This is now the 16th year of the Sword of the Spirit participating in this worldwide observance! We are convinced that praying with Christians all over the world “that they may be one” has a powerful effect on our way to full unity.

This continues to be an excellent way to gather the whole Sword of the Spirit in prayer around this important issue so close to the Father’s heart.

Raising children to love and serve the Lord is one of the most important tasks God gives to any of us. It is difficult, time consuming, and absolutely essential to the continued life and well-being of the Body of Christ.

El Camino Community is a covenant community established in Westfield Mass. Our members are laymen and women, primarily married couples with their children. We gather to share God’s love and to be formed by his word.

In the late 1960s, the Charismatic Renewal began to sweep through many Christian churches and groups, as God poured his Holy Spirit out on his people. The Sword of the Spirit is one of the many lasting groups and ministries that grew out of this renewal, as prayer groups, ministries, and churches responded to God’s work in their own unique ways.

“Lord, let them see You in how we love one another.”

This was our prayer for the Mini-Visitation that happened last May 30-June 1, 2025. And God heard our prayer: God’s love was indeed tangible that weekend not only to the Visitation Team but to us as well, as we felt loved by the members of the team: David Williamson, Jeff and Jeanne Smith, Jim DeSpelder, and Mary Margaret Molnar in that short time with them. And the Family of Faith (FOF), on its 32nd year, became a full member of the Sword of the Spirit Community!

Rewind to 1999 – When the world was captivated by the Y2K bug, the then youth leaders of the Lamb of God Christian Community in Auckland, New Zealand were inspired to start a youth Camp. They christened this camp Winter Oasis and the aim of the camp was to equip young people in the Power of the Holy Spirit to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. The theme that year was “What cannot be shaken will Remain”

What do Jason Bourne and a Christian young adult retreat have in common? At first glance, maybe not much. But this year’s GetSet 2025 retreat leaned into the deeper parallels from the Bourne film series: a man with questions about his identity, a call to take action, and a mission that changes everything.

From April 30 to May 4 this year was the first International Women Leaders Conference in eight years. So much has changed since 2017, but the women in the Sword of the Spirit still love to gather to worship the Lord, listen to his word, and grow together as covenanted sisters and disciples on mission. That is exactly what we experienced in Costa Rica this May.

Summer is rapidly approaching, and with it our Regional Conference in July. Anyone who has been able to attend regional events in the past—such as youth retreats or leadership conferences—knows what a blessing it can be to connect with those outside our own communities who are following the same call and way of life God has called us to.

Kairos is the regional youth program for the Sword of the Spirit North America. Our main priority is to serve middle and high schoolers in our region through retreats, trips, and service opportunities.

Jerry Munk (Nov 16, 1953 – Apr 5, 2025), beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away at age 71. He was married to his wife Jan for 48 years. It was my privilege to work with Jerry for over 40 years. 

God calls all of us to reach out to those around us. We are called to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to point others toward Him. Sometimes He also calls us to go out to new places and meet new people. This can be as simple as volunteering your time in a new way, or as difficult as packing up your entire family and moving to another location—new jobs, new neighbors, new church, new everything.

Some of the most memorable and loved youth work in our region takes place at summer camp! The People of God have been running a week-long children’s camp each summer since 1999. These camps strive to glorify Jesus by teaching children about Him and by fostering an environment where Christ-centered relationships can be formed.

In the North American Region of The Sword of the Spirit, one of our goals is to equip leaders in our individual Communities to reach and serve Young Professionals as they come into membership in Community. We want to help YP (young professional) leaders throughout the region connect to each other and learn from each other, to have a network of support as they serve their individual Communities.

Have you ever been sure God was calling you to something, but not known how to go about it or what it was going to look like once you had? Following the guidance of the Holy Spirit often means taking the step in front of you without knowing exactly where the path is headed. Thankfully, we have a God who knows exactly what lies ahead.

Read about the 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an annual event observed from January 18–25 to promote ecumenical prayer, reflection, and collaboration among Christians of various traditions.

What an honor it is to be with you today to share a few thoughts from my heart and really share some of the things that the Holy Spirit is asking of us in our region in these years. I’m going to share three things with you today.

The Sword of the Spirit is moving from its founding generation to a new generation of leaders whom the Lord has called to guide us in his call to love one another in covenant community.

Learn more about the newest community in the North American Region of The Sword of the Spirit; Lamb of God.

Welcome to the SOS North American Region’s new website! Every month, you’ll be hearing how the Holy Spirit is moving in and through so many brothers and sisters in our region.