Dear Friends,

When I originally wrote “Learning To Do What Jesus Did” in 1996 I had no idea how far reaching that book would be. I sometimes wonder just how far the book goes and the places it is used. In addition to English, it is in Spanish, Korean, Hungarian and is obviously used in those countries that speak that language. But as I think back over the years of how it is utilized and the ways it is passed around I remembered a couple of stories that encouraged me.

From Prison to New York
I received a call from a pastor in New York. He and his wife were invited to a conference in San Diego. When they arrived in San Diego a man who was a former prisoner at the prison in Tracy, CA, met them at the airport and drove them to their destination. In February of 1996 a team and I had conducted two ministry events at this prison, and the prisoner had received a copy of my training manual.

At some point during the weekend, he said to them, “God told me to give you this training manual.” They returned to New York and the wife began reading the chapters on Inner Healing and Deliverance in the manual. The Lord freed her up from depression and brought Inner Healing and Deliverance as she prayed through the prayers printed in the manual. She was so transformed by this that they are using it in their ministry in Jamaica Queens, N.Y. to the homeless, the children, and the youth.

Retreat Center-Eastern Europe
We had a three-day retreat at a Catholic Retreat Center about 90 miles from Budapest. They invited people from all over Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia who serve in church leadership positions. They were surprised when over 100 responded! At one point some of us were sitting around discussing how interesting we thought it is that Hungarian was the first language into which this book has been translated. One of the men said to me, “Mike, many people don’t know this, but Hungary is pivotal in what happens in Eastern Europe. Furthermore, although we have many books on religious topics there is nothing like this book in this entire country and its effect will be widespread.”

As the retreat ended I was standing outside and watched many of them put the manual in their backpacks, and getting on their bicycles, or walking to the train station to return to their towns and villages. I believe I heard God say to me, “Michael, look how this manual is leaving here, you have no idea how far it will go.” It was very moving for me personally.

How does this apply to you? This story is about one book that I’ve written and its impact. What about those people you have come alongside and helped over the years by giving of your time? You may have no idea how that impacted their lives. Or that note of encouragement you wrote to them just at the moment it was needed?

For those of you that have children and grandchildren, do you realize the influence you have in their lives and the lasting impact on what they may end up doing in the future with their lives? Or what about that ministry that you help support. Don’t ever think your life does not have significant meaning. Think back over your life and be encouraged over the influence you have had that will last far beyond your life.

God bless,

Mike

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube

Dear Friends,

Recently I was at a retreat with some friends. It was one of those times when we could pull away, relax, have some fun, and allow the masks we wear to slip a bit. Men, it seems, by nature are very competitive and in many ways just little boys in men’s bodies. We had a significant amount of free time and I noticed that most of the men were busy doing something active during that time. Basketball, bike riding, golfing, fishing and paintball warfare were the sports of the day. A few would slip off for a walk, take a nap or visit with friends.

As we gathered for our evening sessions there was much laughter, shouting, singing, and praising God. We sat rapt with attention as our speakers spoke about being a godly man, pulling off the masks that we all wear and the dangers of envy and comparison. As we came to the close of each session, God began to dig a little deeper and touch those parts of us that we hide away. Those parts that we don’t allow others to know about, that bring us shame, embarrassment and often leave us feeling defeated. It seems we are always looking for something to medicate our pain or satiate our passions. As men opened themselves up to the healing touch of Jesus, they found that He was enough, that only Jesus can bring lasting victory and peace, and that we can’t pull ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps when faced with the utter inadequacy of our willpower and the insufficiency of the self-made man.

When we discover that all we are, all we have, all we do must be centered in Jesus Christ we will understand that Jesus is all we need. When the Christians faced Rome, they only had Jesus. When Stephen was stoned, he only had Jesus. When Paul was whipped, ridiculed, and imprisoned, he only had Jesus.

I read this in Brennan Manning’s book, “The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus,”

“Living out of the center enables us to blend for a moment into a greater background than our own fears, to merely be still and to know that God is God. It means that I don’t figure out, I don’t analyze. I simply lose myself in the experience of just being alive, of being in a community of believers, simply knowing that it’s good to be there, even if I don’t know where “there” is or why it’s good.”

I have discovered in over 40 years of ministry in dealing with men that when Jesus becomes the “center” of all we do, He is all we will need.

Early in my ministry journey this flyer was given to me by a friend and when I read it the impact on my life was significant. I read it often as it clearly lays out how we are to live as we walk this journey with God. I was especially moved by what was written at the bottom of the flyer which begins with, “Let me show you what your life could have been like if only…”

Thank you for your prayers and support.

God bless,

Mike

BEFORE YOU GET HERE

Deal With The Garbage That Oppresses You Now!

BEFORE YOU GET HERE: BAGGAGE TO DROP ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN

Before You Get Here, Subtitled, Baggage To Drop On Your Way To Heaven, is a guide to assist in discovering freedom from the invisible burdens that oppress and defeat many Christians today.

Chapters include: The Importance of Forgiveness, The Traps of Unforgiveness, A Look in the Mirror, I Will Never, Harmful Words and Harmful Connections, Let Yourself Be Loved By God, The Recovery of Intimacy, and more.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Before You Get Here

If you have a copy don’t forget that they make great gifts. Consider giving one to a friend.

Check out our whole catalog at THIS LINK.

Dear Friends,

There’s a story by Morton Kelsey about a man who came to the edge of an abyss. “As he stood there wondering what to do next, he was amazed to discover a tightrope stretched across the abyss. And slowly, surely, across the rope came an acrobat pushing before him a wheelbarrow with another performer in it. When they finally reached the safety of solid ground, the acrobat smiled at the man’s amazement. ‘Don’t you think I can do it again?’ he asked. And the man replied, ‘Why yes, I certainly believe you can.’ The acrobat put his question again, and when the answer was the same, he pointed to the wheelbarrow and said, ‘Good! Then get in and I will take you across.”

What struck me about this story is what we must ask ourselves about Jesus Christ. We say we believe in him, we depend upon him, we trust him, and we want him to be Lord of our life. We say that we want to spend time with him and do the things that he did, yet many of us are afraid to get into the wheelbarrow. Our faith is demonstrated not by our rhetoric, but by our actions. If we are not willing to step out and take leaps of faith we may be saying, “I don’t trust you.” Or, perhaps we are just admitting that we are weak, fearful human beings. Sometimes we are ready to leap into the wheelbarrow and sometimes we wouldn’t dare go near it. Is this wrong, no, this is human. Is it disappointing to God, no, because He knows we are going to fail, before we know we are going to fail. God could easily be saying, “I expect more failure from you than you expect from yourself.”

I believe the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ is very simple. He demonstrated it by proclaiming the Kingdom of God and by healing the sick. He said and demonstrated numerous times that we were to, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things (our needs) would be provided for.” He said, “Call to me and I will answer you.” He said, “Believe and you will receive.” He said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers.” All this is wheelbarrow stuff ! We have to trust that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.

When Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” I believe he meant now! That we can expect God’s kingdom to move into this kingdom on earth now. If we believe God still heals and provides today, that He can do again, over and over what He has done for thousands of years than we should have no problem trusting Him. Do you trust Him enough to get into the wheelbarrow?

Wholeness Ministries Birthday 41 Years Coming up!
Next month Wholeness Ministries will have been in existence 41 years. In 1984 after my exposure to the healing ministry of John Wimber at the Vineyard in Anaheim, CA I returned to First Baptist Church in Bakersfield, CA and began to pray for the sick. It was during this time that I asked our Pastor Dr. John Lavender if we could name this ministry Wholeness Ministries. He not only said yes but was an enthusiastic supporter. I will always be grateful for his encouragement and support.

Sherrill Mahlum has gone home to be with her Lord. Sherrill was not only my sister-in-law but a dear friend of this ministry. Her gifts were obvious as she helped me with assorted administrative tasks as a volunteer for over 20 years! Administrative detail work is not my favorite thing to do. Sherrill handled the bookkeeping, shipping of our products and all those details that keeps things running smoothly. Her dedication and sense of humor will be greatly missed.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

God bless,

Mike

RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD

Filled With Healing Testimonies to Encourage You!

RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD: A JOURNEY WITH GOD ON THE ROAD OF HEALING AND MIRACLES

This newest book is filled with stories of over 150 healing miracles that I have witnessed in my travels. I believe God prompted me to write this to encourage His people that He is still healing and restoring today.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Riding Shotgun With God

Dear Friends,

This last Sunday I was invited to speak at Renaissance Church in Bakersfield, CA. I had an opportunity to train and equip them on how to pray for the sick. During the teaching I began to share testimonies of the incredible healings I had witnessed over the last 40+years of ministry. As I was sharing these stories it occurred to me how amazing that He has allowed me to be a part of what He is doing in healing people. He obviously doesn’t need me as He can do this just as well without me. I remember hearing John Wimber say when referring to our call to pray for the sick, “We all get to play.” I didn’t totally understand that when I first heard it but after experiencing it these last 40+ years I now understand. What could be more fun than praying for the sick and watch as they are instantly healed as you pray for them!

I shudder to think back to 1984 when Dr. John Lavender wanted me to accompany him to a week long healing conference with John Wimber at the Vineyard in Anaheim,CA. I did not want to go to anything having to do with healing and told him so as we were standing by the car to leave. The reason being that I had a bad experience in my exposure to healing as a young boy. I was raised in a conservative Southern Baptist Church. We sang hymns on Sunday morning, we had no raising hands, no hysterical laughing or crying, nobody running around the room shouting, and for sure no people falling over “resting in the spirit.” We did everything in order because we knew that’s the way God expected it to be done. He is, after all a God of order. Right!

Well, when I was about 13 years old my grandmother took me to this Oral Roberts healing tent revival at the fairgrounds, and they were doing all these crazy things I just described, and it freaked me out. If this was healing, I wanted nothing to do with it! After I told Dr. John I did not want to go, He lovingly looked at me and said, “Michael, get in car, we are going!” So off we went.

As we were on our way down to Anaheim I was praying, “Lord you know I don’t like this stuff, and I don’t want to be here, but if there is anything you want to show me or teach me, I will be open to it.” I soon learned if you pray a prayer like that God will take you at your word. After we arrived we walked into this large warehouse filled with about 2,000 people singing worship songs like I had never heard before. I felt my spirit immediately react by jumping up and shouting, “Yes!” It was as if he had been waiting for this a long time and we were finally there.

I didn’t know what John Wimber looked like but he turned out to be this dude dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and white pants with flip flops on his feet. Very unlike what I was used to seeing in church. When he started teaching on healing his style was so laid back and easy that I thought, I can learn something from this man. After his teaching he immediately had us praying for the sick using the model that he had just demonstrated by praying for someone.

That week-long conference profoundly impacted my life. It turned me around 180 degrees regarding healing. I felt as if I had found what God called me out to do with my life. After the conference as Dr. John and I were in the car headed back to Bakersfield, he looked over at me and said, “Well, Michael, I guess it’s back to the same old thing.” I looked back at him and said, “John, I will never go back to the same old thing!” I think he was surprised but at the same time looked pleased. I came back to the church and started praying for the sick. Before long, I was recruiting others and teaching them what I had learned from John Wimber. After this initial exposure I went to every healing conference they held over the years.

Earlier in this letter when I said I shudder to think back when this started what I meant was this; what if Dr. John said, “Okay Michael you don’t have to go.” How different my life and ministry may well have been. I might have completely missed what God had planned for me and would not have experienced what I have over these last 40+ years.

Thank you for your continued faithful support over these many years. Your giving has allowed us to take this ministry all over the world. The impact Wholeness Ministries has had and will continue to have will never be fully known this side of heaven. But I have no doubt that God is well pleased with what we are doing and your generous giving has allowed this to happen.

God bless,

Mike

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube

Dear Friends,

This last month I had an opportunity to train and equip about 60 people for the payer team ministry at New Life Church here in Bakersfield. It was great fun to watch as God showed up time after time. As a part of my training, I always have some hands-on time where I want them to do just what I have taught on. I had just finished a teaching on hearing Words of Knowledge.

The first exercise I had them participate in was learning how to listen to God when you are praying for someone. I broke them down into groups of three, preferably with someone they didn’t know. I asked them to be quiet for 90 seconds and then I prayed that God would show something to someone in their small group that they didn’t know about. Something about one of the other people in their group. After a time of waiting, I then asked them to share what they think they might have heard to see if it would be confirmed. When I asked, “How many of you heard something that you did not know and when you shared it with the other people in your group someone confirmed that it was right on?”

Of the large number of groups we had present easily 95% of the people confirmed they had heard something specific from God! That amazed many of them as that was the first time they had experienced anything like that. In the past every time I do this exercise that’s what happens!

The second exercise I do is right after I teach a model on how to pray for healing. I always have someone come up for prayer with a physical pain. I do this so that when we pray it’s easy to know if the pain left or if it’s still there. Interestingly enough I have found over the many years I have done this that the people who volunteer to be part of the demonstration on how to pray are almost always healed. Both people I did the model with were healed. One from pain she had dealt with for 34 years. I then have them team up with someone who needs prayer and after their time of prayer ask people to share what happened with them.

We had one man testify that his hearing was restored plus many others gave testimonies of what God had done. One humorous story I want to share. I was telling the group about one time when I was up in Toronto during one of our large healing services. The Lord had impressed upon me that he was going to heal those that were deaf that evening. I thought that was great but then after I had all the people stand who wanted prayer for their hearing the Lord said, “I want you to walk over to the microphone and clap loud one time.” So I did and a large number of people were healed. But when I was re-telling the story to a group on Saturday and clapped my hands one lady said when I clapped my hands her ear popped open also! To me that’s hilarious. Anyway it is always a great time and I look forward to doing some more training in the near future.

Thank you for you continued support.

God bless,

Mike

BEFORE YOU GET HERE

Deal With The Garbage That Oppresses You Now!

BEFORE YOU GET HERE: BAGGAGE TO DROP ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN

Before You Get Here, Subtitled, Baggage To Drop On Your Way To Heaven, is a guide to assist in discovering freedom from the invisible burdens that oppress and defeat many Christians today.

Chapters include: The Importance of Forgiveness, The Traps of Unforgiveness, A Look in the Mirror, I Will Never, Harmful Words and Harmful Connections, Let Yourself Be Loved By God, The Recovery of Intimacy, and more.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Before You Get Here

If you have a copy don’t forget that they make great gifts. Consider giving one to a friend.

Check out our whole catalog at THIS LINK.