The
Background
David and
Rachel Slater both
originate from Norfolk, England and continued living there until they
were called to live in the North-West in 2005.
They both had a happy
childhood growing up in the country where
they
were able to spend much of their time outdoors playing in the fields
and
country lanes.
David developed a passion for bikes and fast cars, and spent many hours
building ramps and courses for his push bike, and then motorbikes
before getting his first car.
He discovered that he had a gift for making and designing things, so
enrolled on a course in cabinet making and French polishing after he
left school. On finishing the course he joined a family firm who
specialized in
restoring git-wood furniture. He remained there for the next 18 years
and is where he got to know Rachel.
Rachel had a privileged upbringing, had her own horse and spent much of
her time riding and learning music. Her family were very much involved
in the church and from an early age she was encouraged to be involved
in the day to day running of a ministry. Also from an early age she had
a desire to help people who were hurting or ill and had
always wanted to go into nursing.
However things changed drastically when the family went through a
traumatic two years, resulting in the death of her father when she was
sixteen. This and the accumulative events leading up to his death
became too much for Rachel and she suffered a nervous breakdown which
was to last for 15 years.
Her dreams of nursing shattered she turned to her second love of
creating and making things which led her to work in a family firm which
specialized in gilt-wood furniture. She was there for fifteen years and
of course it was there that she met up with David.
In 1992 they were married at Mattishall Evangelical church where they
both attended and made their home in Mattishall.
Rachel’s health continued to fluctuate in and out of
depression
causing ill effects on their marriage which finally came to a head
three years after they married.
After a few months of seeing some wonderful spirit-filled Christian
counsellors Rachel was delivered from the depression and was able to
throw away all the medication she had been on. David too was
transformed as he faced and received forgiveness for certain areas of
his life.
It was during this time of healing and transformation that they both
sensed that God had something more and different for them. But it was
not until sometime later that He revealed that He wanted them to be
restorers of men instead of furniture.
After the birth of their second child, Rachel’s health once
again
deteriorated. Eventually it was discovered that she had Candida, with
the possibility of M.E.
With very little medical help, they turned to a clinic in Essex that
specialized in helping people with Candida and M.E through diet and
supplements.
The diet helped immensely and Rachel’s health began to
improve,
until 22 months into the program when she had a major relapse. She was
healed a month later at a faith camp in Norwich, Norfolk after going
forward for prayer.
During the following year God began to prepare David and Rachel for the
task He had for them. In April 2005 they attended a seminar by Kenneth
and Gloria Copeland, where they met some people from the World Harvest
Bible Training Centre in Salford, Manchester. This was to be
the
place where they would be trained in preparation the for ministry ahead
of them. In Aug 2005 they moved to Culcheth in Cheshire, ready to begin
the training in September. This was to last two years. Rachel, however,
then went on to do a third year and studied healing.
The
Original Vision
It was during the two years
when
Rachel had candida that God gave them a vision of a healing centre in
Norfolk. A place where chronically ill people and their families could
come for 1-2 weeks of care and a break. During this time they
could learn about nutrition and what would help them.
An exercise program would be tailor made for them and they would be
able to receive prayer and attend healing services, as well as attend
seminars about healing and how to keep it. The idea was that
they
would leave with their health greatly improved if not healed.
The centre was to be almost self-sufficient, growing their own fruits
and vegetables in a kitchen garden. Rearing chickens and livestock for
use in the kitchen, all of which was to be organically grown.
From the centre a church would be developed.
The First Stage
A vision of this size has to
be
done in stages.
Originally the plan was for us to return to Norfolk and we believe that
we will still open a centre in Norfolk, but God directed us to stay in
Cheshire and to focus on Salford first.
We felt it would be good to start with the spiritual side and after
much research decided to follow the healing rooms module. A
planning committee was set up who met monthly for 9 months to pray and
seek God’s will for the centre. We then found some trainers
who
were already successfully running a healing rooms in Liverpool and who
were willing to train us and a team of about 23 volunteers. Following
the training, Bethesda Healing Centre opened its doors to the public on
March 28th 2009.
Initially we ran the rooms from Glenn House in Salford and then moved
to Mount Chapel after six months as the accommodation was more suitable
for our needs.
We are open every Saturday morning from 11.00am to 1.00pm for prayer on
a drop in basis. The prayer rooms are confidential and private. We have
a reception area where the ‘client’ is greeted and
offered a cup of tea or coffee. They are asked to fill in a
disclaimer form which also requires their prayer request. This form is
taken into the prayer room and prayed over before the client is called
in for prayer.
We have a trained team who work on a rota basis and are dedicated to
seeing the power of God at work and bring healing to all those who need
it.
At the beginning of 2010, we felt God was leading us to do healing
services on a regular basis. Again after much prayer we felt led to the
Methodist church in Culcheth, home church of David and Rachel. In March
2010 we held our first service and have continued on a monthly basis.
Going Forward
As healing rooms is becoming
more
established, we would like to branch out into more healing services.
Either through connecting with churches or using secular venues and our
contacts abroad.
We are continuing to build the team with on-going training and would
eventually like to function two or three days per week.
Our aim is to connect or partner with other organisations to
see
if we can better work together reaching out to the communities and not
the church. God has made it very clear that we are to reach out to the
lost and un-churched people groups.
We would also like to get into hospitals and work alongside the
chaplains.
For the Future
Having
our own premises is the ultimate
dream, where we can function 24/7 if necessary.
The healing rooms would continue to function in the same way, but we
would also have teaching sessions on healing and life related issues.
ie debt management, parenting classes, keep-fit classes, food and
nutrition and cookery classes etc.
It would be a place of refuge, a safe place for people to come and
relax and unburden to trained staff. Or enjoy healthy food in the cafe.
We would like to be able to provide accommodation for those who need to
be refreshed while recovering from an illness, or for those who find
themselves in need of temporary accommodation.
In short the centre will provide for the spiritual side of man, the
emotional and the physical.
Mission Statement
Our
sole purpose is to see God’s
kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven.
To make healing available to everyone through an interdenominational
group of people who believe that Jesus Christ still heals today.
To bring hope, healing and salvation according to Isaiah chapter 53 to
those in pain and despair.
To show Christ’s unconditional love and forgiveness which
brings
reconciliation and restoration to the mind and body.
Restoring the years that the locust has eaten through the healing power
of God.
We believe that everybody has a right to live ‘life to the
FULL’ (John 10v 10), and every life is precious.
Statement of Faith
We
believe the Bible is the inspired
word of God. It was written under the guidance and direction of the
Holy Spirit by Holy men of God.
We believe that there is only one God, manifested in three persons; The
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus died, rose again and ascended back to the Father
for the purpose of restoring humankind to a right
relationship
with God through the gift of salvation.
We believe the Holy Spirit is living and active in all believers who in
faith have asked for an infilling. The work and purpose of the Holy
Spirit is to empower us to do the greater works Jesus said we would do
and to live a Godly life.
We believe that healing is available to all by the power of God through
the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands.
We believe that we are Kingdom makers, enabling the body of Christ (the
Church) to come together in unity to bring healing to the nation.