After nine months of resistance, Gilbert Trutwein finally gave in. God, he said, kept sending people in need of spiritual and emotional healing his way.
Whether out-and-about with friends or down at the local shops, the stream of encounters with ordinary people and a persistent sense of calling led Mr Trutwein to establish Love Ministry Healing.
“I really didn’t want to do it but the Lord kept asking me,” Mr Trutwein said. “Since then, it’s been amazing the help I’ve had.”
The idea of a regular healing service was embraced by Mr Trutwein’s fellows in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. LMH has been taking their healing services to parishes for more than a year now. A Mass and healing service are held at a different churches every few months, featuring the laying of hands and intercessory prayer.
The most recent healing service took place at St Bernadette’s, Glendalough, on 26 November. Three Love Ministry prayer teams consisting of two to three people stood before the sanctuary as the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration.
A line of people running half the length of the church waited patiently for prayer as hymns were played by the ministry’s music team.
“Why shouldn’t we have faith?” LMH spiritual director, Fr Hugh Thomas asked the congregation after a short Gospel reading. “The same Jesus who gave sight to the blind and drove out devils and made the lame to walk is here.”
“The power isn’t coming from me or from any of [the prayer team members], it’s coming from Him. He is the one who will heal us.”
Members of the prayer teams listened intently to what each person who approached wished to pray for before laying hands on them and calling on the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation.
They encounter all kinds of ailments, Mr Trutwein said. A lot of people present with private anxieties and sadness but most ask teams to pray with them for loved ones. Future healing services will be announced in the Panorama section of The Record with more information available via 0431 570 322.