Dear Friends,

For some months I’ve been impressed to write about the things I’ve seen and experienced both nationally and internationally in my almost 29 years of ministry with Wholeness Ministries. I am currently working on a new book called, Riding Shotgun With God. What I’ve endeavored to do with this book is give as accurate an account possible of the many miraculous healings I’ve seen plus the truly miraculous things God has done as I’ve stepped out in faith to do what he has called me to do. I will do this by sharing excerpts from the monthly newsletters I’ve written while on this journey.

I could tell you many stories over the years that I’ve been involved in through this ministry. As I’ve compiled this material I have over three hundred miraculous things I’ve been able to document from first hand experience. When I think about where I was in the beginning and where I am today it is a testament to the patient loving way that God works with us.

I was first exposed to the healing ministry when I was eight or nine by my grandmother who took me to an Oral Roberts tent revival here in Bakersfield. People were running around shouting, falling over and jumping up and down on the chairs. It freaked me out so after that experience I wanted nothing to do with the healing ministry.

In 1984 I was working with Dr. John Lavender at Bakersfield Christian Life Center. He had been exposed to the teaching of John Wimber who was holding large healing conferences in Anaheim, Ca. Dr. John wanted to go down for a week to the healing conference and wanted me to go with him. I was rather reluctant because of my past exposure to the healing ministry and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So I told Dr. John I did not want to go. In his very firm and yet loving way he said, “Michael, get in the car, we are going to this healing conference.”

This conference had such a positive impact on me that I was never the same. After the week was over Dr. John and I were headed back home to Bakersfield. At one point in the journey he looked over at me and said, “Well Mike I guess it’s back to the same old thing.” I turned to him and responded, “John, I will never go back to the same old thing.” Thus began my journey into the healing ministry.

I’m in the final editing process of this book and hope to have it ready to print by the end of the year. As I’ve gone back over these stories for the last 24 years I have been amazed at the things of I’ve witnessed. Here’s one example:

July 1995 How Is This Possible!
“Tumor Gone! On Thursday evening a young associate pastor came up for prayer. She had a tumor on the right side of her neck that was going to need to be removed surgically. I called over three young people to pray with me. As we prayed we could see the swelling decreasing until she told us that the tumor was completely gone!”

Thank you for your prayers and support. The last couple of months the giving has dropped $700 per month so if you can give a little extra that would be helpful.

Thank you,

Mike

Dear Friends,

When you look at the world we live in and the people that make up that world how as Christians are we different than all those around us? We have jobs, children, and perhaps a mortgage. We have problems with our kids, we get sick, worry about the state of our country. We watch television, read books, listen to music, and work in the yard.

So when people look at you or listen to you what do they see? Are you much different than them or pretty much the same? We know from Scripture and personal experience that the Spirit of God lives in us. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Cor 3:16) If the Spirit of God dwells in us then what difference should it make in our lives?

What do you think your life would be like if you actually began to fully grasp that the Spirit of God, the Creator of the Universe, lived in you? Think about this. If He is dwelling within, doesn’t it make sense that He wants relationship with us? Though we may be comfortable with religion, rituals, and rules, relationships often make us nervous.

Relationships require work. Deep, long lasting relationships require honesty, transparency, intimacy. It’s a bit staggering to think that God has called us and wants to reveal Himself to us and through us to others. That He wants to have the same level of intimacy with us that He had with His Son Jesus.

The only way for that level of relationship to happen is that we must spend significant amounts of time with Him. If I want to be close to you I have to spend time with you. There is no other way to develop significant relationship. So the question becomes, how much time do you spend with God? Is it once a week at church or daily?

Also, one thing that made Jesus unique was his quality of life. We would probably begin to believe like Jesus if we began to live the quality of life Jesus had. His faith was such that nothing was impossible for Him. When food was needed, food was provided. When demons needed to be cast out or dead sons and daughters brought back to life it was simply done. Not a big deal to Jesus? Why? Because of his of faith and trust in his Father. He knew he was loved, he knew his identity, he knew his destiny. In Scripture it says we are destined to become like Christ. We will be conformed to his image.

If God’s Spirit is truly within us and in complete control of our lives, demons would tremble at our arrival. Some years ago I was on a ministry trip to Banff, Canada. At that time I was very naive in regards to demons and their activity. I remember a young girl at this camp who was a practicing witch. Even though I was not fully aware of what I was carrying she knew and as such avoided me. I remember asking one of her friends why she so obviously avoided me. She told her friend, “I stay away from him because he has more power than I have!”

So when demons look at you what do they see? When people look at you what do they see? I would like to think that they would say, “Behold, here walks a child of God.”

Thank you for your prayers and support.

God bless,

Mike

Dear Friends,

Doctor said my recovery would be from 3-6 months. I found that hard to believe as I was feeling so good after 3-4 weeks. Then I tried to do more and found out quickly that he knew exactly what he was talking about. While the pain is gone and I have freedom in my back and the strength is returning in my legs, I tire out easily.

It has only been about 8 weeks since my surgery but I felt it was good enough to try and set up a couple of meetings to pray with people. Did I find out how right the doctor was. After one session I was wiped out! I know that my recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. Coming up August 15 will be three months from my surgery date. I should be able to start functioning again in the office first of September. That’s the plan.

BOOK AN IN-PERSON MINISTRY SESSION
We have found these ministry sessions with people to be invaluable in healing them from wounds from their past. In some cases these are wounds that have been carried around for years and after three or four sessions they experience freedom! If you yourself need deep-level healing prayer or know someone who could benefit from this here is how to start the process. Send an email to mevans@wholeness.org or call 661-833-2920 to schedule an appointment. You can also use the Contact Form right here on our website.

Thank you for your many prayers of support. You are each one much appreciated.

God bless,

Mike

Dear Friends,

During this time that I have been recovering from back surgery I’ve been going over some of the old newsletters beginning in 1994. My purpose was to read and report on the many miraculous healings and truly miraculous things God has done as I’ve stepped out in faith to do what He has called me to do.

As I’m reading these stories I am reflecting on my own recovery from back surgery a little over six weeks ago. When the doctor did the surgery he said his goal was to keep me out of a wheelchair! I said my goal is to get back up on my paddleboard. He also told me that it would be a 3-6 months recovery. I can tell you that I feel almost back up to my old self, as the recovery has been amazing. I have almost non-existent pain, the strength is back in my legs and I am walking and feeling good enough to pick up where I was before the surgery. I still tire easily but know that will improve as time goes along.

I have seen God’s hand in this entire process. Obviously because of what I do I was praying for God to heal me so the surgery would not be necessary. He chose not to do it that way but I want to share with you how this came about.

I am under Kaiser insurance and they are somewhat hesitant to refer patients out as they would like to take care of everything in-house. Well, one Saturday I was having some pain and could not get in to see my primary care physician so I went to their urgent care facility on Stockdale. They called me back to see the doctor and as we were talking it turns out that he was working for Kaiser in Los Angeles but was filling in for one day here in Bakersfield. As we talked he shared with me that he was trained at USC Medical Center.

Shortly thereafter I received a letter from Kaiser referring me to the USC Spine Center. I believe he was instrumental in arranging that. Furthermore the surgeon who did the actual surgery was obviously very gifted. I remember talking to one of his team a few days after the surgery. I said to him, “It must be great to work with Dr. Hsieh.” He said, “We are lucky to have him here, he could be anywhere he wanted.” So not only do I get referred to a top notch Spine Center but a top-notch surgeon at the Center.

And now my recovery is going so well I know it’s because of all your prayers and what God is healing me quickly. It’s amazing to step back and look at this whole process and see how God has arranged everything. Why he chose to do it this way I don’t know but I can tell you the entire process has given me a new understanding of how God works in our lives.

Although I will still have a somewhat limited schedule and am limited by my energy I want to get back to work soon. Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement during this entire process.

Inner Healing and Physical Healing
Often when God heals someone physically there is also Inner Healing needed. I want to share one of those stories with you. We received to following letter from a lady who attended one of our healing conferences.

“I’m the lady in the workshop that came forward for prayer for back pain. The Lord, who knew my deeper need, chose to restore my lost joy as well. That very day was the second anniversary of my oldest son’s death in a horrible auto accident, leaving us with many unresolved issues. Although I finally accepted his parting, the deep sadness lingered. When Bob Vibe received that word about restoring my gladness, I knew the Lord was going to release me. That was so exciting that I forgot about my back. When I did think about it the pain was gone. However, after I returned to my seat I became aware of an intense burning heat centered in the area where the pain had been. At first I though the pain was returning but after a short time, the burning subsided and there was no more pain. I praise Jesus for His healing touch on my soul as well as my body.”

Isn’t that exciting. God is so amazing and always seems to give us just exactly what we need. Thank you for your many prayers and continued support. It is much appreciated.

God bless,

Mike

Dear Friends,

The surgery has been completed. Some of you are aware of this but I wanted to be certain all of you knew what I was facing. I have been experiencing increasing weakness in my legs over the last year. After numerous tests at the USC Spinal Center it was determined that I am dealing with a condition called spinal stenosis. The doctor said my spine was such a mess he was surprised that I was not in a wheelchair!

On May 15th I returned to the Keck Spinal Center at USC for the surgery. In talks with the surgeon afterwards he was very satisfied with the surgery and said the recovery process varies depending on a number of factors. I returned home Saturday May 19th and am doing quite well. I no longer have need of the walker and can be up and around a significant amount of time although I do tire easily. I appreciate all your prayers and know that both the surgery and the rate at which I am recovering are due to those prayers.

God bless,

Mike