The church's ministry of healing was mandated by Christ when he sent out his disciples to "preach the Kingdom and heal the sick". There are gifts of the spirit which support a ministry of healing, such as: "knowledge, faith and miracles." The apostle James challenges church members to "pray for one another that you may be healed."

Mission hospitals played a significant role in the development of healthcare globally during earlier centuries. In most recent decades there has been a movement to establish ministries of healing in local congregations and surrounding communities.

Dr. E. Anthony Allen, the author of this book has been involved in the setting up advocacy and writing about the healing ministry for several years. The Healing Congregation is a comprehensive manual on how to set up, manage and evaluate the several aspects of a church's ministry of healing. It offers theological and public health concepts as well as a step by step approach to practice.

This is a must read for "church leaders, volunteer workers as well as theologians and other human service professionals.