Our Story

The inspiration for the name was given in a prophetic word from Donnel McLean who said, “this is a release ministry”. Rev. Lionel Batke founded Release Ministries Society with a vision for trans-local ministry within the Kingdom of God through imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, sound Biblical preaching, and establishing churches in the Kingdom of God. Other ministers with a similar vision subsequently joined Release Ministries and expanded its reach to embrace Canada and 35 other nations.

In 2022 Lionel entrusted the leadership of Release Ministries to Rev. Shannon Stange. As President, he is repositioning Release Ministries to embody this vision within a new generation. Release Ministries is composed of individual ministers, churches, and ministries. While they each function independently to fulfill the call which God has placed upon them, they are relationally and organizationally Ministers and Ministries of Release Ministries.

Our vision is to inspire, activate, and release spiritual gifts in churches in an ongoing and operative way; preach sound biblical doctrine; and establish churches in the Kingdom of God. These core values guide the work of our Ministers and Ministries. We pursue these while sharing a common bond of friendship. Release Ministries provides organizational unity and financial oversight to this work while ensuring freedom of implementation to our Ministers and Ministries who work independently while united by a shared commitment to the Spirit, Word and Kingdom.

Our Commitment

We value working together to safeguard our financial integrity with those who contribute to our work. Release Ministries is registered with the government of Canada as a charitable organization. Canadian charities issued with a registration number are authorized to issue official receipts for funds, which are thereby exempted from personal income tax. This gives the government a compelling interest in the way charitable funds are spent.

Charities are required by the government of Canada to provide proper records and clear documentation that shows how the funds are spent. These records are subject to scrutiny and examination. The Scriptures command us to ‘provide things honest in the sight of all men’ (Rom 12:17) so we are happy to be accountable and to comply with these requirements. Since ‘we are in all things desiring to live honestly’ (Heb 13:18), this ministry is committed to the highest levels of integrity in all its financial dealings.

When we receive donations in the name of Release Ministries, the accounting is handled and overseen by a board of directors to ensure full integrity in all these matters. Notwithstanding these things, this ministry is about giving and receiving, not buying and selling.