In 1 Kings 18, we find the Prophet Elijah doing battle with the prophets of Baal. No need to tell the whole story. It’s enough for me to say Elijah won the battle and slaughtered all of the prophets of Baal. Elijah prayed one prayer, and BOOM! God sent fire from Heaven! Awesome, right? In John 14, Jesus told his followers that they would one day do greater works than he did. Surely this is a promise for believers today, too. Surely through the power of the Holy Spirit they can do great works. If this is so — and the Bible says it is — I want to propose a surefire way for God to heal me and restore me to the health of an active, athletic twenty-five-year-old man. Are you ready, Christians?
I have been blogging since 2007. Over the past twenty years, thousands of Christians have told me “I am praying for you!” Monday, I had melanoma surgically removed from my neck. My nurse was a friendly young woman; a delight to talk to. She was chatty, and so was I. She learned that I had recently been diagnosed with severe axonal neuropathy, leading to severe nerve pain in my legs. She replied, “well I sure will be praying for you.” I smiled, and said, “Thank you. I appreciate it.” No need to offend, but I sure have heard that line a few thousand times, both as a Christian and as an unbeliever.
As I was deeply meditating on prayer, God sent me a message straight from throne room of God. The Holy One said that I would be completely healed, right down to my hemorrhoids, IF the following happened:
On April 1, 2026, at 4:20 PM, God is calling every Christian who promised to pray for me to gather together in the Ney Park for a time of worship and prayer. Perhaps, my former best friend, Pastor Keith Troyer, will come and lead this testimony to God’s love, forgiveness, and healing. Maybe all my former colleagues in the ministry who said they would pray for me will be in attendance too. Throw in Dr. David Tee, John, Revival Fries and other “praying Christians,” why, these mighty prayer warriors will surely deliver me from my afflictions; and if they do, I promise to serve Jesus the remaining days of my life. I will even record a YouTube video testimony of my healing. Total healing, not just my hemorrhoids.
Surely, if a thousand or more praying Evangelicals — the one true religion — show up at the Ney Park on April 1, 2026 at 4:20 PM, God will hear their prayers and heal me, right? Right? Thousands of singular prayers have already been uttered on my behalf, without success. Maybe corporate prayers are required for success, but I have been lifted up in prayer by numerous churches over the years. Are their unified prayers not enough? All this praying, and no salvation or healing. What’s up with that?
I will await healing on April 1, 2026. Until then, I have a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis scheduled, along with an appointment with yet another neurologist in Toledo. I have faith, but my fingers are crossed.
You were once a Christian. You know how we lied when we said “I’ll pray for you.” We meant well, but quickly moved on to other needs. Of the thousands of people who said they would pray for me, it is doubtful that many of them ever did beyond a prayer for me while I was on their mind. If only they had prayed for me every day, God might have healed me.
Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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