prayer Ministry School to be held in the Cattaraugus / Chautauqua / Warren region: The school will be held Friday and Saturday the 8th & 9th of October 2010 at the Wesleyan Church in Warren, PA.

All first-time attendees must have their pastor’s approval to attend the School. (The pastor’s signature of approval is required on all registration forms). If your pastor has questions, please let me know and I will be glad to send out an information packet or suggest an area pastor he or she could call to discuss the Agape Ministry. [Roy Miller, 716-488-9918 or roy@thebetterplace.org].

A Registration Form and the accompanying Profile Form may be printed from this site. A School Schedule is also available for printing.

Please return your Registration and Profile as soon as possible. Applications must be postmarked by the 21st of September. Registration is $65 for individuals who have not previously attended an Agape School. [A $5 late fee will be assessed for registrations postmarked after the 21st of September.]

Purpose: The goal of the Agape Prayer Ministry School is to equip Christians to sensitively and compassionately minister the freedom of Christ from the bondages of sin and Satan, thus freeing more and more people to live in the fullness of Christ and to minister to others the fullness of Christ. The training experience includes foundational scriptural teachings on the healing of wounds, breaking of bondages, forgiveness of sins, confession of sin, receiving God’s forgiveness, and spiritual warfare. There are also three ministry sessions during the School where participants have the opportunity to observe and directly participate in the Agape ministry pattern. Ideally, each participant observes one ministry session as a prayer backup, receives a ministry session him/herself, and serves as a prayer warrior in a prayer vigil during a third session.

Key Points of Preparation: All trainees must be born-again in Jesus Christ and be peacefully open to the full workings of the Holy Spirit.

Before attending, participants should read Healing for Damaged Emotions, by David Seamands.

Description of the School: The School is an intense two-day experience running from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM on Friday, and from 7:45 AM until 6:00 PM on Saturday. Please make every effort to arrive at the School in a rested condition. The dress in the School is casual and modest. Please bring your Bible and a notebook. Plan your schedule to be able to stay for the total School.

Teachers & Trainers: The people involved in teaching the sessions of the Agape Prayer Ministry School are pastors and lay people from various congregations of the Church, who have participated in and have been certified by the Agape ministry as supervising leads and teachers. They are recognized as qualified because of their gifting, experience, and their on-the-job training in a number of Agape Prayer Ministry Schools.

Your partner in the adventure,

Roy L Miller

SESSION ONE OF THE 2010 REGIONAL SCHOOL OF PRAYER

A GOD EVENT!

The first sessions of the 2010 Regional School of prayer took place all day Saturday the 13^th of March. It was held on the lower level of Schwab Manor on the Heritage Ministries Retirement Campus in Gerry, NY. Several people who had attended previous session of the School in 2009 were present. There were also eleven first time attendees.

George Otis, of the Sentinel Group, has documented a number of things that attract God. One of those things is prayer. Another is unity. Others are faith, humility and worship. Put that all together, and any session of the School of Prayer is a “God magnet.” The session on the 13^th of March was no exception.

Will Lowry, a highly talented musician from Cattaraugus, NY and a house church leader, provided worship leadership for the School. Pastor Lowry led with an obvious spirit of humility out of a mature and secure faith. His musical gift is coupled with a spiritual gift of wisdom and obedience to the promptings of the Spirit. Many School attendees commented on their evaluation forms how they were ministered to during the times of worship.

Topics that were covered during the teaching segments of this School included, “Discerning our Call to Prayer,” “The Model set by Jesus,” “Releasing the Power,” “Persistence,” “Vision for Transformation,” and “Prayer Mapping Primer.”

All the evaluations of the School were glowingly positive. Here’s a sampling of some comments: “I especially liked the deep insights and chance to put what we learned into practice.” “It is well worth the time and resources. The School of Prayer is motivational and equips you well.” “I experienced the spirit of the Lord’s presence, the peace, hope and unity of the group and clarity of teaching. I appreciate the humility of the teacher.” “To those who have never attended this I say, ‘Go, you won’t regret it!’” “This teaching is powerful!” “I have received new practical insights on prayer.” And so it goes, page after page.

The next sessions of the 2010 Regional School of Prayer are scheduled for the 12^th of June and the 25^th of September. Registration information and printable forms are available on this web site.

Here is some information regarding the Agape Prayer Ministry School to be held in the Cattaraugus / Chautauqua / Warren region: The school will be held Friday and Saturday the 23rd & 24th of April 2010 at the Park Church in Sinclairville, NY.

All first-time attendees must have their pastor’s approval to attend the School. (The pastor’s signature of approval is required on all registration forms). If your pastor has questions, please let me know and I will be glad to send out an information packet or suggest an area pastor he or she could call to discuss the Agape Ministry. [Roy Miller, 716-488-9918 or roy@thebetterplace.org].

A Registration Form and the accompanying Profile Form may be printed from this site. A School Schedule is also available for printing.

Please return your Registration and Profile as soon as possible. Applications must be postmarked by the 7th of April. Registration is $65 for individuals who have not previously attended an Agape School. [A $5 late fee will be assessed for registrations postmarked after the 7th of April.]

Purpose: The goal of the Agape Prayer Ministry School is to equip Christians to sensitively and compassionately minister the freedom of Christ from the bondages of sin and Satan, thus freeing more and more people to live in the fullness of Christ and to minister to others the fullness of Christ. The training experience includes foundational scriptural teachings on the healing of wounds, breaking of bondages, forgiveness of sins, confession of sin, receiving God’s forgiveness, and spiritual warfare. There are also three ministry sessions during the School where participants have the opportunity to observe and directly participate in the Agape ministry pattern. Ideally, each participant observes one ministry session as a prayer backup, receives a ministry session him/herself, and serves as a prayer warrior in a prayer vigil during a third session.

Key Points of Preparation: All trainees must be born-again in Jesus Christ and be peacefully open to the full workings of the Holy Spirit.

Before attending, participants should read Healing for Damaged Emotions, by David Seamands.

Description of the School: The School is an intense two-day experience running from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM on Friday, and from 7:45 AM until 6:00 PM on Saturday. Please make every effort to arrive at the School in a rested condition. The dress in the School is casual and modest. Please bring your Bible and a notebook. Plan your schedule to be able to stay for the total School.

Teachers & Trainers: The people involved in teaching the sessions of the Agape Prayer Ministry School are pastors and lay people from various congregations of the Church, who have participated in and have been certified by the Agape ministry as supervising leads and teachers. They are recognized as qualified because of their gifting, experience, and their on-the-job training in a number of Agape Prayer Ministry Schools.

Your partner in the adventure,

Roy L Miller

FREDONIA WORKSHOP – A GREAT SUCCESS

The six inches of snow that fell on Fredonia, NY the morning of February 27th could not keep enthusiastic students away from the second Better Place Prayer workshop that the Fredonia United Methodist Church has sponsored and hosted.

This event began with a breakfast began with a breakfast at 8:30. That was followed by a time of worship, led by the FUMC worship team. Then the program was handed over to The Better Place Director, Roy Miller for the next two and a half hours until noon.

Two topics were covered during the teaching time: “Jesus Our Model” and “Releasing the Power.” There was plenty of interaction, laughs and a lot of learning that will serve to strengthen the Church in the region as A House of Prayer for the Nations. Evaluative responses submitted by the participants after the workshop were all very gratify and bore testimony to the fact that God was present and blessing.

To schedule a workshop at your church check out the information at http://www.thebetterplace.org/workshop-topics.cfm on this web site.

One of the local church workshops that are on the calendar will be held at Trinity UM Church on Grand Island, NY, all day on Saturday the 17th of April, 2010. You may get more information from their web site at http://www.gitumc.org