The Chapel was full, the worship team were ready, the desire to give God the praise and glory for all he has done was tangible.

The Bible always seems to convey to us that when God's word is read or preached on, there should be signs and wonders. The hallmark of Jesus teaching was that the ordinary folk recognised he had authority. In many instances it was the miracles and the healing's that gave evidence of this authority. The proof that God was at work in and through him.

Celebration of Healing

We heard first hand testimonies of people in Chorley and the surrounding area that had been miraculously healed. And by that I mean people who were chronically ill, with incurable, untreatable conditions were, in a matter of minutes, some in hours or weeks, some in months, TOTALLY healed, restored, made new! 

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7 v 14.

Abdominal pain

We heard of a serious stomach, abdominal condition through which the future looked bleak, all expectation of getting better was minimal or dashed. Then a sudden and unexpected building of strength, recovery, life returned to some measure of quality and dignity.

Leg Ulcers

We heard of serious and prolonged leg ulcers. These do not usually get better, they are a chronic condition. Prayer was followed by healing. How? Why? Ask the person healed what he thinks. His name is John Green.

Asthma

We heard about a lady who uses inhalers to combat the effects of acute breathing difficulties. A condition that has gone on for many years. God prompts, we pray, she testifies! Massive relief, much improved, thinking of stopping her medication completely but tailing it off at the moment. Why? Jesus loves her, this I know.

Can God Heal Cancer?

We heard of a lady with cancer, Pat, who at God's prompting was invited by her daughter, who was invited by the writer who was prompted by God to take the daughter to a meeting in Telford where a Canadian speaker was preaching. We went. The Power of God's Spirit in that meeting was tangible. I was so concerned for Penny and Pat as the Power of God was being revealed that they were a little shocked, and sensed their discomfort and surprise. I offered to take them out as I feared they might want to leave. Pat said NO, I want to see what is going to happen here. A call went out for people with cancer to be healed. (Don't forget Pat was not invited by me, it was her daughter who invited her, all I was sure of was that God prompted me to invite the daughter Penny.) Pat went forward with Penny running after her in her wake. The speaker Jim Paul, walked straight up to Pat, pressed a fist firmly into her abdomen, (how did he know where the tumor was?) and commanded the tumor to wither and die, and come out in the name of Jesus!

And then.?

Ten seconds it took. Pat convulsed as if coughing something up, fell to the floor, Penny sat with her for 20 minutes. When Pat finally stirred, she looked at Penny and said, "It's wonderful, it's wonderful, it's wonderful". She was still saying this when Penny eventually managed to recover Pat to her seat.

"It's wonderful," Pat said again.

"What's wonderful?" I asked.

"This warm glow all over me. It's wonderful."

The doctors pronounced Pat in remission. (She still is! Praise God.) She has lived a full and exiting life since becoming a Christian a few years ago, along with her husband, her daughter, her daughter's husband, and many other members of the family expressing a serious interest in the things of God. She has done an Alpha Course and has become a house Church leader in the Bridgnorth area, and has now moved to Machynlleth in West Wales. Watch this space!

Update 23/12/2006. Pat just popped in to see us. She is living in Wales has a B&B Eryl House B&B and has joined Tywyn Baptist Church. She is a picture or health and shows the JOY OF JESUS in every way. Bless you pat. Thank you Lord!

Another Cancer Story added April 05.

A friend of our family was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. He and we were devastated. After much prayer, heartache, soul searching, highs and lows, fear and trauma, prayer and despair he went to visit a Church in Nigeria where some amazing healing had taken place in recent years! He was healed! To God be the Glory.

He was tested also! Another suspicious object on a scan! Down into the pit again, climbing out he chose to believe God over his circumstances. Some weeks later despite the medical profession trying to soften the blow and prepare him for the worst, dispite our friends insistance he was healed, and would not chose to believe otherwise, the diagnosis eventualy came. All clear! No problem, scar tissue only. There have been other mountain tops and deep valleys along the way. So much so this amazing nakedly honest story has been written in a book. It is available from Wesley Owen. (ISBN 1-85078-620-8 http://www.wesleyowen.com   search for the authors name Musgrave.) It is called "My heart will choose to say" by John Musgrave. Bless you John.

Don't you just love seeing the enemy of our souls loosing ground in Jesus name.

And yet another Cancer Story added late 2006.

At my Baptism God gave me the verses from Acts:-

Acts 2 v 38 ..... "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

In my Spirit I knew that promise was for me, and for my children. You see my late wife was the last of a long line of her forbears to have breast cancer and although we did not know that at the time, was also to die in her forties. Her daughters then 8 and 16 lived there lives under this curse. But I 'knew' that at that time the curse was broken and I spoke that out at my baptism. some 14 years later, my daughters were agonising over recommendations for double mastectomies, all kinds or radical preventative treatments and the like, and I just gently reminded them of what I 'knew' God had said.

Then the option of DNA testing came along, they both went for it and my youngest's results came through first! She did not have the defective gene!!! Praise God for he is GOOD and faithful, what joy inexpressible. Yet what about the older daughter! Still no results. The statistics were mounting against her, why was it taking longer, it must be bad news and so on. Then the results came. She did not have the gene either. Such a faithful God, How majestic is your name. We Love you Jesus. Thank you for the gift of LIFE! Thank you for the gift of life expectancy for my two daughters now released from the curse of expecting cancer to take them in their forties.

Alan, the Pastor of Chorley Chapel Dec 2006.

Heart Trouble

We heard of man who in 2000, after many years of a chronic heart condition, again became seriously ill. Seven specialists in 4 hospitals in different parts of the UK had confirmed his condition and diagnosis. Princess Royal in Telford re-affirmed the same diagnosis. He went down hill, his family were called. He was asked to get his affairs in order, the outlook was not good. The condition was not treatable! He had already a week earlier been registered disabled, they had taken his driving license from him, and told his employment must end.

Recovery

At 2am that night, aware he was terrified of the outlook and, despite his faith, he did not want to die. He felt something very strange going on, he then slept deeply and woke in the morning recovered! The four doctors at the Princess Royal were astounded and had no explanation. They checked him over and said he had the heart of a 16 year old! I can testify that this guy, Barry, earned himself a new nickname from me after his new heart: I call him Tigger! That's what he is like. He is so full of bounce and energy and life-he's embarrassing! He is great. He gives God all the Glory, honour and praise. Since then he has worked for the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen in Peterhead and Malag in Scotland and is now (wait for it) bricklaying in South Shields. Barry is in his mid fifties! He is a registered Minister of the Church. He and his wife Sue are now Pastors of a Church in the North East. Praise God from whom ALL BLESSINGS FLOW. Like a river!

We prayed and thanked God for all these testimonies.

Finally we heard from a lady called Jill Mee who could not be there on the 5th as her daughter was being married. She did send us a written testimony however and everyone at the Church had a copy and Sue my wife read it out for all to hear and 5 people from Chorley Chapel raised their hands to testify they knew Jill's story was the truth. See the testimony attached here.

Praise God!

We know there is more to come. Testimonies are written on paper and in the Spirit even as you read this account.

"Isn't He Wonderful, wonderful isn't He.
Prince of Peace, Mighty God, wonderful isn't He."

Alan Vincent

Pastor Chorley Chapel

Updated May 2005.

Perhaps you would like to read: What are the beliefs of those who meet in Chorley?