Healing catches on

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33766, 12 February 1975, Page 19

Healing catches on

The established churches are undergoing a revival of interest in healing, says a Wellington minister who is in Christchurch to conduct a healing mission. The Rev. J. B. Chambers, minister at the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church in Wellington, and chairman of the Congregational Union of New Zea-

I land, said that 19 years ago, when he first began his healing ministry, he w'as “suspect” to members of the mainline churches. Now the same denominations were taking interest, and at least having a look at the subject, he said. He now received about four requests a year to conduct Christian healing missions in different orthodox churches. The greatest area of his ministry was in churches other than his own. New Zealanders were prone to believe that Christian healings were limited to overseas, he said He defined Christian healing as that which took place “through Jesus Christ as the only source of power.” Other- claims to a healing ministry could be made by anyone, but their source could also be “anything,” he said. Christian healing did not stop at physical healing only, but continued through to healing for the mind and spirit. Mr Chambers’s ministry has been mostly within New Zealand, although he has ministered in healing in the south of England, Australia, and Fiji. The results of the ministry of healing fell into three groups; those who were healed instantaneously, those whose healing took place over a period of time and those who were not healed. The majority of healings lay in the second group, but instantaneous healings were not infrequent. Under his ministrations,

for which he takes no credit. Mr Chambers said he had seen instantaneous healings of chronic ailments. A Waikato man, who after an accident and brain operation was unable to close his right fist, or hear with his right ear, who dragged his right leg and suffered a constant ache in his right arm, was immediately healed, he said. Another patient who had worn a back brace for 20 years, and whose only relief from pain lay in a spinal fusion, had hands laid upon him. and was instantly healed. He had suffered no pain for eight years, Mr Chambers said. The medium Mr Chambers used during healing missions varied, but they were all methods used in scripture — the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and prayer. Mr Chambers said his ministry began 19 years ago when he prayed for his wife who had suffered continuous headaches for 15 years. “I’ll just say it was Godgiven, and leave it at that. God Is prepared to use anyone who wants to be used, but he operates througn compassion not pity.” Mr Chambers is also a warden in New Zealand of the Order of St Luke the Physician, a body founded by an Anglican clergyman who believed that the ministry of healing had a place in the life of the church. Mr Chambers will hold his healing mission at the Linwood Congregational Church for three evenings, beginning this evening.