Story 1

When it proves difficult, or near impossible, to be medically healed of the illness we face, we resort to prayer. Sicknesses and fears are the two most common intercessory pleas brought to any prayer counselor.

Pirkko Jalovaara had built up a career as an economist in her native country of Finland. Although she had already reached a midway point in life she had yet to grasp the meaning of intercessory prayer as a special task, or indeed as a full time occupation. She was not too convinced about the effectiveness of the healing power of God in today's world, nor did she ever expect herself to be healed from the injuries she had sustained in a car accident. In a split second all this was changed; God touched her during an international Christian conference as John Wimber prayed. One single prayer by John Wimber in that large conference hall caused the heavenly world to be revealed right before Pirkko's eyes, filling her life up with God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing was the same anymore for her. "Go and begin to pray for the sick people, and they will be healed" an Englihsman came and gave that prophesy for Pirkko. "God asked me to tell you this" the man told some minutes after Pirkko was healed.

"I am not able to describe in earthly terms the greatness of the power I experienced through that prayer", Pirkko explains. "As well as being the God of love, God is also the source of the greatest power in the whole universe - absolutely the very greatest power there can be. I really did not think myself worthy of a visitation from God. When I opened my Bible that night, the letters stood out with great brightness and luminance. In the midst of this shining radiance I read about the wonderful healing ministry of Jesus and all the while I heard God urging me: "Go and tell what I can do for people even today!"

14 years of pain

"As I myself have struggled for 14 long years with physical pain as a result of the car accident I was involved in, I now find it easy to identify with the person who is standing before me asking for prayer and for relief from pain. In a similar fashion, after having experienced God's mighty touch myself, I find it easy to pray for people and trust that indeed God has the capacity to help this suffering person who is sick, or in difficulties. The past 19 years have shown me that a touch from the Holy Spirit changes a person - including his physical appearance. Just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you (Romans 8:11). The work of the Holy Spirit has no limits."