– A column by the Rev. John E. Clark
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE REV. JOHN CLARK
The Right Rev. Phillip Wright, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Belize, left, is all smiles with the Rev. John Clark during Clark’s missionary trip to the Central American country.
There’s “An Army of Love” in Belize City, Belize, Central America. The Christian healing movement of the Order of St. Luke is alive in Central America.
The year 2017, one mid-June morning, I woke up from a vision of ministering in Belize. God spoke to me and said, “go to Belize and feed my people.”
Stumbling through the kitchen, first cup of coffee in hand, I said good morning to my wife and then spoke these words … “Hey Honey, where’s Belize?”
After getting a short geography lesson, I learned two important historical facts; Belize was called once called British Honduras and yes, they do speak English.
God does have a sense of humor and is also considerate to the fact that I do not speak Spanish because he knows that learning a foreign language at my age would be a joke.
So, plans were made and in mid-October it’s off to Belize. A trip like this is not easy at any age. Try preparing to go to a country you know nothing about, don’t know what to expect, and not to mention, raising what you hope is enough money to get you there, stay someplace other than a tent, and eat from time to time. But hey, those are the details best left for God to take care of. The best thing to do is just be obedient and say “yes”.
Off to Belize we go, we had no idea what God was going to have us do.
Soon after we arrived, we met with a group from the Anglican commune that operated the St. John’s soup kitchen. One of the needs discovered was a need for rice. To meet that need, an arrangement was made with a local rice company for monthly shipments of 120 pounds of rice. And later, the need for rice to help the St. Mary’s lunch feeding program was also assisted with monthly rice deliveries.
We were building relationships with the people of Belize and with the Anglican Diocese. And because of those relationships, we feel at home in Belize. It’s our second home and we are part of the family of God in Belize.
Bags of rice were donated to help others in Belize.
Our second trip to Belize was last February and I had an opportunity to share the mission of the Order of St. Luke (OSL) Christian Healing Ministry with the leaders of the Anglican Diocese, including The Rite Rev’d Philip Wright, Bishop of Belize.
I was a bit nervous before the meeting with the Bishop. I had a big challenge, “How do I ask the Bishop if a group of strangers from the U.S. could host a healing mission in his Diocese?”
Midway through our conversation, the Bishop paused for a moment and asked; “Would it be possible to hold a healing mission in Belize?” Ever notice how whenever you’re apprehensive about stepping out of the boat, God does it for you with his gentle nudge?
At that meeting, plans for the “Jesus Heals” Healing Conference and Mission started. Those plans became a reality in Belize City on June 22-24, 2018.
The healing mission began with four of us, including my wife, Jacki; the Rev. Josh Acton, the North American Director of OSL; and Father Paul Feider, board president of OSL, leading the daytime training on Friday and Saturday.
To most of us OSL folks, two days of training means we sit in an air-conditioned room with tons of coffee and pastry. The lighting is perfect, and the biggest complaint is that we are not used to sitting all day.
The Anglican Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist is where a healing service was performed.
Friday and Saturday’s training in Belize were held on the second floor of a building, a block’s walk from the Cathedral. The room was sparsely furnished except for the most magnificent mahogany table in the middle of the room. When being in Belize, you learn very quickly that most buildings are not fitted with air-conditioning. Most Americans would not have enjoyed the location chosen for learning about the love and healing power of Jesus.
The usual coffee station we take for granted to be at every meeting was not present. A cooler of small plastic bottles of water and several dozen of a local delicacy known as powder cakes were present. But one thing that was not scarce and felt by all: the presence of the Holy Spirit. Miracles and healings happen whenever the power of Jesus is in the room.
After each day of training, a public healing service was held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist. A dear lady we met at the soup kitchen came forward wanting healing prayer for her painful knee. As Jacki and I prayed for her, a sense of release came over her. Her face, filled with tears, told the story as she proclaimed, I am not in pain. And I asked her, “Are you saying that to make me feel good, or are you pain-free?” She smiled with her eyes sparkling with tears and said, “I have no pain!”
Sunday services start early in Belize to avoid the late-morning heat of summer. And it was no exception for that Sunday’s “Special Day of Healing” services.
Folks started coming early for the first service held at 6:30 a.m. It was a much-anticipated day of services. There were four baptisms and the induction of members of the newly formed OSL Belize.
When it was time for members of the congregation to come forward for healing prayers and anointing, the pews emptied. Lines formed in the isles by those coming forward to be anointed and in expectation of receiving the miracle of healing. Members of the new OSL Chapter received those into their loving arms of love and prayed.
Looking back, this was a small, but perfect group numbering 12. These new disciples of the healing ministry experienced physical and inner healing and how they could share it with others in Jesus’ name.
The Belize City Chapter of OSL, “An Army of Love” was formed.
– The Rev. John Clark is a deacon at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Titusville.