The Potter's Institute

A heart-shaping and life-skill training opportunity for Christian leaders that is all about recapturing God's heart for your life, family and ministry

Do any part of these verses describe you? If so, The Potter's Institute just could be what you've been looking for....

Through teaching sessions, heart-to-heart encounters, contemplative times of reflection and journaling, personal ministry, and small group discussion, we have designed something far more than a retreat — it’s an adventure of the heart.  It is fashioned in such a way so as to give the Master Potter free opportunity to heal wounds, shape character, infuse freedom and breath renewal into your life.  You will never be the same.  What is The Potter’s Institute?  Let those who have taken the journey ahead of you share glimpses from their heart-stories.

“I have been to many retreats and conferences from Henry Blackaby to Leanne Payne and yet have never been to anything like this.  The teaching times were powerful and anointed but also there was such attention to details - from a letter and personal call before we ever arrived to flowers in our room, symbolism in every meal, meaningful journeys an encounters to the cross…”

·          It is an encounter with the Living Presence of Jesus.

“I have never experienced the presence and power of the Lord like I have these past few days.  His anointing  was so strong and His presence was so real.”

“I have longed for years to encounter the God of the New Testament, the God of miracles and healing - I encountered that God this weekend!”

·          It touches the issues of the heart.

“God… healed my heart from emotional wounds that took place in childhood.  Now I can finally be the leader in my house that I have always wanted to be.”

“I was released of mountains of guilt, shame, hurt and pain - some of which has been hidden for more than 25 years.”

·          It brings freedom to the whole person: spirit, soul and body.

“The Lord brought me here to heal my heart so that my whole life and ministry would be lived out of His love and not my brokenness.  The Lord is making me whole.  God showed me that I could be the person God created me to be in my personhood, my marriage, my life and my ministry.”

“The Potter’s Institute has been a great spiritual awakening for me.  He took away the spirit of fear, abandonment, powerlessness and many insecurities.   The healing I have received has revitalized my heart, soul and mind.”

“It has meant freedom: a freedom that I have not had in years—since childhood.”

·          It instills practical life and ministry skills.

“It has empowered me.  First, that I received healing, and secondly, I was trained in setting the captives free.  We will be applying the blessing to our children and grandchildren.”

·          It is life-changing!

“This was life changing for me.  It was a fresh breath of life from the throne of God.” 

“It has been a “life saver”.  A “second” chance at life the way it should be...marriage included.”

 “God gave me my true identity.  I never knew who I was before.  Now I know who I  really am.”

   We believe the outcome will be that you are awakened to the life God intended - a  heart fully alive!

An Experience of Life and Ministry Training for Christian Leaders, Couples and singles

This is an adventure of the heart that is birthed in the very crucible of ministry life.  We are convinced that God desires His church to be a healthy, functioning body.  But, before the church can be healthy, it's leaders must be.  The Potter's Institute is designed to enable leaders to establish their lives, homes, and ministries on a firm foundation.

“I wasn’t sure exactly what I would encounter… at The Potter’s Institute, but I was hopeful that whatever occurred, I would leave in better emotional condition than when I arrived.  What actually occurred was life-changing.  I’ve been a Christian for 25 years, been to many conferences, but never experienced anything that comes close.  My life will never be the same.  God took areas of darkness in my life that, that in some cases, I was totally unaware existed and shined His powerful healing light, dispelling the darkness.  I didn’t realize how wounded I’ve been… This was a safe and loving atmosphere to find God’s incredible healing.”

How Does The Potter's Institute Work?

Presently, the format consists of four core encounters that can be completed in two years or as best fits your schedule.  Each encounter includes heart-shaping and life skills pertinent to Christian leaders and their families.  Other optional training encounters are available through the additional ministries of Westwood.

• Renewing Your Intimacy With God
• Being Free From Emotional Baggage
• Restoring Balance and Priorities
• Refreshing Your Marriage Intimacy
• Recapturing God's Design for Your Family
• Becoming Healthy Emotionally, Physically and Relationally
• Learning How God Uses Crisis In A Leader's Life
• Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout
• Sharpening Your Leadership Skills
• Clarifying Your Call And Renewing Your Passion

The Potter's Institute is held at the Retreat Center and around the country for the convenience of the participants.

Another unique aspect of The Potter's Institute will be the limited size so that individual attention, relationship building, and mentoring relations can easily develop. 

The underlying conviction of Westwood Ministries has been to offer ministry and training to anyone who has a need.  We never want cost to prevent anyone from receiving the help or training they need.  We have kept the cost to a minimum.  Click here for cost and registration information.

Click Here for Calendar or Here for Registration

                         Encounter 1:  Heart-Shaping

                         This encounter is all about living from your real heart—a heart that   is “fully alive”.  We invite The Master Potter to deal with the “issues of the heart” as He heals our wounds, sets us free, awakens within us our true identity and restores us to our God-given purpose so that we are living the life God intended.

                         Encounter 2:  The Family Tree

                         This encounter is all about restoring a heart-to-heart connection in your marriage and family so that your priority relationships become “fully alive” - the relationship that God has always intended it to be.

                         Encounter 3:  Kingdom Lifestyle

                      This encounter is all about journeying towards having a “whole heart”.  You will learn practical  hands-on life-skills that cover all of the major facets of life.  Then you can consistently and wholeheartedly live the life God created you for.

                          Encounter 4:  Wholeness                     

                        This encounter is all about “leading from the heart”.  You will learn to be the leader that God created you to be—one who influences and impacts the hearts of others from the inside-out.

 “During these past several days God gave me my true identity.  I never knew who I really was before.”

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“By His grace, I was able to uncover my past and be healed.  God gave me a vision to live from my heart.”

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“This has been a turning point in my life.  God has touched areas of shame that I did not realize were at work in me.  I have been able to open up to the Lord and my wife and am finding deeper levels of communication and connection.”

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“I was… desperate to be free from a bondage that had been there for years—He freed me!”

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“This was not a marriage retreat, but it was the best marriage retreat I have ever been on.”

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“He spoke to me all weekend of His great love for me and gave me my destiny, which is to expose the works of darkness… I have never felt so free.”

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“It truly provided me an opportunity to encounter the Master Potter.  God reshaped this marred pot into a useful vessel.  I am healed and released.  I am His!”

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"I was healed of childhood memories that had produced deep wounds.  The Lord has freed me in ways I did not expect.  I have been praying for this to happen for many years.  God make me free of burdens, wounds and sins.  I am a different person now.  The Lord healed my husband.  This has been a miracle for our family."

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"It has been a life-changing experience.  I have been through many mountaintop experiences but this isn't one of those.  I feel like I have changed now and there is not going to be a downward slide off the mountain.  I will forever keep going up.  God showed me my purpose!  He changed me for good.  I am a warrior for God for the rest of my days."

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"It has been like a glass of water during a sandstorm.  I believe it is the beginning of a brand new chapter in my life as well as my marriage and with my children.  God shed great light on why I was the way I was and functioned the way I did.  I believe that I have been set free from my past hurts, wounds and shame and now am able to live a fuller life and fulfill God's purpose for my life and family.  God has delivered me and healed me."

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"Through His Word, God has helped me to identify and deal with long-denied wounds that I received from childhood and also to deal with wounds that I have inflicted on others because of my own unhealed wounds.  God has set me free!  It has been a time of renewal and refreshing in the presence of the Lord.  I especially needed the contemplative time where I was able to listen to the Lord's voice as He answered me."

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"The Potter's Institute meant a lot to me because it has shown me things in my heart that had to be dealt with.  The Holy Spirit really used you guys to reveal to me just how precious I am in my Heavenly Father's eyes.  God has changed my life and prepared me for great things in the future concerning my walk with God, my husband, sons and parents."

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"The Master Potter touched my heart.  I was wet free.  God has given me a new heart.  My sins are forgiven and my wounds healed.  I am a new creation.  Praise God!"

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"This has meant more than you can imagine to my life and family.  Due to this encounter, I have experienced healing and a renewing of my heart.  I feel like a true warrior for my Lord Jesus Christ.  I am ready to follow His commandments, hear His voice - whatever it takes."

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"I received a heart transplant.  Praise God!"

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"I had a cold heart.  It was a defense mechanism I used to defend myself.  He restored my heart.  The Potter's Institute Team is for real.  Most important, the love of Jesus flowed like a river from the Potter's Institute.  Your blessing will definitely touch my great, great, great grand kids!"

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Check out Potter's II Heart Stories by clicking here!

Westwood Ministries' vision is to join God by coming alongside Christian leaders, their families and churches to cultivate vital health, deep renewal and genuine transformation in the kingdom of God.  After more than 12 years of working closely with hundreds of pastors, associates, missionaries, and lay leaders, we have identified the major areas in which Christian leaders and their families are lacking the life skills and spiritual formation necessary to handle the demands and stress of ministry life.

For More Information and Registration