USA (MNN) — Audiences flocked to theaters recently to watch horror movies “The Devil’s Candy” and “A Dark Song”, which collectively grossed nearly $1 million in ticket sales. Do filmmakers know more about the spirit world than pastors?
Demons and spiritual oppression show up in Scripture, too, but Dean Vander Mey of Set Free Ministries says those topics aren’t being taught in many of today’s churches. That’s why they’re hosting a spiritual warfare seminar next month.
“We really want awareness for the people of West Michigan,” says Vander Mey, referencing the region’s large evangelical Christian population.
“Truth is truth. If God said our battle’s not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, rulers and authorities, then that’s it. That’s how it really is, and we have to get into that reality.”
Raising awareness
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Set Free Ministries is a Christian counseling ministry that helps people deal with issues like depression, suicide, addiction, and more. Learn more about their work here.
Set Free began in the mid-90’s as a church-based ministry. Its goal was to “set individuals free from spiritual and emotional bondage through God’s Word, love, and prayer” using a model developed by Dr. Neil Anderson. Over the years, Set Free staff and leaders started realizing that very few people understand the concept of spiritual warfare.
“A lot of pastors and seminaries around here don’t teach on spiritual warfare [but] spiritual warfare is part of our reality according to Scripture,” Vander Mey explains. “We do not battle against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers, and authorities.”
(Graphic courtesy Set Free Ministries)
Pastor and discipleship trainer Karl Payne agrees.
“The schools I attended – good Bible school, good seminary – didn’t just not talk about [spiritual warfare], it was ridiculed. So, we left school not knowing anything more about spiritual warfare than we entered.”
Next month, Payne and Deeper Waters International President Marcus Warner will address the topic at Set Free Ministries’ two-day seminar.
Engaging in spiritual warfare
Set Free’s spiritual warfare seminar will be held October 19th and 20th in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Learn more and get tickets here.
“I’m watching WAY too many houses in the Christian community collapse and they are not equipped for the fight they’re in,” states Vander Mey, referencing Christ’s words in Matthew 7.
“This is all a part of walking in the truth of Scriptures and actually believing what it says, and then doing it.”
Join us tomorrow as speakers Karl Payne and Marcus Warner discuss the upcoming spiritual warfare seminar in further detail.
Header photo courtesy Pixabay via Pexels.
