Purpose
The purpose of Christian Healing Ministries is simple. Understanding that Jesus came to heal His people, the main goal of this ministry is to bring the healing message of the Gospel, the message of healing prayer, to the world — both by teaching and by actually praying for the sick, so that every person throughout the world may understand this message.
History
The foundation of Christian Healing Ministries (CHM) was laid more than 40 years ago with the beginning of the ministry of Francis MacNutt, one of the first Catholic priests to become involved in the charismatic renewal movement. As head of the Catholic Homiletic Society, he taught workshops on preaching. He established a healing ministry in St. Louis, Mo., called Merton House and traveled the world speaking about spiritual renewal and healing. In 1980, Francis married Judith Sewell and no longer was able to exercise a ministry as a Catholic priest. The couple then founded Christian Healing Ministries in Clearwater, Florida.
In 1987, the Episcopal Bishop of Florida persuaded the MacNutts to come to Jacksonville. The Episcopal Diocese offered to support the ministry in every way except financially, as CHM is ecumenical and not an Episcopal organization. In 1987, the MacNutts accepted this gracious invitation and moved to “The River City.”
Francis, Judith, and several other staff members travel teaching about the healing ministry. These speaking engagements comprise a vital part of the ministry. In addition, the CHM facility serves as a place where people come for both teaching and prayer. CHM offers seminars, as well as teachings on audio and videocassettes. These are available through the CHM bookstore, along with the MacNutts’ books and other books recommended by the ministry.
Prayer for healing is offered on an individual, confidential basis to more than 400 people per month by more than 100 trained volunteer prayer ministers and staff. In addition to prayer ministers who pray for people in person here at the ministry, over 384 intercessors who are part of CHM’s worldwide intercessory ministry pray for the more than 6,000 prayer requests received monthly.
Daily prayer appointments, Tuesday evening open prayer services and Generational Eucharists, or Communion for the Healing of Generations, take place on a regular basis. Our monthly Intensive Prayer Ministry, an opportunity for those suffering from sickness to receive extended prayer time, worked so well that we added an additional monthly prayer opportunity: Day of Healing Prayer. “The Foundations” Courses and the “School of Healing Prayer” are reaching other Christian ministries, churches, prayer groups and individuals to help them understand better our Lord’s ministry of healing. We are encouraged as we see God’s message of Healing, which the church has ignored for so long, once again recognized as an integral part of the Gospel of Christ.
Requests for help are received from all over the world, but not everyone can come to Jacksonville to receive prayer for healing. For this reason, CHM established a referral file to direct people to Christian counselors, ministries and churches in their own areas where they can receive individual prayer. Psychiatrists, medical doctors, counselors, ministers and other professionals also come to CHM from all over to learn more about the healing ministry, as well as to receive ministry for themselves.
CHM is funded primarily through donations, which comprise approximately 75 percent of all monies received. No one is ever charged for prayer. Because CHM works with people struggling with numerous types of illnesses — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual — many are not able to support the ministry financially. In order to fulfill its call to spread the healing gospel of Christ, Christian Healing Ministries must seek other funding sources as God directs.
