Messages from Mike

I'm in the process of writing a book - a field manual on how to cultivate transformational and missional communities; the three dynamics of growing a heart close to God.  I'll be posting blogs as I write this book and continue to teach my classes.

Several people of asked if I have any cd's or dvd's from my various talks. Unfortunately most of my talks are quite interactive and confidential. But, our church has recorded a few of my sermons and so I've posted a link to these messages.

I'll think about recording more in the future as it is reasonable.  Enjoy the messages!

Gospel Communities
Wisdom from Above
CPR for the Soul
Baptism into Christ and His Community
Community Development
DNA: Who God Made Us To Be
Life Together
The Great Commission

Our Hearts Behind Haven Retreats: Experience the Process (Part 1 of 3)

If you've logged on then you probably received an email from Pam and I or saw a post through Pam's Facebook page. We miss you all so much! In a variety of ways you have had a meaningful impact on our lives and we've been able to invest in you as well.

As we relaunch Haven for the Heart with this blog, we also want to reconnect with those friends who have meant so much to us through our Haven for the Heart retreats. We have lost contact information on several friends, so feel free to pass this on to others you know that may be interested.

The phrase that Pam and I have adopted to depict the mission of our marriage is “Haven for the Heart”. In helping churches become communities of hospitality, hope and healing we've begun to use this phrase to describe the kinds of groupings that healthy church families are centered upon. We'd like to see every home become a “Haven for the Heart”. We look forward to sharing our reflections and responding to your comments or questions in the months ahead.

Over the years I've been blessed to listen to many sermons and teachings from some of the most dynamic speakers, as well as to read articles or books from many of our most brilliant authors. Their passion, wisdom, humor and devotion has deeply inspired and challenged me to new ways of thinking and living – but there was always something missing!? I've attended some deeply moving and motivating church services and university classes. These adequately educated my mind and encouraged my heart – but there was always something missing!? I've often scanned the audiences at pastors conferences or mens seminars and observed the hunger and hopefulness on the people's faces as they were challenged intellectually, moved emotionally and committed themselves to a new way of life – but something was missing!? I'm not one to minimize the critical value of biblical teaching or motivational speaking. We need God's truth communicated in many ways. I've been profoundly impacted by preachers and authors as well as a host of informational resources and inspirational
events – but something is missing!?

The missing piece, the critical ingredient that's central to my educational and ministry philosophy is Experience! The years of training pastors, counselors and missionaries in the art of leadership has taught me that genuine comprehension and authentic transformation requires Experience! The wisdom (biblical convictions), maturity (character development), and skill (ministry competency) it takes to lead God's people cannot be nurtured by merely listening to a lecture or reading a book – it takes Experience!

People need to see it done (modeling) and be able to practice it personally (mentoring). The apprentice approach was Jesus' pattern. “Come follow me (watch – listen – learn) and go do what I've done to you”. But this approach to education and ministry requires more time with fewer people, and in a bigger/faster culture this process is not as successful or efficient. But that is how Jesus did it!

The missing ingredient in many teaching methodologies and ministry strategies is the experience of RELATIONSHIP. Participation and interaction are often missing dynamics in our Bible studies, church services, committee meetings and ministry teams. 

Our Hearts Behind Haven Retreats: Modeling & Mentoring (Part 2 of 3)

We are not just doing a blog but offering retreat settings where small clusters of leaders, couples or teams can experience the process of connecting “Heart to Heart and Face to Face”. You will be responsible for transportation and sleeping arrangements. We will provide the continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments and retreat resources for $50.00/person. If the cost of travel and hotel is all that prevents you from participating, then we'll work on finding a donor to help you out.

• As men with men or women with women - Come and join five other men or women or allow one of us to join your small group/ministry team as Pam (with the women) or I (with the men) wrestle with biblical femininity or masculinity in a way that empowers and unleashes you to be godlier men and women, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers!
• As couples in community with couples – Join with two other couples or bring the core couples with whom you're in community. Pam and I will foster an environment and facilitate an experience that will encourage you in heart and connect you as couples to one another in community.
• As teams in ministry together – You can invite me/us to meet with your leadership team as we wrestle with your hearts, relationships and ministries. We'll reflectively and relationally assess and address the challenges of “Life Together” in four arenas of biblical health. We are also open to coming to your couples group or ministry team.

These “Haven for the Heart” retreats are designed to model a process and mentor you in the practice of looking at your life as you help others grow (Acts 20:28). Therefore, these “Haven for the Heart” retreats will strive to accomplish two goals.

• Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord (Lam. 3:40-41). These retreats will help you to keep a close watch over your heart convictions and lifestyle choices (1 Tim. 4:15-16).
• Let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24-25). These retreats will help you to encourage others spiritually and connect them relationally (Col. 1:28-2:3).

A Haven for Your Heart: Modeling and Connecting

The first goal is to help you experience community in a way that you become spiritually enriched,

relationally encouraged and missionally engaged. The realities of life have a way of drying up our hearts, disconnecting us from others, and detaching us from our larger purpose in life.We'll help you wrestle with the three dynamics that are central to a healthy Christian life.

There probably was a time when your heart was alive and surrendered and you experienced the joy and peace of closeness with Jesus. There probably was a time when your heart was devoted and connected to others in a way that caused you to weep and sing with them. There probably was a time when your heart was unleashed and engaged and you lived for God's larger purposes in a way that was both exhausting and fulfilling. But...life's pressures and stressors, the financial and physical losses, the relationship disappointments and conflicts have all had quite an impact on our soul. The anxieties, depression, loneliness, bitterness, sadness and emptiness can lead us to a host of addictions or dependencies that deaden our hearts, destroy our relationships and defame our God. Whether you're doing well and simply need some refreshment, or doing poorly and need some reconstruction, it's time to reconnect with the Dittmans and experience a “Haven for your Heart”.

A Haven for others Hearts: Mentoring and Coaching

A second objective for the retreats is to provide a coaching experience where you can think through the implications of disciple making and community building for your ministry or church. We'll give you an

opportunity to practice and process the dynamics of wisely, compassionately and skillfully nurturing life transformation, relational connection and missional incarnation.

People are struggling with a host of personal addictions and relational dysfunctions. They are often sitting next to us on the train, at our church services and in our living rooms. Sadly, most are suffering silently, ashamed and afraid to share. Their/our issues come out in all kinds of ways which cloak the problem, hides the pain and causes people to either fight or flee. We, as their friends or mentors, often feel uncomfortable and helpless if we tune in to all the issues going on below the surface of people's behavioral patterns or relational styles. So we do our tasks, play the games and occasionally offer a word of encouragement or say we will pray for them.

God has given you a heart to love, the wisdom to draw out the real issues of the heart, and a body of believers who are gifted to build one another up! You might need help as a leader, couple or team in learning how to be the person who pursues people's hearts or facilitates a healing community. You may be on a team or in a community where you're authentically seeking and serving God together. Or you may be longing and looking to participate in this kind of community. Either way, we'd like you to gain more insight and encouragement to more wisely and lovingly pursue peoples hearts and draw them into connecting with God and caring for others. 

Our Hearts Behind Haven Retreats: Focus & Format (Part 3 of 3)

Jesus is building His Church with people who are spiritually alive in Christ (surrendered), relationally connected to one another (devoted) and missionally engaged in the world (unleashed). If you are a disciplined learner and follower of Jesus then you will be continually growing in your heart for God, your love for one another and your ministry to those in the world.


This retreat is focused on helping us to honeslty wrestle with our heart issues, relational dynamics and ministry challenges. We (Mike and Pam) will model and mentor you through a process of C.P.R.

• Connecting with Others: Joining One Another on the Journey – How to gather together with friends and mentors.
• Pursuing God Together: Entering the Story of Life – How to grow deeper in biblical wisdom and spiritual formation.
• Responding in Worship: Walking Together as Missional Communities – How to go further as lovers of God and others.

Sharing the Journey & Telling the Story of Life Together 

Friday Night 7:00 – 10:00

This first night will be an opportunity to Connect with others. Throughout the weekend there will be a lot of laughter and tears as we celebrate God's incredible love and as we enter the real challenges of our hearts, relationships and ministries. We will foster an environment and facilitate an atmosphere that is both safe and stimulating – full of grace and truth! It is our prayer and hope that the Holy Spirit will help us find a Haven for the Heart.

• Havens of friends and mentors who compassionately and courageously join one another on the journey.
• Hearts that find healing and hope in Christ with a motivation to deeply trust and sacrifically obey.

Awakening the Passion & Embracing the Mission of Life Together 

Saturday Morning 9:00 – 12:00

After a restful sleep we will Pursue God together as people who long to be more surrendered and alive in Christ, more devoted and connected to one another and more unleashed and engaged in the world. Jesus calls us to love God and others with a all of our hearts. This call requires us to let go by dying to self and to take hold by living for God. Pursuing God together will involve authentic wrestling with the revelation of God's story and the realities of our story as well as genuine celebration of our communion with Christ. It is our prayer and hope that the Holy Spirit will help us awaken our passion and embrace our mission for life together.

• Awaken our passion for life together in Christ by understanding the journey of our hearts and by cultivating the spiritual disciplines of soul care. We will take time to discuss how you can help others experience a rich relationship with God.
• Embrace our mission for life together as church by sharing the challenges of loving others and by nurturing the relational dynamics of community life. We will take time to discuss how you can help others connect in community.

Recapturing the Vision and Reclaiming the Devotion of Life Together 

Saturday Afternoon 2:00 – 5:00

Our final session will bring everything together and provide real guidance or encouragement to Respond in Worship. In this last session we will discuss how you can participate or facilitate Havens for the Heart in your home church or community.

• Do you have a Haven for the Heart? What is God up to and what are the challenges in your life, home, church and world?
• Will you be a Haven for others Hearts? What will you need to be unleashed and engaged to make disciples?

It is our hope and prayer that this retreat will have been C.P. R. for your soul and that you will leave being ready to give C.P.R. to others in your community. Our future blogs and books will develop and discuss the dynamics of Connecting with others, Pursuing God with others and Responding in worship.
We hope to see you at one of our retreats! We will give those who are participating a handout of questions and resources to prepare for our retreats. If you are interested in one of these retreats contact us at dittman@havenfortheheart.com or 267-994-9116. 

Our Heart Behind the Haven

One of the things that Pam and I enjoy the very most is the opportunity to sit down with another individual, couple or ministry team and talk through the areas in their lives and ministry that matter the most to them. The Lord has taken each of us on a journey that at times has exceeded our expectations of what we ever dreamed His blessings could provide. At other times we have had to weather storms we thought unbearable. You have been there and so have we!

As we seek to love others (friends, co-workers, ministry partners) it is often difficult to know where we can dialogue the issues most heavy on our hearts. Though we rarely lack the company of others, we often find ourselves in a very lonely and isolated place. You may feel this as individuals or married couples, serving in a local church or on various ministry teams. Where do you go to process the challenges confronting your life, dialogue a dream about the next steps the Lord is taking you on, or pray about the issues of your heart? We have been there many times and we are sure we will be there again. 

We have often read compelling books, attended amazing seminars or conferences and listened to powerful speakers that have challenged our thinking and hearts. We often walk away from these settings with our hearts and minds full, but no where to process the details as they pertain to our individual lives and ministries.

In the course of this journey our lives have intersected with many of yours in ways that have had a meaningful impact on us and hopefully on you as well. We are writing you today and inviting you to a retreat setting where we can catch up on one another's lives as well as offer an environment where your heart will be heard, encouraged and challenged. Along with that we also hope you gain a vision for how this could impact the setting you are presently in - your ministry, marriage, family, etc.

We are offering these retreats to small groups of leaders, couples or teams. Pull together your own group of of six or come on your own and meet some others that are seeking the same renewal, refreshment and redirection. This provides a wonderful avenue to grow from the input and insight of others while at the same time not getting lost in the midst of a larger seminar setting where your individual challenges are not addressed.  If you would like a more detailed description of these Haven retreats click here.