On May 6, we enjoyed the presence of God in a Healing Service with area churches in Cresco, Iowa. At least eight churches or ministries were represented with people coming from as far away as Des Moines, Iowa and Austin, Minnesota. Churches from Decorah and Waukon, Iowa also participated.

A number of men and women residents of an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center called Midwest Mission Bible Training Center in Cresco attended the Healing Service. Several responded to the altar call and healing ministry. The meeting was held in the Heritage Center, a beautiful building which was once a Catholic Church.

I spoke on “Jesus Christ Makes You Whole” and shared scriptures from the New and Old Testament concerning God’s plan to heal people—spirit, soul and body—through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I shared many testimonies on healings and miracles that I have seen over the years with the crowd.

The scripture says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:20, KJV. He is still doing the same things today. He has not changed!

Ministering to a man with severe leg pain who was instantly set free of pain.

10 people responded to an altar call to receive Christ or to be restored to fellowship and a number or healings were reported. Five people came forward to receive deliverance from a spirit of fear which had plagued their lives. A woman who had been suffering with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome reported relief from symptoms the next day, and was able to attend an afternoon church worship service without taking a nap first, which was a marked change.

Dan Woodliff, who had been suffering  from an automobile accident which for the past three years had caused him extreme pain, was instantly set free of all pain. A young boy named Owen came and helped to pray for him. We ministered to him the next day and he still had some tightness in the muscles in his leg, but testified that all pain had left after prayer. We are believing with him for total restoration of movement in his legs.

Pastor Jim Sidebottom, who had been suffering greatly with pain from gout, was healed. He received relief after prayer, and his healing was completed while he was administering the Lord Supper on Sunday morning. (See the video testimonies above and below.) Several other people testified that pain had left their bodies during healing ministry at the Cresco Assembly of God Church on Sunday.

I was reminded of the scripture when Phillip went down to Samaria and preached Christ unto them. “And there was great joy in that city.” Acts 8:8, KJV.

We also heard a report from Pastor Mike Johnson that the fire had spread to Decorah, Iowa, in the afterglow of the meeting. He stated, “Pastor Doug Bryce was released from pain that evening as Mike Gossman and Dan, both attendees of the outreach prayed for him, Mike and Dan continued in the presence of the Holy Spirit and shared and spoke of the Gospel of Christ at a bar in Decorah.”

Many expressed the belief that this event was the beginning of a revival for Northeast Iowa. Mike Gossman stated that he had been praying for 20 years for what he saw at the meeting, especially seeing Christians from different churches coming together in the name of Jesus and for His glory. (See video below.) Mike was suffering with a severe sinus problem before the service and thought that he would not be able to attend. However, he testified that five minutes before the service he was healed and was able to attend.

The meeting was organized by the Holy Spirit. Margaret Ness of United Lutheran Church in nearby Chester, Iowa had contacted me about the possibility of coming to the area to teach on evangelism and church growth. The interim pastor of her church, Jim Sidebottom of Cresco, heard about it and shared with Pastor Mike Johnson of the Cresco Assembly of God.

Julie Haslerud, one of the intercessors who spread the Holy fire throughout the region. Each Friday before the meetings they traversed Howard County and prayed in each corner.

Pastor Mike was inspired to talk to me about coming to Cresco for an area-wide healing service. We agreed on a time and began to plan and pray. Prayer warriors from the Cresco area began to cry out to God for the area, traveling throughout the region and interceding for revival, healing and deliverance, and specifically that eyes keep which have been blinded would be opened, according to 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

An excitement began to grow as news of the event was spread by word of mouth and social media. Pastor Mike even received word from Christians in Africa who were praying for the meetings.

God’s faithful laborers also walked the streets of Cresco and reached out throughout the area to invite people to the meeting. Christians from other communities also came to walk the streets and pass out invitations. Through those efforts people were ministered to one-on-one in the highways and byways. God’s people sacrificed and gave of themselves to see the will of God accomplished in this meeting and Jesus showed up in a marvelous way. All glory to God!

May the fire spread!