Hot Hands

On Saturday night (5pm) at St. Andrews we have a healing service with eucharist each week. With the bishop's permission we have utilized the eucharist written by the Order of St. Luke, the format is obviously based on the episcopal eucharist. While this practice predates my arrival here, I have been doing it for over eleven years. During that time there have been long stretches when absolutely no one has come forward. In fact, around 2005 or so, we were seriously contemplating discontinuing. We were trying to discern and it seemed clear that either no one needed healing prayer or no one wanted it.

While there is no shame in misreading a ministry need, there was disappointment. When reading the Gospels there is much room for debate and argument, but I do not think anyone can deny that Jesus is portrayed as a healer. Those of us who want to practice ministry in His Name feel compelled to use Him as a model. As such, healing would seem to be a vital component of ministry. (Jesus preached, taught, healed and exorcised) In the contemporary church there are many believers who deny the possibility of healing today. TV preachers who heal have been, in some cases, accused of being phonies. In an age of skepticism and doubt, healing is certainly not an easy sell to a congregation.

One of the woman most active in our healing ministry shared with us that she is not surprised when someone is healed, rather, she is shocked that it does not happen more. That is one of the themes of our meeting discussions. "What are the barriers to more signs and wonders?" Numerous teachers in the healing ministry provide any number of reasons. I have my own theories. Some of it is a mystery.

Back to the decision to disband the healing ministry.... After a heart to heart with the team leader, we decided that God did not want us to do this, or, even if He did, the parish didn't. The night which we assumed would be the last, or near the last healing eucharist began like all the others. Then, at the time when people are invited to come up for prayer, there was a difference. Some folks came up. In the ensuing weeks we had quite a few, including, if memory serves, a small boy with brain cancer. We prayed for him, and I gave him and his mom instructions on how he should pray in the days ahead. He  had come from out of town, a long way, and it was some time later that word reached me that he had been cured.

We made the decision that it didn't matter if few people came up. It was worth it for that miracle alone. Over the years there have been several others. Not long ago a woman came to see me. She wanted to thank me for the healing ministered through our group. She does not attend the our church and she did not look familiar, but she remembered us. Another time a bible showed up with a note of thanksgiving. Sometimes it is e-mail or phone calls. What I know is, over the last decade, many people have been prayed for and annointed and  have experienced healing: in mind, body or spirit.

Saturday night, a dear lady hobbled up. She has many burdens and challenges, not the least of which is her pained body. But she cried out for a renewed spirit. As we prayed my hands felt hot. Afterward we talked, and she said she felt better. Her visage reflected that. I asked if she felt the heat and she said, "My face felt like it was on fire." According to the books (and speakers) it is very common for heat to accompany healing. I told her. She agreed. God had shown up, heard her cry and touched her.

The word for saved and the word for healing are the same in Greek. Healing is one form that salvation takes. We are all dying and we all will die eventually. All prayer for healing does not result in miraculous healing. But many do and it is for the sake of those, and for the realization that other types of healing may be more important (like salvation) that we continue each Sunday to do this ministry. It is my hope that more churches will embrace the ministry model of Jesus, to preach, to teach, to exorcise, and yes, to heal.