“United Theological Seminary (United) understands the gifts and benefits of divine healing in the 21st century, even as the general public looks upon this ministry both with apprehension and wonder,” explained Dr. Jason Vickers, United’s Associate Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies. “That’s why we have chosen divine healing as the focus for our 3rd Annual Church Renewal Conference. We will explore divine healing from a holistic approach, including physical, social, economic and relational healing.”
United’s 3rd Annual Church Renewal Conference: Light the Fire! Divine Healing will be Thursday and Friday, April 18-19, at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. Clergy, students, ministry leaders, social workers and the general public interested in the possibility of discovering healing through prayer are encouraged to attend.
New at the Light the Fire! Divine Healing conference is a special worship service for divine healing open to the public from 4pm to 5pm Thursday, April 18, at Ginghamsburg Church — 6759 S. County Road 25A, Tipp City, OH.
“Even if you don’t attend the conference, you are invited to the divine healing worship service,” Dr. Vickers said. “We have been hearing so much about healing in global Christianity and now is the perfect time to explore divine healing as a practice.”
Keynote speakers include Professor William J. Abraham, best known for his emphasis on the healing presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. Candy Gunther Brown has spent the past eight years studying proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) by Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians — the groups most likely to pray for healing and claim that their prayers work — in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Mozambique. Virginia Todd Holeman focuses on forgiveness and healing interpersonal relationships. Craig S. Keener has recently published a monumental two-volume work on miracles. Ginghamsburg Lead Pastor Mike Slaughter is the founder of the Christmas Is Not Your Birthday movement adopted worldwide by churches and is an avid proponent of prayer for social and economic healing. Bishop James Swanson is a gifted and charismatic preacher renowned for his emphasis on the healing and renewing power of the Holy Spirit.
Along with six keynote speakers, five special break-out sessions are available to attendees including: Pray for Me with Bishop Kenneth Carter; Healing the Sick with Randy Clark; And You Gave Me Something to Eat with Felicia Howell LaBoy; Rope Holders with Terry Teykl and Dirty Little Secrets with Emma Justes.
Although many people have been taught that divine healing was restricted to the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, and that we are no longer privileged to claim this divine intervention in human sickness, the recent upsurge of the teaching and practice of divine healing has caused many people to restudy the subject. As a result of this study, many ministers and lay persons are making the discovery that healing is still available to all who will appropriate it through faith in Jesus Christ. And many churches have reinstituted praying for the sick in their services.
A portion of the Light the Fire! proceeds will be donated to Ginghamsburg’s Sudan Project. To date, the Ginghamsburg congregation has invested $6.1 million into sustainable humanitarian projects. Interviews with keynote speakers and guests are available upon request. Press passes to the conference are available upon request. For a complete list of speakers and breakout sessions, visit lightthefire.org.
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