God's Provision and a spark of faith multiplying!

Do you remember the story of how Jesus healed James Kaufman of a weakened arm condition in 2010? And then again in 2012 the Lord healed his other arm of the exact same condition, each time after I prayed a simple prayer of faith in Jesus' name? Well here is his photo and my other friend Dela-Corlley from West Africa who was there and witnessed both healings. So more has happened.

After hearing Randy Clark teach on sharing testimonies of healings to help people put their faith in Jesus before you pray for them, I have shared this story about James many times. A young man was healed after hearing this story when I prayed for his nasal septum damage. He was instantly healed and his surgeon cancelled his surgery. Well the story continues. Tonight, October 6, 2013, I received my old Ford van back the one James started working on in 2012. He had replaced the engine in his spare time! So on the way home I felt the Spirit prompting me to stop at a McDonald's in LeRoy to get a coke. I resisted that idea. But continuing to feel the Lord speaking to me I finally yielded and drove to the McDonald's, which was still open. When I got inside I saw a man who struck me as a real live hillbilly. He had his son with him (I don't mean anything derogatory by the nickname hillbilly-I don't know how else to describe him). So I went by him to get my drink and said hello. He started talking to me. Before we knew it I was sharing with him about how I got my old van back on the road thanks to the generous labor of my friend James. Then the Spirit prompted me to share the healing story with this man, right at the fountain machine in the McDonald's of LeRoy, Illinois. So there I was telling a glory story about how Jesus heals people today. The next thing I knew this man said to me, 'That is my exact same problem. My shoulder hurts. Can you touch it?' I offered to put my hand on it and pray for him. After I prayed a very short, one sentence prayer, he stood there with a smile on his face. So I asked him to try out his shoulder and see if it was better. He began moving it in a circular motion trying to see if it still had a pop sound. He suddenly smiled and said there was no more pop in his shoulder. Then he said it felt better. Then he started smiling really big and he threw both arms around me and hugged me. Mind you, I'm a hugger. He hugged me about twice as long as I would hug someone. Still it was really good. I told him that Jesus loves him and wants to be close to him. He thanked me and inquired about the church I attend so I shared with him that we attend the Vineyard in Urbana. After he heard we lived in Champaign county he gave me another hug and asked God to give me safe travels. It's just wonderful to see God healing people in a McDonald's restaurant while we are going about our every day life. It's also comforting to know that God really did lead me to get that coke at that particular restaurant at the time He did. Look at who was standing around waiting for a touch from God!

Instantly healed

When I was a boy I listened with great interest to stories of how God moved on the mission field. It seemed that when missionaries when to foreign countries that God was with them in a special way. A pastor even told me that spiritual gifts were given primarily for use on the mission field, but not so much here in the USA. My home country, overlaid with a scientific mind-set that tended to deny supernatural reality, seemed to be a place of void of the power of God being demonstrated in a practical way.  All that has been changing over the years.  And this story is an example.

In about 2008, while pastoring in Bloomington/Normal, I met James Kaufman. He became a friend of mine. During those days he attended Grace Lifegroup faithfully. In 2010 as I was wrapping up my final days leading Grace Lifegroup, and my final days pastoring the Vineyard in B/N, James developed weakness in his left arm. He was unable to lift with that arm. Since he worked on cars and was a general handyman, this directly affected his ability to earn a living. One night after we finished praying together, he asked if we would pray for his left arm. So we prayed a simple prayer 'I command healing into this arm in Jesus' name'.  He was instantly healed.

This summer I went to his home where he has our old van in storage. I went to help him drop the motor from it.  He complained that his right arm was developing the same problem he used to have with his left arm. He then said to me, 'you healed my left arm, now do the same for my right arm'.  I had forgotten about the healing in 2010, but as he talked I remembered the whole thing. I remembered how I was irritated in my heart that he waited to ask for prayer until after we were done praying. I remembered how short my prayer was, and I realized I had not really given God much glory through the whole thing.  I felt the sting of a good rebuke as he challenged me to heal him.

James was on top of the engine of my van, reaching behind it to try to loosen a mounting bolt. So I just put my hand on his right shoulder and I said, 'Be healed in Jesus' name'.  A few seconds later I asked him to try to lift that arm to see if he was healed. He climbed out of the van and lifted his arm repeatedly. A smile came across his face and he announced that he was completely healed.  After posting this on FB, he came back a few weeks later to note that his arm was still working great!

Then we shared with Ron, who was a friend of James and a witness to all this. I invited Ron to come back to Jesus. Ron's eyes were wide as he had been listening to James complain about his arm for a couple days at least. Although to my knowledge Ron has not yet come back to Jesus, he did witness the power of God through Jesus' name heal his friend. We give all glory for these two healings in James' life. And we share this with you so that you know God is moving here in the USA.


Now for you my Christian friends, we invite you to ask God where He is working right now around you and join in as the Holy Spirit leads. Don't be afraid. We also invite you to pray for our work in Asia to multiply.