Jason and Andrea Stern are trained to administer the Theophostic Prayer Ministry Process. To schedule an appointment, please click here. What is Theophostic Prayer Ministry? What are some of the Basic Principles of Theophostic Prayer Ministry? What are the limits of Theophostic Prayer Ministry? Does Theophostic Ministry require secular therapy training? Who is "qualified?" How do we know that Theophostic Prayer Ministry produces true inner healing of the mind? What is your Statement of Faith? What are the benefits of receiving Theophostic ministry? What is Theophostic Prayer Ministry? This section does not provide a “how to” of administering this ministry approach but rather a general overview of some of the basic premises. Theo (God) Phostic (light) is a Biblically based approach to prayer ministry that is Christ centered and God reliant for its direction and outcomes. IT IS NOT RECOVERED MEMORY THERAPY (RMT). Simply stated, it is leading a person to the feet of Jesus through prayer and allowing Him to reveal His truth to the wounded person’s heart and mind. Theophostic Prayer Ministry believes a person's primary present emotional pain comes from the misinterpretations (lies) learned during life experiences and not from the memories of these events themselves. For example, a child feels shame not because his father divorced his mother but because he may believe it was his fault (the lie). When I have negative emotional response in the present, it can almost always be traced back to an earlier event. In this earlier event there will be a belief that was established from which this negative emotion is rooted. My present feelings are generally indicative of what I believe. Theophostic Prayer Ministry recognizes that behavior is greatly influenced by the knowledge stored in the mind. Therefore, in order to act differently, we must be "renewed in our minds." This renewal must not be limited to the cognitive passing of information from counselor/minister to the one receiving ministry but include experiential “knowing” through prayer that comes by the presence of Christ. Only the Spirit of the Living Lord Jesus can set us free of the lies we experientially believe as we take our requests for truth to Him in prayer. The facilitator/counselor plays a vital part in this prayer process but it is the Spirit of God who intercedes with truth. Theophostic principles understand present behavior to be motivated primarily from "experiential knowledge" (mental information that is derived from that which we have actually experienced) and not from logical truth (data believed as truth but never realized through experience.) Theophostic Prayer Ministry primary focus is about renewing the mind at the experiential level of consciousness. For those who have strong willpower and self discipline, they are able to push through the negative feelings that surface when lie-base experiential pain is triggered and choose to obey the logical truth they know. However, many fail at this juncture. Theophostic Prayer Ministry seeks to expose and dispel the lies that produce this pain so that people can choose to walk in the truth they know more easily. Theophostic Prayer Ministry recognizes that a primary source of the emotional pain one may experience in the present has an experiential source and beginning, which is lie-based. If it is true that emotional pain can be rooted in this original historical faulty thinking, true release of the emotional pain in the present will not likely occur unless the person is able to return to the original memory event where the lie was first embedded. Theophostic Prayer Ministry recognizes the futility of trying to talk a person out of their experiential false belief and talking them into a new belief system and acknowledges that apart from a word or realization of truth from the Holy Spirit through prayer, nothing significant will ever happen. Theophostic Prayer Ministry acknowledges that Jesus is the only one who can truly release the wounded person from their emotional/mental bondage. This does not invalidate the role of the counselor/minister as a listener and intercessor but acknowledges that apart from Christ we are ineffective in accomplishing God’s desire for the wounded soul. Theophostic (God's Light) is all about the Lord Jesus. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic What are some of the Basic Principles of Theophostic Prayer Ministry? My present situation is not be the primary source of my emotional pain but rather evidence of historical pain. If I try to resolve my present conflict without finding healing for my past wounds (memories with embedded lies), I may only find temporary relief. However, if I heal my past, I can redeem my present. The negative emotions I currently feel are often echoes of the past, an open window into the wounds of my life. To look through the open window I must let go of the present situation, and release it from being the primary source of my pain and be willing to seek out and identify my true source of emotional pain. If I choose to look through the window I can confront my wound, and feel its pain again. However, if I refuse to feel, I cannot heal. The emotions must be felt in order to rightly identify the lies I believe that are at their source. The emotions I feel will match the lies I believe. The pain I feel is not coming from the event, but from the misinterpretation (lie) which was given the event. A lie which is believed will produce the same consequences as if it were true. To be free of the lie requires that I take the lie "captive," rather than reject or denounce it. It is in this painful and helpless state through prayer that I am able to receive a healing Word from God. When the way is made clear for me to receive, God will speak His healing Word into my darkness and then I will be free at last. Once the Holy Spirit gives truth, I will be able to walk in victory. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic Does Theophostic Ministry require secular therapy training? Who is "qualified?" Theophostic Prayer Ministry provides a means for the nonprofessional in ministry to be more effective. Nonprofessionals in helping ministries will benefit from learning this method of prayer Ministry. Where most therapies require an extensive background in psychological training, a background in psychology and counseling may be beneficial but it is not essential. Because it is essentially a prayer model, ministers and pastors without psychological training can effectively minister to hurting people with Theophostic Prayer Ministry. Many churches are presently developing ministries using Theophostic prayer as their primary approach in helping the wounded people who come their way. It highly suggested that ministries seek to network with the Christian mental/medical health community and work in relationship with them. Ministers should always be ready and prepared to refer ministry recipients who need additional help to trained and licensed mental/medical professionals when possible. In addition, because many people cannot take advantage of professional services due to financial restraints, the minister, when properly trained and connected to a local church ministry, can be a valuable source of help to those who are hurting. It is also acknowledged that the Lord gave the Church the commission to bring healing to the downtrodden which is our call and mandate. (Luke 4:18) Praying for and ministering to those who are hurting and need help is an act of obedience which pleases our Lord. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic What are the limits of Theophostic Prayer Ministry? Theophostic is NOT able to: Change what is currently true in a person's life. Theophostic Prayer Ministry is focused on the lies one believes not what is true. Change what is true in a person's memory. (If something bad happened then this is the truth. Creating a new “version” such as is one with guided imagery does not bring lasting change.) Remove appropriate shame and guilt that is rooted in sin apart from the cross of Christ. If I have sinned then I should feel bad about it. Release a person from their lies against their will. Freedom is always about belief and choice. Prevent a person from making wrong choices after they are healed. When the lies are removed the right choices become more available. Heal true mental illness that is not rooted in faulty thinking. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic How do we know that Theophostic Prayer Ministry produces true inner healing of the mind? These factors are typically reported by people who receive Theophostic prayer: * The healing results in the perfect peace of Christ where there was
pain before. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic There is one God, eternally coexistent in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All things were created by and for the Son in relation to the Father. The Father sent His only Son to become the redemption for lost mankind. The Holy Spirit was sent to complete the mission of Christ through His Body the Church. Jesus Christ came in the flesh fully God and fully man, yet without sin. As God the Son, He came to earth as a man, born of a virgin, fulfilled all He was sent to accomplish, died on the cross for the sins of the world, after three days, rose from the dead and is seated today at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus Christ is central to all true healing and freedom. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He lives within the heart of the true Christian providing the power to obey God’s word, convicting of sin, teaching and leading into all truth, providing comfort in time of distress, unifying all true believers in a bond of love. The Holy Spirit is the way that God communicates with His people through opening up the written Word and through inner communication of the heart. It is believed to be the Holy Spirit that reveals truth to the person in a Theophostic Prayer Ministry session. (Even though this author sometimes uses the names Jesus, God, Spirit of Christ, Holy Spirit interchangeably when referring to how people receive truth, he theologically believes that it is in fact the Holy Spirit that communicates with believers and leads them into all truth. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is “profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness.” (2Tim.3: 16) It is timeless and relevant for all circumstances and is the fullness of God’s Divine inspired revelation to man without error in its original form. The Word of God must be allowed to interpret itself by itself in its accurate historical and literary context. The church is universally made up of all people who believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins and who are partakers of the Divine nature. The indwelling of the Spirit of Christ is the determining factor of one’s authentic faith relationship with God, not one’s denomination, religious practice, or performance in Christian disciplines. For “…if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Romans 8:9) The primary call and mission of the church to go forth and proclaim the good news of salvation and freedom in Christ to all the world (Matt. 28:19-20), to destroy the works of the evil one (1 John 3:8), to bring truth to those held captive by the grip of the kingdom of darkness, and prepare the way for His second coming by making ready His bride (Luke 4:18). All people are born with a fallen nature separated from God. In this fallen state our heart is separated from God and continually evil. Those who do not respond in faith to God’s gracious free gift through Christ live in a fallen state and will be eternally separated from God in an eternal hell. Those who come to Christ in faith will be made a new creature and live in heaven for all eternity. All people sin and are in need of God’s continual grace and forgiveness. Sin is an ongoing problem that must be dealt with in the life of the believer through the cross of Christ and “not of works.” The Bible says that “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor 5:21 NASV). God is a sovereign God who is able to do “exceedingly abundantly, far beyond whatever we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20). The reason we may not know this reality is due to the absence of the “power” that is not being released through “us”. When we seek to do ministry in our own power nothing divine happens. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic What are the benefits of receiving Theophostic ministry? Theophostic is a unique method of Ministry which brings about expedient healing and restoration in the lives of hurting people. Thousands of therapists, counselors, pastors and ministers have discovered Theophostic Prayer Ministry to be consistent and valid. Top of page Inquire about Theophostic *This descriptive text is from the Theophostic website. |
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