Retreat: Shepherds Canyon Retreat

The Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat ministry is committed to providing spiritual and emotional healing to clergy, other full-time church workers and their spouses who are in the midst of various stages of burnout, depression, compassion fatigue, and conflicts of all types, offering the hope and renewal found through the Holy Spirit's work through God's Word.

Each retreat pursues three basic goals:

1. Allow each participant to safely unburden the hurts and pressures of life and ministry in a safe, non-judgmental, and loving environment.
2. Assist each person to understand herself/himself more completely.
3. To encourage the participants to develop new levels of self-acceptance as well as more effective relational skills.  This often includes evaluation of expectations, reordering of priorities, improving communication skills and bringing a new perspective concerning their life and ministry.

Shepherds Canyon Retreats was formed by Lutherans

For more information visit www.shepherdscanyonretreat.org

For any Australian Pastors wanting to access this retreat there is some assistance available contact me (richardschwedes@gmail.com) so i can refer you to the appropriate contact.

Healing ministry: Bill Dasch ministries

Rev. Dr. Bill Dasch Ed. D., M. Div., L.P.C. served as a pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for 42 years
He says, ““All people can pray for healing because it is God who heals!””
With those words, Dr. Bill Dasch challenges people today to lay hands on the sick and pray for healing. He personally has seen God heal heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, constant pain, life-threatening blood clots, headaches, tumors, fevers, and much more. A cutting edge leader in healing prayer ministry, Bill Dasch never promises healing but seeks the Healer, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. 
He introduced healing prayer to St. Mark Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas, a large church in 1993. In three years, St. Mark became a church of prayer. He moved to St. John Lutheran Church, Mansfield, Texas in 2004. God has been doing great things there through the ministry of prayer. His entire staff was trained and prays for any who need prayer. Bill transitioned to full time prayer ministry in August, 2015.
Bill was born in 1946 in Jennings, Louisiana, Bill Dasch attended Concordia College, Austin, Texas and graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1969 with a degree in Speech and History. He attended and graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois in 1973. While serving as pastor of a town-gown church in Commerce, Texas, he received his Masters in Counseling and later a Doctorate in Counseling from East Texas State University (now Texas A & M at Commerce). He has served as Minister of Singles and Counseling and Senior Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Houston and St. John Mansfield, Texas as Senior Pastor for 11 ½ years.  The church in Mansfield grew from less than 200 to an average attendance of 565. Pastor Bill has published articles in the Lutheran Witness and numerous newspapers. He has led singles, pastoral and lay conferences in Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Nebraska, Florida, Ohio, and Canada. He has written and published Reclaiming the Healing Ministry of Jesus – A Comprehensive Workbook. A Leader’s Guide has also been published to assist in teaching and training. His healing ministry is included in two chapters of Ron Rehrer’s book, Lighthouses of Hope .
His wife, Sheila, is a strong supporter of healing prayer. She has a special ministry alongside Bill’s prayer ministry. Bill and Sheila have 3 sons; one at home, one safe in heaven and one in Tampa, Florida.
When once asked about upcoming workshops for pastors and lay people, Bill stated, “I am amazed at what God does through ordinary people. I pray that people will experience the extraordinary and realize God may have meant this to be the ordinary. These workshops are meant to help people recover the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in light of our understanding of the Holy Scriptures. Come and be amazed!”About Us

What is Bill Dasch Ministries, Inc.?
It is a Christian not-for-profit 501(c)3 ministry, that prays for healing and empowers others to pray for healing. 
They have a passion for laying on of hands and praying for people with serious afflictions in body, mind, or spirit in the name of Jesus.

Their Vision
To see the healing ministry of  Jesus Reclaimed, Restored and Released in every church, home and individual.  We see a time when praying for healing is a normal part of church ministry.  We dream of families laying hands on each other and praying for healing. 
We see healing the sick as an ordinary part of our lives.  We dream of raising up people and churches who will walk in God’s healing power and take healing to the world as He furthers His Kingdom.

Their Mission
To pray for healing and to teach others to pray for healing. 
We do this through conferences, church events, personal encounters and by providing resources for praying for healing.

Their Beliefs
God loves us and desires healing in this broken world.
God uses believers to lay hands on others and pray for healing.
Praying for healing can be taught.
While a few have the gift of healing, all are called to pray for healing.
Every church is a healing center.
The greatest healing is our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The bible is the inspired Word of God and thus is our authority for action and beliefs.
Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the world.

They offer
Personal prayer for healing for anyone in the world
Home Visits
Hospital Visits
R3 training - to equip the saints to reclaim, restore and release the healing power of Jesus
Prayer healing cards
7 days of prayer resource for congregations
Prayer train - resource

To discover more about Bill Dasch ministries and obtain some healing resources visit http://www.billdasch.com/

MONTHLY FEATURE: Healing resources

Healing is part of the journey for all Christians.

Unfortunately though some people are very weary of healing in any Christian contexts, because of a limited exposure and view of healing.

The following resources we pray will help pastors, lay people and others see how healing is part of the ministry of the church.

Somethings to think about to get you started:
Healing can take place in a number of ways...physically, attitudely, spiritually, relationally and emotionally.
In all cases healing is God at work.
Christian healing is not restricted to supernatural powers, nor does it work in competition with the God given talents of Doctors, nurses and other health professions.
Healing can take time.
The amount of faith does not determine whether a person will be healed or not.

Health Ministries Network of Minnesota http://healthministries.info/
Describes health as the unity and harmony of body, mind, and spirit in relationship with God, self, others, and the environment. It is not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. it is an interfaith organization committed to encouraging, supporting and developing whole-person ministries throughout Minnesota. Their web site offers a range of resources including:
Best Practice Modules
Educational Ministry Programs
Inner Spirit Newsletter
Links to other resources
Lutheran healing service 1 http://healthministries.info/module8/8l_healing1.html
Lutheran healing service 2 http://healthministries.info/module8/8l_healing2.html
Blessing for the laying on of hands http://healthministries.info/module8/8l_blessings.html

Wheatridge Ministries http://www.wheatridge.org
Wheat Ridge Ministries is an independent Lutheran charitable organization that provides support for new church-related health and hope ministries. Wheat Ridge Ministries is Lutherans seeding new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ.
This mission statement continues to be a source of excitement as we encourage healing ministries being carried out by congregations, agencies, and church bodies. Reflecting Christ's concern for the whole person (John 10:10), we remain committed to seeding new and innovative ministries that focus on health of body, mind and spirit.
Wheat Ridge Ministries fulfills its mission by granting, connecting and equipping.
Their web site offers a Wellness Wheel, ideas on planning a congregational health fair, a health ministry congregational self study, grants for health ministries and health workshops.

North Tasmania Lutheran Parish Service of healing for mind, body and soul
A service of healing that encourages healing through God's word , sacraments and prayer. Those worshipping can be both receivers and interceeders of God's healing.
http://northtasmanianlutheranparish.blogspot.com/2008/02/lent-4-healing-service.html

Healing with Prayer http://www.healingwithprayer.com
Reclaiming a Lutheran view of healing.
Pastor Ron Rehrer (Counselor for Professional Church Workers of our PSW District) and Pastor Bill Dasch (Texas District) presented 8 workshops on Healing Prayer for the congregations and pastors of the Texas district of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Our Lord Jesus passed on to his disciples the command to preach, teach, and to heal. This third part of His command was the subject of our workshop. It was an education/practical workshop, presenting a balanced, non-charismatic presentation with a special emphasis on Word and Sacrament for healing (spiritual, emotion, physical, relational healing) as well as perspective on the use of anointing with oil, constructing healing services, how to pray, the use of touch, and how to answer questions in the congregation. Pastor Rehrer and Pastor Dasch believe there is a high interest in prayer for healing throughout our Church, and they want to offer teaching and practical guidelines for this ministry.

Trinity Healing Center Brooklyn http://www.trinitybrooklyn.org/html/thc.htm
The Trinity Healing Center, Inc. was created in the year 2000, to respond to the needs of those who suffer in silence due to domestic violence.

St Matthews Lutheran Church Medina
An article discussing a healing service at St Matthews Lutheran Church Medina
http://wp2.medina-gazette.com/2007/12/29/accent/healing-service-at-st-matthew-lutheran/

The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
Visioning for healing.
Michal Bongi identifies the following as ways of healing; Action, Change of Heart, Sacrifice, Integrity, Forgiveness and Unity. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3156565/Visioning-for-healing-Lutheran-Church.html

Dr Edgar Mayer
Living Waters Lutheran Church Toowoomba has available a sermon series on healing.
Healing 1 Luke 5:17-26 Healing More Than Crippled Legs
Healing 2 Luke 12:22-34 Grey Squirrel Healing
Healing 3 Mark 5:21-43 Faith Healing
Healing 4 Matthew 5:12 Dying To The Cancer Of The Soul
Healing 4 James 5:14 Kooky Behaviour

The Lutheran Church of Australia
The Service to Holy Communion for the ministry of those who are sick COW statement 18 http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cow/worshipstate18.pdf
The worship services of the church and healing http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cow/TheWorshipServicesEd.pdf

ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church
Prayers for healing http://www.elca.org/prayer/healing.html

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Medical Missions entry from Christian's Cycolopedia http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=m&word=MEDICALMISSIONS
LCMS Health Ministry mission statement
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=3589
LCMS' response to the Charismatic movement including its approach to healing http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/charismatic_Movement1.pdf

Lutheran Renewal
The church's healing ministry by Rev David Dorpat
http://home.comcast.net/~gracelife/rim/healing.htm
also available in hard copy from http://lutheranrenewal.org/

Luther Seminary
Outline of a Course on Biblical healing, lists a number of resources (see below) that maybe helpful
https://www.luthersem.edu/fgaiser/Kairos/BIBLhealing_SM03.htm

Books relating to healing in the Lutheran Church and Christian circles
Morton Kelsey, Healing and Christianity (Augsburg, 1995)
Martin Marty, Health and Medicine in the Lutheran Tradition (Crossroad, 1986)
John Pilch, Healing in the New Testament (Fortress, 2000)
Klaus Seybold and Ulrich Mueller, Sickness and Healing (Abingdon,1981)
John Wilkinson, The Bible and Healing (Eerdmans, 1998)
Joel J. Shuman and Keith G. Meador, Heal Thyself: Spirituality, Medicine, and the Distortion of Christianity (Oxford, 2003)
Avalos, Hector. Health Care and the Rise of Christianity. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999.
Bakken, Kenneth. The Journey into God: Healing and Christian Faith. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 2000.
Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giraux, 1997.
Howard, J. Keir. Disease and Healing in the New Testament: An Analysis and Interpretation. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2001.
Kee, H. Medicine, Miracle and Magic in New Testament Times. Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1986.
Kelsey, Morton. Healing and Christianity: A Classic Study. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1995.
Kinsley, David. Health, Healing, and Religion: A Cross-cultural Perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996.
Kydd, Ronald. Healing through the Centuries: Models for Understanding. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998.
Linde, Paul R. Of Spirits and Madness: An American Psychiatrist in Africa. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Marty, Martin. Health and Medicine in the Lutheran Tradition. New York: Crossroad, 1986.
Marty, Martin, and Kenneth Vaux, eds. Health/Medicine and the Faith Traditions: An Inquiry into Religion and Medicine. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982.
Pilch, John. Healing in the New Testament: Insights from Medical and Mediterranean Anthropology. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2000.
Plante, Thomas O., and Allen C. Sherman, eds. Faith and Health: Psychological Perspectives. New York: Guilford, 2001.
Seybold, Klaus., and Ulrich Mueller. Sickness and Healing. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981.
Siirala, Aarne. The Voice of Illness. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1964.
Shuman, Joel J., and Keith G. Meador. Heal Thyself: Spirituality, Medicine, and the Distortion of Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University, 2003.
Wilkinson, John. The Bible and Healing. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

If you have anything further to offer in the way of healing please email me...