Our Story

Seeking God’s Word

Renewal Ministries began with a letter sent out by Ralph Martin in 1980 to fifty-one people. He wrote, “The time has come for me to have as my main responsibility seeking God’s word to us today, and devoting myself to its proclamation to God’s people.”

Earlier that year, Ralph had begun speaking on “The Crisis of Truth” within the Catholic Church—talks that stemmed from the growing attack he saw confronting Church authority, biblical inspiration, sexual morality, and even the need for salvation through Jesus. These talks—and the book that followed—drew the attention of many, including Fr. Michael Scanlan and Peter Herbeck. They led to large FIRE (Faith, Intercession, Repentance, and Evangelization) Rallies being held across the US and eventually, across the world.

Television and Radio

In the early 1980s, Ralph also was invited to begin production on what would become The Choices We Face on EWTN. It is now the longest-running Catholic television program in the world. In 1991, an hour-long special called A Place Called Home even won an Emmy for best religious program. Sr. Ann Shields began broadcasting her daily radio program, Food for the Journey, in 1995. Peter Herbeck’s daily radio program, Fire on the Earth, began broadcasting in 2005.

A Global Mission

In 1989, Ralph, Sr. Ann, and Peter felt called through prayer to join forces in a more significant way. This call led to overseas missionary work, which has since grown to include forty-three missions to thirty-three countries in 2019. Renewal Ministries’ goal in missions is to lead to ongoing involvement in local efforts. The missions are led by a team of country coordinators who maintain relationships with people in the countries they serve, and who travel at the invitation of the local church leadership. Additionally, an important part of our outreach overseas and at speaking events within the US is ministering to priests, religious, deacons, and lay leaders, to impart vision and hope and also a grounding in the life-giving power of the Word of God.

Renewal Ministries hosts the Lift Jesus Higher Rally in Toronto, Ontario, and the Gathering, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, each year. We also proclaim God’s Word and strive to equip and strengthen people for the times we are living in through books, booklets, DVDs, and CDs, which can all be found in our online store.

Serving Generations

In recent years, we have expanded our ministry to include more intentional outreach to youth and young adults. In 2019, we added Be Love Revolution, a ministry to middle-school and high-school-aged young women, and Forged, a ministry to middle-school and high-school-aged young men.