What is this page doing on a photographic web site?

Mal and wife Jenny are both heavily involved in the para-church ministry known as “prayer ministry” and come into contact with many people who desire access to further teaching and information materials on related topics. In the short time of actual ministry, it is not possible to cover many of the further issues and enquiries that come up; this area is to be used as a resource link where you may download any of the articles as desired. Scroll down to find PDFs on many topics. All articles that have been used by permission list their source and if not, have been authored or compiled by Mal. All testimonies and real-life examples in Mal’s articles have had names and certain details changed to protect privacy or may be a combination of several testimonies. We are continually expanding this section as time permits; if there is a topic not there that you need contact us for possible help. All topics and articles are related to Prayer and Healing Ministry so don’t expect articles on the second coming!

What is the definition of “PRAYER MINISTRY” that we refer to?

Of course, anyone involved in praying for others in some sort of way is involved in “prayer ministry” of a type. In the formal and organised sense to which we refer, PRAYER MINISTRY is done by trained and gifted people who, via appointments at a church centre which offers such, formally administer healing prayer under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is never done on a ‘one to one’ basis, rather there will always be two people present - a leader and a supporter - and strict legal and ethical guidelines are followed. Usually, a small number of intercessors will be praying in another room as well, resulting in the creation of a written sheet which, at the end of the session is presented to the ‘client’ for their encouragement. This sheet contains any word, pictures, scripture messages etc. that the intercessors felt they received for the client during this time. Many amazing sheets have been created in the power of the Holy Spirit!

"PRAYER MINISTRY is deliberately not “Christian Counselling”. There are many excellent Christian counsellors from whom one can receive help. Rather, PRAYER MINISTRY stays away from giving advice, strategies or psychological analysis. Instead, the whole ministry is based on the gifting of the ministers on hearing from the Holy Spirit and asking him to reveal the root causes of the client’s problems and then what spiritual work is required in each instance to gain victory and healing by God’s power and grace. Leaders of PRAYER MINISTRY today see many problems involved with Christian counselling when it encourages the individual Christian to call upon their own soulful resources to seek healing. Good advice and strategies for living are a blessing, but when it comes to healing and freedom, in fact our whole discipleship, Christ was very specific in teaching that we can do nothing of ourselves. We were commanded to become utterly dependent upon Him for all our needs and not trust in human tools for anything other than to show us God‘s ways. This ministry is dependent for its successful implementation upon those involved being baptised in the Holy Spirit, as it is a gift-led ministry.

Prayer Ministry is deliberately and necessarily charismatic in nature and practice; the practical use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are fundamental and at the core of the ministry; the skills that the ministers possess and practise are the hearing, interpretation and implementation of what they believe the Spirit is saying, within Biblical guidelines, rather than the giving of advice. The minister is also an accomplished pray-er, knowing what kind of prayers to pray, when, how and why. Most Christians do not understand that many prayers, no matter how well-intentioned, can be inappropriate or even impossible for God to answer according to His own laws.

Prayer Ministry tackles issues beyond the scope of counselling such as generational sin, the occult, addictions, the effects of Freemasonry and other cults and most demonically influenced problems. These and similar issues must be dealt with in the spirit world and reversed in the power of Jesus’ name, often with quite specific prayers and methods developed and perfected in practice and learnt from well-known practitioners with international reputations and proven ministries who have authored their knowledge. This statement and our experiences however do not imply that God “needs” PRAYER MINISTRY to work through! Nor is PRAYER MINISTRY thought of as the only way one can receive healing from the type of afflictions concentrated on in this ministry; at all times God is sovereign and his grace is the essential element, regardless of all our carefully worked out routines!

Prayer Ministry is often faster and more effective than counselling in many cross-over issues such as self-esteem problems, wounding of the spirit, healing of past memories, trauma and shock and even physical problems because it appeals directly to the power of Jesus’ healing available to all and appropriated with the specific guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than offering instruction on self-help or inner resources. The motives of PRAYER MINISTRY have evolved from our desire to be healed and to see others be healed and helped. Its methods have arisen from careful and thorough examination of all the Bible has to say and instruct in this area together with a willingness to step outside time-worn methods of past generations and see if there are more effective and powerful keys and actions that can be discovered which break down barriers more quickly, and access God’s power more fluently.

Prayer Ministry has proven to be a particularly anointed ministry based on the verse from James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” because that is exactly what happens; a group of people share in an atmosphere where sins can be confessed and addressed and prayer becomes “very effective”.

What is the history of Prayer Ministry in Victoria?

Australian Prayer Ministry is more established in Victoria than other states thanks especially to the pioneering work of two women. In the 1988 June Sutton began a para-church, board controlled ministry organisation known as “Wholeness Through Christ Ministries Australia” which began offering a course entitled ”Possess The Land” aimed at teaching Christians about the power and authority available to them through Jesus.

A second more advanced and practical course was later devised entitled “Healing The Whole Person”. With illness effecting June, in 1993 Pat Shepherd took over as director. Eventually the first course was replaced by an ever-improving and enhanced “Healing The Whole Person” course which was later augmented by a second more advanced course for those wishing to continue into deeper areas. It was under the guidance of Pat Shepherd that Mal and Jenny gained the foundational knowledge and introduction to the practice in which they are so involved today. She is remembered and loved by them for her astounding giftedness and willingness to create activities and procedures in the Holy Spirit that were “different” and “outside left field” and certainly not found in conventional evangelical-type practice!

Both these courses were weekly, year-long courses of a fairly comprehensive nature and because of their 50% practical nature were extremely life-changing to most participants. It was very common (Mal and Jenny included!) for participants to feel the need to repeat the first year immediately as God confronted people with so many changes and healings in their lives, that much of the teaching was not absorbed until the next year! There are many people greatly changed and affected today by these courses which sadly ended in 2006 when the organisation was wound up.

Today, Pat Shepherd heads up a similar but more basic course via DVD called ‘Restoration’ and designed for churches as a whole to learn the scriptural foundations and practical principles of Prayer Ministry. A growing number of churches throughout Australia and in a few international locations are signing up for this wonderful course.

As well, there are now some other very well established organisations running similar comprehensive and hands-on courses in several states but the demand for the administering of PRAYER MINISTRY continues to outstrip current capacity. See below for more details.

What is the current state of Prayer Ministry in Victoria?

There are now a number of churches where ministry can be received at a ‘Prayer Ministry Centre’ all practising the same principles as taught in the original WTCMA courses however, with the passing of time and the emergence of more and new expert teachers, a lot of refinement has occurred. These church Centres as found on our linked list, have emerged from an original few centres started by WTCMA as a practical arm of their teaching courses. They are now church venues where the work continues but the administration and legal responsibilities are under the individual church’s control.

The number of centres is slowly growing but demand still outstrips supply. The ‘Prayer Ministry Network’ is a body of representatives from each of these centres who meet together regularly in an attempt to gain benefits of fellowship, training and exchange of ideas but does not have any controlling or administrative agenda. Their web site features many items of interest and lists all the Centre details.

What involvement do Mal and Jenny have in Prayer Ministry?

Mal & Jenny both completed the above WTCM courses and went on to lead them at various locations in following years. Mal is a leader who has practised at several of the suburban Centres for many years. He also specializes in teaching on Freemasonry, Deliverance and other topics at various seminars and training times. Jenny has amassed even more experience ministering in Centres and has formal diploma qualifications in counselling as well. She is currently the leader of one of the two healing courses offered by Sonrise Ministries and does a lot of teaching on all Prayer Ministry topics. She is known and loved by many whom she has touched through this course and her ministry times. Mal & Jenny attend Citylife Church’s Casey venue in Berwick Victoria where they are also involved in prayer matters.

Click HERE for A LIST of Prayer Ministry Centres

Click here for a selection of Prayer Ministry Articles and resources by various authors!