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ACT Changes Coming in 2015by Nancy Morgan

Winter Issue 2014

InterACT OnlineACTHeals: Where God and Healthcare Meet

President’s Letter .............................................................2Native American Pastor Addresses IC ........................3A Call to Dialogue...........................................................4On Being One .................................................................6The Holy Spirit in Clinical Practice ..............................7Shrine of Our Lady of Ostra Brama ...........................9

Listen to Your Body .....................................................10ACTHeals Membership Gathering ............................11Sacred Art .......................................................................12Prayers and Prphecies ...................................................14Letters to the Editor .....................................................15ACT Council and Committee Lists for 2015 ............17

Inside:

The times they are a changing! We have re-cently agreed as a body to change the name of the Association of Christian Therapists (that we call ACT) to ACTheals (that we will still call ACT) in an effort to reach out to our members and potential members who are not therapists. We retain our website ad-dress: actheals.org and InterACT as well.

At our leadership retreat in Chicago last May, we received a prophetic word. Loosely translated it was, “I have provided a super-highway for you… it’s free…and I want you to use it to spread my healing message to the world.” We interpreted this word as a strong encouragement from the Lord to make maximum use of the tools available online, and so we move forward in faith.

For the past 18 years, Degnon Associates, Inc. has been the management company for our international ACT organization. They have helped us get organized as a 501-c3 (a tax exempt organization) and helped us to put structures in place to provide leadership and ideas for carrying out ACT’s mission. They have managed our membership re-cords, taken care of our day-to-day finances, helped with the International Conference planning and registration, assisted with graphics and publications among other sup-port services.

We have gained much from our years with them, but your board of directors decided

Nancy Morgan, President-Elect

that the time is now to build on what we have and move forward to a new form of operation that brings us up to date to attract new, more technology savvy people while saving money too. Clearly, reducing costs is an issue, however moving forward with online membership record keeping and maintenance combined with a more interac-tive ACT web site is moving us forward into today’s communication environment. We have chosen Association Management Online (AMO) for such an online system. If you are interested in a brief overview of what services AMO can provide ACT, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOROLn07Shg online.

If you are interested in more detail about the orientation video AMO made with ACT and its management team, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcSS0qb_k1U .

In addition to this system, we have hired a new management company, AEC Manage-ment, to assist us with our day-to-day financ-es, mailings, telephone responses etc. They will also help us meet our responsibilities as a 501-C3 business. And they will provide us with a new physical address: ACTHeals, P.O. Box 4961, Louisville, KY 40204.

We will also be looking for volunteers to help us move forward in the areas of: information technology including the use of PowerPoint

and Excel, online networking, marketing, ad-vertising online automation, email responses, sales and receipts, database management, webinars, online education, development and fund raising, writing, editing as well as layout and graphic design for the Journal of Chris-tian Healing and InterACT; teaching and curriculum design; photographic and audio video expertise: and archiving of records of organizational decisions, policies, plans, teach-ing content, CDs, DVDs, and articles.

We thank you for your prayer support, encouragement, and for the sharing of your talent in this exciting, but challenging trans-formation of our beloved ACT.

Please send your comments and ideas to our president Denise Dolff at dolff13@rogers.com

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InterACTPublished Quarterly by ACTHeals (ACT)

An Interdisciplinary Fellowship of Christian Healthcare Professionals and Associates

ACTHealsP.O. Box 4961

Louisville, KY 40204www.actheals.org

ACT Email: info@ACTheals.orgFax: 502-456-1821

PUBLISHERDouglas Schoeninger, Ph.D.

EDITORMike MacCarthy

CONTRIBUTORSGinny Antaya, Karen Cichon, Ping-Tah Peter Chow, Kris Dolbow, Denise Dolff, Franchesca Franchina, John David Gomez, Royce Johnson,

Jean Kirton, Vince Kirton, Kathy MacCarthy, Mike MacCarthy, Cheryl Marsh, Nancy Morgan, Linda Sacca, Douglas Schoeninger, Father Robert Sears, Kris Sendelbach, E. James Wilder, and the office

staff of Degnon Associates, Inc.

The vision of ACT is to be an international, ecumen-ical association of Christian healthcare professionals, clergy, and associates equipped and extending the healing presence, heart, and mind of Jesus Christ to their patients, clients, colleagues, and institutions, under the power and guidance the Holy Spirit.

The mission of ACT is to provide resources and support to enable healthcare professionals, clergy, and associates to: 1) Personally experience the heal-ing power of Jesus Christ; 2) Integrate their profes-sional skills, spiritual development, healing ministry, and theological understanding; and 3) Extend the healing presence, heart, and mind of Jesus Christ through their work and ministry.

We invite your comments/suggestions, written thoughts, or submissions. We reserve the right to edit submitted articles without notice. Your name can be withheld by request in InterACT, but must be included with a contact phone or email when your article is submitted. We also request that a current digital “headshot” photo of you accompany your submission.

The next InterACT deadline is January 15, 2015, for the Spring 2015 issue.

Copyright © 2014 by InterAct and ACTHeals. All rights reserved. Any reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited. All past and cur-rent members of ACT are considered members-at-large of InterACT staff. All photos provided by staff.

As I write to you in my new position as President of ACT, we have recently cel-ebrated Thanksgiving Day in Canada. As you read this, those of you in the US will have recently had your own Thanksgiving celebration. And so it is that our thoughts rightly turn to consider the many blessings God has endowed upon us in all aspects of our lives, and in the gift of this won-derful organization ACT. In my initial encounter with ACT over 25 years ago in Toronto, I walked into the room and had an immediate sense in my spirit that I had come home. That awareness has never left me. And so I take this opportunity to thank God for you, the people of ACT, who have made it so because of your dedication, commitment, and hard work in bringing Christ’s healing presence into your professional, ministerial, and per-sonal interactions.

I am reminded of the story we all know about the child walking along the sea-shore, throwing a beached starfish back into the ocean. When advised by a kindly stranger that he would not be able to save all the starfish, and so why bother, he simply replied, “I know sir, but I can make a difference for just this one.” And so we, too, are called to make a difference, in little ways, in larger ways, one person or many people at a time, according to God’s calling and working in our lives. But in addition to God’s grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we need each other to help, support and encourage us along the way. This is the importance of our SEW groups, our regional meetings, retreats, and conferences, and our international conferences. All present opportunities for us to grow in spiritual depth and maturity, experience healing in our own lives, learn from one another, and when necessary, lean on one another.

As an organization, we are facing many challenges. And so it is important that we remain as one, united to each other through Christ, in order to continue the

healing work to which God has called us, both individually and corporately. For this we must pray—pray for each other, pray for our leadership, and pray for the grace to be always submissive to God’s lead. Please keep me personally in your prayer as well, that in my term as President, I will remain humble and open before God, using the gifts God has given me with wisdom, that we as an organization may be united as one, and thrive, not merely survive, so that God’s healing work may be done.

Gracious God, I thank you for the gift of ACT, and for those you have called to membership, past, present, and future. I lift each one to you now, and ask that you intervene in their lives with the power of your Holy Spirit. Anoint today each member to the ministry to which you call them. Bless them, their families, and their work, and unite all members with You and each other, that as each opens to You, Your will may be done and Your people healed, for the glory of Your Name. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

PRESIDENT’S LETTERby Denise Dolff, M.A.

Denise Dolff, ACT President

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What an honor to have been with you all at this year’s conference. My wife Gaylene, daughter Elizabeth and boys, and I thank God for the time and fellowship that our Father gave us all in San Diego. I pray that much light and revelation was shared and received by us all. When I think of our Na-tive culture and the greater healing purpose it might have for our present world, I stand amazed at the wisdom and glory of God.

There was so much more I wanted to cover with you all, so again I pray that the time and fellowship that we did have will be multiplied over and over, like eternal seeds with good water and good ground. Our elders had the honor of carrying our wisdom and knowl-edge in their stories, tales, and oral traditions. And like a good meal that takes time to cook, good stories take time to be told. In our hurry up world much is being lost, so take more time to not only smell the roses, but touch and feel the softness of the petals. If we rush too much we only get the thorns. But let God’s peace guide you in hearing our story.

When Creator God, Our Father, revealed the scripture in Genesis 3:1-15 about the deception that the serpent used to deceive Adam and Eve, I saw the source of Satanic oppression through fear holding many hearts in bondage to the sin or curse of the past. Yesterday’s sorrows lived in today’s fears. But the Light of understanding broke me free when I saw in Numbers 21:5-9, the Power of Symbolism that once brought divine healing and the divine cure. Jesus himself telling the disciples in John 3:14-17, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” The serpent in the garden caused the fall of man - the ser-pent in the wilderness brought the healing.

Native American culture that was cursed by early missionaries by God’s power has become a symbol of life and healing to the nations. That symbol being so power-ful it has lasted for thousands of years and today in 2014 it is still a symbol of healing

A Native American Pastor Addresses the International ConferenceBy John David Gomez, Senior Pastor Jerusalem Center, Medford Oregon

and health care--the serpent on the pole being lifted up--Jesus still bringing healing and miracles to those who look to him.

Native American Symbols and Scriptural References The Feather: Feathers and Wings cover the Ark of the Covenant, they cover the wall of the temple, Ezekiel’s creatures, and John in Revelation saw the same creatures around God’s throne.

The Dove: Symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Eagle: In Exodus, deliverance from Egypt; in Isaiah, those who wait on the Lord; in Psalms, God’s protection and deliverance.

The Flute, Rattle, and Drums: David’s Tabernacle of musical praise and worship, John’s revelation of music, David also danced before the Lord; in Psalms it says to make a joyful noise to the Lord.

The Sage, Sweet Grass, and Cedar: In Revelations, incense in golden bowls, the prayers of the saints--God’s people.

The War Bonnet, Breast Plate, Bows and Arrows, Moccasins, War Horses: In Ephe-sians, the Armor of God; in Paul’s Epistles, he says to ‘Fight a good fight’, be a good soldier; Joel’s Army of God.

The Ceremonies, The Honor, The Respect of Elders/ Chiefs/ Leaders, The Love, The Prayers, The Devotion, The Songs, The Dances, The Traditions: These are all being used by God through the Native people for a special purpose in this time.

Our God is a God of forgiveness, redemp-tion, restoration, and revival. God is Love, and Love is God! He has always been--and always will be--Life without end. Amen! JESUS is the CHRIST, The SON of the Living God.

Native people and native nations are being restored to the place they once walked with God - the Path of beauty. We are rising up and taking our place in God’s Kingdom. America is the place and land where the Cre-ator placed us according to His Word, Acts 17:24-28.

Acts 17:24-28 says “God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, does not dwell in Temples made with hands. Nor is he worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives to all Life, Breath, and all things. And he has made from one blood every na-tion of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us; for in him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring.”

Knowing God placed us here and as Ephesians 4:4-8 says, “And giving gifts unto men.” We all are gifts of God to each other. Red, yellow, black, and white, we are all so special in his sight.

May all of our cultures be a divine blessing to one another and may we all see JESUS in each other!

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A Call to Dialogueby Douglas Schoeninger, PhD,Chair, the ACT Ecumenical Relations Sub-Committee of the Spiritual Life Committee

ACT’s Ecumenical Relations Sub-Committee of the Spiritual Life Committee (SLC-ERC) wants to draw members into an active interchange re-garding views we may have been holding back for fear of of-fending those of other faith traditions. We think Jesus wants us to talk about what is important to us to help us love more widely and become open to dialogue. Ask yourself: What does Christ want me to share with ACT? What do I want ACT to be? What is my particular gift for ACT? We wanted to work those views into a series of columns for InterACT, and invite responses dealing with such things as: What is the gift for ACT that I hear in this presentation? Where does it pinch me (i.e., cause resistance in me)? How might Jesus want me to respond to my resistance? We introduce the sharing with the three rules for ethical engagement we use in Board meetings:

1. Respondtotheideasof othersbyfirstcrediting the person and some aspect of his/her idea, expressing what you value in their expression before you introduce what you woulddoorsaydifferently.Byfirstcreditingthe other, we show we are open to integrating their “value” in our own proposal. This furthers creativity.

2. Turn complaints or criticisms into proposals. Make input to others in the form of what you would like to say or see accomplished and why.

3. When someone expresses a criticism or complaint ask her/him to turn it into a sug-gestion or proposal. “What would you like to see done or accomplished?”

Through ACT members sharing our faith experi-ences in this forum we hope to enlarge and deepen our dialogue with each other within ACT on matters of faith.

In this issue Bob Sears responds, with his faith experience, to my sharing, “What I want to share with ACT from my Baptist Tradition: My Experience of walking with Jesus,” in the Fall 2014 Issue of InterACT.

He has led me through my desire for truth that lastsby Father Bob Sears, SJ

It is a gift to see how Doug Schoeninger’s tradition led him to communicate person-ally with Jesus and how that has blessed his counseling. Each of us has, it seems, a different way of being close to Jesus and letting him work in our lives and ministry. I was led by another route and another tradition, more sacramental. When I was in sixth grade, my parents moved from Woodridge, a subdivision of Highland Park, Illinois, to the city itself so I could go to Immaculate Conception Parish and its Catholic school. There I was influ-enced by Sister Mary Edna to be a server at Mass and master of ceremonies for special services. I was touched by the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and through high school at Loyola Academy in Chicago, I would go to Mass daily. I wouldn’t miss it. I felt Jesus’ love in the Eucharist; it opened Scripture, and com-municated a powerful Spirit. I joined the Sodality of Our Lady at Loyola Acad-emy and under the guidance of Frather John Powell, I made the Spiritual Exercises in daily life for seven months. These contemplations brought Jesus’ life into relation to my life, and through Ignatius’

Rules for Discernment, I concluded that I was called to become a Jesuit. It was not the word of Jesus that led me, but a grow-ing ability to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit’s movements in me, and other influences.

It was in Germany, before my ordination, that I first heard a word from Jesus. Not knowing what to do with my, life I asked God “Show me what to do.” And I heard the response, “You act and I will be with you.” The surprise of the answer showed me it was God’s word, not what I wanted to hear. It was through my contact with the Charismatic Renewal, when I was already ordained and had returned from Germany to the US, that I thought more of talking personally to Jesus. From that time on I have had a love for hearing the word of God through others, but only infrequently do I hear Jesus’ word per-sonally. I would sit with the word gift ministry during Conferences to help with discernment, but I would not get such words myself. In fact, one of my prophet friends asked Jesus why he didn’t give me the gift of prophecy and she heard, “If I gave him that, he wouldn’t need anybody.” God knows who we are!

But God does not leave us without direc-tion. He has led me through my desire for truth that lasts, no matter how strange the truth may seem. Truth that seems strange to others was ordinary to me, whether of evil spirits or extraterrestrial life. He led me through the experience of my own depression to seek healing, and to recognize a healing passage in Isaiah (43:18f), when I saw it. I came to real-ize that there are many therapies, but no ultimate view of healing. There was a gap between what therapies can do and God’s healing. I needed to find how they were interconnected. That led me to the theol-ogy of the Holy Spirit, breathed forth from the joint love of Father and Son in the Trinity, a Divine “We”, who is God’s power to heal. Healing also, I found, is relational, as I learned from the work of Murray Bowen and healing in family sys-tems. This also brought me into contact with ACT members, Doug and Frances Schoeninger and Matt, Dennis, and Sheila Linn, among others. Everything I learned

Father Robert Sears, ACT Past-President

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helped me, but it also helped those God sent to me for counseling and healing, as I learned to pray also for their ancestors. I was learning truth through what worked, and checking it with Scripture. That pro-cess of comparing my life experience with Scripture became a part of me as it had been for Saint Ignatius.

Others also were used by God to deepen my understanding of healing. Through prayer from ACT members, I realized I had said in the womb, “I won’t be a burden.” As the third of my siblings, my mother must have felt overwhelmed, which had led to my decision. My choice, however, only isolated me and made life a burden. I renounced the decision and began to receive healing for my “mother wound.” Thirty years later, after much healing, I realized that the prenatal wound was “shock” – an overwhelming pain that I was powerless to do anything about. God then led me to the “primal scream” therapy of Arthur Janov, and how reliv-ing primal pain was key to healing addic-tive patterns. God next showed me that I didn’t choose my parents and they didn’t choose me. God chose me for them and them for me. My heavenly Father, as Jesus said, is my true Father. Jesus then showed me that he has given me through Baptism his mother, Mary, free from original sin, as my healed mother. The Holy Family is, I came to realize, God’s answer to our wounded biological birth.

However, though reborn in grace, one has only to look at our world 2000 years after Jesus, rife with wars and religious divi-sions, to realize humans cannot carry out the promise of Jesus’ redemptive pres-ence to bring God’s peace to earth. More recently, I have been led to re-examine Je-sus’ revelations to Luisa Piccarreta, about his decision to give us His Will to actually carry out on earth the Divine Will.

The combination of these truths is how God has led me to His solution to our wounded state. God had to give us a “new birth” into a divinely integrated family or we would continue to struggle, unsuccessfully, to bring such healing and restoration to our wounded human family. As Jesus died for our sins and wounds on

the cross and gave us His mother, even as He gave us the Holy Spirit, He brought us into His own family. It is through dying with Him, facing our “primal pain” with Him, that we choose to live by that “new birth” into a healed family. I now see all therapies as ways to open to that ultimate healed family. This vision has become my guide to discernment, and how God is leading each one differently to what God originally intended “before the foundation of the world, that we be holy and blame-less in the Beloved” (Eph 1:4-6), restored to be an image of the Trinity’s triune Love.

These are the truths that God has re-vealed to me, both in my experience and through Scripture.

How has God been teaching you? Share with the ACT community your experience of faith, of communicat-ing with God, what is important to you in your faith traditions. Send your responses to Doug Schoeninger, at doug661@verizon.net.

Writingby Kris Dolbow

To ‘be in the world, but not of the world……”What does this mean to me?

Instead of asking God to make me as I was pre-brain trauma,Seeing my disability as His Gift, a direct pipeline to know Him more.

Instead of blaming Satan or people for all the bad things that happened in my life,Taking all of it,Accepting responsibility for my bad stuff,Handing it over to Jesus’ careThen standing, waiting, Watching Him use it for good.

Instead of using the labels that categorize, separate, judge Seeing every human as a soul intimately lovedBy the One Who created themStarting with me…….

Instead of assuming I know everyone’s storyLiving cognizant of the fact that only One knowsAnyone’s real story.

Instead of ranting and raving about the condition of the worldComing up with solutions to ‘fix’ itI rest in the fact that He is in controlAll the time.His Kingdom is not seen, therefore it is not reflected in What is seen.

So I look beneath the surface

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Years ago, a young woman came up to me at a prayer meeting and handed me a small leaflet, saying, "Here, I thought you might need this." I looked at it and saw that it was called the Litany of Humility. I have always enjoyed God's sense of humor on that one. It was absolutely true—I did need it!

When I read the text, I found it the most outrageous prayer I'd ever prayed. Written in the 1920s by Rafael Cardinal Merry de Val, it asks God to take away all desires to shine and all fears of being ill-judged, and, in every situation, to make everyone greater than myself. Whew! It knocked the wind out of my billowy sails right quick. It was the most penetrating way to dismantle an ego that I had come across—and that was a very good thing.

I prayed that prayer every day for about two years and then began to recompose the requests to fit my own personality and circumstances, which offered many op-portunities to practice humility. I became quite sensitized to how important right humility is as a base to receive God's call and God's power. Phillipians 2:7-9 became my action Scripture verse, setting up the model of how true humility does not require that we pretend to be less than what we are (self-deprecation), but that we accept our circumstances and allow our God to raise us up, trusting in God all the while that we live our very human, flawed lives.

This is not easy to do, this balancing act between needing self-confidence and am-bition in order to accomplish things that move our species forward on a human level, and needing to be meek and humble of heart in order to let God do the mov-ing on the spiritual level. This is not about false modesty - "Oh, no! I could never do that!"; but about true humility: "Through Christ, I can do that!" It is at least as much about being willing to take risks and look foolish (look at Jesus!) as it is about

On Being One: HumilityBy Karen Cichon

accomplishing great things and giving God the glory.

What does this mean for our topic of coming into our Unity? Well, how can we ever be willing to see Christ in the other without our own egos simmering down and taking a back seat to the larger real-ity? How can we ever accept that those who seem diametrically opposed to our beliefs and values, who seem so obviously WRONG, can bear the Light of Christ and have something to teach us?

True humility begins with deep self-ac-ceptance. It means allowing the murderer within to surface (oh yes, she is there, hunching behind all the goodness, wait-ing to attack if anyone gets too close to exposing the shameful shadow stuff) and to be taken in with compassion and grati-tude. It means giving up all the self-crit-icism for not being "perfect" as we grew up to mistakenly believe we were to be. It means to rejoice in who we are, these silly, dysfunctional, brave, prideful, loving be-ings called humans that our Creator chose to live in and through on this beautiful, chaotic planet. It means embracing our reality, in all its imperfection, as a mani-festation of Divine Life and Will and then learning, indeed, "to walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8)

It is only then that we can begin to see as Christ sees and be the cell in the Body of Christ that we were made to be. It is then that we can respond to the horrible things that happen in this world without judgment and reactivity, becoming peace-bearers instead. It is then that we can truly "pray always" through our very being, through being conscious of God's Pres-ence and Action in the world in all people and in all circumstances. It is through knowing our own frail human natures deeply, with all the chaos and evil within, that we are able to welcome sinners to the Table to which we, ourselves, have been so graciously invited.

We are able, then, to see the Christ, the Lamp burning within, that connects us with all, and to desire, to truly long for, all to be moved into glory beyond ourselves. Once we can see that Unity, there is no us and them, no me and him; there is only the One, the Christ.

Karen Kozica Cichon, PhD, is in private practice as a faith-based Licensed Clinical Psychologist in downtown Chicago. She

welcomes comments atkarencichon@sacredmatters.net.

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The passion of ACT is providing—calling forth—the healing love of Jesus in health¬care. In this column we feature the experi¬ences and methods of ACT members (and others) who actively integrate healing prayer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit with their professional healthcare discipline.

In this issue we feature the work of Jim Wilder ashehasbeenledbytheSpirittoapplythefind-ings of brain research to the training of psycho-therapists.

Essentials of Therapy They Did Not Tell Us in Graduate SchoolE. James Wilder PhDjimwilder@lifemodelworks.org

[Excerpts from an article to be published in The Journal of Christian Healing, December, 2014.]

So what are the essentials of therapy that we were not told in graduate school? In at least one case, called the Life Model, the entire framework of transformation was redesigned to fit both theology and brain science.

The Life Model identifies 19 skills that are essential for a functioning human identity. The THRIVE and Connexus training programs were developed under the Life Model for identifying needed relational brain skills and then training the skills in ways that can propagate through com-munities.

Most therapies teach or train very few skills and must apply the same method to everyone. When basic relational functions such as interactive emotional regulation are missing or defective, the higher brain functions suffer or fail under stress. We might observe that the person does fairly well alone, but once others are present relationships begin to rupture and emo-tional regulation fails repeatedly.

A moment of reflection leads to the real-ization that therapists should master the

The Holy Spirit in Clinical Practiceby Douglas Schoeninger, PhD

full list of relational brain skills in prepa-ration for their work. Graduate training should systematically identify weak areas and train the therapists how to acquire the skills as well as how to pass them on to others.

Joyful conditions are needed to learn these skills, to practice them, and to pass the skills to the next generation. Since we simply cannot stay in continuous joy, the working solution is found in knowing the fastest paths back to joy. These pathways back to joy are actual nerve bundles that must develop between the brain regions for unpleasant emotions and the relational joy centers. These pathways in the brain become a set of learned skills.

In order to create and transfer relational brain skills it is necessary to create a mutual-mind state between the two right hemispheres of a dyad made up of a trained and an untrained brain. Right-brain-to-right-brain communication uses non-verbal signals that update more quickly than conscious thought.

The brain system needed for this commu-nication has been named the “relational circuits” (RCs) by Karl Lehman M.D. who developed a simple method to know if the circuits are on and working at any given moment.

In this relational place we can learn from God and others how to be the people we were created to be, provided our brain is able to perceive God’s active presence and enter a mutual-mind state where we feel understood by a God who shares our suffering and our joys. Awareness of this mutual-mind state with God is also a learned skill for the brain and grows best when modeled and trained by those who are aware of God’s presence. In this way we learn our deepest identity even in the presence of life’s distress. Neurology and spirituality finally kiss.

Over many years of consulting with other clinicians, I have found that almost all my consultations involved a clinician who was weak on returning to joy skill from hopeless despair. Everything has already been tried, nothing has helped (at least for long), no solution that might work is affordable, and everything the desper-ate clinician tries seems to dig the hole deeper. Meanwhile, the clinician tries hard to create and maintain hope while seek-ing a “breakthrough.” Having heard that an expert is coming to town, the clinician will invite me in the hope I can provide the “breakthrough” or at least a hopeful direction. The clinician will often speak of how hopeless the patient feels and how hard the therapist has worked to provide hope.

This is generally my first clue that the clinician does not know how to return to joy from hopeless despair and is highly motivated (in a toxic and exhausting way) to avoid hopelessness at all costs.

After an introduction by the clinician who states how much they have worked on together, how the therapist admires the patient (we will call her “Jane”) for her efforts, but they are still at a difficult spot. This is followed by the reasons that the patient should be glad I am there and then the patient interview begins something like this.

Continued on next page

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Me (to Jane): Tell me about your prob-lem. It sounds quite complex.

Jane: Oh yes! (This is followed by about 3-5 minutes of everything going wrong and not working. The clinician nods and occasionally adds a bit. Jane eventually pauses and both of them look at me.)

Me (to Jane): That is a lot of problems but I imagine that the problem is even bigger than that.

Clinician interjects (leaning forward with a smile): But there is hope! There is (insert the therapist’s favorite interven-tions) that might help.

Me (to clinician): Often a solution does not help because it is not as big as the problem. Let me explore how big this problem might be a little further.

(To Jane) Is there more?

Jane: (looking eager for the first time and a bit relieved) Yes! There is a lot more. (This is followed by another 3-5 minutes of troubles while the clinician glances ner-vously at me from time to time. Some-times the clinician may try to interject some hope or plans to deal with the other issues as they are able. Eventually Jane pauses again.

Me (to Jane): “Wow. That is a lot of problems right there. You must feel really hopeless about all that at times. I wonder if there is even more.” (Jane nods.)

Clinician (to me): “I have been tell-ing Jane that there is hope. What would you suggest that will help her?” (There is often a sense of urgency in the clinician’s voice at this point and sometimes a short lecture to me about the importance of maintaining hope along with how hard a job that has been.)

Me (to Jane): “The clinician makes a good point that you feel some deep hope-less feelings fairly often. How bad does it get?” (Jane plunges in while the clinician begins to look terrified, sits back in the

chair and looks like he or she is going over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

Quite literally, the clinician’s mind is plunging into levels of hopeless despair where any sense of relationship, repair or how to act like oneself is gone. The clinician has always successfully prevented Jane from reaching this kind of intensity in the office although Jane frequently feels this way elsewhere.

What follows for the next 30 minutes for the clinician is a heart-stopping conversa-tion in the presence of hopeless despair. The clinician’s eyes may bulge, knuckles grow white, as he or she watches what seems a voyage beyond the bounds of safety, but is actually a securely grounded experience for Jane who is discovering that she is no longer totally alone and abandoned when she feels intense hope-less despair. The clinician is also having the first brain training in returning to joy from hopeless despair but it will take many more experiences to develop any mastery.

In THRIVE training we spread this learn-ing over two years with a good deal of practice in mild feelings before a plunge into the depths that Jane presented. While the consultation greatly helps Jane it only begins revealing to the clinician why they are stuck. He or she was never told how to navigate hopeless despair in graduate school. In the follow-up consultation with the therapist we explore the clinician’s experience with hopeless despair and how to learn to stay relational by training his or her brain with the missing skill. For more information about Thrive Training: www.joystartshere.com/thrivetraining

References: Connexus Training, www.lifemodelworks.org

Lehman, Karl (2011). The Processing Pathway for Painful Experiences. www.kclehman.com/download.php?doc=131

THRIVE Training, www.lifemodelworks.org

Wilder, J., Khouri, E., Coursey, C. & Sutton, S. (2013). Joy Starts Here. East Peoria: Shepherd’s House Inc

Bio for James Wilder:B.A. in Psychology at Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota in 1974 and a M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1981, was ordained as a minister in the Church of the Brethren in 1984, and became an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 1994. In 1982 received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology. Was a California psychologist from 1984 to 2003.

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Daily Prayer for ACT

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of ACT, and for those you have called to membership, past, present and future. I lift each one to you now, and ask that you intervene in their lives with the power of your Holy Spirit. Anoint today each member to the ministry to which you call them. Bless them, their families, and their work, and unite all members with You and each other, that as each opens to you, your will may be done and your people healed, for the glory of your Name. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Nancy Morgan

Joyful conditions are needed to

learn these skills, to practice them, and to pass the

skills to the next generation.

InterACT l 9

In the year 1979, I was a pilgrim on a journey to Poland and Lithuania. The following is my reflectionof thateventinVilnus,Lithuania.

The Cry of the Beggars Upon arrival at the entrance in the court-yard, we were startled to see many elderly beggars, grandparent age, begging for food and sustenance. We followed the tendency to ignore them and certainly not to look at them.

When we climbed the many stairs to the Chapel on the second floor, my Uncle, who is a Priest, turned to me and said he felt I should be a Reader for the Polish Mass. I could not believe this and told Uncle that the people would get up and leave Mass because women were still not allowed on the altar. Even the Pastor gave me “the evil eye.”

I read the Scriptures and sure enough, some people left when I ascended to the lectern. After Mass, I lingered in prayer hoping that I would avoid any backlash from the boldness of a Woman at the Altar. When I opened the door to exit, there was a gathering of women filling the entrance and waiting for me. They were “touching me” and embracing me and asking me to pray for their children who no longer attend Mass and the Sacra-ments. They asked if we have the same situation in America. We found common ground as we prayed for our children with tears and loud wailing unto the Lord. It was a very blessed time of Women from the East meeting a Woman from the West with common wounded hearts.

The crowd eventually dissipated, and I attempted the challenge of the steep stairs leading to the street. I passed a very large cross at the bottom of the steps which I later discovered was a place of prayer for Saint Faustina Kowalska. As I touched the cross, the power of the Holy Spirit

Shrine of Our Lady of Ostra BramaTranslation: “Guardian of the Gate to the City”By Ginny Antaya

gripped me, and I found myself kneeling on the ground with the beggars. They surrounded me, kissing me and pouring out their stories, asking me to pray for them and their children. I was suffocated with embraces. They did not ask for money but only wanted someone to see them and listen to their stories and pray with them! The same requests as the women in the Upper Church: “Our chil-dren, our children, pray for our children.”

When I came home, I brought the beg-gars into my prayers as I could not shake the power of the encounter from my mind and heart. Upon beseeching the Lord to unfold the full meaning of the experience, I began to hear the relenting whisper of: “The beggars are also within you, Ginny.”

My turning away from the beggars at the entrance of the Church began to nag at me—my own reluctance to look at the beggars within myself: The Beggar of Mercy for my lack of Trust in His Mercy; The Beggar of Acceptance, Love and Understanding; The Beggar of Guilt for Self-seeking; The Beggar of Patience in the waiting upon The Lord; The Beggar plead-ing for God’s Will and not My Own Will; The Beggar of my Wounded and Broken Heart in need of His Healing Touch; The

Beggars of Unforgiving, Hardness of Heart, Pride, and Reconciliation; The Beggars seeking freedom from Fear, Anger Abandonment, Loneliness, Discrimination, Judgment, Guilt and Regret, Resentment, Shame, Negativity, Depression, Self-deg-radation, Gluttony, Stubbornness, Panic, need to Control, Jealousy, Dishonesty, Lust, Perfectionism, Workaholism, Drugs and Alcoholism—addictions of all kinds. The list goes on and on.

So, where do I go from here? Dare to hope and trust in God’s everlasting love: “I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name.” Isaiah 49:15-16

We should all be kind, gentle, and com-passionate with ourselves. Ask for the grace to desire, believe, and trust in the Greatness of God’s Mercy and in Jesus, our Savior and Healer. It is His desire to put His healing balm on our wounds and turn them into gift for ourselves and others. Ask Our Holy Mother, Mary, the Saints, and others to pray for you.

If you are Catholic, seek out the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confes-sion is always a source of release and healing from the secrets of the soul and the sinful-ness that tugs at our hearts. Receive the Eucharist and experience the presence of our loving God and His longing for close-ness and a deeper relationship with you.

Seek out a Therapist, Counselor, Spiritual Director, or Healing/Inner Healing Min-ister. Praise God for the many healing ministries receiving the anointing of God to be instruments of His desire to heal His people, freeing us to take that next loving step on our journey in life.

Ginny Antaya, Associate Member of ACT, the founder of the Mercy of God Prayer Center in Austin,TexasandtheVice-Presidentof Our

Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Centers, Int.

InterACT l 10

I received real inspiration at the San Diego International Conference, after hearing the Gospel reading at Sunday 7:00 am Mass, taken from Matthew 20:6: “Why are you standing here idle all day?”… “Be-cause no one has hired us.” …“You also can go into the vineyard.”

These words opened my heart. Is it not what I am asking myself all the time? “What is my life purpose with all the gifts God has given me?” while I am still stand-ing idle outside His vineyard.

God, please help me to respond to your command: ”You go into the vineyard.” I do trust that it is my vocation to share what I have learned and to serve others with the heart of Jesus.

God has really inspired and taught me through my work as a massage therapist since 1997. Now, I would like to share what I have learned and written down during my early years of practice. I called my work “Wholistic Massage”

What is Wholistic Massage?We see body, emotion, mind, and spirit as inter-related aspects of a whole person and facilitate these areas through mas-sage manipulations for integrations to-

Listen to Your Body: A Journey through Wholistic Massageby Ping -Tak Peter Chow, Msc, RMT

wards inner peace, joy, truth, and love. During the session, we aim at expanding bodily consciousness and awareness, changing response patterns, we input new choices and alternatives, and gradually induce positive life changes.

How can it happen? It is the client’s jour-ney. The therapist creates a supportive and safe environment for the client to work in. Only the client’s will can choose to change and only in change can he/she be transformed to true healing. The therapist acts as a fair witness for the process—no judgment when receiving any signal from the client. Special attention is paid to discover the energy system and notice any resistance and its quality. We concentrate on the whole system rather than specific techniques. As the body reacts to the stimuli, the primary unconscious response reveals the hidden unhealed wound.

It is common that the body reacts to distressful inputs by weakening the system and minimizing movement. The more physically stabilized a traumatized area is, the less pain the client feels. Our body has a screening mechanism to block pain either by inhibiting neuro-transmitters or activating the inner endorphin and enkephalin response. If prolonged lack of sensory input at a local or generalized level initiated the dis-integration of self

identity at an injury site and global behav-ior (helplessness, lack of personal em-powerment, etc), then the person cannot sense his own needs at a body level (e.g. sexual assault victim or chronic physically disabled person).

It is a Wholistic ApproachWelcome your client as a human being. From the integration, the duality of the mind and body due to defensive reac-tions may turn toward Unity. As our client becomes more open to the body experi-ences, he/she notices the hidden tension and resistance that build up which cause the bodily dysfunctions and health issues. We will help them to change the response patterns and provide them with choices and alternatives that they can use to re-frame their life. What the Wholistic Massage does. It is through the touch, pressure, and rhythm of the massage that produces a tactile sensation that can reduce muscle tone. As build up occurs in the local level to the general level, pressure is relieved on proprioceptive receptors throughout the body’s tissues; circulation and metabolic activities are accelerated in formerly re-stricted and immobile areas, the body that formerly produced discomfort is now ad-opted with ease. These changes make the client feel good, both sensorially and emo-tionally at a very deep level. These inner feelings of controlling and transforming the neuro-muscular reflexes that respond to the massage will soften and break down the defense mechanism of the body. From duality into unity, integrating body, mind, and spirit as the client gradually develops faith during the process.

Witness over years of PracticeAs I review the theory today, I find that

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“To become a healer with the heart of Jesus.” This will be my

goal as God commands me to work in his

vineyard.

InterACT l 11

over the years of practice, it became clear to me that it works generally well to in-crease the bodily awareness and specifical-ly changing the response patterns of some clients. In some cases, the body responses and emotions spill out as the unhealed wound revealed in terms of sadness, anger, and grief; this is not uncommon. In these cases, referral to appropriate profes-sionals to follow up is necessary. As the body becomes more open to experience, the client will be grounded by connect-ing to various parts of the body, feeling a sense of existence, and present in the moment--getting close to the inner self. In these moments, we are also helping the client’s mindset become tuned to the pres-ent moment; when one becomes mindful, changes initiated and motivated by the in-ternal needs bring the client to a new level of understanding of self. Also, I find that the body’s response to palpitation, touch, and pressure during a session will provide essential information about the health sta-tus of the client at the body level. Break-down and positive changes in the body system need continued re-programming of the subconscious. Listening and trust building are two factors that are important to the Wholistic Massage Process.

“To become a healer with the heart of Jesus.” This will be my goal as God com-mands me to work in his vineyard.

My job now is to incorporate into my theory actual cases and examples taken from my years of experience. Also, to share and witness my work to the faith community.

May God help me and let me be con-nected with those interested in these areas.

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I know many of you have held potential membership gatherings in your areas and regions, and I would like to hear from you as far as developing a format and time frame . I know there are things in our ACTheals Tool box, like a Power Point, etc. that Joe Duddie prepared. But anything else you have done and recom-mend is welcomed. If you email me; please identify ACTheals in the subject line: ffranchina@aol.com or call me at 937-298-4824. Please leave a message if I am not in, name, phone number, region and nature of your call, and I will return the call ASAP.

Many thanks to Nancy Morgan for put-ting together the CRC Strategic Plan, I have printed out all the attachments. While I am way behind, I am still deeply connected so please keep in touch and someday I hope we can have an IC and/or leadership retreats and healing retreats/Conferences here in Dayton as that is what the Lord said is going to happen. So we pray, wait and make baby steps and giant steps at times, then sit back and wait for the Lord and continue to hang in there, but we see great signs of hope for all which He said was going to happen in Ohio on many levels.

What is going on in Region 6; Particularly in Dayton, OH area 1) We initiated the Credo Apostolate, US, and Parish Healing Ministries as a seeding mission for evangelization, healing, and ACTheals. 2) We also are involved with the Francis and Judith McNutt School of Heal-ing Ministry, centered in a very large Dayton/Kettering parish under Father Stretch who is also praying for a healing.

ACTheals Potential Membership Gatherings, Open Housesby Francesca Franchina, CRC Chair

3) New Life Healing Ministry has held several Prayer, Praise and Healing Fests and hosted by Dr. Michael and Helen Resczechuk from Toronto, who gave their healing testimony. At the healing missions they give throughout the Ukraine with the backing of four Archbishops, 40-50,000 people come wherever they go in the Ukraine.

4) There are many more programs going in Region 6, but I’ve run out of space.

We in ACTheals, personally and com-munally are to be a great instrument in renewal, revival, bringing in the harvest, and preparing for the net break if we open our hearts, minds, mouths, and arms to hear His Word to us and get out of His way. He promises to equip and lead us where we are to be and go. Alleluia, it is truly the best of times and worst of times, and it will get worse before it gets better but we will be kept very busy. Keep in touch, and if you email me, please put ACTheals in the Subject Line as I get a lot of email and do not get to it immediately unless I recognize the name or subject line; I will put yours on priority to read. Love and prayers,

...we aim at expanding bodily

consciousness and awareness...

InterACT l 12

How Sacred Art turned My Pain into My Deepest Gift from our Lordby Linda Sacca

Sometimes I am asked, “How did you start doing Sacred Art?” After all, my professional background was Labor and Delivery nursing. Well to this question I answer, “I started out with my hands help-ing the sick but, the Lord had another idea how to use my hands, by creating beauty with imagery, color, and texture. All Glory to the Lord for what he has done for me.” Yes, I was a Labor and Delivery nurse, helping new babies come in to the world. I loved my job it was hard and satisfying work, mostly joyful, sometimes sorrowful, all in all a wonderful honor to help women in the birthing process.

Life was good, wonderful job, wonderful husband, Joe, and two wonderful daugh-ters, Daniela and Marisa. Then in Decem-ber 1993 I became very ill with symptoms of severe vertigo, fatigue, muscle pain and twitching, joint pain just to name a few. It was an illness that would take me away from my great job forever.

After that it was a series of various doctor visits. My husband and I were on a quest for answers, always resulting in more tests and a never-ending list of new ideas, new action items to pursue that always resulted in more questions. I kept praying for an answer when finally three years into the illness I was tested for heavy metal toxicity, and I was found to have a very high level of mercury in my body. The doctor came in the room and said, “Congratulations, you have the highest level of mercury I have ever seen in anyone before!” I im-mediately thought, wow, I won first place in something! This is good, I have an answer, thank you Lord, I have an answer. Later I would realize I was lucky to be alive. Thank you Lord for giving me life.

Chelation therapy is a medical procedure that involves the administration of chelat-ing agents to remove heavy metals from

the body. It was very hard on me, leaving me weaker than ever. Most evident was the toll the mercury took on my nervous system and endocrine system. I became sensitive to almost everything, especially chemicals such as perfume, paints, and solvents. Mercury levels did not im-prove much, but I was too weak to go on with the intravenous treatments. I tried strict diet, supplements, there was always something new to try, but with very little results. Life settled into poor to an oc-casional day of fair health and a quiet life of prayer, oblation, and reflection. My dear friends would pick me up and take me to daily mass and I was content in my simple small world. The Lord was taking me deeper into His Sacred Heart, and I realize now what a special time of my life that was for me because I had immense peace. I would have dreams and images of beauty during prayer time. There were times that I didn’t have the strength to get ready in the morning but, my inner life where my Lord was always present was rich and full of joy.

1997 was a difficult year. My younger daughter, Marisa, had a serious health issue and while she was convalescing, my older daughter, Daniela, my resident artist, insisted I try a watercolor class to lift my spirits. My health was fair at the time so I gave it a good try and I loved it. But, as Life would have it, three weeks into the class, I had a tremendous loss when my beautiful beloved daughter, Daniela, was struck by a car and died. She was 20 years old. My joy, my love, my beautiful daugh-ter was gone. My world turned upside down in one fell swoop. My heart was broken beyond repair. I put my paints away and made an inner vow, “I will never paint again.”

Life was so difficult, first with ill health, and now compounded with profound

grief. I kept myself busy the best I could. Joe had work, Marisa had college, and I had prayer. I grew ever closer to our Lord and I really got to know His beautiful Mother, Mary.

My true devotion to our blessed mother started when I lost Daniela. I had previ-ously attended a mass at the Medjugorje Peace conference and I remember I went up to the beautiful statue of our holy mother in a quiet moment and prayed a simple prayer. “Blessed mother, I love you and I wish I knew you bet-ter.” Within a week I had a quiet vision of our Lord taking me to the bottom of the ocean floor. He was searching for something special and He was so happy going into the darkest places in search of this treasure. He found it, a lustrous pearl. He gave it to me and said, “this is you, a beautiful rare pearl.” I received it and I was so happy. Shortly after that vision Daniela died. I placed my one and only rosary in Daniela’s hands to be buried with her. I found myself without a rosary for her vigil service of the holy rosary when a dear friend approached me and handed me a gift of a beautiful pearl rosary. My friend told me, “The Lord told me you needed a rosary and it had to be a

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InterACT l 13

pearl rosary.” Oh, how good and loving is our Lord. Since that time to present time I have had a deep devotion to our Holy Mother and the holy rosary. It has become my lifeline in difficulties of every-day life and it has deepened my vocation to intercessory prayer for others.

The thought of not being with my daughter anymore was too hard to bear so I gave Daniela totally to the care of our Holy Mother, and since that time I have learned that she is truly OUR Holy Mother. She has led me deeper into her Son’s most sacred heart through her beau-tiful immaculate heart.

Two years after Daniela died I found myself lost, depressed, ill, and still griev-ing. Life was a perpetual Holy Saturday. Prayers were dry as straw. I was able to attend daily mass and be part of a prayer group for a while. I started to write out scripture in Calligraphic style just for me. I took a small drawing workshop to just push myself out into the world because I had become so afraid of everything. I was stuck!

Drawing slowly became painting, and oh, what a struggle it was. I would get panic attacks just holding a paintbrush, but Our Lord kept taking me gently by the hand and leading me to freedom. I remember the day so clearly. “Come out of the shadows, my child, I will be with you.” I was so afraid and sobbing like a little girl. I surrendered everything to our Lord: my fears, my emptiness, my grief, my illness. I told Him I had nothing, no strength, and no drive, just an empty shell of a person.

In His gentle whisper He asked only one thing of me, “TRY.” “Try, that’s all I ask of you—just try and I will do the rest.” That was my job, “TRY.” Such a tiny word, but oh, how important.

It took all my strength to get up every day and try. In the beginning it was two steps forward, one step back. It became a constant conscience act of trying and persevering. I would paint pretty colors, and pick beautiful scriptures to write out in calligraphy. This art became joyful and healing to my soul. Colors became a pas-sion of love and I became further healed by the beauty and nature around me, no-ticing details that I never noticed before. The Lord was healing me and giving me a beautiful gift of art, it opened up slowly like the petals of a fragrant rose in the early morning light. His grace filled my soul like a kiss of the soft morning dew. It was a quiet miracle, a miracle never the less, the healing of grief and pain and the gift of beautiful creative art.

The Holy Spirit led me down a journey of creative art. I started painting all kinds of art subjects and I took some art workshops when my health allowed. I especially enjoyed working with rice paper and watercolor creating different effects through collage. Also, I practiced gold leaf technique and learned how to incor-porate its sparkle within the icons. Art creativity gave me new life and joy. Some-time later I was asked to do a special art piece for women’s retreat which brought me to my first real inspired artwork, “Jesus is Lord,” based on the book of Revelations. From there other ideas came through grace and prayer.

Images and thoughts come to me through prayer and reflection. All of my art comes from the Holy Spirit, through prayer, visions, and dreams. All are beau-tiful gifts from our infinitely good and generous God. I pray I may continue to grow in this beautiful gift and do art that will inspire and touch the hearts of many.

I thank the Lord for taking me down this path of healing and new life. My husband and I moved to Carlsbad recently to be near the ocean. The fresh air has been

beneficial for my health and I now enjoy mostly good days! I was invited to attend a small SEW prayer group by my dear friend Barbara Graham little over a year ago and joined ACT this year. I was able to attend the International Conference in La Jolla, California. Oh, what a blessing it has been! I believe the Lord wants me to do more sacred art for ACT and for all His beloved people because just recently I have been getting clarity of new images and visions for new art. I’ll see if in time it comes to fruition because when the anointing comes, it comes easy like a flow-ing river of grace without any hesitation.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity of sharing my story. I am a woman filled with joy for what the Lord has done for me. My art is a celebration of life and all that is good, and when I paint I feel Dan-iela near me with whispers of “All right, Mom, awesome!” I am so blessed to have better health, my beloved husband near me, my angel as close as a heartbeat, and my cherished daughter Marisa that I hold close to my heart everyday. The Lord has taken my deepest pain and given me my deepest intended gift, for His purpose and to serve Him. All glory and praise to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Linda Sacca resides in Carlsbad, California with her husband Joe and her Goldendoodle, Lilla. Contact Linda Francesca Sacca at her website www.colorsfromtheheart.com

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Colors became a passion of love and

I became further healed by the

beauty and nature around me...

InterACT l 14

Antoinette Listen oh distant coastlands. I call you to come into My loving Presence' to feel the warmth of My enduring love for you. I have a filial love for Act and it's mem-bers. I so want them to change the course of the health profession so I can be the Source and Summit of all they are about. Come into My Presence, sit quietly and listen. I have so much to say but you must listen with open hands and heart. You must be ready to put into action what I ask of you. You belong to Me and Act has a high priority in bringing My love and Kingdom to the health profession and to its members. Be filled with trust. I call and commission you to be united to me and my Sacred Heart.

~~~~~~~~~~

Anne Behneman I am the Alpha and the Omega. Please don't feel that you have come of your own accord. It is I that have brought you here to strengthen and heal you. Ask of me what you need and believe I will grant your heart's desire. It will come with a price. The price I ask is your heart be con-trite and truly willing to do my Father's will.

~~~~~~~~~~

Denise Dolff

Come, my Beloved Act, allow me to woo you and be wooed. Allow me to entice you, and be enticed. I call you to stand in the gap for my failing health care system which no longer respects my broken

bleeding body. Which no longer hears the cry of the poor. I have heard the prayers of my people. I call you to rise up, stand tall, speak boldly, minister freely. I call you as I did those many years ago to redeem my people in my hospitals, and my clinics, and your offices, and places of ministry. They are mine for I have given them to you for the healing of my people. Do not say, "It is not I whom you are calling." Yes, it is you. Only you can be my healing hands and heart to those who need me. I knocked on the door of your hearts, and await your response.

~~~~~~~~~~

Father Chris Crotty shared Ps 27:1, 13-14

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? The Lord is my life's refuge of whom should I be afraid? 13-14 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stout hearted, and wait for the Lord."

~~~~~~~~~~

Carol Inacio

While a prayer was being said for John David & Gaylene Gomez before the talk, I felt like the sky was expanding. These words came forth.

Horizons soar for the glory of God! His name to be praised and raised on high. Understanding must come with the soul of the heart and not the mind.

Run with the wind of God. The move-ment of the Holy Spirit. Explode in my

Prayers & Prophecies from ACT 2014 International ConferenceThe prophecies below were spoken at the conference:

love! Live in my love. Give my love to all. Then horizons will soar. Horizons will soar to open up the floodgates of heaven to fall on all mankind.

(Then received song, "Eagles Wings." I will raise you up on eagles wings.)

Anonymous

My children you have come to me as hun-dreds and you wonder and worry about the future of this ministry and who will be here to carry on this ministry. So many of you are old and fear that this will be the last stages of healing with the heart of my Son Jesus Christ.

My children, you have come as hundreds but you have sown before me the seeds of tomorrow's healing ministry. Where you are now hundreds, in days to come these rooms will be filled with thousands in your place.

Be not afraid. What you are doing now will continue beyond your days here on earth, for I love my people and wish to set them free and make them whole.

Eye has not seen an ear has not heard what I will do through ACT in the days to come. This is only the beginning.

~~~~~~~~~~

Antoninette

Set your hearts a dancing with the joy that comes from Me and my presence in your life. Being obedient to my call will lead to a transfer of your loyalty from the call of the world to my call in your life and

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InterACT l 15

ministry. You are mine. But I seek your totality of surrender to me. Nothing is more important than me and my love and peace in your life. All that I have is yours and belongs to all who surrender their all to me.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kris Dolbow

My Children, of course the world is dark. It has been since Eden. Darkness is where you displayed my splendor. You are my fireflies that blink at night. My stars that shine. My moon that reflects my light. Collectively, you are my city that shines and will not be hidden.

Though you are a people of many tribes, Apache, African, Italian, Romanian, Jew, Greek, Irish, German, Vietnamese, Chi-nese, Mexican, you are all of one blood the blood of Jesus, my Son.

Hold this message in your chest: Know intimately my love for you. Love one another as I have loved you. You are one Tribe, My Bride.

~~~~~~~~~~

Penny C

Do not fear. Set a time for me each day. I will teach you. I will feed you. I will wash you in forgiveness so that you will lead many to my embrace of forgiveness.

Come to me for food for your patients. I alone secure their hopes and future. Listen I am He who saves. I am He who restores. I am He who makes you new.

My spirit will guide you in all things. Put your trust in me. Pray daily. I decided to show you that my love is constant with you.

President’s Message for IC Attendees

Thank you so much for your presence and participation in our most recent confer-ence. I wish also to commend you by pass-ing along the comment I received from the woman who assisted me with check-out. I used that moment to praise the staff of the hotel for their attentiveness and hospitality to us both as a group and individually, not-ing particularly the kitchen and wait-staff who served our meals, but so many others, as well. She was both delighted and grate-ful for the acknowledgement, and prom-ised to pass it along. But in response, she indicated that she, in turn, wished to thank us. She commented that the hotel staff thought our members were exceptional in the ways we conducted ourselves during our stay, noting specifically our thought-ful behavior and fun-loving spirit. She added that, being involved in the hospital-ity business, this was particularly notice-able to her, and therefore an even greater tribute to us and to our organization. She had no knowledge, of course, that I was the new president, but her comments left me feeling proud of us all. Thank you for walking the talk of being Christ’s heart and presence to God’s diverse people. We have now set a standard only to be outdone in Orlando!

-Denise Dolff

Letters to the EditorFall Issue Enjoyment

Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed this (Fall) issue of InterACT. The love of the members and the wit-nessing to the power and love of God just leaps from the pages. Thanks to all who shared.

-Jocelyne Dignard-SalehMember of ACT Toronto Chapter

~~~~~~~~~~

Attention ACT Regional Chairs:

This is a reminder that the deadline for submissions to the next InterACT is January 15th...Mike MacCarthy (mmwrites@san.rr.com) who is the InterACT Editor is hoping to have con-tributions from your region.

I also want to add an “adios” “aloha” “shalom””go with God” as your de-parting (departed) CRC. I have enjoyed working with you as CRC…and look forward to our future together in ACT. There is much to do on all levels, but without the work you do in the regions, it is all for naught…You are the heart of ACT…you and the people in your re-gions. Thank you, thank you for serving.

-Nancy Morgan

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The Executive Committee is looking for someone to serve on a committee to update the history

of ACT in time for the September 17, 2015 conference… archiving through records and pictures

is in progress. For details, contact Nancy Morgan: nancymorgan.mft@cox.net

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About the Summer Issue

My Uncle Steve Owen emailed me a copy of InterACT, and I just got a chance to start reading the summer issue. My husband is the Associate Pastor at our Church the Vineyard Community church. I really enjoyed reading InterACT and your stories of healing. God is so good. In September I am starting my school-ing on becoming a Spiritual Director and look forward to seeing what God has planned for those I meet with. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you and ACT.

-Dawn Torregrossa WeickelHopewell Junction, NY

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ACT Financial Report

At the International Conference Members Meeting, the Board was asked to submit a Treasurer’s Report to be available to the membership.

In response, the current ACT Financial Report by our Treasurer, David Tipton, CPA, has been posted on-line. To access these reports, go into the Member Section, Council Reports to the Board, and scroll to 2014 Financial Reports to the Board, 8/25/14. These reports are for the first seven months, January 1, 2014 through July 31, 2014, and include Comparative Balance Sheet with 2013, Comparative Profit and Loss Statement with 2013, and Budget vs. Actual Profit & Loss Statement for 2014, with a Summarization by David.

The Financial Reports will be posted quarterly, and you will be notified by e-mail when they’re on-line. We encour-age you to look these over and be a part of our financial accountability to the ACTheals membership.

If you have questions regarding the Financial Statements, please call or e-mail

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The Eagle and the DrumA poem reflection as I heard the words of Pastors John David and Gaylene Gomez, who spoke at the 2014 Association of Christian Therapists International Conference in San Diego, CA.

You taught us to burn our inheritanceThe symbols that rose up from our soul-placeThe messages that God spoke into creaturesFor our Spirit Food

We burned and destroyed the gifts from our ancestorsWe obeyed the law of our conquerorsBut the Spirit was buried deeply withinAnd would not leave us

We couldn’t forget the faith of our fathers and mothersRepresented in our forgotten ritualsThat return to us now with greater powerTo teach us Forgiveness

We practice Love and teach LoveThat will one day unite our people And your peopleOur souls are already one in the Great Spirit

Royce Johnston October 15, 2014

Cheryl Marsh, 601-724-1269 or e-mail to: cdtmarsh68@gmail.com. God Bless All.

-ACTheals Finance Committee

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Design Committee Request

With our name change to ACTheals, we have new special needs. A new committee entitled Design Change has been created. We are responsible for projects such as creating new stationary and envelopes,

developing brochures using our new name and with re-developing the website. We are looking for volunteers to assist us. If you have such talents or gifts in the fol-lowing areas, we would like to speak with you. These areas include art, web design, graphic design, or interior design working specific with color schemes.

Design Committee ChairsDoug Schoeninger, doug661@verizon.netKris Sendelbach, fuzziandcompany@gmail.comFather. Bob Sears, rtsears@gmail.com

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ACT Council and Committee Lists for 2015(December 1, 2014)

Council of Committee Chairs: Open, Chair (2015) Jim DeMar, Co-Chair (2015) jimdemar@optonline.netMembership Committee Chair (2015) Francis Hymel fdhymel@suddenlink.net Spiritual Life Committee Co-Chair (2016) Susan TePas tstepas@aol.comSpiritual Life Committee Co-Chair (2016) Rev. Shirley Brummell sblovestea@aol.com Finance Committee Co-chair (2017) Jean O’Neil jeantoneil@cox.netFinance Committee Co-Chair (2017) Richard Oz Osburn rcoz1@sysmotech.net Communication/Publication Chair (2015) Doug Schoeninger doug661@verizon.comCommunication/Publication Co-Chair (2015) Francesca Franchina FFranchina@aol.com International Conference Committee Chair (2014) Mike White mfw30@cox.netProgram Development Committee Chair (2015) Jim DeMar jimdemar@optonline.net

Council of Specialty Group Chairs: Robert Gale, Chair (2017) robertpgale@aol.comDoug Schoeninger, Co-Chair (2017) doug661@verizon.comPsychotherapists Chair (2017) Stephen Wise ACTPsychotherapists@actheals.orgPsychotherapists Co-Chair (2017) Doug Schoeninger ACTPsychotherapists@actheals.orgAllied Health Chair (2016) Djohariah Toor ACTAlliedHealth@actheals.orgAllied Health Co-Chair Open ACTAlliedHealth@actheals.orgPastoral Care Chair (2016) Robert Gale ACTPastoralCare@actheals.orgPastoral Care Co-Chair (2015) Open ACTPastoralCare@actheals.orgClergy and Religious Chair (2015) Sr. Betty Igo ACTClergyReligious@actheals.orgClergy and Religious C0-Chair Gail Paul ACTClergyReligious@actheals.orgPhysicians/Dentists/Chiropractors Chair (2014) Stephanie Cave ACTmedical@actheals.orgPhysicians/Dentists/Chiropractors Co-Chair (2014) Open ACTmedical@actheals.orgNurses Co-chair (2014) Kris Sendlebach ACTNurses@actheals.orgNurses Co-Chair (Open) ACTNurses@actheals.orgAssociates Chair (2014) Royce Johnston ACTAssociates@actheals.orgAssociates Co-Chair Open ACT Associates@actheals.org.

Council of Regional Coordinators: Al Nyland, Chair (2017) albert_nyland@msn.comStephen May, Co-Chair (2017) smay1106@att.net

CANADIAN DISTRICTCanada Renee Lavitt (2015) renee.lavitt@gmail.com

NORTHEAST U.S. DISTRICT (Delaware,SouthernOhio,SouthernIndiana,Kentucky,WestVirginia,Virginia,Maryland,Pennsylvania,NewJersey,NewYork,Connecticut,RhodeIsland,Massachusetts,Vermont,NewHampshire,Maine)District Resource Coordinator: Open New York Anne Lessing (2013) alessing33953@aol.comDelaware Valley Kathleen Murphy Kmurphy705@comcast.netNorthern New England Robert Swegart (2016) bkswegart@gmail.comConnecticut Joe Duddie (2015) joeduddie22@yahoo.comConnecticut Nina Cowell (2015 ninacowell@att.netMid-Atlantic Ann Behneman (2011) Gguschwan@gmail.comMid-Atlantic George Guschwan (2011) Gguschwan@gmail.comOhio, So Indiana, Kentucky Frances M. Franchina (2013) FFranchina@aol.com West Virginia

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MIDWEST U.S. DISTRICT (Michigan, Northern Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ne-braska, Kansas, Northern Ohio)District Resource Coordinator: Steve May (2015) smay1106@att.netMichigan, No. Ohio Kris Sendelbach (2013) fuzziandcompany@gmail.netIllinois, No. Indiana, Wisconsin Janet Blaney (2016) janetblaney@yahooo.comMinnesota, No. Dakota Kris Sendelbach (2013) fuzziandcompany@gmail.net

SOUTHERN U.S. DISTRICT (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas)District Resource Coordinator: Gloria Tipton (2016) drgloriast@knology.net South East Deborah Kalinyak (2015) peaceful4deb@gmail.comTexas Carmen Edwards case630@sbcglobal.net

WESTERN U.S. DISTRICT (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Alaska, Hawaii)District Resource Coordinator: Al Nyland (2015) albert_nyland@msn.comLos Angeles Georgia Connor mndmoves@aol.comSan Diego Sheilamarie Racicot sracicot@san.rr.comSan Francisco Hoai-Thu Truong, Ph.D (contact) contact@drhttruong.com

INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT (all places outside of the U.S. and Canada)District Resource Coordinator: Anita Angele Desrosiers (2015) desrosie@mts.netNigeria Open Caribbean Eunice (Molly) Arjune (2012) eunice_marjune@yahoo.comItaly Fr. Alessandro Pennesi ale.pennesi@mclink.it

Membership Committee:Francis Hymel (2015) Chair, Board Liason Open Co-Chair Robert Gale Council of Specialty Groups Chair robertpgale@aol.comOpen Recruiting and RetainingAl Nyland CRC: Membership Support and Nurture albert_nyland@msn.comOpen Council of Committees Chair, Corporate Membership Janet Powell Internet Social Networking janet.powell@gmail.comOpen Partners in MissionOpen Alumni

Spiritual Life Committee:Susan Tepas (2016) Co-Chair tstepas@aol.comShirley Brummell (2016) Co-Chair sblovestea@aol.com(Open) Roman Catholic Liturgies (Open) Other Christian LiturgiesCarol Oliveri (2015) Liturgist cmjgo1@gmail.comOpen Sacristan Susan Tepas (2016) Liturgy, ICC tstepas@aol.com Rev. Shirley Brummell (2016) Liturgy, ICC sblovestea@aol.comAnne Behneman Healing Prayer Teams abehneman@aol.comGeorge Guschwan Healing Prayer Teams Gguschwan@aol.com(Open) Intercessory Prayer MinistryAntoinette McDermott Word Gift Ministry Chair amcdermott@olow.org(Open) Word Gift Ministry Asst. Chair Richard Kunz Intercessors/ Discerners for SLC

ACT Council and Committee Lists for 2015, continuted

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Phyllis Murphy Intercessors/ Discerners for SLC misphyllis3680@aol.comMaggie Ashton Intercessors/ Discerners for SLC jeremy-ashton@comcast.netDoug Schoeninger Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. doug661@verizon.net Chair Designate Open Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. Jeremy Ashton Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. jeremy-ashton@comcast.netFather R. Sears Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. rtsears@gmail.comRenee Lavitt Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. renee.lavitt@gmail.comBenjamin Keyes Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. bkeyes@regent.edu Susan TePas Ecumenical Relations Sub. Comm. tstepas@aol.comOpen Healing of the Family of ACT, ChairKatsey Long Healing of the Family of ACT, katsey.long@gmail.comFrances Schoeninger Healing of the Family of ACT doug661@verizon.netMaureen Orso Prayer Line orso@rogers.com

Word Gift Ministry Sub-Committee:Ann Arcieri Chair annarcieri@comcast.netOpen Co-Chair Anne Behneman abehneman@aol.comM’Lis Dahl JB2958@aol.comPhyllis Murphy misphyllis3680@aol.comVickie Nagle vbnagle@optonline.netDenise Dolff dolff13@rogers.com

International Conference Committee:Cheryl Marsh (2017) Chair cdtmarsh68@gmail.comMike White (2014) Co-Chair mfw30@cox.netCheryl Jim DeMar Program Committee jimdemar@optonline.netFr. Bob Sears Board Liaison rtsears@gmail.comSusan Tepas (2016) Co-Chair, SLC tstepas@aol.comRev. Shirley Brummell (2016) Co-Chair, SLC sblovestea@aol.com LiturgyBonnie Lay Marketing, bel.achieve@verizon.netOpen COC chairDeborah Kalinyak (2015) FL Co-Chair 2015 peaceful4deb@gmail.comMelissa McKenna Southern RegionAl Nyland L. A. Local C0-Chair 2014 albert_nyland@msn.comSheilamarie Racicot San Diego Local Co-chair 2014 sracicot@san.rr.comCorinne Helena San Diego Local Co-Chair 2014 Coromme.Helena@wellpoint.comDoug Schoeninger Communications doug661@verizon.netMike MacCarthy InterACT mmwrites@san.rr.comJanet Powell Website janet.powell@gmail.com Management Team Management Team Al Nyland Council of Regional Coordinators albert_nyland@msn.comRobert Gale Council of Specialty Groups robertpgale@aol.comSteve May Council of Regional Coordinators smay1106@att.netFrancis Hymel Membership Committee fdhymel@suddenlink.netVince Kirton Audio, video recording vkirton@sympatico.ca

ACT Council and Committee Lists for 2015, continuted

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Program Development Committee:Jim DeMar (2015) Chair jimdemar@optonline.netDoug Schoeninger Co-chair doug661@verizon.netSusan Tepas (2016) SLC Co-Chair tstepas@aol.comRev. Shirley Brummell (2016) SLC Co-Chair sblovestea@aol.comRobert Gale (2017) Council of Specialty Groups Chair robertpgale@aol.comMike White (2014) International Conference Committee mfw30@cox.netCheryl Marsh (2017) International Conference Committee cdtmarsh68@gmail.comFather Robert Sears (2012) Theological Consultant rtsears@gmail.comOpen (2015) COC Chair

Communication and Publication Committee: Doug Schoeninger (2015) Chairperson doug661@verizon.netFranchesca Franchina (2015) Co-Chair and Public Relations FFranchina@aol.comBonita Lay Marketing bel.achieve@verizon.netMike MacCarthy InterACT (2012) mmwrites@san.rr.comJoe Duddie Online Media joeduddie22@yahoo.comDoug Schoeninger Healing Manual (HM) & doug661@verizon.net Journal of Christian Healing (JCH)Father Bob Sears Curriculum rtsears@gmail.comOpen HM, JCH, CD’S & DVD’s Vince Kirton Audio and Video recording vkirton@sympatico.caStephen Wise COP, Online Library swise2@gmail.comRobert Gale (2017) Council of Specialty Group Chair robertpgale@aol.com Al Nyland Chair of CRC albert_nyland@msn.comFrancis Hymel (2015) Membership Committee Chair fdhymel@suddenlink.net

Finance Committee:Jean O’Neil (2017) Co-Chair jeantoneil@cox.netRichard Osburn (2017) Co-Chair rcoz1@sysmotech.net David Tipton Treasurer david.tipton@cpagroup.comDoug Schoeninger doug661@verizon.comCarol Oliveri cmjgo1@gmail.comCheryl Marsh cdtmarsh68@gmail.comDenise Dolff dolff13@rogers.comOpen Management Team Nominations Committee:Robert Sears (2016) Chair rtsears@gmail.comJim DeMar (2014) Council of Committees Rep jimdemar@optonline.netDebbie Kalinyak (2016) Council of Regional Coordinators, Rep peaceful4deb@gmail.comDoug Schoeninger (2015) Council of Specialty Groups Rep robertpgale@aol.comVince Kirton (2015) At-Large vkirton@sympatico.caKathleen Gray (2016) At-Large crl.rho@mail.comKathleen Murphy (2017) At Large kmurphy705@comcast.net

ACT Council and Committee Lists for 2015, continuted