Blog

by Pastor Steve Horrell

The heat of that summer evening was intense as the sun made its way St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kissimmee, Florida, where I knew that the door to that old white wooden chapel would be unlocked and the air conditioning would be on. I sat there in silence enjoying cool air and the faint scent of incense which lingered in the room. I felt no burdens, no problems; my prayer was silence. It was then and there when the Lord called me into the ordained ministry. The experience, which lasted several minutes ended with a vision of oh so many people.

He then told me, “Go. Tell my people I love them.”

Upon the end of the last class of my last day in seminary I went to my room, sat down, looked out the window over the rolling landscape toward the south of Rochester, New York and prayed, “what’s next, Lord?” Immediately I experienced a repeat of the call experience – the vision and the words “tell the people I love them.”

I believe that we are all created by God to be loved. We need to be loved in ways in which we ‘feel loved.’ I believe that to pray for someone ‘out loud, hands’ on in their presence is a profound way of loving them. I believe, and it has been my experience, that people feel loved, cared for, when they are prayed for in such a manner.

Why am in in the healing ministry? There are many reasons. I have witnessed numerous miraculous healings of physical problems when praying. It is just plain cool to see the Lord heal, especially heal quickly. Another reason is because when we pray for someone else (hands on, out loud) I experience some of what St. Francis of Assisi wrote in his famous prayer: “It is in giving that we receive.” Sometimes when I pray for someone I get in on and experience the Lord’s love and compassion for them and/or the Lord’s forgiveness for them. And how about this for a reason for prayer? Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” These are just a few reasons why I am in the healing ministry.

featured image from: bing.com