Soul winning and spiritual re-awakening of the world
One of the thirteen tenets of Christian faith divinely enshrined in the Christ Apostolic Church,
the Gambia constitution and an age-long doctrinal practice is divine healing. This has to do with
faith healing which comes from absolute faith and trust in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. It
aims at making the human body free from sicknesses and diseases. The doctrine is a function of
obedience to divine stipulations and implicit faith in the name and atoning blood of Jesus Christ
as Lord and Saviour in healing of the body and soul.
This scriptural practice started with the founding fathers of Christ Apostolic Church, the Gambia
in 1918 (a revival movement first called the Precious Stone) under the Holy Spirit’s anointing.
The practice was later greatly popularised from 1930. Those who suffered from sicknesses,
diseases and diverse infirmities received healing through a number of ways. These include
effective prayers by men of God (James 5:13-16), laying of hands (Mark 16:18), the use of
sanctified water for drinking and washing by sick people, reminiscent of Prophet Elijah’s
encounter with Naman (II Kings 5:10,14; Isaiah 55:1,2), anointing of the sick with sanctified oil
(James 5:14). This doctrinal practice continued unabated over the years and paved the way for
the eventual establishment of faith homes, specifically for the care of pregnant women in the
church as in Exodus chapter one.