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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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<strong>of</strong> Rice <strong>and</strong> Huffstattler is primarily aimed at ministers in <strong>the</strong> URC. This typologyincludes <strong>the</strong> supplicative <strong>and</strong> meditative prayer referred to by Hughes (1997).In <strong>the</strong> URC it is usually <strong>the</strong> minister who uses <strong>the</strong> typology verbally to express <strong>the</strong> needs<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, whilst in COGIC any member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation isallowed to say prayer in public with members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation audibly agreeing with<strong>the</strong> person praying. In <strong>the</strong> URC <strong>the</strong> congregation agrees with <strong>the</strong> minister silently. Thisapproach is also used in healing <strong>and</strong> services not specific to healing in both churches.Intercessory prayer, according to Robert et al (2009), takes <strong>into</strong> account <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong>God as all powerful <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> man as subjective to <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> God. In o<strong>the</strong>rwords, <strong>the</strong> healer pleads with God as he is subject to God whom he believes to be allpowerful. Prayers for healing some else are by definition intercessory <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> healer maypray or ask ano<strong>the</strong>r person to pray (intercede) for him to be used a channel throughwhich <strong>the</strong> healing power from God can flow. Intercessory prayer is showing compassionfor o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>and</strong> can be both meditative <strong>and</strong> supplicative.Meditative <strong>and</strong> supplicative prayer is defined by Hughes (1997) involves a prayers<strong>and</strong>wich where in meditative prayer <strong>the</strong> focus is on <strong>the</strong> Superior Being, acknowledgingHim as <strong>the</strong> Creator <strong>and</strong> this is followed by supplicative prayer where <strong>the</strong> person make arequest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Superior Being <strong>and</strong> concludes by allowing <strong>the</strong> Superior Being to respondas he chooses. This is sometimes in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> giving thanks for answering <strong>the</strong> prayer inwhatever way He chooses. Wagner (1992) espouses <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> intercessoryprayer by <strong>and</strong> for Pastors <strong>and</strong> Christian leaders <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs such as <strong>spiritual</strong> healers. Heoutlines <strong>the</strong> vulnerability, due to psychological pressures, <strong>of</strong> <strong>spiritual</strong> leaders <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>need for <strong>the</strong>ir own healing so that <strong>the</strong>y can heal o<strong>the</strong>rs. Wagner (1992) advocates that231

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