by Barbara Rolen, Program Director

Something shifted the moment those eleven people walked through the doors of the Bellville Retreat Center. 

Five women came as participants. Two leaders, four prayer ministers, and two hospitality hosts came to serve. But by the time the weekend was over — after the conversations that spilled into every break, after the bell rang to celebrate what God had done — it was clear that everyone had received something. 

That was March 20–21, and it was the inaugural TPM 101 Immersive. 

How We Got Here 

TPM 101 — which many of you may remember as the Basic Seminar — has always been a two-hour overview designed to introduce you to Serenity Retreat and give you a glimpse into the principles, purpose, and process of Transformation Prayer Ministry. It’s a great starting point. But after the overwhelming response to our TPM 201 Immersive in January, the Lord nudged us to ask a simple question: What if we gave it more room to breathe? 

The answer was a 24-hour stay at the retreat center — three meals, lodging, and the kind of unhurried space that doesn’t happen in a Zoom room. 

And now? We’re taking that same spirit of more in a whole new direction. This summer, for the first time ever, we’re bringing the immersive experience online — so that geography is no longer a barrier to going deeper with God through TPM. More on that in a moment. 

What Made It Different 

Our leadership team took the traditional model and broke it into digestible pieces, weaving in more personal stories and creating space for real, interactive conversations. What I didn’t anticipate? The between moments. 

Every single break, I’d look around and find small clusters of coaches and participants in deep conversation. Nobody was scrolling their phones. Nobody was rushing to the next thing. They were present — really present — in a way that’s hard to manufacture and impossible to schedule. 

Brooke Wallace, who has led TPM 101 for over six years, described it beautifully: 

“In the 24 hours that we gathered, a supportive community was formed. We shared our lives and how to cooperate with God to know Him more intimately. Participants received a firsthand experience in TPM by being a part of a personal prayer session. This is something that wouldn’t happen in the two-hour course. It was very valuable.” 

One of our participants, Jessica W., put words to what so many of us feel when life is full and margin is hard to find: 

“For me personally the immersive was more helpful for my full schedule as a stay-at-home mom. I was able to have uninterrupted time to myself and be fully present in learning and conversations. The immersive felt very relaxed and safe to ask questions and the scenery was so very peaceful… no distractions, quiet, and all the information was fully digestible with the breaks and reflection time.” 

Safe. Peaceful. Fully digestible. Those aren’t words people usually use to describe a learning environment — and they’re exactly what we hoped for. 

What It Means for You 

Of the five women who participated, two had never experienced a TPM session before. The others ranged from just a few sessions to several in recent months. Different starting points, same hunger — to know God more deeply and to understand how TPM can be a transformational tool in their everyday lives. 

And here’s the conclusion Brooke and I came to at the close of the weekend: it works. Learning in a relaxed, unhurried environment with the goal of actually practicing what you’re discovering in subsequent TPM sessions takes this from information to transformation. 

The freedom bell rang as participants drove through the gate. And we all knew we’d do this again. 

What’s Coming Next 

We are now forming the wait list for the summer and fall TPM 101 Immersives, and we have even more exciting news to share — because this year, there is truly something for everyone. 

Think of the TPM training pathway like this: 

TPM 101 is where you discover what Transformation Prayer Ministry is — the principles, the purpose, and the process, along with the possibility of what it could mean for you to embark on this journey. 

TPM 201 is where you go deeper, learning to cooperate with what God is doing in your own heart with greater understanding. 

TPM 301 is where it all comes together — stepping into the role of a mentor and learning to use TPM with others. 

Each level builds on the one before, and this summer, we’re offering immersive experiences at every level: 

• TPM 301 Immersive — May 14–16 (in-person, Bellville) 

• TPM 201 Virtual Immersive — June 11–13 (brand new — online!) 

• TPM 301 Immersive — July 30 – August 2 (in-person, Bellville) 

And a special word to prayer ministers who have stepped away from the ministry and feel a stirring to re-engage — the 301 Immersive was made for this moment. Come back. Your community is here. 

Whether you’re brand new to TPM and ready to start with 101, or you’re a returning prayer minister ready to re-engage, there is a place for you this year. 

👉 Sign up for the TPM 101 wait list or register for TPM 201 or TPM 301 at serenityretreat.com and watch future newsletters for announcements about upcoming trainings. These spots will fill quickly! 

We can’t wait to welcome you — wherever you are on the journey.