Discipleship involves putting off the old and putting on the new to become like Christ. But old habits or attitudes are hard to uproot or even detect. In these cases, God intended for the body of Christ to come along side the hurting and help them in the inner healing process.

A longtime member of REACH in Metro Manila says the training she received at the Elijah House Prayer Ministry made an impact on her own inner healing.

“By God’s grace, He removed blockages in my life. He awakened my slumbering spirit to be more sensitive to His voice.”

She learned that a slumbering spirit is one coping method for painful life experiences. It prevents people from fully engaging in the world around them or appreciating God’s presence.

It was rooted out when the member told a small group about her lingering anger over a watch that was being repaired but not returned to her.

Through guided prayer and probing questions from the group, she discovered the root of her bitterness. It was tied to an unforgiving spirit she developed in childhood when her family moved from the central Philippines to Manila and their belongings were stolen by another family.

“I hated them,” she says.

She buried and forgot the experience, but the root remained and triggered her anger and hopelessness in other negative situations. Through prayer, she was able to forgive and find freedom.

Gethsemane Prayer Ministry

Earlier this year, REACH Philippines decided to establish an inner healing ministry within REACH called Gethsemane Prayer Ministry (GPM).

Dr. Glo Camarao, a member of REACH’s National Development Staff (NDS), developed the program framework and documents. Another NDS member, Dr. Oyay Jimenez, will coordinate the ministry with assistance of a team comprised of people who have attended the Elijah House training.

The vision for the program are communities of forgiven people, fully restored in Christ, dying daily to self and the old nature; and being transformed into the fullness of Christ, for God’s glory.

Training material are being developed and local teams will be trained to carry out prayer ministry and healing among their constituents.

The GPM is an adaptation of the Elijah House ministry. Prayer ministry is guided by the Holy Spirit to help people identify bitter roots and judgments that affect behavior and relationships. Inner healing follows as people forgive themselves for sinful choices and responses, forgive those who have sinned against them, leave the sins and old structures of thinking and behavior patterns at the Cross, establish new thinking and behavior patterns, and experience the gifting and uniqueness that God desires in their lives.

The GPM will aid REACH to carry out its vision and mission to make disciples.