Following my breast cancer diagnosis at the end of 2022, I was invited to meet an old friend at the Church’s Ministry of Healing The Mount. I was fearful of what was ahead; cancer, the brutal treatment and the unknown outcome. I knew God was alongside me on this journey, but human nature was heightening all anxieties. Having never really prayed for myself too much before, I wasn’t sure what to do next!
In between clients, Pat Mollan joined us and prayed with me. I thank God for this timing every day. I immediately felt a sense of peace, still unsure of what was ahead, I was no longer fearful. I was encouraged by Jenny to pray big and bold – really? For myself? Yes! I have learnt to pray big and bold for myself and for all my prayers for everyone. God is good and in between treatments I was able to attend the Healing Service at St Anne’s Cathedral – there were days during chemotherapy I was unable to do very much, but during each cycle I was blessed with good enough health to make it to Belfast.
It’s hard to describe what the St Anne’s service has done for me and for my faith. The presence of the Holy Spirit in this old church hall has been overwhelming at times. The piano in the corner seems to blast out hymns and the sound of the worship is far beyond the sum of the voices singing. I have been so blessed to have made it through treatment with a good outcome – thanks in part to the medical team, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – but I know this is totally because of the power of prayer and God’s healing. I now continue to be at St Anne’s each week to pray for those close to me on similar journeys and I am excited about what God has in store for those we pray for.
God is doing extraordinary work through the CMHTM, particularly those who pray on a Friday lunchtime – they have been given a great gift of words and prayer and are using it to share God’s love and healing powers where it is most needed.
As a Christian, I had never really known about, or been involved in healing services. My mother-in-law has been involved in healing services for many years, and I truly was slightly afraid of this subject. It is easy to put some things to the back of your mind or brush them under the carpet, however after 1 September 2009 life became quite complicated. I had cancer in my brain and have had eight surgical procedures. While I am very fortunate to have support from a wonderful family and friends, I realised at the start that ultimately, this was between me and the Lord; and he has been everything to me. My first healing experience was before my first surgery, when my Church Minister prayed with the Laying on of Hands. This gave me something that could not come any other way. It gave me peace, and I knew then that everything would be OK. When I got out of hospital, I started going to Healing Services in a few different churches. In the services, some churches had specific time for prayer requests afterwards; some had more modern praise; some less Laying on of Hands, but I found that the Church’s Ministry of Healing at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast was perfect for me. There was the choice to receive intimate prayer, during a time of traditional peaceful praise, along with Laying on of Hands, which brought me closer to the Lord. Not only have these healing services given me an inner peace, it is not all about me! Other people need healing, and for family members and friends who cannot attend for whatever reason, I now am able to have powerful prayer brought to them. And as for my cancer? I have now had two scans where there is no sign of cancer! My experience with these healing services has brought me to a peace in life that I want to shout about. I thank the Lord every day, and thank the team at St Anne’s Cathedral for bringing me close to him.
My Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The medical staff found a 2½ inch tumour and prescribed a summer of radiotherapy and simultaneous oral chemotherapy. They informed us that his treatment was intended to reduce the tumour and would be followed by surgery to remove it. My Dad is a Christian and immediately following diagnosis, our church rallied around and began to pray for him. I started going to the healing service at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, every Friday lunchtime to pray for my Dad’s healing. My Dad’s prayer was that with God’s help, the surgeon would cure him. My prayer was that God himself would destroy the tumour and amaze the doctors! Last week Dad went into hospital for the operation. His surgeon was unable to find the tumour – only scar tissue where it had been! Unfortunately, the operation had to proceed to remove the area where the tumour had been, in case any cancer cells remained. We visited Dad in recovery soon after his operation and he informed us that he felt God with him throughout the whole procedure. Thanks to the prayers of so many believers, my Dad has felt that peace which cannot be understood. He is the worst nail biter I have ever encountered (when feeling nervous or stressed) and incredibly he has had to cut his nails now for the first time in his life! Dad got out of hospital a week early, and is now recovering at home. He is awaiting the results of the pathologist’s report to see if the cancer had spread into the lymph glands. All early indications were that is had not. As for me, I know it has not, as I have complete faith that God has answered our prayers and healed him.