FORT WAYNE CHRISTIAN CENTER

Pastor Cookye’s Log

This has been an amazing month at Miracle/Healing Services. The Jesus of the Bible has been confirming His Word with the signs following.(Mark 16:17) Here are two notable examples.

About 6 weeks ago, a woman walked into the Miracle/Healing Service near the end. The service begins promptly at 7 and ends generally by 8 p.m.- unless there’s a special move of God. I’m conscientious about the time, because we have students at the service  and I want them to be in bed between 8:30-9 p.m.  Well, this darling woman came quite late; the service was ending and I had already laid my hands on the sick (Mark 16: 18).

Anyway, she came to the front of the church and asked for prayer because she explained that her kidneys were malfunctioning.

The healing method that I use rarely involves praying for the sick, although that is certainly one healing strategy. I generally speak to the condition and speak to the body  to function correctly. At this service I had talked about Dr. Gary Wood’s trip to Heaven and how Jesus had explained to him, (Dr. Woods) that there are new body parts in Heaven waiting to be delivered to people on Earth. Now, this may surprise you, but I’ve been aware of this “spare parts” room since I was about 9 or 10 years old. My mother had visited this building, in Heaven,- in one of her several visions- and had told me about the walls and pull- out drawers filled with body parts. I was delighted to lay my hands on this dear sister and to call for the kidneys that she needed. I never saw her again for about six weeks.

About two Thursdays ago, this woman came walking up to the front of the sanctuary. When I greeted her, she said, “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“No!” I replied. “I’m the woman whose kidneys were bad and you prayed for me.”

“So tell me what has happened?

This darling went on to explain that her children had taken her to the Mayo Clinic, she had had test after test, and the doctors told her that her kidneys are fine. Hallelujah!

I laughed and she cried. The other people who were still in the sanctuary joined in and raised their hands and voices in praise to God. We spent minutes just thanking God and Jesus , The Healer.

Yesterday at our morning Celebration Service (December 11) we had a heating challenge,so we used one of our common areas as a sanctuary. Thank God we have so much space!I saw one of our ushers carrying one of our “soft chairs” into this area, so I knew that someone, possibly an older person, needed the extra comfort. I thought, “someone probably has arthritis or a crippling disease.” I was excited and could hardly wait until “healing time” which comes at the end of our service. At the end of service, we,-Pastor Rutledge and I- walked over to a young woman that we have known since she was a teenager. She lives out of town , but was visiting her mother. When we asked her specifically what the doctors said she needed, she said, “A L-4, L-5, fusion.” We are not doctors. We are ministers of the Gospel who practice Mark 16:18. I placed my hands on her back and she moved them to the exact place where she needed the healing. I spoke these words, “I command a L-4, L-5 fusion, in The Name of Jesus.” I think I left her and went to minister to another person. In a few minutes, I came back to her.

“Is there any pain?”  She replied, “There was, but there isn’t any now.”

I responded, “Praise the Lord!”

Then, something wonderful happened. This young woman began shaking her legs. Still, no pain. She bent over and touched her toes. Still, no pain. Then she walked around the room. No pain. Then she jogged, she jumped up and down, and she touched her toes, again. No pain. The congregation knew we had seen a notable miracle. We rejoiced with  her.

When she came forward to tell what had happened, this darling told about the medicine she’d been taking that had offered little relief from pain. She talked about her time of suffering and how sad the medical news had been. She gave all the credit for her healing to Jesus, The Birthday Man.

I exclaimed, “Only Jesus would show up at His own  birthday party and bring gifts to His little sisters and brothers!”.

Understand this, we are not doctors, so we don’t give medical advice. We encourage people to take their prescribed medicine and to obey doctors’ orders. We told this darling to return to her doctor and to get his report. We believe that it will be good. I’ll keep you informed.

His Love and mine,

Pastor Cookye

P.S. See you Thursday at Miracle/ Healing Service. 7 p.m. Bring your friends and loved ones.

By Pastor Cookye Rutledge

Part One

My mother, Joanna Taylor Johnson, was an amazing woman. While she was on temporary leave from her position as outside-the-home housekeeper, she met a woman who would change her life. Mother Lottie Coss was a true missionary. A widow, she spent her afternoons going from house to house teaching young mothers the Word of God. She taught what she knew and that is always powerful! My mother opened the door to this middle-aged woman and our entire family was impacted. She showed my mother

that Baptism in the Holy Spirit was a Gift from God. (St. John 14:16, 17; Acts 2:38)

My mother was intrigued because she desired to have all that God had promised her.

She received This Gift in the living room of our family homestead at 332 Dewey Street,

San Diego, California. I call this our “homestead” because my maternal grandmother,

Sarah Lucile Taylor bought and owned this duplex and my parents were residents there, at the time.

I have funny stories about what happened next, as my family grappled with this disruption in their religious lives. Let me just say that there were discussions about putting Mother away in an insane asylum-as they were called, then. God intervened through my grandmother and mother was saved from that torture.

Mother cherished her friendships with Mother Coss, Sister Pinkey Brown and Sister Oxford (I don’t remember her first name). While Daddy was at work, these three would go from door to door spreading the Gospel. Mother always started dinner early in the morning, so Daddy would have meals on time, and she kept Pattye, (my younger sister)and I clean and the house spotless. Daddy never suspected what was going on.

Mother just knew that she had to tell “the Good News!” Along with the good news of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit came the good news of Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday today, and for ever.” Mother learned that if Jesus had ever done anything, even once, He was obligated(by His Word) to do it forever. No one is holding Him hostage; He is obligated to fulfill His own words because He wants to. Thus began our journey to meet the Healing Evangelists.

After God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the next most important relationship I have in my life is with my wife. She has been sent from God just for me. She is the love of my life. My life changed for the better some 25 years ago. Yes, the old saying is true, "Behind every great man and pastor, is a loving, strong, intelligent, long-suffering, patience and beautiful woman, who makes it possible to accomplish the dreams and plans of man." Happy birthday Pastor Cookye, the love of my life!

It was nearly 5 p.m. on December 15. I was sitting in the auditorium of a local high school when my cell phone vibrated. It was my darling, husband, Ron. He was calling to say, “Bro. Oral Roberts moved to Heaven, this afternoon.” Time stood still as I contemplated his words. Then, I smile through my anguish. “He wants to celebrate Christmas with Miss Evelyn-his wife” I mumbled. “It’s their wedding anniversary, too.!”

After the meeting I walked to my car, tears streaming down my face like a baby. I held up my hands to God and sobbed some more. Dr. Oral Roberts is not a personal friend-though I’ve gone to see him minister on many occasions- yet, he’s like a spiritual mentor.

Through my tears I reminded God, “First, Brother Lester Sumrall, then Brother Kenneth

Hagin, and now Brother Oral Roberts. Only Brother T.L. Osborne is left.” For those of you who don’t know, that is a list of “the Generals” in the body of Christ during my life on Earth. Each man has done much more than words can tell. If you don’t know them, please read about them. As I talked to my Heavenly Father, I felt a knowing about this time in church history. I know that the command given in Mark 16:15-20 is still “alive and well.” Yes, I am a “signs and wonders” Christian!

When I was quite young, my mother, Joanna, would take me to revival tent meetings where men of God would talk about miracles, signs and wonders. I would watch wide-

eyed as men ,women, boys and girls would go forward to receive the healing power of God. It always amazed me that healing power could be transmitted through the hands of ordinary men with extraordinary faith. It was while I was in one of those tent meetings that I knew, I wanted to pray for the sick one day. Now, I was not sure if women did this, but I wanted to join forces with these men who wanted people to be well.

What a privilege it is for me to now serve as one of God’s instruments in the healing ministry. No, I do not heal. Jesus is the Healer. I am a delivery person; just one of the many . In obedience to His Words in Mark 16, I lay hands on the sick and they recover.

How thrilling. Do I believe in medicine? Of course! Brother Oral Roberts showed the beautiful pairing of prayer and medicine. In addition, I am thrilled that my daughter Ronnye Christina, is a pre-Med concentrator at Harvard College. I leave the medical advice to the doctors and I practice Mark 16.

Each first Saturday of the month at 1 P.M. we have Healing School. It is open to anyone

who wants to learn about the healing power of Jesus. I promise you, it will be worth your time.

When I received the news that Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty of Victory Christian Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, had transitioned from this world to be with Jesus, I couldn’t believe it. He will without question, be remembered as a great, effective warrior for God. What a model he has set for other ministries to model after.

I join with the members of Victory Christian Center and the Body of Christ all over the world, in saying, he will be missed.

Yet, when I reflect on his life he lived on this earth, what a great legacy he has left to replica.  One can only celebrate the powerful works he accomplished by using the Word of God to effect positive changes on this earth.  I am sure, God will say to him, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Pastor Ron