“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

If you ever been to Jamestown, Tennessee you will never forget it. Jamestown is the home of Sgt. York, World War I hero, who “turkey shot” all over the Germans, bringing in 200 prisoners of war himself. It’s been 10 years since my last visit. In our four-day meeting in Jamestown United Methodist Church, the Lord touched many prisoners of sadness, anger and fear.

I had the privilege there of meeting Jim Hodges. If you have never met him, come by the church office and take a seat. You will hear the story of how this Church of Christ pastor came to become a Methodist minister. It was all about prayer. At an early age, one of his sons sucked a nail down his windpipe. Jim felt like someone had slapped him in the face with a wet squirrel. (Another “Billy-ism”)

Jim commenced looking for someone to pray for the situation, but he found only unbelief and doubt in this lonely hospital. He told me, “They could not get a prayer out of that room with a rocket!”

Later on a group of men and women came to the hospital after hearing the news on the radio. One lady asked him if they could pray for his son. Jim consented and they began to pray. The room filled with faith and the air blossomend with the aroma of Jesus Christ. All thoughts of unbelief and despair began to evaporate out of Jim’s mind, and for the first time in many years the power of the Holy Spirit was present in the environment. His son made it through a difficult operation and Jim’s faith in prayer was drastically changed. Today, Jim and Molly (in their 70′s) minister at Jamestown United Methodist Church.

It is easy to see the power of prayer in Jim’s life. This year, Molly was found to have pancriatic cancer. Prayer began to be made unto God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Their local physician, Dr. Mark, prayed for them and she was healed of the cancer.

Are you in need of prayer? “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon him while He is near.”

Rick Bonfim
Rick Bonfim Ministries