Transformation Prayer Training

Honoring & Caring Well: A Community Chat at the Waltons’

Written by Barbara Rolen on July 2, 2026. Posted in Hospitality, Prayer, Prayer Ministers, Transformation Prayer Training, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on Honoring & Caring Well: A Community Chat at the Waltons’

The Community Chats that began last year at restaurants around the greater Houston area have been so refreshing. It’s wonderful to hug a fellow prayer minister who we usually see in a Zoom window or whom we miss out on seeing in Bellville because we’re serving on different days. It’s special to have discussions in person as we refine our mentoring skills.

However, there’s something different about sitting around a table in someone’s home — and then in their living room — that moves the conversation in a more intimate and vulnerable direction. That’s what the group — Daniela Barrett, Taylor Gahm, Kim Grant, Marnie Paffenroth, Carol Schwartz, Kathy Walton, and myself — experienced on the afternoon of June 26 as we gathered at Kathy and Scott Walton’s house in Bellville for our first summer Community Chat.

We started with lunch and table conversation, then moved into the den, where Daniela led us in a sweet, rich time of worship, including one of her own compositions. There’s a particular kind of hush that settles over a room full of prayer ministers when the singing starts — and that afternoon was no exception. None of us wanted it to end!

Carol Schwartz, a new core team member, led the group in a discussion of Honoring & Caring Well by Providing TPM With Excellence. And her core message was disarmingly simple:

“The most loving thing we can offer a mentee is to stay out of God’s way.”

Less Us, More Jesus

Carol reminded us of something foundational to everything we do — Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Transformation comes through His revelation, not through our insight, our wisdom, or our intervention.

“Our role is to serve the mentee well enough in the process that Jesus has room to do what only He can do.”

Our job, she said, is actually less than we think it is — and more restful than we make it.

She was honest about where we drift, and why. Most of us don’t drift because we’re careless. We drift because we care. When a mentee struggles, something in us wants to help. We feel their discomfort. We think we see the path forward. We want the session to move.

That impulse isn’t wrong. But inside a TPM session, acting on it can shift a mentee’s focus from hearing Jesus to hearing us.

So what does excellence actually look like? Not perfection. It looks like staying anchored to the process, and knowing what to do when we feel lost, which we got good tips for.

Taylor put words to it in a way that stuck with the room. When asked what this looks like in practice, he said simply that it starts with being “faith-filled and doing his best”. We all agreed that we need to learn to “be present” and be “comfortable with quiet”. Two great reminders are there is “nowhere to get” and the guest in front of us was already walking with Jesus before they ever came to us for help. It’s a good reset. The mentee’s relationship with Jesus doesn’t typically start in the session, and it doesn’t depend on us.

Refining Our Skills Together

From there, we addressed a question that had been submitted in advance about how to handle a Solution Within a Solution. Everyone got to practice recognizing the solutions and how to maneuver from one solution to the next one. By the end, the prayer ministers felt more equipped to recognize and manage this dynamic better in future sessions.

An Answered Prayer, in Her Own Home

This kind of gathering means something a little extra this summer, since one of our own traveled a long way to be part of it. Marnie Paffenroth, one of our prayer ministers based in Florida, flew in for a full week of serving alongside us — which meant she got to trade Zoom squares for actual faces and actual hugs with ministers she’d only ever met on a screen. (You can read more about her week in her own words on serenityretreat.com.)

Kathy, our host for the afternoon, shared her reflections of the gathering in her own home:

“My aha was more Jesus, less me. So many times I just want to ‘say’ something and I realized that is often ‘me’ wanting to be heard and often could be interfering with what Jesus is doing. Love the vision of Jesus being so big in the room and me being so little.

It was an answered prayer to be in community together. I have been praying to be a part of an honest, authentic, not afraid of truth, loving community. Thank you, Lord.

Hosting is also an answered prayer. This is God’s house so any time it can be used to grow and benefit His kingdom — I get super excited. Hearing the praise echo through the walls where I live — ain’t nothing like it! So grateful!!!” ❤️

What Stays with Us

Carol closed the afternoon with a line that’s easy to remember and hard to fully live out:

“We are exceptional prayer ministers. And the most exceptional thing we can do is get out of the way and let Jesus be Jesus.”

That’s the heartbeat of what we’re all learning together — not to fix, not to lead, but to make room. And afternoons like this one, around the Waltons’ table, remind us we’re not learning it alone.

What’s Next?

Whether we gather in a home or at a restaurant, a Community Chat will be coming your direction this summer — Sugar Land/Richmond area, Houston, possibly Spring, and of course on Zoom for our prayer ministers out of state and out of the country. If anyone would like to open up their home for the next chat, contact me at [email protected].

And this fall we’ll be back at the Waltons’ home in Bellville. She said we are welcome anytime, so we’re taking her up on it.

Walking In Serenity

Written by Tiffany Pardue on July 1, 2026. Posted in Community Support, Hospitality, Prayer Ministers, Serenity Blog, Transformation Prayer, Transformation Prayer Training.

by Daniela Greer

I’d like to say I found Serenity Retreat but Serenity totally found me.

My first experience with Serenity Retreat came through my amazing friend, Cynthia Wenz. She invited me to play piano and help lead worship for a Table Host event before Serenity’s annual fundraiser. I had originally declined because I was supposed to be on vacation in New Mexico, but my travel plans fell through. At the time, I was deeply disappointed and honestly embarrassed by the circumstances and the reason. Looking back, I can see God was redirecting my steps and I ended up going!

I couldn’t have imagined the Romans 8:28 story He was already writing… on 8/28.

I had no idea what Serenity Retreat was or what Transformation Prayer Ministry (TPM) even meant.

That night, I ran into another dear sweet friend, Tiffany Pardue. As she explained TPM, she said something that woke me up.

“It’s a prayer process that honors your emotions. The starting point is simply asking, ‘What are you feeling?’”

Immediately, something inside me responded.

“Oof… this is why you’re here.”

It felt like my body was finally getting an answer to cries for help my mind kept ignoring for years.

As I listened to people’s “ringing the bell” stories, I couldn’t help but wonder if this “effortless transformation” was too good to be true.

Another part of me more loudly thought, “But for real… I NEED this kind of breakthrough.”

Although I’m generally a positive, optimistic person, I was carrying an unbearable emotional load from all the trauma, betrayal and abuse in the last six years. That wasn’t a part of my life prior and I couldn’t stop ruminating on the all daily injustices and offenses that kept piling up. Forgiveness always felt like a shallow work. No matter how hard I kept trying to forgive, it never felt lasting or permanent… I HATED that. Eventually the emotional weight began showing up physically. I had become so accustomed to suppressing my emotions that I didn’t know what to do with them anymore.

Then came TPM.

Over the next few months, I began receiving prayer sessions, joined Serenity’s hospitality team, enrolled in the TPM 201 course, attended my first immersive retreat, and began serving as an intercessor. I just recently finished the 8 week 301 course and training to be a mentor! And I’ve been getting LOTS of breakthrough!! Too much to say.

Somewhere along the way, Serenity stopped feeling like a place I visited.

It became family.

One concept from 201 has stayed with me ever since I heard it: “We perceive what we believe. We feel what we believe. We do what we believe.”

I remember thinking, “Ooooh… we feel what we believe!”

Instead of asking, “How do I stop feeling this?” I began asking, “What am I believing?”

As all of this growth was taking place, I was also navigating a separation that would eventually lead to divorce.

Looking back, I can clearly see God’s kindness.

Before I ever knew how desperately I’d need community, He had already provided it. He had already introduced me to TPM, surrounded me with people who loved Jesus, and began teaching me how to bring my emotions to Him instead of burying them.

I often say God knew I’d be going through a major life surgery, so He prepared everything I’d need ahead of time to stay ahead of the pain.

TPM gave me tools.

Serenity gave me community.

Together, they carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life.

It took about eight to ten prayer sessions before I really felt the needle begin to move.

One of my greatest breakthroughs came when I realized I hadn’t been honest with myself about where my anger was actually directed (or that I was even angry). Being angry with myself felt much safer than admitting I was angry with God.

Then, during one prayer session, after finally admitting it, I sensed the Lord gently say, “I want an honest relationship with you.”

That changed everything for me. Including my relationships with others.

Instead of striving to fix myself, I learned to slow down, become curious, and ask, “Jesus, what do You want me to know here?”

Again and again, I found Him faithful.

Today, I have the privilege of serving as both an intercessor during TPM sessions and as a Mentor in Training. It is one of the greatest privileges of my life to watch God speak personally to His children.

When I look back over this past year and my involvement with Serenity, the thing that stands out the most is God’s kindness faithfulness to me…

If you’re considering visiting Serenity Retreat or beginning your own journey through Transformation Prayer Ministry, my encouragement is simple: come with an open and honest heart.

The more honest I’ve been about what hurts, the more room I’ve given Jesus to heal and transform me. And I’m happy to report ruminating thoughts are very rare for me now! My heart and mind is a SIGNIFICANTLY more enjoyable place for me, and I legit enjoy the overwhelming majority of my thought life. I’m so full of gratitude for the countless ways this ministry has and continues to bless my life!!

Would you like to schedule a One Hour Prayer Session? Click here to see our Greater Houston locations or schedule Transformation Prayer Ministry today.

The Bellville Effect

Written by Barbara Rolen on June 4, 2026. Posted in Prayer Ministers, Serenity Retreat, Serenity Retreat Center, TPM 301, Transformation Prayer Training, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on The Bellville Effect

by Barbara Rolen, Program Director

Three Days. Six Workshops. The Place Where It All Finally Clicks.
A reflection on the TPM 301 Immersive at Serenity Retreat’s Bellville Center.

Something shifts when you leave the city behind and drive into the quiet of Bellville.

You don’t always know what it is — not yet. But somewhere between the familiar hum of Houston traffic and the stillness of the retreat center, your shoulders drop. Your grip loosens. And you start to wonder if maybe this is exactly where you were supposed to be.

That’s how the TPM 301 Immersive begins. Not with a syllabus or a schedule — though both exist — but with a charcuterie board, an unhurried meal, and the kind of easy conversation that happens when people who love the same things find each other in the same room.

More Than a Course — It’s an Experience

If you’ve already completed the TPM 301 online, you know the framework. You’ve learned the MAP. You understand the boxes. You’ve watched the teaching, taken notes, maybe even practiced a session or two on your own.

The Immersive is something different.

One participant put it this way: “There’s another depth that comes from in-person training that is kind of hard to put into words — but it makes going in person worth it.” That depth is what we’re after. Not just knowing the process, but being inside it — as a student mentor, a student observer, or as a mentee doing the meaningful internal work.

The 301 Immersive is our third of its kind this year — following successful Immersives for TPM 101 and 201 earlier in 2026. What started as an experiment has become a clear pattern: something happens in person that simply can’t be replicated on a screen.

Over three packed days, you’ll move through six workshops and six practice sessions, with meals and margin woven in between. It’s a full immersion in the truest sense — purpose, principles, and process held together in a rhythm that works even better when you’re all in the same space, breathing the same air.

The People in the Room

One of the things that makes the 301 Immersive distinctly Serenity is the coaching team.

Brooke Wallace brings a grounded, well-thought-out teaching style and Keever Wallace leans into interactive teaching, which one participant confessed was “a bit stressful” — and also deeply effective. “Even though it’s a bit more stressful as a participant, it also is very helpful for both focusing and learning.” Carol Schwartz brings the personal touch — teaching from her own story in a way that reminds you this isn’t just methodology, it’s a lived journey.

And together? One participant said simply: “They came together really well. The overall experience works.”

This is equipping, not just instruction. These coaches aren’t walking you through material — they’re walking with you through it and giving you opportunities for application.

What the Practice Sessions Actually Teach You

Here’s what no one tells you before you arrive: the practice sessions might be where the most significant learning happens.

Not because they’re polished — they rarely are. That’s the point. You’ll sit in the mentor seat and feel the weight of following the process in real time. You’ll make a call, get stuck, wonder what box you’re in. And then a coach will pull alongside you — not to take over, but to help you see what you almost missed.

Cheryl described an aha moment that came mid-session when Keever stopped and coached her in real time. “I got a new and important insight regarding solution indicators” — the kind of insight that doesn’t come from a video, no matter how many times you watch it.

Another participant noted something just as instructive: watching other cohorts run their sessions. “I learned a lot — most perhaps — from that.” There’s something irreplaceable about seeing someone else navigate the exact moment you’ve been afraid of.

Margin, Meals, and That Impromptu Worship Moment

Let’s talk about the other part — the part that doesn’t show up on the outline.

One evening, dinner moved outside to the pavilion. Open air, green fields, good food, easy laughter around the table. It’s the kind of meal and setting that also feeds the soul.

The meals throughout the weekend were genuinely good. Tiffany and her team pour themselves into the hospitality, and it shows in every detail — the plentiful snacks, the inviting spaces, the care that makes you feel less like a student and more like a guest. And if your room doesn’t have Wi-Fi? One participant was openly grateful for that.

“Loved the meals and the impromptu worship session,” wrote one participant. “The experience works as it is.”

That spontaneous worship moment — unplanned, unhurried — is a good picture of what happens when you put a group of people together who are seeking the Lord and give them a little breathing room. The schedule is full, yes. But there’s something underneath the schedule that the Spirit tends to fill.

A Word to the Mentor Who’s Been Away

Maybe you completed your TPM training a few years ago and life just happened. Ministry got heavy, or a season came that required a different kind of attention, or you simply needed to step back and let yourself be a recipient for a while.

This part is for you.

The 301 Immersive isn’t a re-certification. It’s a re-immersion. You don’t have to have it all together to come. One participant arrived carrying what she described as significant internal chaos. She said she found everyone “generous to give time to my healing.”

That’s the culture here. You can be a learner and a leader in the same weekend. And sometimes — often, actually — the most important thing that happens in Bellville isn’t what you learn about the process. It’s what the process does in you.

What Happens When You Show Up

Here’s the simplest version of what we can tell you:

Show up. Even if you didn’t get a chance to finish all the precourse work. Even if you feel rusty, uncertain, or like everyone else is further along than you. Show up, participate, and let the process do what it does.

One of our participants completed TPM 201 and 301 last year. She could have kept learning from her living room in California. Instead, she was so intrigued by the great deal that she booked a flight to experience it in person.

“It is worth the time and expense,” Jana said, “because so much more just clicks and falls into place.”

When asked what could be improved for the next immersive, Taylor said, “I honestly can’t think of anything, I had such a great experience. The affordability was key for me. Price point was right sized and very reasonable. I was really moved by the whole weekend. Brooke, Keever, Carol, Barb (and Daniela who led that spontaneous worship moment) all did fantastic. It was very meaningful.”

Three Immersives in. Three times we’ve watched people walk in carrying questions and walk out carrying something they couldn’t have found on a screen. We’re not stopping here.

The next TPM 301 Immersive is coming — July 30–August 1, 2026.

This Immersive is designed for students who have completed prerequisite training. Not sure if you qualify? Reach out — we’d love to help you figure out your next right step. Ready to jump in? Click below.

Contact: Barbara at [email protected] or 346.388.3632.

Register Here

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.

Preparing for New Wine: Why TPM 201 Immersive Is the Next Step You’ve Been Waiting For

Written by Angela Miller on November 23, 2025. Posted in Prayer Ministers, Serenity Blog, Serenity Retreat Center, Transformation Prayer Training, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on Preparing for New Wine: Why TPM 201 Immersive Is the Next Step You’ve Been Waiting For

By Barbara Rolen, Program Director, Serenity Retreat

You know that feeling when you can sense God’s up to something, but you’re not quite sure what it is yet? That’s been me—and honestly, all of us here at Serenity Retreat—for the better part of this year. Collectively, we sense the Lord forming new wine skins—new rhythms and new structures so we are ready for what’s to come.

I am proud of the effective training courses we offer at Serenity Retreat, from intro to internship. Since there’s always room for improvement, each of the courses is undergoing refinement this year and next to improve the effectiveness and experience for participants.

And now God is also stretching us to expand our training to include TPM 201 Immersive for those looking for the convenience of a self-paced on-demand course, culminating with a dynamic, immersive experience at our Bellville Retreat Center.

The Real Heart of TPM 201: You First

Both our six-week TPM 201 course and the new Immersive format are designed to help you tend to your own heart first—before you even think about helping anyone else.

Here’s what I mean: you learn to recognize what’s actually happening inside you when thoughts like these won’t quit plaguing you:

“Where did that explosion of anger come from? I hate hurting my family like this.”

“I know God’s Word says that He’ll never leave you or forsake you, but it sure feels like I’m all alone, even abandoned.”

“I’m sick and tired of fear running my life.”

“God, make it stop! It’s just too much!”

“When will my life ever change? Will I always feel like there is something wrong with me?”

Whether you choose the six-week TPM 201 course or the TPM 201 Immersive, the goal is the same: learn how to use TPM as a lifestyle so you can gain God’s perspective any time of day, anywhere—even 3AM lying in your bed, or in your office, or while mowing your lawn or folding clothes.

Introducing the TPM 201 Immersive: A Whole New Way to Learn

Let me explain how TPM 201 Immersive is different from our standard six-week course.

The traditional TPM 201 is six weeks of live classes—one session per week, everyone moving through the material together on the same schedule. The first hour each week is spent discussing the homework questions and chapters read. During the second hour, students get to experience TPM in small groups in breakout rooms with a coach mentoring the sessions.

The Immersive? It’s designed for people who need more flexibility and want the in-person experience in Bellville. Here’s how it works:

On-demand course—Complete the core teaching modules at your own pace, covering the same content as our six-week TPM 201 course

Three Connect Points—Join your classmates for Saturday Zoom calls where you’ll share insights and get questions answered. (We keep it real with optional breakout rooms for your own TPM sessions—so you can experience what you’re learning, not just talk about it!)

Your own TPM sessions (at least 3 before the gathering)—Experience the transforming work of the Holy Spirit for yourself with a trained mentor, so you arrive at the weekend gathering having already experienced the process of TPM multiple times to prepare you to use TPM on yourself.

Community digital platform— Connect with your cohort and coaches between sessions, ask questions, and share insights as you go deeper with the material.

A multi-day, hands-on gathering at the Serenity Retreat Center in Bellville, Texas—This is where it all comes together. You’ll deepen your understanding of TPM’s purpose and principles, practice in small groups, and experience the gift of a like-minded community all moving toward the same goal: using TPM as a lifestyle. (Jan 29 – 31)

Is This For You?

Maybe you’ve been feeling that tug—that there’s got to be more than this feeling when it comes to your relationship with God.

Maybe you’ve wondered if God might be calling you toward prayer ministry, but you weren’t sure how to take the next step.

Or maybe you know someone in your life—someone with a heart for listening, for caring, for shepherding others—who would thrive in this kind of formation.

If any of that resonates? We’d love to have you join us.

Grateful for This Season

As we head into Thanksgiving, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for what God is cultivating here at Serenity Retreat. He’s building something steady and lasting—deepening and expanding what’salready been rooted in His presence.

Thank you for walking with us. For praying. For supporting. For listening to what God is stirring in your own heart.

And thank you for being part of what He’s forming here.

May your Thanksgiving be full of rest, warmth, and the quiet awareness that God is preparing you—and this ministry—for good things ahead.

With love and gratitude,

Barbara Rolen
Program Director, Serenity Retreat