The Making of a Missionary
John G. Lake, a businessman influenced by the healing ministry of John Alexander Dowie, was born in 1870 and died in 1935. He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1907 in the wake of the Azusa Street revival and became known for his ministry as a missionary and “faith healer.” Lake was originally from Ontario, Canada, and grew up in a large family that continually suffered from illness. His childhood memories were filled with seeing someone in the house either sick, dying, or dead.
A Divine Intervention: Healing and Calling
Lake eventually became an industrious businessman and started two newspapers before beginning a very successful career in real estate. By the time he left for the mission field, he walked away from a yearly salary of $50,000 (around 1 million in 2005 dollars), as well as his seat on the Chicago Board of Trade.
The African Harvest: Ministry in South Africa
Lake’s greatest ministry was in South Africa, and his ministry there had dramatic and far-reaching consequences. Lake’s arrival began a major revival that started both the largest white and black Pentecostal denominations in that country to date.
Power and Passion: The Healing Ministry
Lake’s ministry was unique, and he established relationships with many of the leading figures of his day, including Cecil Rhodes, Mahatma Gandhi, Conan Doyle, and railroad tycoon, James J. Hill, and others. Rhodes reported that “Lake’s message swept Africa. He has done more toward South Africa’s future peace than any other man.” Ghandi was reported to have said that “Dr. Lake’s teachings will eventually be accepted by the entire world.”
Legacy of Faith: Impact and Influence
After his ministry in South Africa, he returned to the United States and settled in Spokane, Washington, where he established healing rooms, and saw tens of thousands healed either under his hands or those he trained. The city was even declared at one point to be the “healthiest city in America.” When he was challenged that he could not repeat the same miracles in another city, he moved to Portland and saw similar results.
Tale Tuesday 047
Date: 4th July 2023
Title: JOHN G. LAKE
Source: The Azusa Street Revival
Author: Roberts Liardon
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