January 18, 2016
This was originally posted in April 2014.

This Week’s Storyteller is…

Donald Marsh, First Brandon
ANSWERING GOD'S CALL:  PRAYER FOR HEALING
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. in the Prayer Chapel located in the north parking lot a new weekly ministry was begun.  Prayer for Healing is offered by a small group which began as a product of a "Man of Valor Conference" five years ago.

Last year (2012), based on a conversation by a member of our group on a "Walk to Emmaus" weekend, we began studying the book entitled "John G. Lake on Healing."  This book is a compilation of sermons, letters and pamphlets written by Lake in the early 1900's, over 100 years ago.  Roberts Liardon completed this book, which was published in 2009.

Early in our study it became clear that healing was an important part of God's plan for His people.  The Old Testament is filled with scriptures about faith and healing.  In the New Testament, Christ's three years of ministry were filled with miraculous healings and Christ went to great lengths to teach His disciples how to do the same.  Also, Christ sent out seventy more to go two by two to spread the gospel and heal.

Convinced by the scriptures that we, as disciples of Christ, should be about healing as well as spreading the gospel, we conducted seven individual healing services.  Anointing with oil and laying on hands, prayer was offered and several healings occurred.  Bless God!  James 5:14-16 says:  "Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the leaders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

As 2012 came to an end we asked Pastor Jamie if we could take it to the church and conduct prayer for healing on a weekly basis.  So we have begun, and each week church leaders are available for you.  III John 1:2: "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."