I came to know the Lord in October 2003. I was baptized by submersion and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit within one year of becoming a member at my church in Ottawa. Prior to my being saved, I lived a very difficult life which included sexual abuse, from age 4 to 16. I grew up in an alcoholic family and ran away from home at 16. I married very young, to an abusive man and ended up alone to raise my 13 month old son. I gravitated to anything that might help me find freedom from all the demons that had plagued me for too much of my life. I had many relationships - hoping to find love somewhere - anywhere. I tried drugs and alcohol to take the edge of the emotional pain. I became anorexic and later bulimic in order to maintain some control over my life. I was filled with unforgiveness and anger (even though I was constantly trying to forgive).
Even after giving my heart to the Lord and going through deliverance ministry 3 times for healing nothing took. I was desperate. How can someone who so loves Jesus want to die? Someone with wonderful children, wonderful friends and a Saviour who gave His all for me. I was asked by a friend if I wanted to go to a Catch the Fire conference. I agreed. Every single session I kept begging God - please Lord - please don't reject my request. So many people were claiming healings over the first three days. I kept wondering - what have I done? Why not me? One the last day, through a stream of tears I reminded God that this was the last day and I would wrestle with him as Jacob did until He blessed me. God's timing is always on time - never late.
I ended up sitting beside Neil Taylor and his wife, Svetlana. Neil began to pray for me. He began calling various demons spirits to come out from me. Throughout the three sessions of that last day - Neil must have prayed for me a dozen times for various reasons. I could feel every form of bondage, addiction and sickness falling off me. By 2pm on Friday - I was completely healed as I have never been before. I have not even had any pain or sickness from the Lupus disease I was diagnosed with several years ago.
I had been expecting that I would maybe be healed through one of the guest speakers or maybe from someone on the ministry team - God moves in mysterious ways. All I can say is that I have been loosed! I am free. I am free to minister to others as was done for me. God is surely good.
-Hope D., attended Revival 25 Conference, February 2019
