We Have Been Healed

Prayer is a powerful tool. Hirla spends hours praying for the sick and afflicted.

Their friends and family often bring them to Hirla on cots, because they are unable to even walk. Sometimes they call Hirla to come and pray over their loved ones who are suffering at home. Others are so mentally disturbed that they have to be restrained just so Hirla can get close enough to pray for them.

All of these people have one thing in common-they need the healing power of Jesus Christ. That's where Hirla Harish comes in. During his 10 years of ministry, this Gospel for Asia missionary has prayed for healing for dozens of people in the Bhil tribal group in Rajasthan, India.

When you meet Hirla, all preconceived notions about "faith healers" go out the window. This quiet, unassuming missionary weighs barely 100 pounds. Hirla is a Dalit, one of India's "Untouchables." While he may not stand out in his society, miracles happen when he prays.

Hirla's path to Christ began when his wife, Gitanjali, was healed after a Christian prayed for her.

Since that day more than 10 years ago, Hirla has prayed for people with maladies ranging from incessant bleeding to complex paralysis. An amazing number of them receive a healing touch from the Lord.

"They come with x-ray reports, with scan reports and all kinds of things," Hirla explains. "After they get the healing touch, they go back to the hospitals and check again, and the doctors say they don't have the problem anymore. They are completely healed."

Other men and women come to Hirla consumed with what appears to be mental illness, but often turns out to be demon possession. This happens when people, in their search for peace and forgiveness, offer their worship and devotion to deities. Others, seeking relief from physical ailments, turn to traditional witch doctors. In doing so, they open themselves up to the control of demonic forces. Hirla has witnessed many amazing transformations in people who were being tormented by evil spirits.

Word has spread about the power of Hirla's prayers and people constantly seek him out. To facilitate this part of his ministry, Hirla built a tin-roofed, hut-like structure next to his home where seekers can come for prayer. They stay in the prayer hut for a few hours, a few days or a few months and Hirla faithfully prays for them. The stories of healing that come out of this "hospital of faith" are astounding.

Yuti Javed's story

Yuti was one of those healed after Hirla prayed for her. When she began to display symptoms of mental illness, her family took her to witch doctors, but she did not improve. She was also diagnosed with a tumor in her stomach. Doctors performed surgery twice to remove the tumor, but it grew back each time.

Hirla prayed for Yuti while she was staying in the prayer hut. Christ healed her, and today she goes about spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

"God has made me normal. There's no tumor in my body now. You can come along with me to the church where I am going now, so God can heal you too," she encourages them.

Hansini Ahirwal's Story

The people were terrified of Hansini Ahirwal. Her strange and erratic behavior scared them. She writhed around on the ground and would occasionally attack her fellow villagers. It was like some other force was controlling her small body. Her family finally resorted to tying her to a post to keep her under control. They were desperate when they finally took her to Hirla's prayer hut.

Hirla and his family fasted and prayed for Hansini for several days. Slowly the power that was controlling her mind and body lifted. Today, she is a normal woman, and the people in her village are giving God the glory for changes in her life.

Nartan Verma's story

Whenever a sick person comes to Hirla for prayer, he first asks them to remove their Hindu "magic" strings. These strings are usually tied around their wrists and neck. Hirla then shares the Gospel with them and prays for their healing. The little wooden cross that is kept outside his house has over 70 "magic" strings on it.

For almost six months, Nartan Verma was bedridden. He went to several doctors and was treated in multiple hospitals, but his condition only worsened. Nartan's illness made it difficult for him to eat, and he was losing weight rapidly.

When medical doctors failed to cure him, Nartan sought help from witch doctors. They advised him to make sacrifices to multiple gods, which he was faithful to do. In the end, it proved to be of no help. He was still sick, still unable to eat, and by now was rail thin.

Four of Nartan's friends took matters into their own hands. They laid their friend out on a cot, each of them grabbed a corner and they carried Nartan to Hirla's prayer hut. Hirla prayed for Nartan for 10 days before the young man was finally able to stand up on his own. He rapidly regained strength, and today his health is completely restored.

He moved out of Hirla's prayer hut, back to his own village and is now building a house where he hopes to bring home a bride and raise a family. But for now, his number one goal is to grow closer to Jesus Christ.

Deepika Paswan's story

In a neighboring village, Deepika Paswan was suffering from a bleeding problem. She had visited witch doctors and medical doctors, but her problem persisted. She heard about Pastor Hirla, so she made the trip to his village and asked him to pray for her. She stayed in Pastor Hirla's prayer hut for several days and was healed as a result of his prayers.

When her son fell ill a short time later, she wasted no time in bringing him to Pastor Hirla. The boy was healed through prayer, and the family knew that only the power of God could do that. The entire family received Jesus as Savior and vowed to worship only Him as long as they stayed on the face of the earth. The family is growing in faith, and they opened their home for Hirla to conduct prayer meetings.

Today, that small gathering of people has become a small congregation of believers. They have their own pastor, and for the first time ever, the name of Jesus Christ is lifted up in that village.

It would be easy for someone like Hirla to take credit for changing these people's lives. But he keeps the true Source of the healing power before their eyes. "God is greater than the problems that we are having," he reminds his people, "so much greater than the sickness that you have. So be confident in God and have trust in God that He can heal you."

Physical healings are part of a much larger movement of God in Asia today. Read this special report to learn why.