In June, Global Directors Joshua and Febe Pantoja travelled to Melbourne to lead the first-ever Set Free! Retreat in Australia. At the retreat, church members and pastors from surrounding churches came and experienced a powerful time of freedom and healing, including two women who restored their relationship after years of bitterness.

When worship coordinator Patty Calvert came to Christ, she walked away from a past life of drug use and transcendental meditation. For years, Patty knew she was forgiven but couldn’t let go of her guilt and shame. Her marriage broke down as a result. Then, as she confessed her sins at the Set Free! Retreat, Patty experienced the true forgiveness of God. For the first time, she felt free to grow in her spiritual walk. 

Participant Jenelyn Piamonte had been reluctant to set aside her usual responsibilities to attend the retreat. This reluctance turned into outright fear when Jenelyn found herself in a group with a woman who had hurt her years ago. But when they reached the inner healing session, God convicted both women to let go of the bitterness that had created such a long-time barrier between them, and they reconciled on the spot. 

Not only has the Melbourne Set Free! impacted the believers who attended, but it’s also opening doors for Church Renewal International (CRI) to influence more pastors in Australia and the surrounding areas. The pastors who attended were deeply impacted by the practices and teaching they experienced and are exploring further involvement with CRI. This includes pastors ministering to Samoan, Pakistani, and Indian believers living in Australia.

August Prayer Request

Pray for the Melbourne Set Free! to be a catalyst that helps renewal grow in Australia and beyond.