From retreat cohort participants
"I’m deeply grateful for Life on Life. It has challenged me theologically, refreshed me spiritually, enriched me socially, and even renewed me physically. Journeying together with others over three years has been an incredible blessing. It has been well-worth the significant investment required. I highly recommend the experience to anyone seeking spiritual growth and formation."
Kirk Schneemann (Pastor)
"One of the greatest lessons learned from my Life on Life experience was the art of quiet restfulness that only comes from periods of contented listening for and to the Spirit of God."
Iris W (Consecrated Woman in Ministry, ministry leader, pastor's wife)
"Two and a half years ago I began to do two things that have helped me grow in my ability to love God and to love people. One of those things was to make “journaling” a part of my daily devotions. Keeping a journal has enabled me to concentrate better on my response to what God is teaching me through His Word. The other thing I did was to make a commitment to meet with two other men on a regular basis, during which time we share our spiritual journeys, encourage one another, and pray for each other. I want to thank the ministry of “Life on Life formation.” God used Life on Life to introduce these changes in my life, and I am eternally grateful."
Andy Pigott (Retired missionary, pastor)
"I had no idea what I was getting into, and for THREE YEARS! Life on Life has brought back my hope in and love for God. Ministry is draining and this program has renewed and refreshed my walk with God. I am so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful journey. Those three years flew by and I was sad to see it end."
Barbara Blake (Ministry leader, pastor's wife)
"Start to pay attention to the conversation among the Trinity about everything I bring to the Lord."
Daniel Shen (Pastor)
"The Life on Life Formation Retreats were a refreshing time of listening to God and receiving from Him, relationship, time to reflect and get perspective on what I was living in the moment in ministry. For me personally, one critical question that I heard was, "What is Godś unique calling on your life?" It was suggested, "Don't come back with an answer tomorrow!" This sent me on a journey of seeking God'ś clarification and gifting through my devotional times, in times of reflection with God, time of listening to mentors, times of talking with my wife and even listening to our adult children. God gave us such clarity that we left pastoral ministry and went back to the mission field. The clarity was so clear that even though support raising in the past was very uncomfortable, we went through training and traveled and the Lord provided all of our support in three months! We know we are in our unique calling."
Doug W. (Missionary)
"Contemporary believers are often focused upon the exterior dimensions of Christian living without understanding the need for an interior superstructure that supports Christlikeness. My experience renewed my focus. I regained a measure of joy that comes from greater self-understanding and more intimate fellowship with Christ."
Dan W (Pastor, C&MA Transitional Ministry)
"Life on Life formation profoundly changed the way I understand my walk with God and others. The cohorts and sessions have challenged and deepened my understanding of God's work in my life. I find myself quoting Dr. Bush in conversations about spirituality. On multiple occasions I have been reminded of the fact that "spiritual growth is slow, incremental, over time and with others". I can still hear his voice speaking that over us in the cohorts. I have read and reread notes taken from the sessions and am refreshed by how the Spirit of God is present and shaping me through them. I am a different person and continue to be more attentive to God's work because of my time with Life on Life. I have no higher recommendation I could give of any Spiritual Formation group I am aware of than that of Life on Life. My hope is that the work that was birthed in those sessions would continue to ripple for generations to come and lives would be more in tune with God, bringing glory to Him."
Nate S. (Pastor)
"Life on life showed me how God is always pursuing a loving relationship with me. That God doesn’t desire for me to know about Him but to know Him personally and allow Him to transform my heart into the person He created me to be. Life on Life helped me realize that I belong to God, I am His beloved daughter and that He desires for me to know Him, to spend time with Him, to serve and love Him and out of that abundant relationship I am able to share and enter in with others at a soul level. I experienced God as personal and real, not some far off, impersonal god. The slow, spread out process of the retreats allowed time for my heart, mind, soul, and body to embrace the transformation that only the Holy Spirit can begin to do. From my experience, I now desire for others to know and experience that abundant, all-sufficient life that was the joy of Jesus here on earth."
Mindy M. (Lay leader)
There is a semblance of a human-some appear more defined than others. but there are areas of shattering or unfocused or of disappearing.
Life on life formation is the process God used to define, highlight, bring into focus, solidify, restore, undo, the damage that was done by others or by ourselves. God at work-and we get front row seats to watch Him do what He can do in us.
Ivi Martinez (Ministry Leader)
Life on life is a commitment to share in God's formation of a small group of like minded Christians. it is opening yourself up in a safe environment to allow others to speak into and share in your spiritual formation. it is a journey to deepen my spiritual, mind, heart and soul relationship with God using biblical tools and disciplines. It breaks the journey of spiritual formation into spiritual segments that allows focused time on each step of slow incremental growth. It is a small group life journey in to a deepening spiritual formation using a biblical process.
Doug Bleyaert (Lay leader)
Life on Life changed my understanding of God from limited to panoramic as well as my understanding or who He made me to be. I came into it thinking it would be good for me and God to go deeper in our relationship which did indeed happen, but it happened together with people that quickly became family. I discovered my calling through life on life and much more equipped to love others the way Jesus does.
Sandra Traver ( Director Richard Bush Renewal Center)
Where are you at in life? Where is your life taking you? Do you know your purpose, meaning and direction? God has a design for your life, you matter to Him and your life matters! participate in discovery, developing and the reason you were created; unleashed for a greater purpose and fulfillment! Life on life!
Nick Phillips (Pastor, Counselor, Coach, Trainer)
Life on life has been a wonderful experience. Spending three years with a group of people discovering God in a deeper way, experiencing a transformative life with others,
Trena Bleyaert (Lay Leader)
Life on life formation was eye opening. It helps you work through baggage in your personal life and in how you see God. it helps you realize how God is shaping you into the person He wants you to be in His mission. It made me aware of my gifts and calling that I did not even know existed.
Jose Flores (Lay leader)
"Life on Life has deepened my relationship with God by increasing my awareness and discernment to the Spirit’s leading in my life, family, and ministry. The practice of Reflection has been a practical discipline that I’ve embraced. Life on Life also resulted in awareness that my wife, Christy, needed Sabbath rest; as a result, my love for cooking was birthed! Life on Life has also transformed the way I lead my team by investing in their spiritual formation and embracing the value that serving flows from being. And lastly, one of the gifts that I cherish from Life on Life is further clarity on my unique God given calling."
Ken B. (C&MA National Office, Ministry leader)
longer reflections
| Ken Baldes - Invitation to Listening.pdf |
| Matt Hull - Invitation to Prayer.pdf |
| Becky Joern - Grand Silence.pdf |
| Becky Joern - Sandal-less.pdf |
| Iris Wetzel - Invitation to Sabbath.pdf |
| Anonymous - Invitation to Biblical Worldview.pdf |