God's Big Surprise

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

For the past two afternoons, after our morning teachings on healing prayer, a team of us has headed out into local villages to go house to house to pray for healing. Yesterday Abigail came along with me, but today I ventured out on my own with the team. We've prayed for many people with various needs, but something amazing and unexpected happened today. 

My team of three prayer ministers stopped at a small family 'compound' (five stick houses arranged around a small open area). We were welcomed by the family and pointed to a young man lying on a mat and wrapped in a sheet. We were told he had been sick for a year and that he had a demon. He also had a leg that was twisted. He didn't really appear to me to have a demon, but we prayed for him to be healed and set free from any demonic oppression. Nothing appeared to happen. I have to confess that I felt a bit frustrated, since I was longing to see him healed. But God began to give me words to say to him. I began to tell him about Jesus and about how Jesus was the only way to freedom -- that if he wanted freedom, then he needed Jesus. A crowd of family members had gathered while we were praying, and listened to what I was telling the man. It then dawned on me that what God wanted was for this man, and this entire family to accept Jesus as their Lord. God wanted to bring this family, right then and there, into the Kingdom. So I gave them all an invitation to follow Jesus, and they responded with a very enthusiastic 'yes'! (One of the older men said quite emphatically that he was really ready, which took me by surprise.) I led them all through prayers of repentance, and then helped them pray a prayer to accept Jesus into their hearts. The sick man also accepted Jesus, and declared Him to be his Lord and Savoir. I then prayed a prayer of blessing over each member of the family, and they also brought the children to receive blessings. All I can say is -- God is amazing! I wanted one man healed, but God wanted an entire family saved. God's ways are always so much better. Amen and Amen. 

One final note - our family's biggest struggle over here continues to be with our health. Abigail and I have both managed to remain well, but Shay and Avery have a nasty cold-like virus that has kept them home-bound. Shay has had the virus since last Friday, so she really hasn't been able to be involved in much ministry, which has been frustrating for her. Unfortunately, Bishop Todd has also now caught the virus and is struggling. We would love your prayers for healing and protection for our family and also for Bishop Todd. Thanks for your prayers! 

Here's a picture of our amazing prayer team. On the left is Victor, a deacon in the diocese (and our interpreter). In the back row center is the priest of St. Luke's, Ankilifaly (in Toliara). Except for the woman in yellow, the rest are all student evangelists.