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

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h<strong>and</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> forehead <strong>of</strong> each person who requested prayer. The first two persons whocame forward had two people laying h<strong>and</strong>s on <strong>the</strong>m for healing, <strong>the</strong> minister <strong>and</strong> an elder.Then <strong>the</strong> pattern changed. The minister laid h<strong>and</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> shoulders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> second person.The elders supported by resting <strong>the</strong>ir h<strong>and</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> back <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> person.For <strong>the</strong> 3rd person <strong>the</strong> minister held her h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> moved to a more quiet prayer.The 4 th person had similar treatment (H<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> minister on her shoulder, <strong>the</strong>n on herforehead as <strong>the</strong> minister engaged in quiet but intensive prayer.5 th request: The minister placed his h<strong>and</strong>s on her shoulders as she verbalized her request.The organist played a song ‗Such Love‘ quietly as background music throughout <strong>the</strong>healing service.Here <strong>the</strong> responding is implicitly drawing on James 5 <strong>and</strong> narratives at <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong>Acts which include both <strong>the</strong> first healing miracles by <strong>the</strong> disciples, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> clearestdescription <strong>of</strong> speaking in tongues. Acts 3 narrates <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> Peter healing <strong>the</strong> lame man,where he made it clear to <strong>the</strong> man that he did not have money to give him as he expected.Peter made sure that <strong>the</strong> man was prepared to receive <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n „laid h<strong>and</strong>s on him‟.Although not what he expected (money) because he expected to receive something, anenvironment for healing was created. Peter too man who had never wal by <strong>the</strong>right h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> lifted him up <strong>and</strong> his feet <strong>and</strong> anbones received strength.‟ But, asRespondent 2 emphasizes, it is not necessarily <strong>the</strong> laying on <strong>of</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s that brings healing; itmay be <strong>the</strong> miraculous working <strong>of</strong> prayer through <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit.Nei<strong>the</strong>r church routinely seeks miraculous healing, although occasionally <strong>the</strong>re may be avisiting speaker in COGIC who will attempt to practise healing in <strong>the</strong> way Peter did inActs 3. The church members do not assume, however, that this was <strong>the</strong> regular pattern <strong>and</strong>266

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