Blind faith?

Aug 26 2008 By Aidan Jones

Faith healing comes to Westminster

Sep 3 2008

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This summer thousands tuned into an 'outpouring' of televised faith healing in Florida. We went to find out what happened when the Evangelicals brought claims of curing cancer, healing broken bones and even resurrecting the dead to Westminster.

Joanna McCullagh is still giddy an hour after her encounter with God.

Struggling to stand, the 32-year-old mother from Ealing says a 'judder' of electricity coursed through her body the moment her condition (ME - chronic fatigue) was called out by Pentacostal Canadian faith healer, Jerame Nelson.

"It's impossible to describe... it's like a vibrating, shaking heat all over you. I can promise you this is not a placebo. I was a sceptic of healing, but now I feel much better, I feel set free."

As do hundreds of others it seems as they queue to be anointed by Nelson, the star attraction at a three-night meeting earlier this summer at the Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Marsham Street, Westminster.

Nelson, 26, made the journey in place of his spiritual leader Todd Bentley, who since April has been causing a stir in Lakeland, Florida with claims of a spontaneous outpouring of miraculous healings. Apparently no illness or wound can not be salved by Jesus; with cancers cured, sight restored, bones re-assembled and even the dead brought back to life.

The Lakeland Fresh Fires Revival in which Bentley - a pierced and tattooed ex-con who was born again a decade ago - banishes sickness with a sweep of his hand and a bellowed 'Bam!', has caught fire in the UK via the very earthly vessels of God TV, and internet streaming.

Within days of going on sale, the thousands of £5 tickets to the Emmanuel Church event were gone as believers of all races, ages and denominations signed up in hope the apparent signs, miracles and wonders of Lakeland would occur in London.

To those who swear by science, faith healing is hokum; at very best a placebo, using the power of occasion, rhetoric and repetition of music and song to influence suggestible, and often desperate, people into believing they are healed.

Critics also say there is scant, verifiable evidence of the healing claims and scoff at the 30 or so reported resurrections none of which have taken place in front of the ever-present TV cameras.

"The sceptics should come and see for themselves," says Pastor Wee Hian Chau, the soft spoken leader of Emmanuel Church which runs weekly healing meetings. "Something is happening here. This is God's hour and to prove it he gives us signs and wonders, such as faith healing. It does work and can be used hand in hand with conventional medicine."

It is a message which appears to chime with many. But for some there are sadder motives for making the journey to Westminster.