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Stephen & Kathy Gardner attended The Basic Elijah Challenge Training in the Bahamas in November 2007 and The Advanced Elijah Challenge Training in February 2008. They pastor Fresh Presence Church in Phoenix and founded Crown of Hope International, an organization for church planting, for apostolic presbytery and the network of ministry leaders.

From Pastor Stephen:

"The first class [on July 10] was a success. Seven people were healed in the class. There were 20 people in attendance. I have been informed that the next week there will be about 40 people. Obviously, we are excited about what God is doing in this ground-breaking work."

"Last night [the second class] was awesome as well. We had 7 more people to get healed. I had the students performing the healing by commanding the infirmities to go in Jesus' name. Kathy and I demonstrated and they followed suit. One of the students has had a muffling sound in her left ear for the last year. She stated she just couldn't hear in that ear without it sounding like water. She was healed instantly and testified. But the most exciting part was the homework assignment I gave last week. I told the class to take what they have learned from the class and find the lost or someone and heal them in Jesus' name, then come back and report. Three of the ladies had a Tupperware party last weekend and they reported using what they had been challenged to do and 3 people were healed.

Bible students taught to heal the sick as Jesus commanded his disciples (Luke 10:9)

I spent considerable time in the class explaining the authority to heal concept vs the gift of healing. Most of my students are charismatics and this was a paradigm shift for them. I have encouraged the students to be mindful of the lost at their places of employment, who approach them for prayer. I told them to use these opportunities to heal them in Jesus' name, if they are sick, and then lead them to Jesus. I told them just like Jesus converted these fishermen into fishers of men, Jesus will also convert their occupation into a divine vocation. We also talked about how boldness and faith is the key to walking in the kingly anointing."

"Heal the sick, and tell them, 'the kingdom of God is near you.'"

"During the four weeks of training believers in The Elijah Challenge about 20 people were healed, mostly through the laying on of hands by those we trained. Teaching The Elijah Challenge in a college setting was different for us since this method is geared to those who are lost. The heat in Phoenix in September averages 108 degrees in the daytime and the upper 90's at night. Therefore the option of taking this group outside to do outreach in the community was not suitable. Instead, we encouraged the students to bring the sick to class. The first night we had 20 students show up for class. By the last week the class had doubled in size, including students and visitors. We are planning outreaches with those who were trained between November and January. The weather is perfect that time of year to do open-air outreach. The temperature averages in the 80's during the day and the low 60's at night. With the cooperation of the school, this will be considered as field training whereby they will be given 1 credit hour for participating. The Bible Institute has a Board meeting on September 16th. Please pray that I will be given favor in order to make The Elijah Challenge a requirement for all ministry students, which includes the outreach component."

Five deaf ears opened after the Elijah Challenge Basic Training

"Now that the class is finished..., we had an outreach with Teen Challenge in Phoenix. There were about 100+ individuals present. Mainly men who were in this program for drug rehabilitation. We had an overwhelmingly great response to the gospel message and The Elijah Challenge approach to healing. Several men who were not saved came and accepted Christ. As part of the challenge I first called for those who were deaf in one hear to come forward 5 men came forward and Kathy assisted me in ministering to them. ALL the men testified that they could hear now. After this miracle many more came forward with other ailments for healing. The Teen Challenge Director talked with us about returning on a periodic basis to have an outreach to these men were fresh off the streets with substance abuse challenges."

Desert Rose Community Church