Formational Prayer offers life-changing pathways that help people dismantle destructive false beliefs, teaches steps for dealing with deep wounds, presents tools for addressing dysfunctional behaviors, provides a foundational understanding of trauma and the traumatized, and addresses spirituality and world view as each relates to helping the broken.
Terry Wardle, Professor of Church Planting and Spiritual Formation at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio, defines Formational Prayer as "...a ministry of the Holy Spirit, moving through a Christian caregiver, bringing the Healing Presence of Jesus Christ into the place of pain and brokenness within a wounded person." (Healing Care, Healing Prayer by Terry Wardle; New Leaf Books, 2001).
Dr. Wardle's model of Formational Prayer focuses on the centrality of Jesus Christ as the Healer, and the Holy Spirit as the Director and Teacher. The caregiver is God's human vessel to lead care receivers into inner healing. Led by the Holy Spirit, the caregiver can assist a person in (1) discovering the real cause/s of inner pain; (2) in recognizing the resulting dysfunctional behaviors stemming from the pain; and... (3) in re-training the person to make decisions that keep them moving forward into a new life of freedom.
No wound is insignificant, minimal, or marginal to our Lord and Savior. Whether you have lost your favorite pen or your favorite person (as Dr. Wardle says), the Lord extends an appealing invitation, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls..." (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the centerpiece of Retreat to His Presence Ministries. Without Him, we can do nothing. Formational Prayer is the core ministry. The founders intend to lead retreats and conduct seminars on this vitally important subject, enlisting the support and assistance from others who administer this ministry, so that those who want to be free from their woundedness can be made whole!
Call us at (302) 537-2664 to see how we can bring The Ministry of Formational Prayer to you as a seminar or retreat!
