BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Pastor Derrick Brown - George Henry photo

SPALDINGS, CLARENDON

Christ performed num-erous miracles among men while he was on earth more than 2000 years ago. Since he ascended into heaven, his servants on earth have witnessed numerous miracles.

One such servant is Pastor Derrick Marshall Brown, who has been saved since 1973 and who has pastored a dozen New Testament churches since 1979.

"I have prayed for two blind persons, a man and a woman, and they received their sight. I have prayed for a dumb woman and she was able to speak. She came to church and I prayed for her and right now she is talking. A crippled girl was brought to church by three persons, I prayed for her and she walked out of church. Those are just a few examples of miracles that I have witnessed since I have been saved," said Pastor Brown.

Pastor Brown stated that his gifts received from God include healing and discerning. He says they came to him during a vision while he was asleep, six months after he started his walk with God.

"I stretched out my right hand in the dream and a white dove came straight from heaven and came in my hand, and from that time there is always a fire, a heat in my hand, and anybody I lay my hand on receives healing even up to this day," said Pastor Brown.

He says whenever he appro-aches persons who are ill, the heat in his hand intensifies and he is led to pray for them. After which, they are healed.

Pastor Brown, said once, his wife was ill and he took her to the doctor. He believes she went to the doctor not to be healed, but to lead him to a woman with a problem.

He pointed out that the woman who lives in Clarendon operated a business, and each night when she returned home to go to bed, she would feel the bed being pushed up from underneath. Brown says the woman told him that whenever she looked under the bed she saw no one, therefore she decided to go to an obeah man to get help. It however cost $35,000 which she was unable to afford.

The fire-hand healer said the lady decided to go to the doctor and he happened to be there when she arrived. He said when she entered the office he focused on her. Immediately, Pastor Brown said sweat started to flow from his body and he sprang on the woman.

With the help of another man who happened to be a Christian, Pastor Brown noted that the woman was prayed for and she walked out of the office without seeing the doctor. From that time, Pastor Brown said she never had the problem again.

Brown said persons still believe in miracles, though they may visit obeah men. He stated that they are seeking physicians, but that they are seeking the wrong ones.

"The Lord said in John 14:14, 'If you ask anything in my name, I will do it'. I still believe in that," he said.

The father of two daughters, Asmara and Aneika and who is the husband of Ann-Marie, though not boasting, stated that his gifts came straight from heaven and he has been using them to do the will of God.

The gifted man of God said he tries his best to be humble before the Lord and does not use his gifts like others do. "I keep a low profile. I try not to hype like other persons because I humble myself before God and allow Him to use me whenever time he chooses," noted Brown.

Pastor Brown wants Jamaicans to trust the Lord, depend on Him and He will work for us. He also wants those church persons who God has blessed with gifts to use it for the Lord and not self-praise.