At the core of it, John Kowalski is a Christian who talks and prays with people.

He is also an author, lifelong Catholic, father of two and grandfather of nine who lives with his wife of nearly forty years in rural Michigan. He received his Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree in 2019 from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit Michigan and is or has been involved in ministries including hospital, hospice, jail, drug and alcohol rehab and others, John has brought the gospel to thousands of people and has personally witnessed the Lord heal over a thousand individuals. He has spoken internationally on the topic of healing and deliverance to both Catholic and non-Catholic Christians and is the author of several books. He brings a unique approach to the gospel through his hands-on stories of healing and deliverance.

I would have to say YES! But admittedly, I have a prejudiced opinion. Why? Because I’ve seen God heal over one thousand people. But, you weren’t there and you didn’t see it – I get that. Trust me, I fully understand this is a hard concept to grasp – even for some Christians, or someone who may be reading about this topic for the first time. But all apologetics (explanations) must start somewhere so allow me to explain it from a Christian viewpoint using several steps.

CAN God heal?
The first thing we have to establish is CAN God heal people? Well, if God is supreme in everything then He must be all powerful and has the ability to do so. But is there evidence of Him doing so? (spoiler alert – see below)

DID God heal?
The answer to this question is well documented in the Bible. In fact, 20% of the second half of the Bible (called the New Testament) is about healing! That’s a lot of ink and real-estate in a book that is fixed and unchangeable. If you would like examples of this, I suggest that you simply go to the search engine of your choice and search “healing in the Bible”.

DOES God still heal today?
Absolutely! And proof is available through all of the stores told by people who have, or have witnessed healing. As above, your favorite search engine will be useful to you or click HERE for a few.

HOW does God heal?
Oftentimes He works through people like us, and by working through us, it bolsters faith of the person being healed as well as the one doing the praying. In fact, He even tells us to do so in the Bible:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mk 16:17-18

(This, by the way is my favorite verse in the Bible)

WHY does God heal?
Ah! Now we arrive at the most important question – why. Simple; He loves us! And healing is just one of the many tools in God’s toolbox that He uses to try to draw us closer to Him. God loves to fix things. He fixes the weather, He fixes relationships, He fixes job situations and He fixes broken hearts. But no matter what God fixes, He does so for one reason and one reason only – to draw people to Himself – because by doing so, we are made whole. This, then is the ultimate “fix” and God will use any and every opportunity to draw us in. This is why after job losses, natural disasters, weddings or funerals people naturally turn to God. and healing is no different. God does not heal in order that we may live forever, He heals to make Himself known to us so that we can be more like Him This is why healing is not the end, rather it is a means to the end (Heaven!).

But it would be a tragedy to encounter God in a miraculous way and then to remain unchanged. Sadly, while it is true that all of those who encounter God are impacted, not all are changed for life. In the beginning of Church history, signs and wonders were commonplace. Then, for a variety of reasons, we stopped practicing them. But now, it seems, the Lord has once again seen fit to pour out His grace and manifest signs and wonders in a huge way. Why? Well, it’s just my opinion, but I think that if you look at the society when the church began (33AD) and today you will find many commonalities. At that time, you had a mix of God-fearing people and pagans. At least with the God-fearing people you could draw attention to their actions and point out that they were sinning, but to the pagans, they had no frame of reference for sin or morality. In fact, they didn’t even know they were sinning because they didn’t know the Bible!

We are in a similar situation today. For example, how do you tell someone that fornication is wrong when they have no basis for comparison? In fact, society as a whole tells them the opposite, that fornication is not only okay, but that “everyone is doing it” and thus it is the Christian who is looked at as “different” or “weird”. Telling a modern-day pagan that they are sinning against God is meaningless to them because they don’t even know God. So… where do you start? How do you convince them God exists without weeks of catechesis and instruction?

Signs and wonders, that’s how.

Have you experienced:
– Ongoing feelings of “impending doom”?
– Bouts of unexplained illnesses that Doctors cannot diagnose?
– A rash of “bad luck” that involves health, finances, jobs, family and other aspects of your life?
– Have you ever experimented with Ouija boards, Tarot cards, consulted fortune tellers, mystics or seers?
– Have you dabbled in the occult or had a curse, hex or spell placed on you?

If so, you may benefit from a special type of prayer called deliverance prayer. The prayer method I recommend is called Unbound and can be found HERE. The fact is, we are made up of body and spirit and the two are inextricably linked together. This is why if you have participated in occult practices (Ouija boards, tarot cards, fortune tellers, etc.) or are experiencing oppression (mental attacks) or vexation (physical attacks) then this must be addressed first. 

I have lost count of the times when people experiencing physical problems go through deliverance prayer and are completely healed. I have also lost count of the times people are “healed” but the problem returns later because the underlying issue of deliverance was not addressed. The bottom line is that Jesus wants to COMPLETELY heal you (and that is really good news!)

If you do not wish to go this route, I would recommend you check out Msgr. Rosetti’s site (HERE). Msgr. Rosetti is an exorcist and offers online deliverance sessions. Although it is not a one-on-one prayer session, like Unbound, it is helpful to a lot of people.

Healing stories from the field – From headaches to cancer; stories of Jesus’ healing from John’s ministries.

The role of faith in healing and deliverance – It’s called “faith” healing, but how important is faith?

From heathen to healer: How I got involved in healing and healing and deliverance ministry – Everyone has a story; this is mine.

Understanding sin’s role in the life of a Christian – What exactly is sin? How can God use my sin to draw me closer to the Him?

Healing workshop (30-50-person audience minimum) – Learn the steps to healing prayer and then implement them in a practicum.

Deliverance workshop – Learn the steps of deliverance based on the Unbound method. Includes a practicum.
If you would like to have me to your location for a talk/healing service, let me know HERE

Yes. In fact, I pray with people all of the time. However, I get tons of emails and while I would love to pray with everyone, I am limited. If you have a prayer need, please contact me and while I cannot guarantee the outcome of prayer (because it is He who does it), I can absolutely guarantee that:
– As a minimum, I will add you to my morning prayers.
– I will add you to nightly prayer my wife and I pray.

Matthew 10:8 says “Freely you have received, freely give”, therefore I do not charge anything for prayer. It is God’s gift to you.
I do however, charge for speaking engagements (to cover my travel costs), for the printing and shipping of my books and for physical face-to-face prayer to cover the rental of the office space where we meet. Virtual face to face prayer is free, but limited due to time.

If, however, you are inspired to help support this ministry through, donations, the purchase of books, or invitations for me to speak at your venue it is much appreciated.

There are so many good books out there on this topic! But here are some of my favorites:

Amorth, Gabriel. An Exorcist Explains the Demonic. Manchester: Sophia Press, 2016.
Clark, Randy and Mary Healy. The Spiritual Gifts Handbook. Bloomington: Chosen Press, 2018.
Daunton-Fear, Andrew. Healing in the Early Church. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishing, 2009.
Dawson, Steve and Mark Hornbacher, Ordinary Christians – Extraordinary Signs: The Word Among us Press, 2019.
Driscoll, Mike. Demons, Deliverance and Discernment. El Cahon, CA: Catholic Answers Press, 2015.
Fr. Chad Ripperger: Deliverance Prayers For Use by the Laity: Sensus Traditions Press, 2017.
Healy, Mary. Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor Press, 2015.
Herbeck, Peter. Welcome the Spiritual Gifts! San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2011.
https://www.hprweb.com/2018/11/questions-concerning-the-charism-of-healing/ Accessed December 11, 2018
http://www.charismaticnky.com/what-is-a-life-in-the-spirit-seminar/
International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Doctrinal Commission. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Vatican City: Palazzo San Calisto, 2017.
———. Charisms and the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church. Vatican City: Palazzo San Calisto, 2015.
———. Deliverance Ministry. Vatican City: Pallazo San Christo, 2017.
———. Guidelines on Prayers for Healing. Vatican City: Pallazo San Christo, 2017.
Johnson, Bill and Randy Clark. The Essential Guide to Healing. Minneapolis: Chosen Press, 2011.
Kowalski, John. The Sinner’s Survival Guide, N.D. Self-Published. Amazon, 2017
Kowalski, John. From John 3:16 to Revelation 3:16, N.D. Self-Published. Amazon, 2016Kurtz, William S. Acts of the Apostles. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2013.
Lozano, Neal. Resisting the Devil: A Catholic Perspective on Deliverance. Huntington: Our Sunday visitor, 2009.
Lozano, Neal. Unbound: A Practical Guide to Deliverance. Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2010.
Lozano, Neil. Unbound Ministry Guidebook: Helping Others Find Freedom in Christ. Clinton Corners: Jubilee Studio, 2011.
MacNutt, Francis. Deliverance from Evil Spirits. Grand Rapids: Chosen Book, 2009.
———. Healing. Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1999.
———. The Practice of Healing Prayer. Boston: The Word Among Us Press, 2010.
Müller, Gerhard. “Luvenescit Ecclesia.” Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Vatican: Vatican Press, 2016. 19.
Pope, Paul VI. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity. Papal Decree, Vatican City: Vatican Press, 1965.
Ratzinger, Joseph. “Instructions on Prayers for Healing”. September 14, 2000.
Stayne, Damien. Lord, Renew Your Wonders: Spiritual Gifts for Today: Word Among Us Press, 2017
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20001123_istruzione_en.html Accessed December 10, 2018
The Holy See. Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York, New York: Doubleday, 1995.
Vigneron, Allen H. Pastoral Letter Unleash the Gospel. Detroit: Archdiocese of Detroit, 2017.

A select few healing and deliverance video resources:

“A 50+ year old warning…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LWPcEo2gV0
“Healing – a Catholic Perspective” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHMdVa9ouBE&t=4s
“Okay…so how does this relate to healing prayer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuCw8UT5y6c&t=53s
“Types of attacks” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRH0Zif-cIU
“Who has authority to heal? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTHbmRsS1e0

I also recommend searching the internet for videos from the following people:

• Dr. Mary Hely
• Dr. Peter Williamson
• Dr. Raplh Martin
• Fr. Carlos Martins
• Fr. Chad Ripperger
• Fr. Vincent Lampert
• Fr. Gary Thomas
• Fr. Gabriel Amorth
• Fr. Jeffrey Grob
• John Wimber
• Randy Clark

The real question is, “Can God use me to heal someone? ” to which I say yes!

Or, at least I think so. I’m not trying to be elusive here, it’s just that I haven’t met “everyone” yet to prove or disprove this point, but I do know that I have taught hundreds of people (even children) to pray for healing and then immediately witnessed God heal others through them. I have even had prisoners in the jail I minister in praying for and healing other prisoners under the witness of the guards. So either I have a very special gift of being able to pick out people with the gift of healing with 100% accuracy or God can, in fact, use anyone He wants to to heal (I suspect the latter).

The simple answer is, you’ll never know until you try.

Yes! Keep an eye out for classes and talks. They are usually advertised in my newsletters.

There are several great ways, but I recommend my friend Mary whose direction I have greatly benefitted from over the years and whose charism is to help others find their gifts. Another is Called and Gifted by the Catherine of Sienna Institute.

I believe that it is possible, but only under God’s approval and not under our own will or efforts. Let me give an example.

If you are stranded on a desert island, God probably wouldn’t give you with the gift of oration so that you can perform great speeches (more than likely, He would give you the gift of faith and/or patience so that you could endure the situation).

Do you desire the gift of teaching? If you are a teacher or in the capacity to reach people and are willing to talk to people about God, then by all means ask for it! Here is another way of looking at it:

Do you want the gift of encouragement?

* If you are introverted and shy and have little to no ability to reach people, then wouldn’t that be a wasted gift? To Whom would you encourage?
* Conversely, if you are introverted and shy, God may give this gift to you in order to lead you and out of your shell.

See how that works? There’s only one Holy Spirit and He comes to live in us in our baptism. No one gets some of, part of, or a portion of the Holy Spirit. We get ALL of Him. Therefore, it seems reasonable to believe that while the SEEDS of ALL of the gifts are indeed planted within us, only those that are nurtured and aided will sprout. Think of it this way: The Father God provides the soil, the Holy Spirit provides the seed, Jesus provides the sun and we provide the water. If any of these items are missing, the plant will not grow.

The bottom line is this; the gifts we receive are all about furthering the kingdom of God, not furthering our own goals. It is what we do with them that matters. Gifts are tools to be used, not trophies to be collected. If you are in a position to save souls or further the kingdom of God and you feel you are lacking something, then pray for it, or find someone who operates in the gift and ask them to lay hands on you and pray for you to activate it!

What is the stiff-arm? Well, if you are a/an (American) football fan, it is just like it sounds. What I coin “the stiff arm” is simply when we block the actions of the Holy Spirit. It usually isn’t something purposefully done, rather it happens when we believe a lie told to us by the enemy. Lies such as “I don’t deserve to be healed” or “This is my cross to bear” are two examples. Others are “I know that God heals, but He wouldn’t want to heal me because I’m a (fill in the blank)” or “I know that God heals, but I have cancer….stage four“. The stiff arm isn’t so much as an unbelief, but rather belief in a lie rather than trusting in God. I do not want to make light of what I call the stiff-arm because it is indeed powerful and even Jesus Himself ran into it and was unable to overcome it:

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.” Mk 6:3-6

This is a rather astounding passage! Jesus Himself “marveled at their unbelief.” Imagine how you would feel if Jesus said that He marveled at your unbelief? While the stiff-arm will not be overcome by God, it is usually possible for the person praying to identify it and then help the person receiving prayer to “relax” the arm and allow Jesus in. Generally, I will start with advising the person to at least leave the decision to heal up to Jesus. For example, I may ask them to say “Jesus, I give you permission to heal me however and whenever you wish”. This then takes the decision out of their hands and puts it into Gods.

What makes the stiff arm so powerful? Simple. The stiff arm is our free will, and if we turn our free will against God and we refuse to let Him into our life, He will respect those wishes.