It was August, 1986, in Fort Payne, AL. My wife and I had established a church and God was doing some wonderful things. One Sunday, the Mitchell family visited with us. They had never been there before. Herbert C. and Margaret Mitchell sat down on the back row and we had church.

As I preached, the power of God moved in the house! I was prepared to dismiss service, when I felt heavily impressed by the Lord to pray for Margaret – this lady who I did not know. I said, “Lord I will pray for her tonight” The Lord said, “No, you will pray for her now!”

I asked her if I could pray for her, and she, along with her husband and sons, came forward. I explained to her that I was going to anoint her with oil, according to the scripture, and told her God had a desire to touch her. As I anointed her with oil, the power of God touched her with what seemed to me like a flame of fire. Every hair on my neck and head felt like they were standing up and my arms were covered in goosebumps – I knew she had been touched.

They did not, however, return for the evening service, but God knew things I didn’t know! Tuesday morning, I received a telephone call at my office from Herbert C. When I answered, he said, “Preacher, I knew you were a believer.” I replied, “Tell me about it!” Herbert C said that they had left for Pensacola that Sunday afternoon so for an early appointment. Margaret, full of cancer, was to be admitted to the hospital for surgery to remove a large malignant mass of the cancer in her body – hoping to simply prolong her life.

They had arrived on Monday morning at the hospital to get some prep work completed before surgery on Tuesday. Herbert C. said they returned to the hospital early Tuesday morning for surgery, but the Dr. came out to meet them with news of having to redo all their prep work, x-rays, and such, because their equipment had seemingly malfunctioned. There was no way that they could perform the surgery, without knowing for sure, the exact location of the mass. So, Margaret had her x-rays and prep work retaken and waited for the Dr. A short time later, the Dr. came out and asked them, “OK tell me – where have you been and what have you been doing?” Herbert C. said, “Dr., we don’t understand.” The Dr. said, “Come on with me.” He took them into the examination room and showed Herbert C. and Margaret three sets of x-rays hanging up. the Dr. said, “This first x-ray is of a woman that is eaten up with cancer – practically dead. This second x-ray is one we took yesterday, and this is the one we took a few minutes ago. These latest x-rays show no cancer or masses. Margaret you are completely clean! Now, tell me where have you been, and what have you been doing?”

Margaret said, “I went Bro. Mike’s church and he prayed for me!” The Dr. shook his head, “Why didn’t you tell me you had been to a church of faith and had been prayed for?!”

God had healed Margaret!

Well, the story doesn’t stop there. Herbert C said, “Preacher, do you know where I am right now?” I answered, “I have no idea where you are!” Herbert C said, “I am standing in the Governor’s Mansion of Alabama. I have been witnessing to Governor George Wallace about this miracle that God has done through your ministry!” He said the Governor wanted me to pray with him right then. Of course, I agreed! Folks, God touched Governor Wallace that day, and he sent me an autographed picture along with a letter commissioning me as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Alabama State Militia. It hangs on the wall in my office today as a reminder that God worked a miracle that day!

God is ready to do what you need for him to do in your life, if you are willing to reach out to Him – Reach Out NOW!

–Michael Sanders