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

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Healing services in both churches feature music, songs, prayer <strong>and</strong> bible readings.None<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong>ir teachings <strong>and</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> <strong>spiritual</strong> healing are different. Although <strong>the</strong>URC includes prayer for healing in all <strong>the</strong>ir services <strong>the</strong>re is one Sunday that is dedicatedas a healing service where <strong>the</strong>y practise <strong>the</strong> laying on <strong>of</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s for those who volunteer tohave <strong>spiritual</strong> healing. Members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation are invited to give <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong>relatives, friends or <strong>the</strong>mselves so that <strong>the</strong> minister can pray for healing. This session iscalled prayer for <strong>the</strong> sick <strong>and</strong> those in need. Before this prayer is <strong>of</strong>fered a prayer <strong>of</strong>forgiveness <strong>and</strong> intercession is <strong>of</strong>fered by <strong>the</strong> minister.In COGIC, healing is an integral part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> service at all times. There is usually an altarcall at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> service where members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation are invited for prayer forhealing, repentance, sanctification or to be filled with <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit. The spirit may lead amember to ask for prayer for a person or group <strong>of</strong> people outside <strong>the</strong> normal altar callwhere this is routine. The order <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meeting will change to accommodate this specialrequest for prayer. The minister may also pray for a particular individual if <strong>the</strong> Holy Spiritreveals that prayer should be <strong>of</strong>fered for this person or a group <strong>of</strong> people. In one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>services a minister asked <strong>the</strong> meeting to pray for <strong>the</strong> Prime Minister <strong>and</strong> his staff. Therewas about 10-15 minutes when <strong>the</strong> meeting concentrated on praying for <strong>the</strong> Prime Minister<strong>and</strong> his staff.3.3. Theory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MethodologyThe research used an ethnographic approach based on Brewer (2000) <strong>and</strong> collectedqualitative data using both non-participant, <strong>and</strong> participant observation <strong>and</strong> also semistructuredinterviews. It followed a tradition <strong>of</strong> ecumenical co-operation in qualitativeresearch as an activity. This is described by McCracken (1988) as inspired by <strong>the</strong> Chicagoschool where researchers looked at new methods in social research <strong>into</strong> medical schools,68

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