Healing Line

Healing Line

A Healing Place

by Mike Simon
Mar/Apr 2009

God revealed to Nehemiah the need for the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Nehemiah knew God wanted to unify His people and motivate them in a combined effort of restoration. The walls represented power, protection, and beauty to the city. They needed the walls to protect them from their enemies and to ensure themselves a place where they could worship. God, put the desire in Nehemiah’s heart, giving him the vision for the work. Even though Nehemiah was chosen, willing, and had the gifts and talents to get the job done, people had to come along side him and help — this was all for the purpose of God. Such a great task could not have been accomplished in 52 days without the help of everyone contributing something to the effort. These were desperate times for the people: they lived in fear of their enemies and they were going through a famine. Imagine working from sunrise to sunset never changing your clothes because the work was too important to leave. Men stood guard on the wall day and night while whole families worked. With the wall restored and a safe place to come, God could now bring many of the captives out of captivity.

God has spoken to Francis and Judith MacNutt about the need for a Healing Center in the United States to rebuild lives and bring restoration into families. The Healing Center will be a visible sign of God’s healing presence. It will be a safe and beautiful place where God will be worshiped, and His people will learn to bring His healing prayer ministry to their communities. Daily, people call or come to Christian Healing Ministries to find God’s help in restoring their lives emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The need is great and getting greater. In 2006 The US Bureau of Labor & Statistics reported, 1.2 million professional counselors were required to help people needing emotional healing. At CHM, we provide a safe place for people to come: a place where we do not counsel, but instead, we pray and witness God healing individuals by His power. The Healing Center will allow many more to come for healing and training.

The Lord has impressed upon Francis and Judith the urgency of the hour and CHM’s responsibility to train more people and provide healing prayer to a greater number. Experts have been telling the Capital Campaign Committee it may take 18 months or more to raise the funds, but it is Francis’ and Judith’s hope that it will only take a year (52 weeks). The Jerusalem wall was built in 52 days.

CHM is contacted regularly by churches and individuals who want to be equipped to learn how to pray in greater power and authority. The vision God gave Francis was to have Healing Schools for 400–500 people at one time. Imagine the impact of those people going back to their churches and communities and praying for those who need restored emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We have to turn people away at nearly every school or conference. Presently at our facility, we can only train 50–60 people in our School of Healing Prayer. God is calling and inviting His people into His Vision. Allow me to briefly recap the past two years in our pursuit to be obedient to what God has asked us to do.

Two years ago, God spoke to the people who owned 60 acres of land on the Trout River in Jacksonville to sell it to Christian Healing Ministries. God moved on the hearts of the CHM Board members to make personal donations to buy the land and they responded with over $2 million. About six months ago, God raised up a highly gifted couple to volunteer their time to create a new Development Department for CHM. In the past couple of weeks we have decided to implement new procedures and purchase new software that will allow for increased accuracy, efficiency, and security for donor pledges. We believe God is moving us in the right direction and will help us select His choice for campaign counsel which is our next step.

God spoke to Jeremiah (Jer 29:11 NLT) and said, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly you will find me, I will be found by you, says the Lord. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” This same promise and vision God gave to His people through Jeremiah and Nehemiah is the same promise and vision He has given to Francis and Judith. He wants his people set free and their lives to be restored.

Years from now, we will all look back and celebrate the tens of thousands of people who were healed through the Healing Center and hear the testimonies of trained prayer ministers who brought hope and restoration to untold numbers in their church and community. Your investment of prayer, financial support, and time volunteering will make it happen. So many of you have been faithful partners of CHM for many, many years and without you we would not have been able to do the work He has called us to do. When God laid on Nehemiah the burden of restoring the wall and rebuilding the city, God never intended him to do it alone. God had the king ask Nehemiah, “Well, how can I help you?” Then Nehemiah had to make his requests known to the king. Nehemiah later told the Israelites of God’s vision and they answered the call to contribute. Everything Nehemiah needed to get the job done was supplied to him through individuals. God uses people to get His job done. (Neh. 1–5 NLT)

God may speak to you to send a financial contribution, to volunteer your time, to be a part of our prayer effort, or He may call you to invite your church to sponsor a particular building—the needs range from small to enormous. Would you ask the Lord where He wants you to participate in His work in restoring and rebuilding the lives of hurting people?


Mike Simon Mike Simon is the Director of Development for CHM. Mar/Apr 2009 Issue


Dealing with Disappointment

by Linda Strickland
Mar/Apr 2009

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. Proverbs 13:12 (The Message)

Have you ever been disappointed about something? Disappointment can be difficult to deal with, especially when it involves something you were counting on. For example, a long–awaited visit from a loved one that gets cancelled, or an anticipated job promotion with a much needed salary increase that unexpectedly falls through. Disappointment can leave you feeling heartsick, but it can also make you angry, bewildered and filled with grief.

A few years ago when my husband and I moved to Jacksonville, we rented an apartment for the first year, and before our lease came to an end we began looking at houses. I was so excited about owning our own home, as we had also lived in an apartment the previous 3 years while at seminary. I was anxiously looking forward to buying a house….a place where we could spread out, hang our hat and plant flowers.

We searched and searched, and then we found it – the perfect little house. The house was brand new and the building process would be completed right at the time our lease expired. We put down a deposit and gave our notice to move out of our apartment. Everything was perfect.

While the house was still in the construction process, one evening we decided to go for a visit and check out the progress. We walked through the un–finished house, and with a permanent marker wrote scripture on the foundation and door frames. We prayed through and blessed every room and completely dedicated our new home to the Lord, promising to use it for His glory and honor. I cannot adequately describe how happy I felt.

The next afternoon we unexpectedly received a phone call from the builder saying that unless we were willing to use his lending company to finance the house, the deal was off. After getting some financial advice, we decided that it would not be beneficial for us to go that route. I suddenly felt desperate….and even though, in my heart, I knew it was not the right plan for us; I was ready to do it anyway. However, with a voice of reason, my husband said no. He said that even though the house felt right for us, the deal was not. And so…with heavy hearts we decided that the next morning we would go to the builder’s office, pick up our deposit check, and walk away from our perfect house.

To say that I was disappointed is an understatement. I was devastated!

I am ashamed to say this, but my emotions were such a mess that I couldn’t do anything but go to bed and cry. I had emotionally already taken possession of that house, and to lose it felt like a death. My grief was inconsolable…my heart was broken.

Later on that night, at the height of my disappointment, I found myself confused to the point of questioning God’s wisdom for us, and felt betrayed by Him. After all…hadn’t we just given up our whole life to go to seminary and work in full time ministry for Him? It just wasn’t fair! I was in such a tangled knot of emotions that the only choice I had was to bring the whole mess to Him, as I couldn’t even begin to sort it out myself.

Have you ever felt that way?

One example in the Bible of someone whose spiritual struggle centered on feelings of disappointment and betrayal was Jeremiah. Jeremiah, who was drafted by God into a position as a prophet in Judah, knew that the task of being God’s spokesman to a rebellious nation was no dream job. He knew that he would encounter the wrath of kings and the deaf ear of his countrymen. But when a fellow priest had Jeremiah beaten and put into stocks, Jeremiah sank to an all time low. Disappointed and betrayed, not by the enemy, but by a fellow servant of God.

Jeremiah 20:7 gives us a front row seat to Jeremiah’s profoundly personal prayer, revealing a man struggling with the unexpected circumstances God had allowed in his life. “O Lord,” Jeremiah says, “You deceived me and I was deceived, you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long.” And he ends his complaint in verse 18 by crying, “Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?”

What strikes me about Jeremiah’s tirade to God is his ability to be so honest. He felt let down, angry, and betrayed….and he told God so. This kind of honesty takes courage. Courage to stop running and hiding….and pouting. Courage to say, “Here I am. I’m a complete mess, and you’ll have to help me sort it all out.”

It is at this lowest point that we are most open to God’s grace. Even though feeling desperately disappointed, we find ourselves having to trust in His plan for us….because we don’t know what else to do. I once saw a bumper sticker that read “When all else fails, trust God.” It strikes me as funny that He is most often our last resort, however unintentional this act may be.

In my house situation, I had let my disappointment almost blind me to the better plan that God had for us. The next morning as we left the builders office, my husband suggested that we drive around and look at some other houses. In spite of the fact that all I wanted to do was go back to bed and cry some more (I wasn’t through yet), I agreed. As we drove out of the neighborhood where my “perfect house” was, we took a right turn onto a road we had not yet explored. The first little neighborhood we came to had the amazing home in it that, we later came to realize, God had chosen for us. Over the course of the next few weeks we bought the house and moved in, just before our lease expired. I cannot tell you how many times we have thanked God for correcting what would have been a bad decision, and for leading us to where He wanted.

What I have found, is that although some disappointments can get turned around into a happy ending, some disappointments simply have to be lived with and accepted. And I’ve had many of those as well. But whichever way it goes, I, for one, am thankful that although my reaction to disappointment can be displeasing to Him, He always takes me back, dusts me off, wipes my tears and gently leads me back on track.

His grace is truly amazing!


Linda Strickland Linda Strickland is the Associate Director of Ministry and Assistant to Judith MacNutt. Mar/Apr 2009 Issue


How Much Does God Love You?

by Kathi Smith
Mar/Apr 2009

Do you really know how much God loves you? That was a question I was asked again and again by a certain prayer minister while receiving prayer at CHM. I knew the answer in my head. The Bible told me so. My pastors over the years told me so. So yes, of course I knew/know how much God loves me.

This prayer minister challenged me, and the question stayed with me. I kept on repeating it to myself. After another prayer session with this same prayer minister, she asked the same question again. And again, my heart questioned, "Why does she keep asking that question?"

She knew the answer, but I did not. The simple answer was this: my head knew how much God loves me, but my heart did not. And her question was not an offensive one, because it connected with my spirit and sent me on a journey.

I was paralyzed in fear, anxiety, panic and depression when this journey began. I had childhood wounds that created a belief system about myself and others that did not correlate with God's belief system. "You need to protect yourself because others will hurt you," was one of the bigger lies that I believed. I applied this lie not only to others and my treatment of them, but that lie actually caused me to withdraw from the Holy Spirit in that area of my life. I had made an inner vow of self-control that our polite God was not going to touch with a ten foot pole. After all, I am in charge unless I give Him charge.

As I received truths and was able to break vows of self-control, I was able to release the Holy Spirit into places in my life where He had not been able to flow before. How extraordinary! He replaced my foggy glasses with His more clear view of others.

I had an amazing dream where a long time abuser asked me to forgive Him. The result was that I started to see God as more loving. My constant prayer is "more of You, Holy Spirit," and like David, I ask Him to search my heart and show me where I stray from alignment with Him. This life is a journey toward Him. Freedom for the captives!

A simple prayer to release an inner vow would go like this, "Dear Lord, please forgive me for vowing that I will never let anyone hurt me. I give You control where I have taken control. I ask You to come and flow through me where I have never allowed You in due to that inner vow. Fill me with Your light and life in these places. Thank You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Please do not use this prayer as a formula, but as a guide. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide.


Kathi Smith Kathi Smith is the Senior Editor of Healing Line and an active prayer minister and Volunteer at CHM. Mar/Apr 2009 Issue


The Word of Their Testimony...

testimonies gathered to encourage the Body of Christ
Mar/Apr 2009

After finishing the first ever Journey to Healing Retreat, we stand in amazement and gratitude for the blessings that took place! The retreat was birthed out of a desire to minister to more people in the healing power of Jesus. Unlike our other conferences which are intended primarily for training, this conference was designed solely for the purpose of ministry. We had approached this retreat expecting God to bring deep healing and powerful redemption. I don’t think there was a single person who did not receive a touch from the Lord, including prayer ministers and staff! What a joy to witness and experience the healing love of Jesus.

We would like to share with you a sampling of some testimonies that were shared following the retreat. Many said they had never experienced anything like this. May these bring encouragement to your heart and glory to Jesus!

“I received inner healing and I feel I have received physical improvement of my arthritis”

Others testified of healing of their past, including memories of childhood abuse. Many gained a new freedom to share unconfessed sins and find forgiveness. One person explained a new ability to see “another side of God.”

One woman experienced healing of many chronic, debilitating physical and mental ailments. Praise God!

“What the Lord showed me was that I was conceived and birthed as a “fix–it Baby.” [My mom] expected that having me would fix everything — would take away her pain. Through your prayer ministers, I was able to forgive my mom for her unreasonable expectations, and I was able to forgive myself for not meeting her needs that I could never meet. What the Lord lifted from me is the burden of fixing everyone and everything… everything wrong in the world is NOT MY FAULT! What freedom!! What joy!! Thank you, Jesus.”

“Individual appointment and soaking times were very healing. Deep hurt was brought up that hadn’t been recognized — need for forgiveness — great peace received.”

“I was at a 3–day Intensive Prayer Ministry and this [retreat] was more intensive and powerful.”

“God spoke through the prayer ministers and it was healing just to express myself to them and them knowing exactly how to pray.”

“Ministers gently called forth what needed to be brought into the light and touched by God’s grace.”

“I came not really knowing what healing I needed… I left feeling more integrated, whole and able to share God’s love.”

One person felt “masses of healing, inspiration, tenderizing of the heart, empowered for the next chapter.”

“…above all it has taken me on an “E–ticket” ride in my journey to healing.”

“The generational healing prayer broke some strongholds between my ancestors and me, allowing me to accept in a new way my unique identity as God’s child.”

And all God’s people said, “Praise the Lord!” Please take note of our next Journey to Healing Retreat that will be held July 9–11, 2009. Visit our website for registration information or call 904–765–3332 ext 203.


Mar/Apr 2009 Issue