June - July 2007        Volume 18 Issue 2

Men’s Retreat Spring 2007

Men from all over Metro Detroit gathered for their semi-annual Retreat at Echo Grove Retreat Center in Leonard, Michigan on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28, 2007. The theme of the retreat was “Carry the Message” the Twelfth Step of Alcoholics for Christ. Jeff Sheetz, President of AC Ministries, Will Garrett, Vice-President of AC Ministries, and Jesse Washington AC Meeting Leader each gave their presentations for the men.

Will Garrett spoke eloquently of carrying the message in all areas of life. They talked of AC coming of age and of AC Ministries growing up. No longer can we use the excuse for faults that “at least I didn’t use.”

The retreat was comprised of a younger group of men. They became close and there was a lot of love and compassion for one another.

There was a movie, “Meggido” that was shown at the retreat on Friday night. It was about the End Times. Mike said he thought that it might give him night mares, but because of the Spirit of the Lord he had no fear.

Many men committed to stop smoking cigarettes; 10 in all. Two men were baptized at the retreat in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost by John Gosselein. They are Lester Solomon and James Reeder. There were three miracle births into the Kingdom; Terry, Bobby, and Tim.

Jeff Sheetz brought stones that he had gathered from along a highway in Michigan. Each man was encouraged to take a stone at the beginning of the retreat. They put them in their pockets Friday for use at a later time. On Saturday, Jeff told them to take the stones out and to use the stones to name the sin in their lives that they wanted to get rid of through the Power of the Holy Ghost. Each man was prayed over and anointed with oil. They were delivered and with their new found freedom, returned the stones to the tray that they had been brought up in. (Jeff returned the stones to the highway after the retreat.)

At the end, Jeff asked each one what their stone had represented. Each one shared and as one told of his sin and was released it encouraged the others to share, too.

The testimonies of what had been lifted from each one was shared amongst each other and was powerful. Each one came to the retreat with their own mission of how they wanted to change and accomplishments for the retreat. God had other plans and each one shared what God had done for them through the teachings and the leading of the Lord. Lives have been changed and they will never be the same again.

Brother Jesse Washington spoke on “Carrying the Message.” He said that he had to go back and get two more rocks during the setting free exercise so that he would be sure to leave everything there that was weighing on him.

Also, Robert related that the men put prayer request on the Cross with nails and left them there. Mike said that others prayed over them. We will look for more testimonies of how these prayers were answered in the days to come. Communion was shared and many attended the “Afterglow” put on by Joe and Marie Jacobs at Oxford, Michigan. God Bless our men that put aside the time to meet with the Lord. I know that He will reward you for diligently seeking Him.

Women’s Retreat Spring 2007
The theme was: Forgive One Another as You have been Forgiven

What a lovely time of fellowship and worship the women had at the Spring Retreat at Walton Blvd. Church of God in Pontiac, Michigan. It was a one day retreat on Saturday, April 21, 2007. We were blessed with the music of the Amazing Grace Country Gospel Singers and Band. Betty Bridges leads the meeting at the church on Thursdays and they were so good to host our retreat. She also is the lead singer in the band. The band played for about a half hour while we were doing registration. Then, they led us in a time of worship to the Lord. Sharon Terry requested “I’ll Fly Away” and I think we almost did!

The first testimony was graciously given by Nita Goulet. She is the leader of the Family Groups at Ward Presbyterian Evangelical meeting at Northville. She has many years of experience in AC and has been married to her husband for 24 years. She shared of the faithfulness of the Lord.

We broke into tables and shared about the 8th Step: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. After an anointed time of sharing and prayer we put aside our cares and had a lovely lunch.

Caroline Carodine, our previous Office Support lady that many of you know very well gave us the key and led us accapella in beautiful praise and worship to the Lord! What a powerful voice! We were all inspired!

Next, Kelly Hurley-Roberson gave her testimony. She shared how the Lord has blessed her abundantly through AC Ministries. Kelly shared God’s faithfulness to us even when life does not go as we had hoped it would according to our dreams. She has three lovely children and gives and gives of herself to them and the community. We have seen Kelly grow with the AC Ministries over the years. Kelly leads the Ferndale Thursday Night Family Tables. She also volunteers at the AC Offices from time to time.

Donna Alexander, newly wed from Metropolitan Community Tabernacle gave us a special song of worship.

Ola Allen from the Detroit Monday Night Live Group gave the Communion portion of the meeting. She gave us admonishment to see if there was any that had ought against us and to forgive them and ourselves. We took our prayer requests to the Cross and pinned them there, leaving our burdens behind us.

Sharon Terry told us the reason that the theme of the retreat was purple. She told us that she and many of the ladies were wearing shades of purple clothing to represent the Royal Robe that the Lord will cover us with. She explained that we are His Princesses and that we should learn to love ourselves as He loves us! Thank you, Sharon. Sharon is also the Retreat Master and has been for many years with AC. She also leads the Thursday Night Meeting at the Milford Group. Sharon really loves the Lord and her ladies! God has created a new heart in her, as He has for many of us! She is always ready to pray with you at the drop of a hint of care! Thank you!

It was a wonderful time of fellowship and testimonies where shared afterwards. The Women continue to grow and the new ladies experienced the Mercy and Grace of our Lord to change, heal and deliver.

It was time to leave, all too soon. Ladies, please put some time aside to join us in the fall for the Fall Retreat. You will be blessed TOO!

Please share your Praise Reports so that we can include them in the next “Walking in Victory .”

PRAYING FOR YOU ALWAYS! GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SOBER!