The power to heal is all a matter of faith (From Stroud News and Journal)

The power to heal is all a matter of faith

THE last place I would expect to find myself on a weekday evening is in church.

But this evening I am joining the congregation at the Church of God of Prophecy (corr) in Wood Street, Stroud to see a controversial faith healer who claims to have helped the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to walk.

The man in question is the Rev Melvin Banks, whose PR office describe him as 'a household name in healing'.

Not being well-versed in celebrity faith healers, I don't know quite what to expect - he has been known to chuck atheist books onto bonfires at some of his services.

I imagine a Jerry Springer style of preaching, with an enthusiastic gospel choir and lots of fire and brimstone, and I'm not far off the mark.

"I pray for the head pains to go!" shrieks Rev Banks, with his hands on the blue rinse of an elderly believer. "Clear up, and never be the same again!

"Do you feel something?" he asks his patient. "Ooh, quite a shock," she replies. "Any pain in your head?" "Hmm, it's quite a bit better."

Satisfied, he is on to his next sufferer, who he is trying to persuade to part with her deaf aid.

Mark Rees, 48, from Cashes Green, Stroud, is enthusiastic about Rev Banks, who claims to have cured a squash injury over the phone.

Mr Rees said: "Recently I had a shoulder injury. I was on pills and the pain got so bad the doctor said I had got to have an operation. It was agony.

"I rang him over the phone and the pain went. I get the odd twinge but that's it.

He claims Rev Banks also helped his nine-year-old niece. "She had sprained her ankle," he said. "I saw him pray for her and instantly she was healed.

"He's eccentric, but that's just his character. He is genuine and gifted."

Alan Baker from Quedgeley, Gloucester is also convinced about the power of prayer, which he believes helped him recover from kidney cancer.

Mr Baker said: "I had my kidney removed and the doctors said I would have to have radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But after prayer I never had to have anything.

"They said to me before that the cancer was spreading up my arteries towards my heart. They told me it would be about 50-50.

"But now I have got another 18 months to go before I am announced clear. I just go for six month check-ups. I think it was the power of prayer that helped me."

As one who would describe their beliefs as somewhere between agnostic and atheist, I am slightly uncomfortable with the idea of 'miracle' healing.

In particular, it concerns me that it involves such vulnerable people.

However, after talking to Rev Banks, I am convinced that he genuinely believes in his God-given ability to heal, which was bestowed on him as a toddler.

"When I was two-and-a half I fell in the river and drowned," he said. "In about ten or fifteen minutes they got me out.

"My mother came to the riverbank. They said I'd gone, but my mother wouldn't let me go. She prayed and prayed -and after about 10 minutes they say my heartbeat came back.

"Ever since then I believed I was touched by God. I have lived out the miracle of God.

"I am often asked 'why you?', and that is the only question I can't answer. Maybe it's something to do with that accident as a child - who knows?

"I believe there are more people who could have these gifts and not realise it."

After becoming a preacher at 17, he discovered his talent for helping people almost by accident.

"When I was a pastor in Lincoln, people started to get healed," he said. "People said 'you prayed for me last week and now this pain is gone'."

As his notoriety grew, he felt called to travel the country with his wife Lillian so more people could benefit from his services.

I put it to Rev Banks that the 'healing' experience may have a placebo effect, making people feel better because they expect to.

He does acknowledge that psychological effects on his congregation are an important factor.

"I think it's not only the great physical improvements I see in people," he said. "It's also bringing hope and comfort to many people.

"There are people who might not respond at the moment but they say, 'it did me good coming here - it's given me hope.'"

As I make my way home, these words resonate around my head. It is a matter of opinion as to whether the people I have spoken to today have experienced divine intervention or merely the power of positive thinking. But they do feel better after meeting Rev Banks.

While I am yet to be convinced about miracle healing, this man has the ability to inspire people with hope, confidence and strength. And that is a gift.