Twice a month, local members of the International Order of St. Luke the Physician gather to offer a healing prayer service for the public. The Healing House, as they call it, started in January 2013 and welcomes people of all faiths to come and pray with a team of prayer ministers for issues they are plagued with — whether it be an illness or emotional or spiritual problems.

Services are held the first Monday of each month at noon and the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at St. Michael and All Angels Church, at 123 W. Sale Road. St. Michael is only the venue for the service and is not affiliated with OSL or the Healing House, according to Malcom Self, OSL regional director.

Self said OSL is an interdenominational healing order that studies the healing miracles of Jesus. He said OSL members believe Jesus still heals today and try to educate the public about healing through prayer.

“We bring healing to people, and we pray for people,” Self said. “We try to impress upon the people we are praying for that we have no power and authority except what Jesus allows us to have. He works through us, and we give him all the glory.”

Evelyn Phillips, OSL Healing House director, said the prayer service is not church. There’s no sermon, music or pressure to join a particular faith or the OSL, she said. OSL members are made up of a variety of faiths, she said.

Phillips said that during the service, two to three prayer ministers pray with the person about whatever he or she requests. She said prayer could last five minutes or even an hour, depending on where the Holy Spirit leads them. Phillips said prayer teams continue to pray for the person after they leave as well.

Star Blanchette, Lake Charles OSL chapter convener, said people enjoy the anonymity of the Healing House because everything that’s said is confidential. Blanchette stressed that the group doesn’t tell people what to do, and they are not counselors or doctors — they simply pray and let God take control. She said the group always encourages people to continue taking medication and seeing their physician or professional counselor.

“We all come into this world with some baggage,” Blanchette said. “A lot of times they just need to have some prayer and don’t know where else to go. Jesus always shows up. Whether it’s physical, emotional or spiritual, we are able to bring them to a point where God can really intervene in their lives.”

Self said the Healing House is just a small part of the OSL. The group also offers public conferences twice a year. He said members join because they feel a calling and that OSL doesn’t recruit or have membership drives.

For more information on the Healing House or the

group, email Malcom Self at oslregionv@gmail.com.(MGNonline)