2016 Leadership Training
Journey to Healing
The 2016 week long Provincial Leadership Training is over but the effects of personal encounters with Jesus will continue to live on. Participants from La Union, Benguet, Rizal, Agusan del Sur, Batangas, Albay, Palawan, Leyte, Laguna, Bulacan, and Metro Manila came together for further healing and training in leadership. Eighteen different churches from those areas were represented.
The conference began for the team long before the participants arrived. Applications were received and reviewed, interviews held, administrative duties successfully carried out and prayers expressed “continually.” As the team prepared, Jesus was already imparting peace, comfort, and reassurance. The opposition began early; however, the peace Jesus gives far outweighs and overrides the opposition.
The conference began with the first day of Becoming Responsive to the Father’s Love, Integrity and Boundaries, and the Fighting Father. The participants were open and eager to receive from Jesus. With the eagerness and openness also came more opposition. There is no need to go into details about that, however, because as always, Jesus again showed Himself to be more BEAUTIFUL than any opposition or distraction! HE was the main attraction. And the ease with which to minister continued! “…as I started confessing my whole stories before God at the feet of the Cross and before my small group, I started experiencing calmness, peace, and confidence and it makes me to release forgiveness and I also earned and discovered that I have a lot of wounds that causes pains, guilt and shame that I am trying to hide for so long. I began to have that courage and boldness in my heart that makes me feel unafraid to face myself and tomorrow without shame and guilt. As if I am like a prisoner being in captive for so long, coming out from my prison cell.”
The second day continued with the Cross and Confession, Overcoming Addiction Through the Real Meal, and Renouncing Idols. The team continued to share with transparency and vulnerability. The teachings continued to be clear, concise, and full of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The participants continued in receiving from Jesus. Small groups were filled with personal encounters with Jesus. He continued to catch and number each tear that was shared. His kindness and tenderness held each person who shared their lives and the pain, which was lodged deep within. “…yes, it is painful…yes, it is difficult..yes it is not instant but healing and wholeness is sure in Jesus’ name. Through the cross and confession…forgiveness and restoration are available.”
As midweek approached, the tiredness began to set in but Jesus never gets tired. We looked at “How Wounds Can Make Us More Whole”, how Identifying “Brokenness and Resuming the Journey”, “Restoring Broken Boundaries”, and how “The True Self Forgives.” The process of healing continued. The remarkable thing was the ease with which the team continued to minister even in the midst of opposition. This is no surprise though. As we are able to rest in Jesus and HIS abilities, He has promised that His yolk is easy and His burden is light.
While all of this was going on, onsite and offsite intercessors committed to pray for the team and participants also spent effortless time in the presence of God praying as lead by the Holy Spirit. Our prayers took on many shapes…walking, drawing, talking, silence, laughing, crying, etc. Our hearts were connected horizontally as well as vertically. In those moments of connectivity, we were heard, we heard, and God was present.
The week began to wind down on Thursday. Breakthroughs continued to happen daily, hourly, and in the moment. Pain continued to be released and the reality of healing was shared through the seasoned teaching of “Offering the Gift” of our true selves. We heard the reality of honoring each other as the opposite gender in truth and love. “Restoring Woman’s Honor” and “Restoring Man’s Honor” were taught while reconciliation was expressed with integrity and grace. Coming to the end of the day, rest was needed so we spent time in quiet learning about “Listening Prayer” and practicing the art of true listening. We did what was needed. Some needed simply to rest while others actively heard. Is there only one way to hear or can we hear many ways. I would like to suggest, there are MANY ways to hear. So, however you hear, may your heart remain open to what the Lord has to say to you. “…through Living Waters, God has began healing my heart and woul and restoring my true identity…the true masculinity in me. I now understand that my true self is the one who bears the image of God that was once distorted, perverted, and twited because of sin but is now being restored through my union in Christ.”
The last day at All Christian Pavilion and Retreat Center, the followup opportunities of the support groups, FIST (Fighting for Intimacy, Sexual Purity and Truth) and WAW (Women At the Well) were presented. There were helpful instructions on how to run the various Living Waters programs and to develop effective teachings. The small groups continued while ultimately ending with a beautiful time of blessing each other. The conference officially came to conclusion with communion and a teaching on how the church can become a safe place for those who are wounded and how we can be a part of that safety, through the teaching of “For the Bride.” There was a beautiful picture of this safety as one of the team members, spontaneously offered, on behalf of one denomination; heartfelt forgiveness for pain caused through division while the offering of reconciliation was extended. Much healing was accomplished even through that expression of the heart.
Life is a journey. As lives intersected during this time and as Jesus was invited and present, journeys were altered, and hearts continued in their healing. Individuals were empowered and released into leadership of varying levels while they, with others, were blessed with the continued grace to invite Jesus into the pain, joy, tears, laughter, anger, hope, anticipation, etc of their journeys. “…my small group and even the testimonies of the participants made me realize that I am not alone in this battle…I know, I am just starting. At least now I know how to start to pick up the broken pieces of my life. I don’t even have to paste and put them together, because I believe, the Lord has even prepared a better portrait of my life…a clear, high definition picture with a strong frame to hold and protect it. A picture of my life…His masterpiece.”
Did the opposition continue through the week; absolutely. Did healing continue through the week; without a doubt! Did ease remain in ministry; more so than ever! The time was remarkable and our hearts remain full of gratitude.
Thank you Ptr Gary Ariz and Ptra Rich Ariz , and Ptra Rose Alonzo for all of your service and hospitality in coordinating this training. Thank you also to the whole team for their tireless serving of the participants and Jesus during this time of healing and training!!!!
Until next time…remain focused on Jesus and all of His beauty! Healing is available every day!