Tag: Transformation Prayer Ministry

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

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

Register for TPM 201 and Immersive experiences here

Collaborating For More: Group Retreats, Now With TPM®!

Written by Tiffany Pardue on November 25, 2025. Posted in Prayer Ministers, Serenity Retreat, Serenity Retreat Center, Transformation Prayer. No Comments on Collaborating For More: Group Retreats, Now With TPM®!

by Tiffany Pardue and Barbara Rolen, Retreats and Program Directors

While Christian groups have gathered to experience the Lord at Serenity Retreat Bellville for years, God is doing is something new and exciting with Transformation Prayer Ministry (TPM).

Here’s What’s New

This fall, in planning meetings with group retreat leaders, discussions about what it might look like to incorporate TPM sessions increased. Leaders began showing an interest in our prayer ministers providing TPM to their groups—from 10, to 15, even 17 at a time! With our typical Personal Healing Retreat format, that’s just not feasible.

So, we sought the Lord and began to book group retreats that include one TPM session per participant. The response has been extraordinary—Serenity Retreat partnered with church small groups and ministry teams to provide TPM during group retreats is a Kingdom match made in heaven!

The Experiment

Our first group, Dream Makers, had ten participants, seven of whom received prayer. We scheduled two prayer minister teams to serve them, and when illness hit mid-retreat—we didn’t cancel, we pivoted. Four sessions were provided via Zoom to the group gathered at Bellville. Thank God that the Holy Spirit is not constrained by space or screens!

Then came our second group, Restored Wives with 17 ladies. We brought in three all-star prayer minister and intercessor teams to provide TPM to 16 young mommas and wives over the course of 24 hours. You should have seen it!

By the end of the retreat, they stood facing the pond, hands clasped and lifted high in celebration of Jesus and what He had done among them—collectively and in each of their hearts. So much restoration and love.

The Lord has moved in ways we’ve never experienced through these group retreat collaborations. With all our hearts turned to the Lord for wisdom and guidance, 23 women have experienced TPM through this new format, almost all of them for the first time. That’s 23 women who have given the opportunity to have an encounter with the Lord resulting in more freedom and transformation.

Why This Matters

Here’s what we’re discovering: this format makes TPM accessible to groups who might not otherwise experience it.

Let’s say your men or women’s ministry wants to introduce TPM to your leaders, but asking everyone to commit to a full individual retreat isn’t realistic. Maybe your small group has been walking through increasingly difficult circumstances and you know you need to create space for everyone to lean in together—a space where all can gather, and also experience quiet, sacred moments with the Lord, including a TPM session—you’re wondering how you can make this work for a larger group? Or perhaps the Lord is inviting your group of friends or ministry team to go deeper together in Him—and one TPM session per person feels like the perfect starting point.

This new option? It’s opening doors and so many possibilities.

It Takes a Small Army (of Prayer Ministers)

I need to tell you something: this only works because of our prayer ministers’ hearts for this ministry. They want as many people as possible to encounter the Lord and walk in freedom! When we asked prayer ministers to serve these two groups—first two teams for the group of ten, then three teams for the group of 17—many said yes without hesitation. They all agreed it was such a joy to come together and serve so many women at once. Their willingness to serve, their hunger to see people set free, their faithfulness to show up—that’s what makes this kind of multiplication possible.

Is This for Your Group?

If you’ve been thinking about how and when you can bring your ministry team, small group, even family or friends to Bellville, and what it might look like to receive ministry together—this might be exactly what you’re looking for.

We are thrilled to collaborate with you to create a Group Retreat experience tailored to your needs, with or without our new one-session-per-participant option. Email [email protected] to start the conversation and see what the Lord has in store for you and your people in2026!

Grateful for All That God Is Doing

This Thanksgiving, as we think of these 23 women, many whose lives have been deeply impacted and changed, we say THANK YOU.

Thank you to our powerful, big-hearted prayer ministers, and thank you to every person who makes the space, investing time and resources to step out in faith, believing that God will encounter you with His truth. Thank you to all who are praying for Serenity Retreat, supporting this work, or cheering us on—thank you for being part of what God is multiplying here. And thank you, Jesus, for doing what only You can do!

We have so many reasons to be grateful and so many to whom we give our thanks. God has been good to Serenity Retreat this year, and we are excited and expectant to see how He leads us through the holidays and into the new year, together. Happy Thanksgiving, Family!

PRAYER MINISTERS – One prayer minister was so inspired by reading this post that she is ready to sign up to join the TPM explosion happening in Bellville. Anybody else want to join? Don’t let 16 sessions scare you, or even 5 sessions for one team. Prayer teams are not always compiled of the same ministers. Mentors and Intercessors serve as they’re available and then tag the next team.

Contact [email protected] to be added to the “Ready Retreat Team”. When the need arises, you’ll be contacted. If you can serve, great—if not, we’ll call you the next time. Thanks and we hope to hear from you soon!

Experience the Unthinkable

Written by Angela Miller on September 15, 2025. Posted in Serenity Blog, Transformation Prayer. No Comments on Experience the Unthinkable

By Eric Miller

My health had declined in ways that doctors couldn’t explain, then I lost my job, and most painfully, God felt silent.

I was still praying and living for Him, but my daily struggle had somehow drowned out His voice. I was worn out physically and spiritually, and sadly, I had started to believe that maybe God would no longer speak to me.

Then we discovered Transformational Prayer Ministry (TPM) through a Google search. After an orientation, I thought it would be just like any other prayer method I’d tried in the past, but boy, was I wrong. During my very first session, I experienced the unthinkable.

God spoke to me again… for the first time in several years.

Not through someone else and not in vague impressions, but in a crystal clear way that addressed the exact lie I’d been believing: that I was all alone. It was intensely personal, and extremely transforming. It gave me hope. Hearing God speak made my heart feel soft again (It’s amazing how hard my heart had become).

Amazingly, albeit slowly, my circumstances began to shift. Over time, my health began to improve, and eventually, new doors opened for me professionally. One day, I realized that I felt completely stable and perfectly normal. And shortly after that, I realized that the trials I had walked through had served the purpose of teaching me to always trust my Savior in the midst of suffering and pain.

TPM didn’t fix everything, but it definitely made my heart soften enough to hear God speak again, and as a result (it’s been several years since that first session), I am still able to hear my Savior speaking to me daily, and I am walking in continued health, freedom, and hope. All glory to God!

If you find yourself disconnected from God, or in a season of overwhelming trials, I want to encourage you that God is always speaking to you, and that you can always hear Him speaking if your heart is soft enough to listen. And I bet that He’ll use your pain and suffering to break through to you. And TPM.

…cause that’s what He did for me.

To book a TPM Session virtually, in-person, or at our retreat center in Bellville, TX go to: https://serenityretreat.com/book/

From Doing an Assignment to Being on Assignment: A Tribute to Emma Alvarez

Written by Angela Miller on August 12, 2025. Posted in Prayer Ministers, Serenity Blog, Spanish Ministry, Transformation Prayer, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on From Doing an Assignment to Being on Assignment: A Tribute to Emma Alvarez

By: Angela Miller

This Fall, we celebrate a beautiful transition in the life of one of our beloved team members, Emma Alvarez, who has stepped into a new season from the Lord as a teacher in the public school system. Emma leaves Serenity Retreat not only renewed, but transformed, a living testimony to God’s faithfulness, healing, and commissioning power.

As one of the administrators who had a small hand in Emma’s hiring, I look back now and simply say: Praise You, Jesus. He showed up for Emma in powerful, undeniable ways during her time at Serenity. There were hard days and months of transition that stirred old wounds and brought deep places of the heart into the light. And yet, God used every moment of discomfort, every challenge, to do what He does best: refine, restore, and use ALL things for His good (Rom. 8:28).

Transition often jostles things in our hearts. For Emma, those seasons became sacred spaces where God met her in profound ways. She leaves with blessing and joy from our team and with an eager anticipation for what God is about to do in and through her in this next assignment.

Emma once carried anger, anxiety, and rejection, wounds deeply rooted in childhood trauma. Those burdens shaped how she saw herself, how she related to others, and how she approached God. But in 2022, everything began to shift.

“Through Transformation Prayer Ministry at Serenity Retreat, I encountered a new level of healing. One by one, the lies I had believed for so long began to unravel as God gently replaced them with His truth. He didn’t just touch the surface—He went to the root. And He didn’t just heal me—He transformed me.”

That transformation didn’t stop with her. It began to impact every part of her life, her marriage, her family, her view of the world, and most importantly, her understanding of who she is in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1, and Romans 8).

“For the first time, I believe God can use me in ministry—not because I have it all together, but because He said, ‘You are mine, and I will use you for My glory.’”

For the past two years, Emma has served faithfully and joyfully as our Ministry Coordinator, then Office Manager and Prayer Minister and recently Bilingual Prayer Minister with Serenity (plus all the other duties as assigned). Her life and leadership have left a mark on many. She walks away from this season not with regret, but with freedom, joy, and a passion to share what God has done and continues to do.

“Serenity Retreat has been a vital part of my journey, and I’m forever grateful. I feel fully alive again and passionate about sharing what God has done.”

And so, with hearts full of gratitude, we bless Emma as she steps into this next chapter. She goes from doing an assignment to being on assignment! No longer striving, but walking in the Spirit’s leading. May every student, coworker, and classroom be touched by the light of Christ in her.

To God be all the glory.

– Angela Miller, Follower of Christ, Wife to Eric, Momma to Samuel, Program Manager & Prayer Minister

When God Had Other Plans for My Mountain Getaway

Written by Angela Miller on August 9, 2025. Posted in Prayer Session, Serenity Blog, TPM 101, Transformation Prayer, Transformation Prayer Training. No Comments on When God Had Other Plans for My Mountain Getaway

By Barbara Rolen

Have you ever planned a peaceful getaway only to discover God had something deeper in mind—your transformation.

This summer, I ventured to the Colorado mountains for my first solo vacation since my husband’s death five years ago. As someone who practices Transformation Prayer Ministry (TPM) as a lifestyle, I went expectant. When difficult emotions surface, I’ve learned they’re invitations to encounter God’s truth about whatever I’m believing.

At Steamboat Springs, I was thrilled to ride the gondola up Mt. Werner until those doors closed.

Within seconds, my excitement turned to tears. Alone, suspended by a cable high above the earth, my emotions were exposing a lie I was believing.

Deuteronomy 31:6 promises God will never leave or forsake us, yet here I sat feeling utterly abandoned. Rather than suppress these feelings or push through them, I leaned in. Using TPM right there in that swaying gondola, I uncovered the belief driving my distress: I am totally and completely alone.

God’s gentle correction came swiftly. Yes, I was the only human in that gondola, but I was never truly alone. As His truth penetrated my heart, tears of fear became tears of joy.

This is TPM as a lifestyle; cooperating with God whether on mountaintops or in mundane moments.

What would it mean for you to have this kind of intimate, experiential walk with God available in any situation?

That journey starts with experiencing TPM for yourself. Book a prayer session today. Our upcoming free TPM 101 introductory class is also a perfect entry point—and the prerequisite for TPM 201, where you’ll learn to begin using this life-changing prayer process on your own.

Whatever you’re walking through right now, this structured prayer process is available to you. Your transformation might be just a prayer away.