On the 2^nd July I met Mattheus in Appelscha at a conference organised by Cruising for Jesus.  I was not that involved with Christian beliefs but had gone to the conference to support a friend of mine. He was due to play in the band and was feeling nervous.

I found the subject Mattheus preached about very interesting, and felt very positive about what he had to say.

At the end of the preaching Mattheus prayed for those that had back problems. Mattheus also asked all those that wanted to watch what God was doing to come forward. I am quite a  rserved person but wanted to see what was going on so went forward. To the first person who came up for prayer Mattheus said he didnt have to believe he would be healed because he had enough faith for both of them. As I watched, the one leg that had been shorter than the other, and which had caused the persons back pain, grew until it was the same length as the other.

I thought it was some kind of trick so watched closer, and as Mattheus continued praying for people I saw the legs on two other people grow so that they were the same length as the other one.

I also had back pain so thought perhaps if Mattheus prayed for me I would also be healed. I joined those waiting to be prayed for and when he came to me I told him I had a problem with my heel, a disc in my spoine which kept slipping, and rheumatism. Mattheus told me that the amount of things I had wrong with me was bad, and as he prayed for me my right leg grew until it was the same length as my left leg. Mattheus then began to pray for my rheumatism and said I had pain in my heart some times.

The following two days I had pain in the muscles of my right leg. I had not been able to stand on my right leg before but now I could, and my back pain has gone. The disc in my spine which had caused so many problems now remains in place. I no longer need to place a cushion in the small of my back when I sit and can lie flat when I sleep, something I have not been able to do for a long time.

A result of the rheumatism I had is that I was constantly tired but now I am brimming over with energy. I have also been able to stop taking the strong pain relief medication I had been on for so long. The negative effect having rheumatism had had on my muscles also disappeared, and as time passes I am discovering more and more health problems are being healed and I can now do things that I have not been able to do for years.

I am grateful to God that through mattheus, he has brought Jesus into my life. However, I still had the feeling that I was not completely free. I had been involved in paranormaal activities and whilst doing this had allowed a demonic influence into my life which was causing all my illnesses. I felt I needed to see Mattheus again and ask him for prayer to break the last hold that this had on me.

On 27th August we attended another Firenight and once again I asked Mattheus to pray for me. I then asked Mattheus to pray that I would be filled with the Holy Spirit so that their would be no more room anymore for demons in my life. Mattheus prayed and as he asked the Holy Spirit to come in power I started shaking and collapsed to my knees before the Lord. I felt very happy and eventually started laughing. Afterwards I felt great and went and thanked Mattheus for what he had done for me. I know that what happened to me was done by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but if Jesus didn’t used Mattheus to pray for me this would have taken a lot longer to bring me to the Father than it did.

My husband and I will soon be baptised in water in complete obedience and surrender to God.

Tamara Hogeweide