Frequently Asked Questions
How can I help with or partner with your ministry?
What does it mean when you state that you are a non-denominational ministry?
What is the difference between church renewal and personal renewal?
What is the focus of your ministry?
When I donate to the ministry, how is the money used?
You are located in Toronto, Ontario. Where does Spirit Renewal Ministries offer services?
Your ministry offers many services. Are there fees associated with these services?
Question: How can I help with or partner with your ministry?
Answer: Check out our new brochure that explians the ways in which you can partner with our ministry.
Some may chose to partner with Spirit Renewal Ministries through their financial contributions. All support is gratefully received.
Other churches and individuals have partnered with the ministry in various ministries and mission works, or volunteer their time to support the ministry through the provision of services or by serving on boards and committees. Top
Question: I do not attend a church, but I would like to talk to someone about my personal spiritual growth. How can you help me?
Answer: You are not alone in your search for spiritual answers! In North America, millions have given up on church. We have seen the decline all over North America, particularly in mainline protestant denominations, although many congregations are growing. In the 2001 Canadian Census, over 1.8 million people in the province Ontario alone reported “no religious affiliation. Despite this trend, research shows that there is a great spiritual hunger in the land. We work with many families and individuals who have no formal church affiliation, especially during times of "transition." You can contact us directly for a confidential conversation. You can also join us on Tuesday evenings for a Bible study. Top
Question: I have read the book on Romans (What God Has Promised You) and have found it very helpful. Does your ministry offer any additional resources or publications?
Answer: We have several resources including short essays on the following topics: Spiritual Direction; Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martyrdom; and Clergy Abuse (The challenges of working in church environments where the clergy experience excessive stress due to actions by people in the church). These papers are available for a nominal fee by contacting us at srministries@gmail.com. Dr. Stephen McAllister's newest book on the renewal of the mainline protestant Church will be available in late 2010. Top
Question: What does it mean when you state that you are a non-denominational ministry?
Answer: Spirit Renewal Ministries is a non-denominational ministry established to serve leaders, ministers, and congregations in Christian churches and organizations in the areas of renewal and growth. By this we mean that our services are available to all Christian churches, denominations, and organizations. We do not limit our services to the organizations with whom we have affiliation. Top
Question: What is the difference between church renewal and personal renewal?
Answer: In the Christian Bible in the book of Revelation, the writer wrote, addressing members of a church in Laodicea, " I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot." Here, John is referring to a faith that is lukewarm, neither cold or hot, and the cause most certainly was complacency. Churches often take on the personalities of their key leaders, and in some cases, there is a need for a spiritual renewal within the church. Renewal is needed because the church is either in a state of decline or stagnation. Renewal may be needed because the church's priorities have shifted and the mission has become "self-centred" rather than "God-centred."
Having said that , we are often asked by people and leaders in churches that are doing well, "How can I renew my faith - I am discouraged?" The path to personal renewal then becomes a personal journey that might be enhanced through the mentorship of a spiritual director or coach -- someone who can help you as you seek to renew your faith. There are many persons who are gifted in this area, and it may be a matter of finding a spiritual director in your area who can help you.
Here are two examples of renewal that may help see the difference between church renewal and personal renewal. John Wesley (1703–1791) was very critical of the complacency that had settled into the Church of England, referring to the “dry rot” that had crept into the pulpits of the church. Wesley was largely responsible for the movement of renewal within the Church of England that led to the founding of the Methodist movement, later to become the Methodist Church.
Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) is one of the great Saints of the Catholic church. She was a visionary and a builder, founding seventeen religious communities, many of which thrive today. As a trusted mentor and advisor, she counselled Aden consoled hundreds of people, yet, she needed spiritual direction in her life. A year after taking her vows as a nun, she wrote about her spiritual wandering and her sorrow. She sought spiritual direction at many times in her life, writing that she "went twenty years without finding anyone who understood her." Teresa sought and found theologians who gave her counsel and who guided her spiritual life. Top
Question: What is the focus of your ministry?
Answer: Spirit Renewal Ministries is a non-denominational ministry that serves Christian leaders, ministers, and churches in the areas of renewal and growth. We provide spiritual care, marriage ministry, bereavement and funeral services, as well as worship leadership and teaching ministries. We also serve churches and clergy by providing leadership training and interim ministry services. Contact us to learn how we can serve you! Top
Question: When I donate to the ministry, how is the money used?
Answer: One hundred percent of all funds received are used to support the ongoing ministry. Expenses include operational expenses and salaries. Spirit Renewal Ministries is a registered Canadian Charity. Eligible donors receive a tax receipt for charitable donations. Top
Question: When you talk about Spiritual Direction, I am not sure what you mean. Can you help me understand this concept?
Answer: The purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of our lives, to get behind the persona and that we present to the world, and to evoke her inner freedom in truth which is the likeness of Christ in us
Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) says that the root meaning of spiritual direction is as follows: "it is a continuous process of formation and guidance, in which a Christian is led and encouraged in his / her special vocation, so that by faithful correspondence to the graces of the Holy Spirit he /she may attain to the particular end of his vocation and to union with God.” He writes that spiritual direction is not the accumulation of praise and guidance or admonition that one receives – nor is it just “ethical, social or psychological guidance” - it is spiritual." Merton notes that the function of the spiritual director is to verify and to encourage what is truly spiritual in the soul.
Merton quoted the 17th century Benedictine mystic, Dom Augustine Baker with the following: “the director is not to teach his own way, nor indeed any determinate way of prayer, but to instruct his disciples how they may themselves find out the way proper for them -- in a word, he is only God's usher, and must lead souls in God's way, and not his own.”
Your path to personal renewal might be enhanced through the mentorship of a spiritual director or coach -- someone who can help you as you seek to renew your faith. There are many persons who are gifted in this area, and it may be a matter of finding a spiritual director in your area who can help you. We list a number of internet links that may be helpful in your search (For reference only - SRM does not have any affiliation with these organizations):
The Shalem Institute |
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Catholic Spiritual Direction |
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Spiritual Directors of Ontario |
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henrinouwen.org |
http://www.henrinouwen.org/programs/spiritualdirection/directory/ |
The Centers for Christian Studies, Asheville, NC |
Question: Why do some churches seem to thrive and others struggle? Some churches are in decline, others reach a plateau, and others have trouble attracting new members, especially young people.
Answer: The answer to this question is very complex. It is found in several broad areas that impact the churches ethos including societal, history, theological beliefs and understandings, as well as the church's lived experience.
When a church begins to experience long term decline and a lack of vitality, there are a number of contributing factors that may be at play, including the following:
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The clergy may spend too much of their time doing administrative work keeping the "bureaucracy of the church" humming.
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The church may have trouble articulating what it truly believes, especially with respect to the person of Jesus Christ.
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The church's lay leaders may spend more of their time and energy managing the financial and property matters of the church, rather than being attentive to the spiritual needs of those the church serves.
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There may be issues of power and control that stifle the true work of the church.
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The church may not recognize and value their minister's true spiritual gifts, and may actually hinder the work of the church by not supporting the minister.
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The church may be afraid to change. The church would rather continue it's gradual decline than to face the changes that might enable new life and growth.
In as much as the causes are complex, the solution may not be easy or obvious. For many churches, years have gone by as the trends developed. This does not mean that there is no hope. Contact Spirit Renewal Ministries for an initial consultation or conversation.
Numerous books have been written on the subject of church renewal - we list but a few for your reference. Top
Question: You are located in Toronto, Ontario. Where does Spirit Renewal Ministries offer services?
Answer: For those wishing to gather on a weekly basis, we hold a weekly Bible Study. This a place for people to seek answers for their lives in the areas of spirituality. Join us!
Our Canadian ministry is expanding as we meet new families through bereavement services, weddings, teaching, and ministries of pastoral care. Rev. Dr. Stephen McAllister reponds to many requests to preach and speak, as well as teaching and mentoring events at local churches and religious organizations.
Spirit Renewal Ministries serves local churches, leaders, and individuals in their immediate pastoral needs. For ministry needs outside of the local area, services can be accessed in many ways including conference calls and internet. Spirit Renewal Ministries is currently exploring ministry opportunities in Canada, Africa, India, and the Caribbean. Top
Question: Your ministry offers many services. Are there fees associated with these services?
Answer: Spirit Renewal Ministries has no "local dedicated congregation" per say, and as such, offers its ministry services to churches and individuals on a sliding scale of fees. In addition to the ministry that Spirit Renewal Ministries offers to churches, elders, and leaders, our clergy also live out their calling as Christ's servants to serve those whom the Lord identified in his initial sermon to the church when he quoted scripture saying, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." ( Luke 4:18 18) Top