Our
Mission
Equip
Encounter
Encourage
To equip and encourage God's people to live empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:11 reminds us that God gave gifts to the Body of Christ to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. ARM seeks to nurture, educate and equip individuals and churches to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit, the wounded keep on wounding, the hurt keep on hurting, and the aimless continue to wander. Without the Holy Spirit, the captives remain captive, the spiritually blind continue in blindness, and the spiritually deaf continue in silence. Without the Holy Spirit, prayers remain unproductive and ineffective, worship remains weak, mediocrity is propelled, and potentials are not reached. Without the Holy Spirit, instead of fulfilling the Great Commission, the church ends up sitting like the lame one at the Gate Beautiful begging from the world just to survive.
Picture instead, God supernaturally, and uniquely at work in every local church, drawing people to Himself, building His church, advancing His Kingdom, turning the world upside down.
Encounter
We provide opportunities to encounter the supernatural power and presence of the Holy Spirit both corporately and individually. We intentionally invite individuals to experience and nurture a relationship with the Holy Spirit to release spiritual gifts and fruit. Through our prayer ministry, we facilitate healing, transformation and freedom in Christ.
Equip
We are called to equip the Body of Christ. Equipped by the Holy Spirit, disciples are used to carry out God's mission in the world. ARM equips believers through teaching, preaching, worship and prayer to carry out the ministry of Jesus for the transformation of the world
Encourage
We take seriously our call to the ministry of encouragement. ARM has an ongoing ministry of encouraging Spirit-filled, followers of Jesus, to daily live and walk in the Spirit. In all times and places, ministry and life as a disciple can be filled with many obstacles. Through community and words of life, ARM strengthens the Body of Christ to remain true to the Lord.
Core Values
Obedience to the Holy Spirit in which new possibilities come to life through the power of the Holy Spirit - 2 John 1:6.
The Revelation of the Spirit through Word, prayer, prophecy, dreams, and visions in which we hold ourselves accountable before God and each other - John 16:13-14.
Exposure to and participation in the miraculous work of God in which we expect to see the activation of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ - John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
The process of growth and maturity through the Holy Spirit in which ministry is exercised from and to all age groups and throughout the generations - Acts 2:17-19.
A worldwide ministry in which we send out persons who are transformed by the Holy Spirit and who act as transformational agents in the world - John 20:21.
Worship in the Manifest Presence of God - 1 Chronicals 16:23-25, Matthew 18:20.
Fellowship, biblical grounding, Holy Communion, and the centrality of prayer - Acts 2:42.
The centrality of prayer and discernment in seeking the Holy Spirit inspired consensus when making decisions - Acts 15:25.
Transparency and accountability across all areas of the ministry including finance and accounting.
History
Aldersgate Renewal Ministries (ARM) began in 1977 after a charismatic renewal conference in Kansas City inspired United Methodist leaders to form a Spirit-led fellowship within the church. Originally called the United Methodist Renewal Services Fellowship (UMRSF), the group focused on renewing the church through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Over time, ARM expanded its reach through national conferences, local seminars, and its newsletter Manna, which trained believers called “runners” to bring spiritual vitality to their communities. The Life in the Spirit Seminar became a central teaching tool, helping people understand and experience the Holy Spirit. Leadership transitioned from Ross Whetstone to Gary Moore in 1989, and later to Jonathan Dow in 2009, each ushering in new seasons of growth. Strategic prayer became a cornerstone of the ministry, led by national coordinators who mobilized intercessors across hundreds of churches.
In 1994, ARM moved to Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and adopted its current name to reflect its mission more clearly. The ministry expanded internationally, reaching countries like the Philippines, Paraguay, and Peru. Its headquarters, the Aldersgate Renewal Center (ARC), and nearby ARCottages became spaces for training, rest, and transformation. Today, ARM continues to serve as a Spirit-filled affiliate of the United Methodist Church, equipping believers and ministering to ministers with a vision of renewal and global outreach.