Items of interest

with contributions from Karen Herzog, John Pomfret, Denise Crittendon

" 'HEALING ROOMS OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS' is purposely located away from any particular church building... to make people from all faiths—or none—feel welcome, comfortable. The rooms are clean and white, purposely spare of furniture—a large reception area, reading room, training room, and two smaller prayer rooms. No distracting decorations or posters on the walls, only a cross and a sun-and-sky print on which is written 'His presence.'

Lola Copenhaver, her husband, Bob, and a half-dozen others opened this nonprofit ministry Nov. 11. This is the first North Dakota member of the International Association of Healing Rooms, based in Spokane, Wash. Healing Rooms, based in Spokane, Wash. Healing was among the most common themes and stories in the life of Jesus and the early Christian church, Copenhaver said. This ministry is not in competition with local churches, she said, some of whom do offer specific ministries of healing....

What happens in the Healing Rooms is not counseling; it's not New Age, either, she said, but Christ centered.... No appointments are necessary, and no one is turned away because of time. Those who come in write down their concerns. Volunteers first pray together over those concerns, then gather with the person—two or three, never one-on-one, Copenhaver said—and pray with them for perhaps 20 to 30 minutes.

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