“Angels & Miracles” Conference, Casper, WY — March 25–28, 2010
Oil field accident a year ago. Constant pain, living on pain killers. Couldn’t walk, in bed most of the time. Finally, an operation in November. Still pain, in bed, no work, couldn’t walk. They put metal brackets around a core piece filled with concrete, held together with bolts to secure the spine — who could move with that. During prayer Thursday night, we went after metal dissolving or becoming flexible, because we’ve seen it happen in our meetings. He felt heat up and down his spine and did something he couldn’t even imagine — he ran! No pain, full mobility. There’s even more to the story in the next video.
Gary returned Friday night to testify. When he went home, the enemy brought some pain back and began lying, saying he didn’t really get healed. He bought it for a moment, then rebuked it, and said “I was catapulted into feeling better than before the accident.” At Friday’s physical therapy session, after 10 minutes they told him they could find nothing wrong, and discharged him — amazing considering they thought he would need a year of therapy. He starts work April 1st. Oh, and his wife gave her life to the Lord Sunday morning!! C’mon!!
The following is a testimony from two emails we received after the “Angels & Miracles” Conference we recently held at Heartland Assembly of God in Ankeny, IA, one to us and one to the church. We’re so blessed by the honesty of this testimony, of a life transformed. It’s long — but so worth the read.
When my father told me that he had purchased tickets for this conference, guys, I was very skeptical. I knew he had been to Brazil with a team of folks and Gary and Kathi. As he began to be more open about his experiences, his language started to change. Never a conversation without mentioning things like, “God’s hand” or “He is so amazing even in our trials” or “He is alive today the same as He was in the Bible doing the same miracles and wonders”. I honestly thought one of two things…it was a phase, or he had just lost his mind as he was getting older.
He had sent me the book about the Azusa Street Revival, and for some reason I decided to read it…It took me three weeks to read it, because I googled every name, place, date and situation to find out if there was documentation outside of this book that these things really happened. Low and behold, it was historical fact…documented in newspapers and the media of the time. (which I found interesting, because none of the things you teach and experience have a snowball chance of making the news today…unless its going to presented satirically or as some sort of farce…enter Bill Maher)
I told (my wife), I would go to the conference and attempt to do so with a cautious mind, and an open heart. I told her that he had purchased tickets for us both, I would like her to come. …… She said she would go Thursday night, maybe all day Friday depending on how she “felt” and would not be going on Saturday…I said, “Cool”.
We left the Thursday night meeting, Bill, after you (according to your wife) had not given the “message” you wanted to give thinking you were ALL crazy…OR we had just witnessed one of the most amazing manifestations of the Spirit in one place we had ever seen.
Anyway, we decided to make sure that we showed up all day Friday and give it another shot. Carol’s approach began to make sense to me and that opened the flood gates of opportunity for the Spirit to have a chance. I began to listen more intently. (I like facts, history, and people’s experiences that verify those things) I was intrigued as the conference went on by the “Spirit Realm”. I began to understand some of those things as they pertained to my family, friends, career, and most importantly my narrow view of “Christian”. It began to sadden me that there was a God out there who had provided a part of His own Being in the Spirit for us and I had no relationship with God through His Spirit. I began to watch closely as I saw these people and decided to really let go and open my heart (because I learned it has a 40,000 neuron brain) to the Spirit. I actually began to “feel” the heat. I wanted to cry, but there was no way I was going to break down in front of all those people. I was amazed to hear (my wife) tell me the same thing.
There was no way we were going to miss Saturday!! I want you to know that your message, Bill & Carol, the honesty in which you gave it, the realness behind it, the conviction with which you knew it, and the verses you used to explain it were the most amazing mix of preaching, teaching, explaining I have been a part of…but watching it in action…seeing it was real, seeing people’s lives changed, seeing your comfort in the outwardly chaotic explosion of the Spirit is what touched me. I know (my wife’s) experience was similar, yet different because she is more emotional than I am.
I would be lying to you if I said that we were one of the fall down, get a pain in the side, screaming experiences that were there. I think we had a LIFE CHANGING REALIZATION IN THE TRUTH. We experienced something we know we have been missing and want nothing more than to get more and more of it. We have been spending our time in constant worship with music in the background at the house and in the vehicle…and praying, asking the Lord to bless us with His Spirit, and reveal His angels to our family for protection, healing, and knowledge. But more importantly, we are trying to get as much as we can so we can learn how to show others and share with them the Truth about what “Christian” really means…”And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” “They will know we are Christians by our love, one to another”
Throughout the weekend my heart was turned more and more, and my mind seemed to be catching up to it…it just made sense the way it was explained and the verses that were used to help us understand. My wife was touched in a way I’ve never seen, and I am now convinced that the rest of the churches are the crazy ones!!! Why wouldn’t we want to have a personal relationship with God? Why wouldn’t we want to talk to Him as our “papa” as the music guy with the goatee kept praying…why wouldn’t we want to pursue all the gifts He had for us? Why aren’t we?
The final straw for me was when I saw the children who go to that church so filled with the Spirit…it brought tears to my eyes as a father of 4 to see them love their God and their peers so completely and without judgment, but rather with support for one another and excitement and respect for their individual experiences with God. I have NEVER seen something like that and I all I can do is want more and more. My wife and I have decided to try services at (the) church not because of the speakers…they taught us and got us through (the) door, but because of the incredible love and relationship with God that was so real and unlike anything we have ever seen radiating from the youth of your church. I never have wanted what a 12 yr old boy has had before in my life, but when that young man got up and told of his time with Jesus it scared me in a good way…because it let me know I had been missing the boat for so long and he was already there…and THEN all the young ladies testimonies about their time with Jesus…WOW!! A true test of an environment are the lives of the children coming out of it…and the youth of Heartland are a true testament to the ministry they are receiving. Thank you for opening the conference to the public and not just your congregation, thank you for
opening your doors to us, and thank you for allowing us to see what a true relationship with God really looks like.
It was a great conference — this was just the icing on the cake!!
DOCTORS SAID “HE’S GOING TO DIE,” — FORTALEZA, BRAZIL 2/21/10
A small church on a Sunday morning — special meeting since their Sunday services are at night. We watched as they wheeled a man into the meeting in a wheelchair. The removal of four large cancerous growths had left him unable to walk or even stand, and he had been in the wheelchair for six months. While Carol spoke, Brian (tan shirt) and several others ministered to him.
ANATOMY OF THIS PRAYER–BUT, IT’S NOT A FORMULA
First, Brian shared the testimony of his father being healed of cancer — the power of the testimony. Then as he read Mark 11:22–25, the man’s legs began trembling and he said “something is happening to me.” V 25–”…whenever you stand, praying, forgive…” The man had an issue of unforgiveness, and when he asked for forgiveness he said he felt something leave him. Brian instructed him, “Stand, believing your healing has already been done.” In other words, “Put your faith into action!” With aid, he stood, walked up the platform steps, received prayer, and walked back — to a chair, not his wheelchair. And he later walked out of the church!!
