The
Impact of Lamad Curriculum –
One Church’s Testimony
Patuxent
River
Assembly of God
California,
Maryland
USA
2008
Welcome to our story!
This is a summary of our congregational experience with the Communion
with God (CWG) materials created by Dr. Mark and Patti Virkler.
We hope that our testimony of spiritual growth through CWG will inspire
other fellowships to embark on this journey for themselves.
The
Background
Approximately eight years
ago one of the leaders of our congregation encountered the CWG materials and
experienced new vitality in his relationship with the Lord.
He found the principles learned via CWG worked consistently to provide
clarity in his ability to hear the voice of the Lord, and a richer Biblical
basis for living. This minister and
his wife pursued more of the materials by Dr. Virkler and found each of them to
bear excellent fruit in their lives. This
couple was so excited that they began Infinite Horizons School of Leadership, a
Bible College, in order to share these materials with others.
Our senior pastor took the
very first class and was so impressed by the content and quality of How to Hear God’s Voice that he made the course a requirement for
his entire leadership team.
The
Results – Our Pastor’s Perspective
“I have been ministering
to God’s people for over three decades. I have become persuaded that the
greatest obstacle to maturation in the lives of believers is the wounds within
their souls. Reclaiming their souls from the wounds of the past frees God’s
people to pursue their destiny in Him.
“Years of attempts with
different aids to ministry has made me a firm supporter of the materials and
approach developed by Dr. Mark Virkler. The concepts presented in How to Hear God’s Voice
are basic training within the life of our
congregation. Counseled by God is a personal pilgrimage that prepares one for
corporate ministry. Prayers that Heal the
Heart is without question, the finest tool presently available for setting
God’s people free from the past.
“The congregational
journey we have made with God the Holy Spirit through these materials has
dramatically increased the spiritual life within our congregation. Our people
have grown in confidence that they can hear His voice and accurately respond to
the leadership of God the Holy Spirit.
“These three courses have
become foundational to our ministry efforts in the lives of God’s people. I
most strongly recommend these life-changing opportunities to anyone serious
about setting the captives free.”
Pastor Lanny Clark
A
Student’s Perspective
“Counseled by God, in conjunction with
How to Hear God’s Voice, has established the expectancy in my
heart that God will truly speak to me and guide me on a daily basis. As I
fix my eyes on Jesus and present to Him those areas that concern me, He is
faithful to speak His words of truth and direction. He is faithful to give
me His vision for my life to guide me. This course has not only given me
the expectancy that God will speak to me, it has given me the vocabulary and the
framework to be able to guide others to hear and receive God’s direction.
It has also given me the guideline to help me stay strong in faith and wait upon
the Lord until He brings the vision He gave me into reality in the natural
realm.”
An
Instructor’s Perspective
“I have had the privilege
of teaching How to Hear God’s Voice
for over five years. I keep teaching
this course because I love seeing people moved from wishing for a relationship
with God to truly having one. Seeing
the ‘lights turn on’ as God and His Word become a living reality in my
students never ceases to thrill me.
“I have taught teens
through seniors and all of them come away more aware of the purposes of God for
themselves and His Church. I’ve
taught this course to people from multiple denominations and even through a
translator in a foreign country, and it works every time.
“Every leader in the Body
of Christ hears statements like, ‘If God would just tell me what to do I would
do it. If I was just sure that what
I feel is really God’s will for me I would be fine.’
Knowing that I have the tools to help people get those answers for their
lives motivates me to keep teaching HTHGV.
“I am also actively involved in the Prayers that Heal the
Heart ministry birthed into our congregation as an outcome of
the PTHTH course. There has not been
a life problem yet that God hasn’t been able to wholly resolve. I
am continually awed by His wisdom and compassion; it is an honor to be part of
the healing of hearts.”
Conclusion
The fruit of these classes
over time is that they have changed the structure of our congregation.
We share a common vocabulary for communicating Biblical principles and
experiences. It is normal to ask
someone “Did you journal about your situation?” when they come looking for
counsel. All CWG courses contain a
“safety net” of spiritual advisors so everyone has someone they can turn to
for support and instruction. The effects of knowing how to do “two-way
journaling” are so profound that we start all new believers and new-to-us
people through these courses as soon as possible.
We hope our experience with
the anointed materials available through CWG Ministries has captured your
interest. May you be blessed as you
pursue God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. Unto the King Eternal be glory now and forever!
Learn how you can set up a church-centered Bible school in your own
fellowship, or
Start a Lamad Encounter Group in your home or church today!
