Fifty years ago, I was introduced to Spiritual Healing through two very remarkable women, Agnes Sanford and Emily Gardener Neal.
Their teaching and bold witness completely changed my approach to pastoral ministry and prayer, and compelled me to try to obey what Jesus said in the Bible about the subject.
However, I recently attended a Healing Conference led by The Revd Mike Endicott, who is incredibly gifted in Spiritual Healing. I shall be grateful for the rest of my life that I attended that Conference. He taught me something that I did not know: for years, I have prayed fervently, even pleaded, to God, for healing miracles. That was not wrong, just not enough. Mike Endicott reminded us that whenever Jesus sent his followers out to lay hands on the sick, for them to be healed, He in the same breath, called for his followers to proclaim the Gospel . Yes, I have been preaching the Gospel, from the pulpit on Sundays, but it was separate from my praying for the sick
Mike taught me to always set healing prayers for people in the context of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, such as beginning prayers for the sick by praying, "Jesus came into the world and died on the Cross for our salvation, which includes making us whole, and healing us to God's Glory!"
That kind of prayer glorifies God , and creates expectancy in one and all. I just wish I had met Mike Endicott fifty years ago
+Maurice M. Benitez,
Bishop of Texas , Retired
