The story began in Spokane in Washington, US, in 1915, when John G. Lake opened what he called “Healing Rooms” in downtown premises. 100,000 documented healings took place. His vision was to see healing rooms in every city of the world but he died before his dream could be realised.
In 1996, a bored church leader was impacted by the Holy Spirit to move to Spokane, and there he learned of the ministry of John G. Lake and Healing Rooms. Praying in the same places as Lake had, Cal Pierce was led by the Lord to recommence the ministry which had flourished there. They were able to open up in the very same location that John Lake had used and having trained some people, they began to minister, seeing many healed.
The ministry has since spread widely across the world, including to Australia and New Zealand. Our vision here is to see Healing Rooms in every town on the West Coast.
Runanga Healing Rooms opened for ministry in July 2025, but the story for the Runanga Rooms began in Dargaville, where I was, for a short time before moving to Greymouth, part of a Healing Rooms ministry there. I had not thought of having the ministry on the West Coast, being too involved in making a home here, until, at a prayer meeting at Holy Trinity Greymouth, during a time of silent waiting, one woman received a word from the Lord: “healing”. Immediately I knew. Healing Rooms! And the vision was born. A couple of years of thinking, talking and praying about the possibility followed, but I had no idea of where, who or how until, over coffee, I mentioned the idea to a friend who lives in Runanga. She drew my attention to an article in the Greymouth Star from June 2024 about the old disused services building being made available to a Runanga group for community activities by the Greymouth Council. I knew that was the green light, and that was where our ministry would take shape.
I shared the vision with Sophia Newman, friend and peoples' warden of the Cobden-Runanga Parish. Sophia and her husband Brian had recently moved to Cobden. They had joined OSL (Order of St Luke) in Westport and believed they would be involved in healing ministry in some way. Sophia and I presented our idea about Runanga Healing Rooms to the Cobden-Runanga vicar, Ven Tim Mora. Tim was receptive and laid out the conditions and requirements for his support which we appreciated and were happy to agree to. I wrote out the vision with input from Sophia and Brian. It was presented to the parish vestry in August and their approval was given.
We were on our way!
Through the whole process, we were led step-by-step, and our next step was to locate and contact the current director of Healing Rooms NZ, Rhonda Puddle. Rhonda, who is in Hamilton, sent me the information I needed and promised to come to run a training day for us in Cobden. After consultation with Tim, this was set for November.
Runanga Healing Rooms would be the first on the West Coast!
About 20 people from across the denominations attended that training day run by Rhonda, supported by John Daysh from the Wellington Cathedral Healing Rooms, and hosted by the parish. From that, two groups were formed – one for Sunday afternoon sessions and the other for evenings. Both teams began to meet weekly for prayer and to learn the Healing Rooms way of ministry.
The ministry is based very much on Scripture, prayer and seeking the Holy Spirit's presence and leading. It’s a team ministry, usually with someone leading prayer, another person supporting in prayer, and a scribe, with the rest of the team interceding in a separate space. Each person who wanted to be involved was required to do the Safe Here training, to have references and a police check plus having read the Healing Rooms manual.
Our two groups met weekly, transferring to the Community House at Runanga towards the end of February, as generous permission had been given by the committee there. We knew the Potter was moulding us for his purposes, so we were not in a rush, using the time to build the teams, to pray for one another and to grow.
Since opening in July, we have continued two sessions weekly, Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening. As well as praying for those who come to the rooms, we intercede for each other and for the whole community. Presently, we are in the process of forming guidelines for home visits.
It is a joy and privilege to be an instrument of the Father's love to those who come. We have seen people leave after prayer, relieved and encouraged and blessed.
It is such a blessing to see that God is moving in our healing rooms. Our hope is that this will continue to bless and encourage our communities, making the love of Jesus more tangible and available.
We are planning a training day at the Church of the Resurrection in Cobden with Rhonda Puddle on March 21, 2026. All interested in the healing ministry are welcome. Contact Sophia Newman on 022 197 9962 to know more. You can also find more information about Healing Rooms in NZ on their website.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
The story began in Spokane in Washington, US, in 1915, when John G. Lake opened what he called “Healing Rooms” in downtown premises. 100,000 documented healings took place. His vision was to see healing rooms in every city of the world but he died before his dream could be realised.
In 1996, a bored church leader was impacted by the Holy Spirit to move to Spokane, and there he learned of the ministry of John G. Lake and Healing Rooms. Praying in the same places as Lake had, Cal Pierce was led by the Lord to recommence the ministry which had flourished there. They were able to open up in the very same location that John Lake had used and having trained some people, they began to minister, seeing many healed.
The ministry has since spread widely across the world, including to Australia and New Zealand. Our vision here is to see Healing Rooms in every town on the West Coast.
Runanga Healing Rooms opened for ministry in July 2025, but the story for the Runanga Rooms began in Dargaville, where I was, for a short time before moving to Greymouth, part of a Healing Rooms ministry there. I had not thought of having the ministry on the West Coast, being too involved in making a home here, until, at a prayer meeting at Holy Trinity Greymouth, during a time of silent waiting, one woman received a word from the Lord: “healing”. Immediately I knew. Healing Rooms! And the vision was born. A couple of years of thinking, talking and praying about the possibility followed, but I had no idea of where, who or how until, over coffee, I mentioned the idea to a friend who lives in Runanga. She drew my attention to an article in the Greymouth Star from June 2024 about the old disused services building being made available to a Runanga group for community activities by the Greymouth Council. I knew that was the green light, and that was where our ministry would take shape.
I shared the vision with Sophia Newman, friend and peoples' warden of the Cobden-Runanga Parish. Sophia and her husband Brian had recently moved to Cobden. They had joined OSL (Order of St Luke) in Westport and believed they would be involved in healing ministry in some way. Sophia and I presented our idea about Runanga Healing Rooms to the Cobden-Runanga vicar, Ven Tim Mora. Tim was receptive and laid out the conditions and requirements for his support which we appreciated and were happy to agree to. I wrote out the vision with input from Sophia and Brian. It was presented to the parish vestry in August and their approval was given.
We were on our way!
Through the whole process, we were led step-by-step, and our next step was to locate and contact the current director of Healing Rooms NZ, Rhonda Puddle. Rhonda, who is in Hamilton, sent me the information I needed and promised to come to run a training day for us in Cobden. After consultation with Tim, this was set for November.
Runanga Healing Rooms would be the first on the West Coast!
About 20 people from across the denominations attended that training day run by Rhonda, supported by John Daysh from the Wellington Cathedral Healing Rooms, and hosted by the parish. From that, two groups were formed – one for Sunday afternoon sessions and the other for evenings. Both teams began to meet weekly for prayer and to learn the Healing Rooms way of ministry.
The ministry is based very much on Scripture, prayer and seeking the Holy Spirit's presence and leading. It’s a team ministry, usually with someone leading prayer, another person supporting in prayer, and a scribe, with the rest of the team interceding in a separate space. Each person who wanted to be involved was required to do the Safe Here training, to have references and a police check plus having read the Healing Rooms manual.
Our two groups met weekly, transferring to the Community House at Runanga towards the end of February, as generous permission had been given by the committee there. We knew the Potter was moulding us for his purposes, so we were not in a rush, using the time to build the teams, to pray for one another and to grow.
Since opening in July, we have continued two sessions weekly, Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening. As well as praying for those who come to the rooms, we intercede for each other and for the whole community. Presently, we are in the process of forming guidelines for home visits.
It is a joy and privilege to be an instrument of the Father's love to those who come. We have seen people leave after prayer, relieved and encouraged and blessed.
It is such a blessing to see that God is moving in our healing rooms. Our hope is that this will continue to bless and encourage our communities, making the love of Jesus more tangible and available.
We are planning a training day at the Church of the Resurrection in Cobden with Rhonda Puddle on March 21, 2026. All interested in the healing ministry are welcome. Contact Sophia Newman on 022 197 9962 to know more. You can also find more information about Healing Rooms in NZ on their website.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
