Hundreds of people are sharing about a life-changing experience that took place at a Virginia church in July where blind eyes were opened, the lame walked, and the power of God set people free from years of oppression.
They say what took place at Parousia Encounter Conference in Virginia Beach, VA can be likened to the biblical accounts found in the Book of Acts where the lame walked, people were set free from demons, and hundreds made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
Apostle Demontae Edmonds, founder of Destiny for the Nations, hosted the conference. He told CBN News he began Parousia as a means to encourage people to serve Jesus in a greater way.
“[My hope is] for people to have an encounter with the tangible presence of God. That they know that Jesus is alive and that he is real,” he shared.
And many of the attendees are sharing how God has healed them emotionally and physically.
Minister Samuella Hopkins of Hampton, VA struggled with spinal stenosis and needed a cane to walk. She told CBN News that all changed at Parousia.
“[Edmonds] prayed for me and I knew that I received my healing. I couldn’t stand a long time without the cane, but when I got up (at Parousia) I was able to walk without the cane and I haven’t used a cane since then.”
Dr. Warren Singleton publicly shared that he had completely lost sight in his right eye. He had even undergone surgery to help correct the issue, but he still could not see. Edmonds prayed for him on that Friday night and he began to see out of that eye.
Edmonds lives a life of prayer and he shares that is how this event all started.
“I went into a time of prayer and the Lord told me to start Parousia back up. It initially started before the COVID-19 pandemic, but had to be put on hold during that time.”.
Edmonds continued, “I share with people that all that Jesus suffered for on the Cross is available to us today. The scripture says in Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV), ‘Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’ This one verse lets me know that if Jesus healed people and worked miracles in his days and in the Early Church he has not changed and does not change. He not only desires but is able to do the same things in our day and time.”
Garlena Ramos suffered from chronic knee pain and was unable to walk long distances.
“I was walking with a cane and my knee was ‘bone on bone’, she said of her condition. “The cartilage in my knee was gone. Apostle Demontae asked those who were walking with canes and walkers to come to the altar. I came to the altar and after he prayed I was able to move my knee with no pain. I was able to run across the stage with no pain and no cane. Prior to him praying I was barely mobile.”
Multiple attendees confirmed an account of an elderly woman who got up out of her motorized scooter and walked.
LaVeria Edmonds told CBN News that she had not been able to walk, dance, or run in five years because she needed a double knee replacement.
“I wasn’t doing much walking at all. Maybe four feet at the most,” she explained.
Edmonds recalls that after she received prayer, she wrestled with doubt.
“In my head, I was saying ‘I can’t walk, I don’t have my cane, I don’t have my walker, and my scooter is far away,'” she said.
But she believes she experienced a divine encounter with God.
“I saw these hands in front of me and I was holding those hands as I was walking,” Edmonds added. “It was a divine intervention from God. He gave me His hands to hold on to.”
She said, “I ended up walking across the stage, from the front of the church down to the back of the church, pushing my own scooter.”
She shared that she now only uses her walker adding she is still overwhelmed with emotions about the encounter.
“[I] feel blessed,” Edmonds admitted. “He is real. And to be touched by God is an experience.”
Dr. Angela Martin is a nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree. She confirmed to CBN News that due to the condition of Edmonds’ feet, before receiving prayer, she had been immobile for many years.
“There were so many healings, deliverances, and salvations. If I had a thousand tongues, I could not verbalize and capture all that took place. Jesus was definitely there…saving the lost, healing the sick, and setting the captives free,” Martin remarked.