Ministry of Reconciliation in Prior Lake spiritually addresses personal strongholds

Prior Lake American

When a client walks into the Ministry of Reconciliation in Prior Lake, a few things are made clear right away.

First, the process is completely confidential. Second, none of the volunteer prayer ministers are licensed counselors or therapists in that capacity. Third, that it is a biblical-based ministry for those who are tired of their normal way of thinking — perhaps it’s depression or sad feelings, something the ministry refers to as “stinkin’ thinkin’.”

“We’re an organization that helps walk people through a process of identifying where they’re hurting, why they’re hurting, where they’re stuck in life and how to move through that,” Ministry of Reconciliation Board President Stephanie Welter said. “It’s safe to be honest, it’s safe to cry, it’s safe to hurt here.”

A teaching and equipping ministry

The ministry, 5116 Gateway St. SE, uses prayer ministers who counsel with clients who sign up to go through the program, which is entirely free. Board members described it as a “teaching and equipping ministry,” meaning prayer ministers give clients tools such as Bible verses that are applicable to real-life situations.

“We get people that have any kind of addiction, or are just stuck in some area of their life or want to move forward in their relationship with God and can’t because of unmet needs, unhealed hurts and unresolved issues,” Ministry Executive Director Caroline Singer said. “We teach them how they can be over comers and then equip them to do so.”

If a client is interested in going through the program, the first thing the prayer ministers will have them do is watch a video about the ministry. They’re also given a folder with information and a card. If they’re interested in taking part in the sessions after that, they fill out the card. The Ministry of Reconciliation will have them read a book called “Victory Over the Darkness” by Neil Anderson to “get them into the mode,” Singer said.

Most of the tools consist of scriptures and prayers to help with an issue. For instance, there is a prayer to break a “soul tie” with someone else. Those ties can be formed through sex before marriage or even by being in a fight with a sibling or coworker, Singer said.

“The culmination of the whole ministry is all about the tools they’re given,” Singer said. “I’ve had people come back to me and tell me that they’re still using the tools so ‘I can maintain my spiritual walk.’ It’s amazing the amount of people that come in here and have that root of bitterness and don’t know it.”

The ministry is always biblically based. If a prayer minister feels a client needs a therapist, they recommend a therapist. If they feel the client is not ready to address the issues deeply or religiously, they might send them away but ask them to come back when they feel ready.

“You have to be submitted to God and then to the ministry to be able to do the homework, to be submissive to the whole process,” Singer said. “If they’re not, it’s probably not the time and we ask them to come back. Sometimes they just decide for themselves that this just isn’t a fit right now, maybe things are getting too close for comfort and the time isn’t right.”

Board member Jennifer Welcome, who went through the program herself, said she uses the tools taught in the ministry in her every day life.

“You can pray a blessing over anybody, even if it’s a stranger,” Welcome said. “You could see someone in church that is maybe new and just shoot out a prayer for them. I think it’s kind of fun — it’s a little secret joy I have by doing that.”

Though the program is technically eight weeks long, with one 90-minute session every week, clients’ time in the program can vary from eight weeks to a few years.

“It depends on the person and where they’re coming from,” Singer said.

A client will be assigned a prayer minister and a prayer partner, generally. There are 10 lead prayer ministers and 20 partners, all of which are volunteers. Right now, there are about 12 clients which is lower than the Ministry of Reconciliation’s average of 30 per year.

Through it to do it

For people to get involved with the ministry or become a prayer minister, they must actually go through the program themselves and prayer minister training, which the Ministry of Reconciliation provides. Though some have gone through to get involved, most get involved after seeing the ministry’s impact in their own lives.

Prayer minister Kristy Shrewsbury said she struggled with anxiety and depression after childhood abuse, remarrying and adjusting to a blended family and being diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It was just a really scary time for me,” Shrewsbury said. “I was able to get to the root of some of these issues and use the tools I was given and it lifted the cloud, for me, of negativity and I was able to continue on in my life and fall back on the tools I had to get through all the different issues I was going through. I decided maybe this is something I could pass on, that I could do for other people.”

Board member Jason Rich went through the program after going through a divorce.

“Through the ministry, God healed a lot of areas of my life and brought me through a very difficult time,” Rich said. “I think the biggest issues that people have when they come in is they don’t know who they are. Their identity in Christ is something we walk them through. Through Christ, they can live a victorious lifestyle, not a defeated one — that’s what the Bible shows us.”

Welter said she was a radio talk show host when she discovered the ministry, talking to authors, speakers, pastors and experts on callers’ issues. At the time, she was a single mother of four kids, one of whom had special needs.

“I’d get in my car and drive home and I was like ‘What about me?’” Welter said. “’Why am I still hurting?’ Things started to change in my life in an amazing way.”

Oftentimes, clients will be experiencing hardships that the prayer ministers themselves have gone through, said Welter, who was named Mrs. Minnesota International 2017.

“It’s nothing short of divine,” Welter said. “You couldn’t plan it any better. I get clients that have had things I’ve had to come through in my own personal life time after time after time again.”

The ministry and therapy

Though it began before that, the nonprofit became the Ministry of Reconciliation about 20 years ago. The founding director of the ministry, Marlis Kulus, died in 2015. Though Kulus had done much of the work previously, a board was formed after her death to oversee the ministry.

“We used to be in a church, so we’re not in a church any longer and that’s on purpose because we want people who won’t go to a church to come to the marketplace,” Singer said. “We’ve added a lot of pieces of ministry since day one, a lot of things that get to the goal.”

Though ministers will refer clients to a therapist if necessary, there are things the ministry can do that therapy can’t, Welter said.

“One of the things we do here that you can’t do in therapy is we give you a hug,” Welter said. “Another thing we do here you can’t do in therapy is we tell them our story, too. Ask me how I know what they’ve been through.”

The ministry can provide another aspect to mentally and spiritually healing, Rich said.

“We’re a piece of the puzzle, really, in healing for the community and for people to help them deal with their junk. It’s a really safe place to come. Clients also don’t have to worry if insurance will cover the costs.”

Singer said residents thinking about participating should watch the beginner video explaining the ministry.

“There’s no commitment to watch the video,” Singer said. “Sometimes, that’s what it takes. Just to come and see that we’re a safe place.”