Serenity Blog – Serenity Retreat

More Than a Seminar: The Story of Our First TPM 101 Immersive

Written by Angela Miller on April 2, 2026. Posted in Prayer Ministers, Serenity Blog, TPM 101, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on More Than a Seminar: The Story of Our First TPM 101 Immersive

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.

From Lent to Resurrection: A Season of Preparation and Rebirth

Written by Angela Miller on April 1, 2026. Posted in Serenity Blog. No Comments on From Lent to Resurrection: A Season of Preparation and Rebirth

by Angela Miller

A Season of Preparation, A Promise of Rebirth

March has carried us deeper into the season of Lent, a time of preparation, of quiet surrender, of making space for what is to come.

As I’ve sat in this season, listening to the stories of others and holding my own, I’ve noticed something tender and sacred: Lent often carries this sacred tension of sacrifice, grief, and the quiet hope that something within us or maybe within someone else can be made new. This season of Lent has intention… and there is ache. There is longing… and there is waiting.

And in my mind’s eye, I keep returning to this image:
soil being tilled.

Not comfortable. Not easy.
But necessary.

A breaking up of what is hard and packed down, so that something new can take root.

Personal Preparation: Making Room for New Life

This past March, that image felt especially close to home.

Now, as we step into April, it feels even more real.

Our family is in the final stretch of pregnancy with another baby boy, and our hearts are full as we prepare to welcome him earthside at the end of this month. There is a very real, tangible preparation happening: physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as we ready ourselves to become a family of four.

There is also the quiet preparation of what comes after: postpartum rhythms, slower days, bonding as a family, and holding space for this new life entrusted to us.

I’ll be stepping away for six weeks to rest, recover, and fully enter into this sacred time and I am deeply looking forward to it.

Professional Preparation: A Community Carrying Together

At the same time, there has been a parallel preparation unfolding in my work as I prepare for maternity leave.

I’ve become acutely aware of the gift of the team I work alongside. We are small, but we are unified in a way that feels rare and deeply meaningful.

I enjoy working with these women because they are incredibly capable in everything they put their hands to. And more than that, they are willing. Willing to step into parts of my role, willing to stretch, willing to carry more, willing to step into the gaps.

And as I reflect on their willingness to take on additional responsibilities during my absence, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude.

Because it echoes something far greater.

The One Who Carried It All

In this Lenten season, as we move toward the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I can’t help but sit in the weight of what He carried.

Not just my burdens.
Not just my sin.
But the weight/sin of the entire world and it’s problems.

He was perfect and innocent—undeserving of that suffering.
And yet, He chose it.

He chose to go to the cross and die for my sins and for the sins of the world, so that those who believe in Him would have eternal life.

There is something deeply humbling about recognizing that even the small ways others carry burdens for us reflect the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on our behalf, on the cross for us so we could live life and live eternally.

It leads me to a place of reverence… and overwhelming thankfulness.

A Season of Birth—In More Ways Than One

As the season shifts from preparation to resurrection this April, I find myself standing in the overlap of both.

Personally, I am preparing for birth!

But I’m also stepping into a new kind of offering as a birth educator and doula—launching a birth course centered on emotional and spiritual health through Transformation Prayer Ministry.

This is something that has profoundly impacted my own life especially with the birth of my first son.

I have seen, again and again, how the Lord uses this prayer process to gently uncover lies we’ve believed—sometimes for years—and replace them with His truth.

Sometimes that shift happens in minutes.
Sometimes it takes time to unravel the layers.

But the result is the same:
freedom, clarity, and a new way forward.

And when it comes to birth, that kind of transformation matters deeply; because, the narrative a mother carries into her birth space, shapes how she will experience it.

And I believe God desires to meet women there with His truth, His peace, and His presence.

The Deeper Rebirth

And still, there is an even deeper layer to all of this.

The resurrection is not just something we remember—
it’s something we live.

Because of Jesus Christ, we have been made new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” — Titus 3:5

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20

This is the invitation of Easter, of this Resurrection Sunday:
rebirth, renewal, restoration.

Not just once—but continually as we embrace our new identity in Christ!

An Invitation to Extend the Invitation

So as we step into this season of resurrection, I want to gently ask:

Who in your life needs to experience this kind of rebirth?

Who is carrying heaviness right now?
Who is walking through family struggles, personal pain, or professional uncertainty?
Who is longing for hope—whether they can name it or not?

And maybe just as importantly:

What might it look like for you to invite them in?

It could be simple—
an invitation to church,
a conversation over Scripture,
a retreat experience,
a prayer session,
a training.

Sometimes it’s not about having the perfect words—
it’s about extending a simple, faithful invitation.

Because I have seen firsthand what happens when someone encounters the truth of God in a personal way.

I have been a recipient of that kind of transformation.
And it changes everything!

And even if an invitation is not accepted, a seed might be planted. Pray for that seed that the Lord would mature it in His perfect timing.

A Prayer for This Season

As we move toward Easter, my prayer for you is this:

That you would sense the Lord gently stirring your heart.
That you would recognize where He is bringing renewal in your life.
And that you would have the courage to invite others into the same hope.

Lord, who are You placing on my heart to invite into deeper relationship with You?

May this be a season not only of preparation—
but of beautiful, unmistakable rebirth.

Ideas to invite others to:

1-Hour Prayer Session

Retreat at our Bellville Texas Retreat Center

Prayer Training

With expectation,
Angela G. Miller
Sacred Life Rhythms

Coffee, Conversation, and Transformation

Written by Angela Miller on March 31, 2026. Posted in Community Support, Serenity Blog, Transformation Prayer. No Comments on Coffee, Conversation, and Transformation

By Paige Loveless

Two years ago, I purchased a copy of Transformation Prayer Ministry Principles-Purpose-Process and embarked on the six-week TPM introductory course.  It was a wonderful experience that reinforced for me what “a present help in time of trouble” is our God.

I began sharing what I was learning with my friends and particularly with a group of women I meet with every week. It was obvious the information regarding this way of cooperating with God in the transformation process was making an impact.

In recent years I have periodically hosted what I call a kaffeeklatsch in my home. (Official definition: a place where coffee is served and important things are said.) And indeed, important things have been said by each and every one by the invited speakers. It’s a rich blessing for the attendees and for me too, in expressing hospitality in this way.

Once I realized the great value of TPM to the body of Christ, I planned to invite Barbara Rolen, Serenity Retreat Program Director to be a kaffeeklatsch speaker. We finally were able to do that this year on February 28. It was a beautiful morning of hearing Barb present the basics of TPM and sharing powerful examples from her own life. 

Everyone in attendance expressed their appreciation for the blessings and encouragement they received. I think the great value in this was that it was confirmation that God really is big enough and willing enough to reach us in the deepest part of our being, leading us to and persuading us of the Truth. And believing the Truth changes everything!  

Two of the women will soon begin gathering regularly to go through the TPM manual together. Several expressed a desire to go to Serenity Retreat. I have had impactful conversations with several of the attendees to reinforce or clarify some aspect of TPM to the level of my current understanding. I’ve been renewed in intentionally referencing the TPM principles, purpose and process routinely with the group I am facilitating weekly and in private conversations. 

Paige extends her heartfelt thanks to Barb, for making time in her busy schedule to prepare her presentation and make the trek to Boerne and for the fruitful morning it produced.

Could Your Living Room Be Next?

Paige didn’t need a ministry degree or a large venue. She needed a coffee pot, a heart for her friends, and a willingness to say, “I found a new way to communicate with God that has changed my life — and I’d love for you to come hear about it.”

If you’ve experienced the impact of TPM and have been wondering how to share it with people you love, hosting a kaffeeklatsch — or brunch, or backyard gathering — might be exactly the open door you’ve been looking for.

We’d love to help you make it happen. Reach out to us at Serenity Retreat to explore how we can support you in bringing this conversation to your community.

What If 24 Hours Could Shift the Way You Hear God?

Written by Angela Miller on March 4, 2026. Posted in Serenity Blog, TPM 101, Transformation Prayer Training, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on What If 24 Hours Could Shift the Way You Hear God?

by Barbara Rolen, Program Director

For the first time ever, we are offering a TPM 101 Immersive — a 24-hour getaway experience designed for intentional spiritual work and encounter with the Lord.

Last month, we launched our first TPM 201 Immersive—and something beautiful happened. Participants shared how powerful it was to step away from everyday life and give God their full attention. We were reminded that growth requires intention. Every new season with the Lord invites us deeper, and depth rarely happens accidentally.

Here is what the TPM 201 Immersive students had to say about their experience:

“The most impactful time is watching the Holy Spirit breakthrough in someone’s life and give them a new truth.”

“The role plays and the live demonstration minimized the mountain I had made of TPM.”

“Seeing the building block of the Lord in each session to lead to my final session that brought such truth and transformation!”

What Is Transformation Prayer Ministry?

Transformation Prayer Ministry (TPM) is a Christ-centered structured prayer process that helps you cooperate with God as He refines your faith and transforms your life by renewing your mind with His truth.

It is not about someone giving advice or fixing you.

It is about slowing down enough to allow the Holy Spirit to persuade you of His perspective —so that His truth becomes your lived, experiential reality.

TPM creates space for God to do what only He can do.

And doing this in a focused, immersive setting allows that work to go deeper.

What Is TPM 101 Immersive?

Nestled on our peaceful 26-acre property in Bellville, Texas, TPM 101 Immersive is where learning becomes encounter.

Over the course of 24 hours, you will have the opportunity to learn about the principles, purpose, and process of Transformation Prayer Ministry AND experience it in prayer sessions. Between sessions, you’ll enjoy walking the property, have quiet reflections, and nourishing meals. The rhythm of the weekend is designed to hold both depth and space.

Friday:	Saturday:
4:00 PM Check-in	8:00 AM Breakfast
5:00 PM TPM 101, Part 1	9:00 AM TPM 101, Part 2
6:15 PM Dinner	10:30 AM Group A: Individual prayer sessions/Group B: Reflection time
7:30 PM Small group practice session	12:00 PM Lunch
	1:30 PM Group B: Individual prayer sessions/Group A: Reflection time
	3:00 PM. TPM 101, Part 3
	4:00 PM: Departure

What Makes This Experience Uniquely Formational

Following teaching that grounds you in the process, the cohort divides into small groups where you practice what you’re learning and debrief in real time. On Saturday, after more interactive teaching, each participant experiences TPM in a private prayer session with two prayer ministers

What emerges is a sacred rhythm of receiving, observing, celebrating, and honoring what God is doing in you and among you. It is deeply personal—and beautifully communal.

By the end of our time together, TPM won’t just be something you’ve learned about. It will be something you’ve experienced with the Lord.

Is This for You?

There is something different about stepping away for 24 hours. When you remove the distractions of everyday life, your heart has room to surface what it’s been carrying. You begin to notice what God may have been inviting you into all along.

This experience is for those who:

Desire to deepen their walk with the Lord

Want to experience TPM firsthand in a safe setting with experienced prayer ministers

Long for a short but meaningful getaway with God

Want to connect with like-minded believers who are pursuing growth

This is intentional space. Intentional prayer. Intentional spiritual work.

And yes — it may surprise you what the Lord does in just 24 hours.

Limited Space. Intentional Community.

This immersive is intentionally small—only 12 spots available. It will be first come, first served. We want this to feel personal. Attentive. Spacious.

We truly believe the Lord will draw the right people into this space.

	Regular Rate	Limited-Time Rate*
Single Occupancy	$356	$320
Double Occupancy	$303 (per person)	$273 (per person)

Is This Your Next Step?

If you’re feeling the nudge of the Lord to step away for 24 hours…

If you’ve been curious about TPM…

If you sense it’s time to go deeper…

We would love for you to join us.

And if there is a friend who needs this too—link arms, register together, and join us this month.

TPM 101 Immersive | March 20–21, 2026 | Bellville, Texas

TPM 101 Immersive – Registration

We look forward to welcoming you.

For Such a Time as This: A Reflection of Serenity’s 2026 Staff and Board Retreat

Written by Angela Miller on March 4, 2026. Posted in Serenity Blog, Serenity Retreat. No Comments on For Such a Time as This: A Reflection of Serenity’s 2026 Staff and Board Retreat

by Dr. Emi Barresi, Board Member

The 2026 staff and board retreat was a resounding success. Set in the beautiful and blessed atmosphere of Serenity itself, I gathered with the leaders and contributors of the Serenity Retreat mission to collaborate, strengthen relationships, and cast vision for the important work ahead. I left inspired and anchored in my calling to steward the next steps of this ministry.

One of the most memorable moments of the weekend was the retreat’s opening setting. As board members, we took a stroll along the prayer trail to pray over the retreat’s intentions. New board member Debra Hill led an impromptu, Spirit-led time of worship along the trail, and the presence of Christ during our walk was palpable. Together, we gave glory to the finished work of Christ and calibrated our hearts to hear His guidance, direction, and wisdom. Later, the new board members broke bread under the newly installed lights at the Serenity pavilion, sharing our unique callings and the testimonies that led each of us to unite here for such a time as this.

*Skip Koshak, Dr. Emi Barresi, Debra Hill, Cynthia Wenz, Robert Zimmerman*

Staff and board members then came together, aligned and ready to dive into a shared vision for strengthening the ministry’s foundation of TPM, exploring opportunities for enhancement, and considering transformative developments for the future. It was clear to me that the staff had spent much time in prayer, focusing on sustainability and expansion as they prepare to serve the community with intention while building upon 25 years of impactful ministry. The staff presentations were inspiring, blending the wisdom of long-tenured leadership with fresh ideas and perspectives. Each participant reflected on where they see their contribution and service within the organization and how the Lord is guiding their efforts.

Cynthia Wenz, Serenity’s Interim CEO and Board Secretary, served as a unifying presence throughout the retreat. She cultivated an environment where staff and board members could connect deeply and steward the time with reverence for the Lord, open hearts and attentive ears, and a shared commitment to building relationships that will shape the road ahead.

Hospitality was on full display thanks to Tiffany Pardue and new staff member Katie Sohacki, who works remotely and traveled in to be present with us during the event. Their thoughtful care included a beautiful lunch served in the barn, an intimate and welcoming space brought to life through their creativity and attention to detail. Each meal and moment was intentionally prepared, creating an atmosphere that felt like fertile soil where meaningful conversations and collaboration could naturally flourish.

Board members shared their reflections on the experience. Debra noted, “This was my first Serenity Board Meeting. I enjoyed it very much. I am looking forward to being part of this ministry, and I hope to help make Serenity Retreat known to churches and communities so that more people can be transformed.”

New board member and longtime volunteer Skip Koshak described the event as “an opportunity to partner with Papa as He transforms and liberates people,” adding, “We have a phenomenal team and one message with many voices.”

As I reflected on the retreat, I left deeply inspired, with a renewed desire to contribute to a mission that has personally impacted my life. I understood why and how the Lord called me to help build a sustainable future for others who deeply need His truth. Vision is seeing what is not yet there, and the staff and current board worked diligently to articulate the vision in a way that brought clarity, allowing us to truly see the path ahead and understand how I can serve alongside this ordained team.

Staff members were moved as well. Angela Miller, Program Manager, shared, “The Board and Staff Retreat was a unifying and encouraging time for our team at Serenity Retreat. It was beautiful to put faces to the specific board roles that serve this ministry, but even more meaningful to hear our board and staff’s heart for the ministry and their desire to see it thrive. The unity around the table and the opportunity for all of us to learn from one another was truly a gift!” Barbara Rolen, Program Director, added, “The entire staff is hopeful and expectant for the fruit ahead in 2026 as the board and staff continue to collaborate.”

There is still much work ahead to equip more prayer ministers and bring many of these ideas to fruition, and this gathering set the stage for every contributor to make an impact in the days, weeks, and ultimately the year ahead. As the future comes into clearer focus, with the expansion of the board and called leaders and stewards in place, the next 25 years of community impact and freeing truth are well positioned to flourish, an alignment that could only have been orchestrated by the Lord.

One Hundred Years of Serenity

Written by Tiffany Pardue on February 18, 2026. Posted in Serenity Blog, Transformation Prayer. No Comments on One Hundred Years of Serenity

A Prayer for an Age of Extremes

by Tiffany Pardue, Retreats Director

I have been saturated in the news lately.

Massacres, wars, civil wars, imminent wars. The release of files implicating world and pop culture leaders. More prominent Christian leaders exposed in sin and betrayal. The polarity surrounding immigration, ICE, Israel, Iran. Unending reports of sex trafficking, gross perversions, murders. The double-talk and lack of justice — especially for children.

And beneath the headlines: the traumas, griefs, heartaches, and uncertainties of my own life. The same true for those for whom I care, and those we serve at Serenity Retreat. Likely also for you?

As I journaled my wrestles to the Lord this week, I found myself repenting — not for caring, and not for being informed, but for overconsumption. For receiving and attempting to sift truth from a dozen voices before first being still with Him. For allowing the volume of information to reduce my ability to hear what He has to say.

I committed again to bring my thoughts and questions first to Him before diving deeper or processing with others. To remember that discernment is born not from endless input, but from intimacy.

In those moments of turning, something unexpected surfaced. The first line of the Serenity Prayer.

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

So I looked up the prayer and read it in its entirety. Tears.

At the bottom of the page was the author’s name, Reinhold Niebuhr.
The year: 1926.

One hundred years ago.

What a decade. What a century.

Curious, I read about him and returned to the 1920s. He penned his prayer in a time described as “an age of extreme contradiction.” Unmatched prosperity and cultural advancement existed alongside intense social unrest and reaction. A decade marked by women’s suffrage and the Great Depression, that bore urbanism and modernism, as well as the Ku Klux Klan, Prohibition, nativism, and religious fundamentalism.

Extreme contradiction. Cultural advancement alongside deep corruption. Religious fervor alongside profound moral compromise.

It all feels sadly familiar.

Notable reports — and notable silences — from mainstream and alternative news sources regarding everything from global trafficking rings to local and international conflicts.
Notable reports — and notable silences — from church leaders, ministries, denominational heads, and influencers regarding perversions within the Church.
Notable reports — and notable silences — from governments at every level.

Everyone seems to be pursuing a moral or religious high ground. Whether the issue is familial, political, scandal, or cultural upheaval, conviction is loud. Humility is rare.

Many of us are in-our-bones tired.

Rocked from the last bombs.
Weary of sorting truth from manipulation.
Grieving what has been lost or defiled.
Watching love grow cold.
Wishing those in authority would do more.
Considering what more we could have done or can do.
Angry as deception, lethargy, evil and injustice persist.

Lord, have mercy.

The full Serenity Prayer goes beyond its familiar opening. It speaks of living one day at a time. Enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Identifying with Jesus. Trusting that God will make all things right if we surrender to His will. Then it speaks of happiness — reasonable and supreme, forever.

Just, yes. Amen. Such a simple, infinitely profound prayer. What I think I appreciate most about returning to it and digging a little deeper now is understanding that this prayer was forged in turbulence.

Serenity, then, is not denial, disengagement, or indifference.

Serenity is ordered trust.

It is the refusal to let darkness dictate the condition of our inner world. It’s the courage to act where God assigns responsibility, and the humility to release what He has not. It’s heavenly wisdom formed not by acquiring knowledge, but received by sitting-walking-standing with Him.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

This psalm wasn’t written in a holy vacuum. In it, the nations are raging, and kingdoms, tottering. Stillness, then, is not escapism. It’s allegiance, choosing where to anchor when the earth shakes.

And that is where I find myself in this season, anchored at Serenity — serving, learning, and healing every day. To retreat is not escape from reality, it’s returning to Truth. It’s receiving when the enemy is doing its most to take. It’s a military strategy, but I’ll save that for another time.

The world in 1926 needed this prayer, and we need it now. To mark its centennial, how about reading the Serenity Prayer aloud:

The Full Serenity Prayer

by Reinhold Niebuhr (1926)

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

Now will you join me in practicing it?

To limit our intake.
To guard our inner lives.
To endure hardship and expect happiness.
To confess where we have partnered with fear.
To acknowledge our thoughts and take them to the Lord. Our feelings, too — TPM is amazing for that.
To take courage and act as He speaks.
To accept where He asks for surrender.
To trust that justice ultimately rests in His hands.

We are living in an age of extremes, also an age of salvation. Perhaps the most courageous thing is to respond and say “yes”. Yes to His leadership. His limits. His wisdom. His peace. His way.

We cannot quiet the nations, news, or naysayers, but we can quiet our souls.

And we can be happy.

Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever —Psalm 146:5-6

For help with unrest, frustration, or pain, we invite you to take time away at Serenity Retreat in Bellville, and/or a cost-free hour at a time in Transformation Prayer Ministry. Click here to schedule a session or retreat today. Be blessed!

**Jesus-loving Ladies of 2026 looking like the 1920s — celebrating the 4th Anniversary of The Gathery in Bellville, Texas.**

Welcoming Carol Schwartz and Angela Miller to the CORE Team

Written by Angela Miller on February 9, 2026. Posted in Prayer Ministers, Serenity Blog, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on Welcoming Carol Schwartz and Angela Miller to the CORE Team

by Barbara Rolen, Program Director at Serenity Retreat

The C.O.R.E. Team—which stands for “Clarification of Refinements”—was established by Kathryn Eason prior to her retirement in 2019. The team serves as a group of seasoned TPM mentors who provide guidance, training, and leadership development for our ministry. These are the women and men you can turn to with questions about TPM Principles, Purpose, and Process. They coach our mentors, lead training courses, facilitate community discussions, and help shape the ongoing development of how we equip others in Transformation Prayer Ministry. It’s a significant commitment, but also a meaningful opportunity to multiply impact and help ensure that all guests experience the same high quality TPM in their prayer sessions and our training remains faithful to the model established by Ed and Joshua Smith at TransformationPrayer.org.

Welcoming Carol Schwartz and Angela Miller to the C.O.R.E. Team

*Barbara Rolen, Angela Miller, Kathy Zimmerman, Keever & Brooke Wallace, Carol Schwartz,* *Becky Moorman.*

There’s something sacred about watching the Lord raise up the right people at exactly the right time. As we continue growing and refining what TPM looks like at Serenity Retreat, we’re celebrating two extraordinary women who are stepping into this expanded leadership role—Carol Schwartz and Angela Miller.

If you’ve been part of our Serenity family for any length of time, you probably already know these women. You’ve experienced their warmth, their wisdom, and their genuine heart for seeing others encounter freedom in Christ. Now, they’re bringing those same gifts to a new level of mentoring and equipping. Their addition to the team was unanimous—every current C.O.R.E. Team member recognized what the Lord is doing in and through Carol and Angela.

Meet Carol

Carol’s journey with TPM has been one of profound personal transformation—and she’s the first to tell you about it. “The prayer process has helped me experience the love of God in a deeper and broader way,” she shares. “It has allowed me to accept myself as God made me—especially being emotional—and to see that this is not a flaw but a gift.”

That kind of honesty? That’s exactly what makes Carol such a natural fit for the C.O.R.E. Team.

When we asked what unique gifts she brings, Carol didn’t hesitate: “Openness to God’s voice, encouragement, joy of working together.” And when it comes to her calling to teach and equip others, she lights up. The Lord spoke clearly to her: “I will one day teach you to ‘coach’ people with my Holy Spirit.” She senses this is that season—God’s way of preparing her for what would eventually happen.

Carol brings a beautiful combination of strength and tenderness to the team. She’s confident in TPM principles and comfortable answering most questions, yet she’s also refreshingly humble about her growth process. “I do have some concern about making mistakes as I continue to grow in the process,” she acknowledges. “I am learning to trust the Holy Spirit to guide me. I also want to be open to correction and see it as a natural part of learning.”

That kind of teachable spirit—paired with her natural gift for encouragement—makes Carol invaluable as we mentor the next generation of prayer ministers.

Meet Angela

Angela G. Miller

Angela serves in a dual role at Serenity Retreat—she’s both a prayer minister and our Program Manager, working closely with me in the day-to-day rhythms of ministry. Her attention to detail, administrative gifts, and heart for the mission make her an anchor for so much of what happens behind the scenes.

But what truly sets Angela apart is how she brings both administrative excellence and deep spiritual sensitivity to everything she touches.

When asked about her TPM journey, Angela shares: “It has been life changing. I didn’t realize I had believed so many lies. TPM helped me let go of those lies and has helped me step into greater freedom and live more fully in God’s grace. This is available to everyone! Praise God.”

That passion—this is available to everyone—is what drives her heart to serve on the C.O.R.E. Team.

Angela brings unique gifts to our team: a calling to teach and equip others in TPM, and a special sensitivity to how people learn and grow. She has a remarkable ability to sense what’s needed in the moment—whether that’s a word of encouragement, a clarifying question, or a gentle redirection.

Her natural strengths shine in one-on-one coaching and mentoring, small group facilitation, training course leadership, and the immersive experiences we’re developing. She’s also gifted at evaluating current mentors and curating TPM resources—skills that help us continually improve what we offer.

What excites Angela most about joining the C.O.R.E Team? “I love being part of a team and moving together as God leads us. I also love seeing others grow in their walk with Jesus, to be a part of that in this way would be a blessing. It’s answered prayer. I pray often to love God and others.”

What This Means for You

Both Carol and Angela participated in our inaugural TPM 201 Immersive retreat in Bellville recently. Their contributions to workshop discussions and practice sessions enriched the experience for everyone in the cohort. They’re already making suggestions that will enhance how we train prayer ministers going forward and deepen the experience for each guest who comes through our doors. You can read their reflections in the post, “When the Mountain Becomes a Molehill: Reflections on TPM 201 Immersive”

Their addition to the C.O.R.E Team was unanimous—every current team member recognized what the Lord is doing in and through these two women. We couldn’t be more grateful.

As we move forward, you’ll see Carol and Angela serving in various capacities: leading training sessions, coaching mentors, facilitating small groups, and helping shape the future of TPM at Serenity Retreat. They bring fresh perspectives, deep experience, and most importantly, hearts fully surrendered to where the Holy Spirit is leading.

We’re so excited about this season of growth. The Lord continues to raise up the right people at the right time, and we’re honored to walk alongside Carol and Angela as they step more fully into this calling.

Please join us in celebrating these remarkable women and the ways God is expanding our capacity to serve, train, and equip others in Transformation Prayer Ministry.

Blessings,

Barbara

When the Mountain Becomes a Molehill: Reflections on Our First TPM 201 Immersive

Written by Angela Miller on February 9, 2026. Posted in Serenity Blog, Serenity Retreat Center, TPM 201, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on When the Mountain Becomes a Molehill: Reflections on Our First TPM 201 Immersive

by Barbara Rolen, Program Director at Serenity Retreat

“The role-plays and the live demonstration minimized the mountain I had made of TPM.”

When one member of the cohort shared this insight after our first TPM 201 Immersive in Bellville, it reminded me of the way we humans many times approach new experiences, me included. We build up these mountains in our minds—mountains of complexity, mountains of fear, mountains of “I could never do that”—and then the Holy Spirit gently shows us that what looked insurmountable was actually an invitation to step forward.

On Jan 29 – 31, 2026 (with several of us lingering through Sunday morning), we gathered in Bellville for something that was just an idea from the Lord last fall: a condensed, intensive format for TPM 201 that would allow people to grow in their understanding of TPM and have multiple encounters with the Lord in practice sessions, without the challenge of sustaining momentum across six weekly classes. What unfolded was a community of believers sharing life together: lots of laughter and tears as we witnessed and experienced encounters with the Lord leading to transformation again and again.

But the journey didn’t begin when we arrived Thursday evening. It started weeks earlier, when participants began their pre-coursework…

Part One: Laying the Foundation—Weeks of Intentional Preparation

The journey to Bellville didn’t begin with packing bags or making travel arrangements. It began weeks earlier, when each participant received access to their pre-coursework—a carefully designed progression through seven modules that would prepare their hearts and minds for the intensive weekend ahead.

Over those weeks, participants were reading key chapters from The Principles, Purpose, and Process by Ed Smith and Joshua Smith, watching key teaching videos, and engaging with the content through Discovery Guides. They were learning the core TPM principles—we perceive what we believe, we feel what we believe, we do what we believe, we believe what we are persuaded to believe—and beginning to recognize patterns in their own lives. We also asked each person to complete three TPM sessions before arriving, giving them hands-on experience with the process they’d be learning to use.

Some engaged deeply with the pre-work, joining us for our three Zoom check-ins to discuss what they were learning and to experience the prayer process of TPM. Others did what they could, showing up with just enough foundation to begin. And that was okay—because what we discovered is that the immersive format has room for people to enter at different levels of preparation.

The pre-work served its purpose: everyone arrived with at least a basic shared vocabulary and some personal experience of TPM. But the real breakthroughs? Those would come during our time together, when teaching met practice, when understanding became experience, and when the Holy Spirit showed up in ways none of us could orchestrate.

Part Two: Three Days of Deep Transformation

Thursday: Setting the Atmosphere

We gathered around the table over a charcuterie dinner while sharing what brought us to this immersive experience. The honesty in the room was palpable—some eager, some nervous, all expectant. The discussion continued as we dove into the first component of the Purpose of TPM: faith-refinement.

After a brief orientation, focusing specifically on the Emotion Box, where every TPM session begins, everyone enjoyed a live demonstration. Watching someone demonstrate self-TPM made it feel… possible. Approachable. Real.

Angela Miller, one of our coaches, later reflected: “The TPM 201 Immersive reminded me how powerful it is when people gather together in-person, sharing meals, engaging in meaningful conversation, and learning about a prayer process that has lasting effects on our spiritual life. We create space to go deeper into our own stories while also bearing witness to what God is doing in the lives of others.”

Friday: The Rhythm of Breakthrough

Each workshop began with a playful or meaningful warm-up exercise designed to focus on an aspect of TPM. The first workshop of the day was focused on the Memory Box and Belief Box, exploring why it matters where our beliefs are stored (head versus heart) and how the Holy Spirit works to renew our minds.

The teaching sessions weren’t just lectures. We broke into small groups with coaches for role plays, working through scenarios like “Sarah’s Stressful Situation” and “Angie’s Anger.” These weren’t theoretical exercises—they were practice runs for the real sessions happening between workshops.

One participant captured it perfectly: “I loved the community that formed in the 36 hours we were together. I love how knowing the Lord and knowing others know the Lord gives us a strong kinship. I loved that people were serious about learning TPM and their hearts were really engaged in it.”

By Friday afternoon, we were tackling the Anger Box—learning to recognize anger in all its disguises and understanding that our anger always is fueled by a belief underneath. Friday evening brought us face-to-face with Solution Indicators—those protective behaviors we’ve developed to avoid pain, the ones that feel so right but keep us stuck.

And between every workshop? Practice sessions. Real prayer ministry. Real breakthroughs.

“I had a great prayer session when one of the participants prayed for me,” one attendee shared. “The most impactful time is watching the Holy Spirit breakthrough in someone’s life and givethem a new truth.”

Saturday: Integration and Transformation

Saturday morning we explored the Solution Box more deeply. This is where many participants had their biggest “aha” moments. One person wrote in her survey: “I realized I have spent my life in the solution box, thinking it was a good answer, thinking these behaviors were the right and logical truths. And my mind has been renewed. My beliefs are not correct, God’s truth is the right solution. I’m on a new path now in my thinking and how I perceive and believe. It feels like freedom and I actually felt lighter and dizzy, something left.”

Another shared: “I’ve spent most of my life thinking I am alone and isolated, and in my TPM session I realized that was a self-protection tool, and that I can depend on God in those places around me and feel safe and loved and cared for.”

Carol Schwartz, another coach, observed: “Being part of TPM 201 team was such a gift. The immersive setting gave us the chance to really slow down and walk with people as they practiced, asked questions, and grew in confidence. It was powerful to watch the material click in real time and to see the personal growth happening right alongside their hands-on learning.”

Saturday afternoon brought us full circle with a “Coaches Panel”—a time for participants to ask any lingering questions. Then came our closing ceremony: the Transformation Commemoration. Each person wrote on a river rock one lie they’d believed when they arrived—something Jesus had replaced with truth over these three days. One by one, they threw their rocks into the water, releasing what God had set them free from. Then they received cards to write down the truth God had given them in place of the lie or anything else the Lord wanted them to walk away with. It was a genuine celebration of what we’d witnessed God do.

A few of us lingered into Sunday for additional fellowship and reflection time. There’s something sacred about those unhurried morning hours after an intensive experience—time to let it all settle.

Part Three: What We’re Learning About This Format

The survey responses are still coming in, but certain themes are already clear:

The immersive format works differently than weekly classes. The concentrated time, the meals together, the ability to have multiple practice sessions in a short span—it accelerates both learning and transformation. Angela, who helped facilitate this intensive, put it simply: “I genuinely love this model and cannot recommend an immersive highly enough. Even if you have participated in a six- or eight-week training, there is something uniquely rich about the immersive experience that is well worth stepping into.”

Role plays and demonstrations demystify the process. That participant who felt the mountain become a molehill? She wasn’t alone. Watching real demonstrations and doing hands-on practice made TPM feel accessible rather than overwhelming.

Community matters. Being together in person, sharing meals, laughing over icebreakers, witnessing each other’s breakthroughs—it creates bonds that go beyond typical classroom learning.

The Lord shows up. One participant noted simply: “Still digesting everything, the skits, the workshop discussions were fantastic.” But beneath that digest-time is the reality that minds were renewed, lies were replaced with truth, and people encountered Jesus in tangible ways.

Part Four: Your Invitation

We’re offering more TPM 201 Immersive opportunities in 2026, and after experiencing this first one, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Whether you’ve never taken TPM training before, or you completed a weekly format years ago and want to go deeper, this condensed format offers something special.

You’ll arrive with some pre-work under your belt. You’ll spend three days learning principles, practicing skills, and experiencing personal ministry. You’ll leave with new tools, new freedom, and new friends who’ve walked this journey with you.

And maybe, like our participants, you’ll discover that the mountain you imagined was really just an invitation to step forward and watch what God can do.

If you’re interested in a future TPM 201 Immersive, reach out to us at Serenity Retreat [email protected]. We’d love to have you join us for the next one!

A New Season in Bellville: Welcoming Tiffany Pardue

Written by Angela Miller on January 15, 2026. Posted in Serenity Blog, Serenity Retreat, Serenity Retreat Center. No Comments on A New Season in Bellville: Welcoming Tiffany Pardue

by Cynthia Wenz, Interim CEO and Board Member

We are grateful to share that Tiffany Pardue has stepped into a new leadership role at Serenity Retreat as our Retreats Director and Community Partnership Liaison. This transition marks a meaningful new season for Serenity Retreat Bellville, and one we are entering with deep gratitude and confidence.

In these past months, as Tiffany has stepped more fully into this role, we have already seen the fruit of her leadership. She has helped maintain, develop, and strengthen the rhythm of retreats and ministry respites on the land, while also collaborating closely with the broader team to imagine what could be next. With creativity and wisdom, Tiffany has brought fresh insight into how our retreats and hospitality team can continue to serve individuals, ministries, and communities with care, depth, and intentionality. We’ve already seen the collaboration in action with our training team in our recent TPM 201 Immersive and how the Lord is positioning Serenity Retreat for the new wine to come!

Tiffany carries both a reverence for what God has already established at Serenity Retreat and a thoughtful openness to innovation, holding the mission steady while helping us grow with clarity and purpose. Her leadership helps ensure that the retreats, gatherings, and trainings hosted in Bellville continue to be places where people can encounter God in safety, truth, and love.

As Serenity Retreat Bellville continues to grow as a place of rest, prayer, and restoration, this role helps cultivate an atmosphere where Transformation Prayer Ministry can flourish and where individuals and groups can step away from the noise to listen, heal, and be renewed in God’s presence. The land in Bellville remains a place set apart, a place to come away, to be still, and to receive.

As Scripture reminds us:
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)

If you are sensing an invitation to step away for rest, prayer, or healing, we would be honored to host you at Serenity Retreat Bellville. To inquire about a personal retreat, group retreat, or ministry respite, please email [email protected] or fill out our Retreat Information Request Form.

We are deeply thankful for the way God is assembling leaders for this next season at Serenity Retreat. Please join us in welcoming Tiffany and praying for her as she continues to serve with humility, wisdom, and a heart fully yielded to the work God is doing here.

An Ordinary Morning, Sacred Ground

Written by Angela Miller on December 23, 2025. Posted in Serenity Blog, TPM 101, TPM 201, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on An Ordinary Morning, Sacred Ground

by Angela Miller | Program Manager at Serenity Retreat

Some of the most important moments of transformation don’t happen in prayer rooms or retreats; they happen in kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms before the day has even fully begun.

This Advent, I wrote on my personal blog that I had what I would honestly describe as a good morning. I woke up steady, moved into my usual rhythm… and then realized I was completely out of my green drink and collagen (if you know, you know). Normally, I mix those with a little matcha, my gentle springboard into the day. That springboard was gone.

“Almost immediately, I felt that familiar edge creep in: I need coffee or I’m not going to survive.”

What surprised me wasn’t the frustration, many of you know that feeling, but what the Lord gently invited me into next.

When Frustration Is a Signal, Not a Norm or a Failure

Emotions are not the problem; they are an opportunity.

That morning, frustration told me something deeper was happening. I wasn’t just annoyed about ingredients. I was unknowingly trying to fix something in my flesh. I was leaning on a ‘coping mechanism’ to function.

(Let me pause here: I’m not saying coffee or routine is always a coping mechanism. But sometimes an honest evaluation is needed—especially when frustration or another negative emotion is associated with a habit, routine, or the desire to escape discomfort.)

So instead of pushing the feeling away, I paused and acknowledged it honestly:

“Lord, I’m frustrated with my circumstances because my routine is off, and I need to function.”

This is what we call the Anger Box in Transformation Prayer Ministry, naming the emotion without judgment, spiritualizing, or self-correction.

Then I moved into what we call the Solution Box, asking a question we teach people to ask regularly:
Do I sense hesitancy or resistance at the thought of letting this frustration go? Would it take effort on my part to let it go?

Uhhhh… yes. This cloud felt like it was just hovering over my head.

So I kept going and asked the next question:

“What do I believe would happen if I let this frustration go?” or “What bad thing might happen if the frustration was gone?”

The answer surprised me:

“If I let it go, I might not function today.”

So I asked the next question:

“So the reason I need to hold onto this frustration is what?”

And there it was:

“I need to be frustrated at my circumstances in order to function.”

This Is What TPM Looks Like as a Lifestyle

This is the heart of Transformation Prayer Ministry, not fixing behavior, but allowing God to reveal the deeper belief so He can speak His truth into it and transform our lives.

I shared that belief with the Lord and sat quietly. I didn’t strive. I didn’t try to replace it with truth on my own. I simply listened.

And what He impressed on my heart was simple and profound:

“I am your function.”

That one sentence changed everything.

“In it was everything I needed to hear… He is my help, clarity, strength, wise counselor, and capacity to do what He has called me to do.”

As I sat with that truth, the frustration lost its grip. The fog lifted. The I-need-coffee-or-else feeling faded. I felt clear, present, and capable.

This is not about having a perfect morning.
This is about learning how to walk with God in real time, on random, ordinary days, especially during seasons like Advent and the holidays when life feels full, loud, and heavy.

We Were Never Meant to Carry This Alone

If you notice frustration surfacing often…
If you find yourself snapping at the people you love…
If there’s a low hum of anxiety or pressure to “just function”…

I want you to know this: you don’t have to stay there.

The Lord provides a way through, a way to slow down, listen, uncover what’s happening beneath the surface, and receive His truth right where you are.

I won’t lie, this was a paradigm shift for me when I learned about this process, especially two of our core principles, but it made so much sense: “We feel and do what we believe.”
While learning this process is a process, it has been so worth it to no longer live in performance or anxiety mode.

That’s why at Serenity Retreat we teach TPM not as a technique, but as a relational prayer lifestyle.

TPM 101 introduces this framework and helps you understand what’s happening beneath emotions.
TPM 201 equips you to engage this process on your own, in your everyday life, with the Lord.

And fun fact! We’re launching a TPM 201 Immersive Experience in January, and there are only 12 spots! This guided journey combines 7 self-paced modules (plan to start early!), supportive Zoom check-ins with seasoned leaders, and a powerful 2-day retreat in Bellville (January 29-31) where you’ll receive personalized training and coaching.

Whether you choose the six-week course or the immersive experience, the goal is the same:
that you grow in confidence drawing closer to God, recognizing what’s happening in your heart, and receiving His truth, the kind that leads to lasting transformation and peace.

An Advent Invitation

Advent reminds us that we are waiting—not passively, but expectantly—for the God who is righteous, just, and deeply loving to finish what He has already begun.

The Lord is still meeting us. Still speaking truth. Still inviting us deeper through His Word and through community with other believers.

Perhaps this process, learning to cooperate with Him as He refines your faith, renews your mind, and transforms your life (TPM Purpose) is the gift He’s placing in your prayer toolbox for this next season.

If you feel that gentle nudge, I encourage you to say yes.
Yes to a prayer session.
Yes to sowing into this ministry.
Yes to coming out to Bellville for a retreat or bringing your own group.
Yes to training.
Yes to what He is inviting you to walk into next.

Merry Christmas,
Angela

P.S. Check out the TPM 201 Immersive