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Forgiveness matters – all the time and in all relationships. It is entirely a God-given dynamic that is essential for Him to have a relationship with us, and us with each other. Said another way, we can have no relationship with Him without His forgiveness – or with each other without His forgiveness being a central and powerful dynamic among us.

It's God’s BIG Idea – let’s ask Him to reveal what we need to know about His amazing, supernatural forgiveness in our time together.

Though the spiritual and eternal rewards of reconciliation ministry are the goal, the financial part of it can be a struggle. Costs for training, resources and getting certified can be a large financial investment. Christian Reconcilers have the ability to help raise their own funds through “Crowdfunding”. Crowdfunding is easy to set up and gives you the ability to have your own supporters through a monthly or one-time giving commitment. These funds will come directly to AoR but will put in a fund for you to use when you need it. Funds can be used for resources, training registrations, application & enrollment fee for Certification program and more. Pastor Phil Heiser has used crowdfunding to provide finances for past in-person conferences, training registrations, fees for Certification Program and more. Come learn how crowdfunding has worked for Phil and how it can work for you. Part of the workshop will teach you how to set up your own page and get you started on the road to help fund your reconciliation training expenses.

Forgiveness is at the heart of reconciliation. But what exactly is forgiveness, how do we forgive, how do we maintain a forgiven relationship, how can we proclaim forgiveness, how do we both enact and accept consequences along with forgiveness, and how do we receive forgiveness? Each issue carries its own challenges. This workshop will explore God's forgiveness, personal forgiveness, what happens to relationships when we forgive, how we deal with unforgiveness, along with other topics. As you can see, not a shallow pool into which to dive.

Loss permeates every conflict. Some losses are more tangible, such as relationships, jobs, and money. Other losses are just as real but less visible, such as trust, security, hopes, and dreams. If a loss is present in every mediation, then grief is also present, whether recognized or not. This workshop will equip mediators to guide parties in identifying and grieving the losses they have experienced. We will discuss how grief is often demonstrated and how we can facilitate a healing path. Participants will discover how allowing grief into the mediation process can promote relational healing and more durable agreements.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? And why is scripture calling me adulterous? Aren’t those scriptures just for Biblical characters – how could it be relevant today, in my situation? In this workshop, we will walk through a way to use the “Development of an Idol” graphic as a table which the parties in dispute will fill in as they read and discuss the related James 4 scriptures. With guidance, they can share what needs to be put in each section of the table so that the full picture begins to be painted. Their participation and interaction is key to the self-discovery we all desire to have happen in their hearts.

We can also use the principles in this Idol tool in informal, sitting-down-with-a-friend type of situations. We’ll look at how that can be done, also. The goal in both scenarios is to guide people to recognize & address their part in the dispute. Then they will be ready to participate in the “cure” for an idolatrous heart which you have waiting in the wings for them.