When TPM May Not Appear to Work

Same Process but Different Percentages

There are some people who report that TPM does not seem to work for them or only a small percent of the time.  While there are others reporting great success and a predictable consistency. So what does this mean? The fact that there are differing percentages of success from one person to the next, suggests that the variable is probably not the process. The process itself is a consistent set of questions and locations on a “map.” Whereas, the person facilitating the process as well as the person being facilitated, both bring in another set of variables that can impact what might happen or not happen.

I (Ed Smith) personally expect the process to work consistently each time it is applied. It has been my experience that as long as a person is willing to take ownership for what he feels and believes and when he looks to the Lord for the truth, the Lord faithfully supplies. When one person says “TPM only works 40% of the time, while another person says that he sees good success 95% of the time, there is something inconsistent going on. These inconsistent numbers would suggest that this is reflective of the facilitator’s understanding and application of the process, and/or the person’s unwillingness to move forward, and probably has nothing to do with the TPM process itself.

Of course, TPM is not a magic bullet for all that ails you, but it seems to be a consistent process for many people helping them identify their lie-based core belief, allowing them to position themselves to receive truth from the Holy Spirit. For those who are reporting a low success rate, there may be some explainable reasons.

Not everything called a “rose” is a “rose.”

Not all things being called “TPM” are in fact “TPM.” Some of what is being called TPM is “a little of this and a little of that.” People sometimes take the liberty of adding their own twist to the TPM Process while retaining the name TPM. It has never been our intention to control what people are doing in their personal ministry setting, but we are concerned that if they call what they are doing “TPM” that TPM is in fact what they are doing. Some honestly believe that they are doing TPM, but they veered of course somewhere along the way. Since the inception of TPM in 1995, there have been many “off-shoots” that sprang off of the TPM model. We cannot speak for the success rate of these “hybrid” TPM models of ministry. However, it is important that these other models not be confused with TPM.

This is why it is very important that people understand the basic teachings of TPM before seeking personal ministry. One should never assume that just because a facilitator claims to be doing Transformation Prayer Ministry that they are actually doing so.  Facilitators should provide the TPM Session Guidelines to every person who comes for ministry. The person seeking prayer ministry should also hold the facilitator accountable to the guidelines as they proceed. If at any point the person is ever uncomfortable about what is happening in a ministry session, he or she should end the session and seek ministry elsewhere.

The skill of the ministry facilitator may be lacking.

Just because people have read the TPM training materials and watched the videos does not mean they will be successful practitioners. Being an effective facilitator requires mastering the written materials and the process application, as well as investing untold hours of practice. The skilled ability to minister effectively develops only with much practice and oversight from others who can evaluate what the facilitator is doing. Since the person receiving prayer ministry has access to the same training as the facilitator, it is crucial that he or she be responsible to study for themselves to be sure they are getting pure TPM.

Some would-be facilitators are unwilling to make the needed investment of time and energy to learn this process well. It is not uncommon for a well meaning facilitator to bring bits and pieces of TPM into what he or she is already practicing in ministry. Some ministers take a little of TPM and a little of something else and call it TPM. This is probably not good. Be aware as you seek ministry. If you want a pure form of TPM, then ask for it and expect it. Better yet, the Mentee (the one being prayed with) can learn the Principles, Process and Purpose for himself.

It is good for the person seeking prayer ministry to find out how much experience the facilitator has had and what his or her success rate has been. Every facilitator has to begin with a first person, but they should jointly consider whether the facilitator’s level of experience meets the needs of the ministry recipient before deciding to work together. It might also be good for you to ask, “Do I want to be this facilitator’s first attempt?”

The Person May be Unwilling to Move Forward

The person being prayed with is a major variable in the success or lack thereof in a TPM session. People ultimately choose where they go in their spiritual journey, and not everyone is initially willing to feel the pain they harbor or remember what they may need to remember. The questions used in the TPM process are designed to help the person choose to move in the direction of freedom, but not to force them to do anything apart from their own choosing.

Human beings are capable of developing an amazing structure of mental defenses to suppress their emotional pain in their lives. These defenses remain long after the original need for them has passed, and instead of protecting them, the defenses keep them in bondage.

Here again is why the Mentee needs to be trained and equipped in the Process, Principles and Purpose of TPM. If he does not understand what is happening in a session, why it is happening and the overall purpose for doing TPM, he will probably have a less successful experience. More so than this, if he does not understand the what, why and purpose of TPM he will probably view TPM as a stop gap for his pain. As long as he is able to manage his pain and distract himself from it, he may see no need in seeking ministry.

God may have a different path of freedom for some people to travel.

As stated, Transformation Prayer Ministry is not the “magic bullet” for all people at all times, but there is always a path through which God can accomplish His work if we seek it. No one is without hope. God has a path to freedom for all people. At the same time, God is certainly not limited to TPM.

For those who have not had success using TPM, and have considered the possibilities listed above, I would encourage you to diligently seek the Lord and see where He is leading you. Pursue other avenues of ministry and help. Keep knocking and believing that the Lord will open the door in His time. Please do not lay down and play the victim needing to be rescued. No one is without hope, since He does have a plan for you. When someone says, “Transformation Prayer Ministry won’t work for me,” I would ask, “What then are you doing that is working for you?” I also have had people say that TPM would not work for them, though they had not yet even tried it. In these cases, something else is going on.

God is at work in His children. When there is no evidence of this, either we are not his children, or we ourselves are hindering the mind renewal process in some way. If Transformation Prayer Ministry is not effective for someone, then some other means of help should be effective. If we are not continually moving in the direction of God renewing our minds and transforming our lives, then we are somehow choosing not to move in His direction. Freedom is the direction that God wants to take us in.

Everyone is encouraged to pursue God with his or her whole heart, mind, and strength. God desires to reveal Himself to us if we will seek Hi. . He has called us to come to Him in faith, where He can restore us and make us whole. “For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him”. (Hebrews 11:6)

The following video will help us to understand why the “questions” sometimes appear not to work. there is a reason for everything. There is “nothing new under the sun…”