About Us
Hosting God’s Presence is our Mission, His Glory is our Vision, and His Love is our Life.
Pillars of our Fire
Presence First: We believe that the primary calling of the believer is to minister to the Lord. Our activity always flows from our intimacy with Him.
The Fire of Holiness: We pursue a life of consecration, believing that the fire of God purifies us to reflect His character to the world.
Radical Obedience: We say "Yes" to the Holy Spirit before He even speaks. We are a people moved by His prompts, regardless of the cost.
Kingdom Family: We are not just a gathering; we are a tribe. We value honor, generational legacy, and the fierce love
of the Father.
Unceasing Prayer: We are committed to the "Day and Night"
cry, keeping the fire on the altar
burning continually
Apostles of the Presence
Governors of the Glory: We believe the New Testament mandate for apostolic leadership is rooted in one thing: the custody of God's Presence. An "Apostle of the Presence" is not defined by a title, but by a proximity to the Throne. These are the pioneers who refuse to build anything that God is not inhabiting. Like Moses in the Tabernacle or David before the Ark, our leadership is dedicated to:
Establishing Altars: Building places where the glory of God can rest permanently in our city.
Spiritual Fatherhood & Motherhood: Raising a generation of "burning ones" who know their identity as sons and daughters of the King.
This isn't just a philosophy;
it is the heartbeat of our founder's journey...
The Call to Cast Fire:
Fr. Michael’s Story
The seeds of Ablaze House of Prayer were planted not in a boardroom, but in a moment of profound spiritual awakening. While studying Architectural Engineering at Penn State, Fr. Michael Voithofer experienced a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit that redirected his life toward the priesthood. This journey eventually led him to Rome and later to Omaha, where he sought to live out a "Culture of Pentecost"—a way of life defined by constant communion with God.
In 2012, following a season of intense vocational struggle and discernment, Fr. Michael felt a specific divine directive rooted in Luke 12:49: "I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already blazing!" What began as a small gathering of faithful hearts grew into a mission to establish a permanent dwelling place for God’s Presence. In 2017, that vision found a home on 40 acres in Springfield, Nebraska, where "The Ark" now stands as a testament to the power of intercessory worship.
A Message from Fr. Michael
"Ablaze was born from a simple realization: we were created to be 'Apostles of the Presence.' For years, I felt a burning desire to see a place where people from all walks of life—regardless of their background or tradition—could come and simply behold the Lamb. My prayer for you as you join us, whether for an hour of worship or a weekend retreat, is that you would discover the scandalous tenderness of God’s mercy. We aren't here to build a monument to a movement; we are here to tend the fire of His love until the whole world is ablaze. You are not just a visitor here; you are a son or daughter coming home to the Father’s house. Let’s keep the fire burning, together."
— Fr. Michael Voithofer, Founder