Canadian Pacific District

Healing Homes: Expecting the Supernatural 

Rev. David Hearn - District Superintendent

Simpson once declared that the C&MA "stands for an absolute faith in supernatural things and a supernatural God."  He further affirmed that "This movement stands pre-eminently for the supernatural."  I like the way another Alliance leader put it when he announced that "The Alliance is supernatural or it is nothing!"  Is that still true of us today?  I have been reading a book titled "Genuine Gold - the Cautiously Charismatic Story of the Early Christian and Missionary Alliance" by Paul King.  He navigates through the beliefs and practices regarding supernatural gifts and manifestations in the C&MA especially in the early beginnings of the movement.  This deep expectation in the supernatural intervention of God was a center piece of the Alliance as it found its way onto the world scene.  The question I am wrestling with is do we still have that expectation?  Do we still believe and expect God to show up in power as we seek to advance His kingdom?

One of the places the supernatural intervention of God was powerfully manifested was in the healing homes launched by Simpson and others.  Healing Homes were safe places designed to "provide an atmosphere of faith, rest, meditation, and prayer, focusing on Scriptures, attitudes and preparation needed for healing."  One of the stories recorded by Paul King was of a woman who was dramatically healed of a 17 year spinal condition.  He writes;

"One of the workers spent time with her and hours in prayer for her, what today would be called 'soaking prayer'.  When the worker laid her hand on Mrs. Dean's right leg, Mrs. Dean immediately had a 'prickling tingling sensation.'  Later she felt a twitch in her back that enabled her to sit upright.  Though the worker did not know of the curvature of the spine, she received a prophetic impression from the Lord of Isaiah 55:2, "I will make the crooked places straight'.  She continued to command the spine to be straightened.   The process took about six hours until Mrs. Dean stood to her feet which she had not done for 17 years... The worker continued to pray five hours a day for three weeks, resulting in stiff and atrophied muscles being straightened.  One day Mrs. Dean's ribs creaked 'like an old saddle' as they were adjusted into proper place through prayer.  Her short leg was lengthened an inch with a grating sound."

As I read this powerful account of healing I was struck by the tenacity and the profound expectation of God's supernatural intervention displayed by the worker.  She wrestled in prayer until God showed up.  Now I am well aware of the challenging issues from a theological perspective related to God's sovereignty and the fact that not everyone is healed, etc.  But if I am honest I default too easily to that perspective.  As I write this, Agnes' sister, Mary, is in a battle for her life with cancer.  I have prayed for her often but never for extended periods of time.  Yes, I really want her to be healed but I have almost ventured into the place of accepting that God just is not going to act on this one.  Forgive me!  I need a fresh call and a renewed faith to believe in the supernatural intervention of God.  If we are going to really become a movement again we cannot default to expectations that are less than supernatural.  I am convinced that we must once again be a "movement that stands pre-eminently for the supernatural!"

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