Does God still heal today?
Read the Gospels and one thing is impossible to miss: healing was central to the ministry of Jesus, not incidental to it. He went through the towns of Galilee "healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matthew 4:23–24). Then He handed the work on — sending the Twelve, and later the seventy, to "heal the sick" and announce that the kingdom of God had come near (Luke 9:1–2; 10:9).
The book of Acts shows the church continuing that ministry, and 1 Corinthians 12 names "gifts of healings" and "the working of miracles" among the Spirit's gifts to the body — with no verse anywhere announcing that they expired. James 5:14–16 leaves the church a standing instruction: when someone is sick, pray. So we do. We believe Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever — and that He still heals.
Healing: cure and care — the word study · Gifts of Healings — the double plural · The Working of Miracles
What happens when you ask for prayer
Nothing staged. We are a network of home gatherings, so prayer for the sick happens around a table or in a living room, not on a platform. Someone will listen to you properly first. Then we pray in the name of Jesus — simply and boldly. Following James 5, we may anoint you with oil and lay hands on you gently, always with your permission.
There are no cameras, no crowds, no pressure to perform, and no charge — "freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). If something changes in your body, we will rejoice with you and encourage you to have it confirmed by your doctor. If nothing visible happens, we will keep praying with you. Either way, you will be treated with dignity.
An honest word about healing
The New Testament uses two main words for healing: iaomai, the sudden cure, often by a single word — and therapeuō, the root of our word "therapy", the patient tending that restores over time. Both are God's healing. That is why we can pray for a miracle and thank God for medicine in the same breath: doctors, nurses, and treatment are His gift, never prayer's rival.
And we refuse two opposite errors. One is the unbelief that expects nothing and never asks. The other is the cruel formula that treats healing as automatic and blames the sufferer when it tarries. Scripture allows neither: Jesus was hindered by unbelief (Matthew 13:58), yet Paul left Trophimus sick and told Timothy to take something for his stomach. So we contend in faith — and we never condemn anyone in their pain.
This honesty is not a hedge; it is what the Bible actually teaches, and it is what makes bold prayer safe. God truly heals today, and healing is never owed or manufactured. We hold both — and leave the mystery with Him.
Cure and care in the hands of Jesus · Sōzō — saved whole: one word for the whole rescue
A praying church across the Oeste
Prayer for the sick happens in living rooms across Santa Cruz and Torres Vedras, in the Oeste region of Portugal — in English or Portuguese, so expats and visitors along this coast can be prayed for in their own language. Friends travel in from Lourinhã, Peniche and across the Oeste; for the fuller picture of who we are and how we gather, start with our Spirit-filled church page.
If you are sick, or someone you love is, you do not need to wait for a special service. Write to us, tell us as much or as little as you want, and we will pray — and invite you to the nearest gathering.
Questions people ask
Where can I find healing prayer near me?
If you live near Santa Cruz, Torres Vedras, or anywhere in the Oeste region, you are welcome at any of our home gatherings — people travel in from across the coast. Prayer for the sick is a normal part of our life together, not a special event. Reach out through our contact page and we will tell you when and where the nearest gathering meets.
Does God still do miracles today?
We believe He does. Scripture shows Jesus healing all who came to Him, sending His followers to do the same, and the Spirit giving "gifts of healings" and "workings of miracles" to the church — with no verse announcing they ceased. Each miracle is a fresh act of God, given as the Spirit wills, never owned or manufactured. Its purpose is never spectacle, but to glorify God and confirm the gospel of Jesus.
Will I definitely be healed if you pray for me?
No one can honestly promise you that — and you should be cautious of anyone who does. We pray with real expectancy, because God truly heals today; and He heals according to His own will and timing. If healing tarries, no one here will tell you your faith failed; even Paul left a beloved co-worker sick. We will keep praying, keep caring, and stay beside you.
Should I stop my medication or treatment if I receive prayer?
No — please don't. We believe medicine is a gift from God, not a rival to prayer. One of the Bible's own words for healing, therapeuō, is the root of "therapy": patient care over time is also God's healing. Keep your doctors and your treatment, and let us pray alongside them. Any change in treatment is a decision for you and your doctor, based on confirmed medical evidence.
Do I need to be a Christian or a church member to ask for prayer?
No. Jesus healed people who had no standing at all — that was His compassion, and it is the pattern we follow. You can come to a gathering once, ask for prayer, and owe nothing. Nobody will pressure you, put you on display, or ask you for money. If you want to explore who Jesus is afterwards, we would love that too — but prayer comes with no conditions.
Can I ask for prayer in English?
Yes. Our gatherings are bilingual — English and Portuguese — and many in our church family are internationals living along this coast, from Santa Cruz to Ericeira. You can ask questions and be prayed for entirely in English, and the same is true in Portuguese. If you write to us first, just use whichever language feels most natural to you.
Come, and let us pray with you
You don't need to have faith figured out to ask for prayer. Reach out through our contact page, or come along to a gathering near Santa Cruz or Torres Vedras — it would be an honour to pray for you.
Reach Out Find a gathering