The power of prayer

April 4, 2006

By Ron Cleek

It was a nice fall day in 1965 at my family’s home just south of Jackson, Tenn. My brother and I were watching a football game on TV when our aunt called and asked if she could borrow some of Mom’s dishes.

Our aunt and uncle lived just down the road. Mom was going to drive over the dishes, but she sometimes let my older brother, who was 14, turn the car around in the driveway. I was 9, and when Mom said my brother could turn the car I went with him.

We had a 1959 Ford Edsel. My brother and I had done the maneuver many times. But something went wrong that afternoon. As my brother was moving the car, the passenger door opened and I fell out. Before my brother could stop, he had run over me. I was pinned under the car.

Everything went black. At first, the darkness scared me. But then I noticed three figures standing in front of me. The middle figure told me not to worry because everything would be all right. I believe God sent those messengers to give me peace in response to our family’s prayers of faith.

Those prayers brought my uncle to our home. He saw what happened and suddenly had the strength to lift the front of the car while my mother and brother pulled me from under it.

As I regained consciousness, I realized Mom was kneeling next to me praying and continued until the arrival of the ambulance from Jackson. She and my father prayed for me throughout the ordeal. They prayed in English, and they prayed in the Spirit in a heavenly language. They just kept praying.

Doctors told my parents I might not make it through the night. The car’s tire had been on my neck. They said blood rushed to my head with such force that brain damage would probably result.

When I did survive the night, my parents were told to expect a long hospital stay. But they went home and prayed. In four days, I was sent home.

I missed about a month of school, but God completely healed me. I am not crippled or handicapped in any way. I graduated from law school at Oral Roberts University in 1985 and now serve as the elected prosecutor for Christian County, Mo. I’m blessed with a wonderful wife and two sons, as well as a great church family.

It happened because God answered the faithful prayers of my parents more than 40 years ago.

Ron Cleek attends Nixa (Mo.) First Assembly of God (Don Blansit, pastor).