OPINION |
Editor's note: An earlier version of this column contained an incorrect name for the pastor of Bethel Church, in Redding, Calif. The pastor is Bill Johnson.
John Lindell, pastor of James River Church in Ozark, says a miraculous thing happened last week at a healing service at the church’s location in Joplin.
According to a Facebook video, Lindell has stated that through prayer on March 14 a 46-year-old Joplin woman had three toes — amputated years earlier — regrow from nubs within 30 minutes.
Kristina S. Dines partially describes what happened in a 60-second Twitter video. The video jumps several times indicating her remarks were not continuous, but edited. Regardless, her point is clear:
“I’ve had three toes that were amputated in a terrible accident. I heard the word for creative miracles and I thought, ‘Well I certainly have a creative miracle that I might need.’ I need three toes to grow back.
“The person next to me said, ‘Do you want new toes?’ And I was like, Well sure!’
“All the women got down and they prayed over my foot and I decided to take my shoe off to see what was happening when he said let’s see the progress or if anything has happened.
“And when I did, I had to grab the person next to me and say, ‘Do you see what I see?’ And I saw three toes that were forming and now there’s length to them.
“Tonight, I can stand on my tippy toes. Listen, do you understand. I can stand on tippy toes.
“No, I couldn’t do that because I did not have toes to tippy on.”
This story was first reported, to the best of my knowledge, March 22 by the Springfield News-Leader. It is now appearing nationally.
It’s not every day one hears a report of the miraculous regrowth of toes at a healing service — especially a report that is vouched for by its well-known pastor.
I have worked in the Ozarks long enough to know that James River is the church home to many who find spiritual nourishment there, with an average weekly attendance of 19,000. But I also know the church has its haters.
Story sparks hostility
Still, I was stunned by the hostility directed at not only the church but at Dines, as well. Here’s one of many such comments on the News-Leader story:
“God won't cure the millions of people suffering from cancer, but will regrow toes? She sounds like a waste of prayers and devotion.”
Many of the comments were from people who said they are Christian. That puzzles me.
Do you go online to question whether God spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus?
Do you question one of the most well-known stories in the Bible of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead?
Do you throw out the story of Paul resurrecting a young man named Eutychus who fell out a third-floor window?
How do you so quickly call people swindlers and liars when they say something miraculous has happened?
I tried to reach Lindell and Dines for comment for this column. I did not hear back from either.
Here’s what I know about Dines. It seems to me she has already led a miraculous life.
On June 9, 2015, her estranged husband Stephen Thompson tried to kill her in Joplin. He had choked her in the past and stabbed her half-brother. On Dines’ Facebook page, I see where she has supported efforts to raise funds to fight domestic violence.
Thompson went to where Dines lived and shot and killed one woman, Carissa Gerard, with a shotgun. He then shot Dines “numerous times while she was fleeing from him,” according to a news report.
It was while Dines was in a coma for two months that her three toes had to be amputated. I am unsure of the specific reason why.
Faith-healing leader among those at service
At the healing service in Joplin were major figures in the nation’s faith-healing community. One is the Rev. Bill Johnson, senior leader of Bethel Church, in Redding, Calif.
The church has its own School of Supernatural Ministry, which trains people to heal in the name of Jesus Christ. The school offers a certificate.
I’m not exactly sure what a “creative miracle” is but I’ve heard Johnson explain it as putting his hand on the knee of someone who is in pain from lack of cartilage and praying in the name of Jesus Christ that more cartilage be formed.
The other person invited to the healing service was Randy Clark, founder of Global Awakening and known in evangelical circles for his worldwide healing ministry.
I do not know if Clark was present when Dines says her toes re-grew.
Here’s what Lindell told congregants, according to a Facebook clip. He mentions a woman named Kelli — I’m guessing on the spelling — who is a member of the James River Church prayer team who was there and who apparently witnessed this.
“So Kelli had her take off her shoe, anointed where each of her toes would be and began to pray. The skin began to change color. Pretty soon there was a pulse in the foot that she could feel.
“All of a sudden Kristi said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ and they saw the toes begin to grow.
“Several of the team members joined in to pray with Kelli. Bone began to form where there was none before.
“Over the next 30 minutes, all three toes grew and by that point were longer than her pinkie toe. Within an hour, nails began to grow on all the toes.
“This morning, she went to Kelli’s husband, a medical doctor. She went and was examined. She has three toes.”
‘ShowMeTheToes.com' demands proof
Some people, of course, are skeptical. A group called ShowMeTheToes.com is demanding proof — such as before and after photos of Dines’ foot.
According to a Twitter post, Dines’ has said she has no “before” photos because her foot was disfigured and she had no desire to take pictures of it.
I am skeptical, too. But I will not assume that the people involved in this are connivers.
Rev. Johnson pastors a church that in 2019 made national news because for six days it held prayer to resurrect a 2-year-old girl who had died. The girl’s mother, a church member, had made the request.
If you ask me, praying for resurrection seems a losing proposition, unless for reasons I don’t fully comprehend, you believe it’s possible.
His Redding church holds fast in its belief that the power of prayer can heal in the real world.
His church holds other beliefs that I certainly disagree with, such as the belief that to be LGBTQ+ is amoral and sinful. In my view, that is a belief that intentionally harms others. James River Church has a similar view.
Healing power is a mystery of faith
But a belief in the healing power of prayer is something I regard as a mystery of faith.
I have prayed for healings, most often that cancers in loved ones vanish. Sadly, they do not.
When other prayers have been answered, I can’t tell you how much weight they carried and I will not be upset if you look me in the eye and tell me they carried none.
But as the blind man in the Bible said as he tried to explain his miracle to doubters: “All I know is that I once was blind but now I see.”
Finally, here’s a little quirk to the story.
According to a news story, one of the reasons Dines’ estranged husband wanted her dead was because he had seen a Facebook post in which she said she was in a healthy lesbian relationship.
This is Pokin Around column No. 105.
