This is the gripping, true story of Mrs.

Morag McDougall,
nearly dead from a series of debilitating heart attacks, and
her amazing healing at a Los Angeles Kathryn Kuhlman
meeting.
Copyright !"#$
Kathryn Kuhlman
All %ights %eser&ed
'()* +,-#!./,0/1,1
Library of Congress Catalog *umber2
#$,$-0!
D'M3*('4* )44K(
are published by )ethany 5ello6ship, 'nc., 1-.+ Auto
Club %oad, Minneapolis, Minnesota 00$/-
7rinted in 8.(.A.
Contents
'ntroduction.......................................................................#
!. That 5ainting (pell........................................................"
.. 9:ou ;a&e ;ad A ;eart (eizure9...............................!/
/. 7ublic 4pinion <as More 'mportant Than ;ealing. . .!"
$. 9<e Must Do (omething 5urther9...............................0
0. 9(urely :ou Don=t <ant ;im *o69.........................../!
1. ' *eed A Miracle.........................................................$!
#. All That Counted <as >esus........................................$"
-. 94h, Thank ?od, 't=s Me@9..........................................00
3pilogue...........................................................................10
Introduction
All the 6ay from the 9land do6n under9Aon a 6ing
and a prayer, so to speakAMrs. Morag McDougall came
ten thousand miles for a miracle.
)orn and reared in Australia, Mrs. McDougall is the
6ife of a prominent oil industry eBecuti&e in Melbourne.
;er husband, >ack, 6as purchasing manager for )ritish
7etroleum in Australia for t6enty years and ser&ed a term
as national president of the 'nstitute of 7urchasing and
(upply Management. ;e 6as also chairman of the 4il
Companies Materials Committee for ten years.
;e is no6 the eBecuti&e officer of the Australian
American Association.
*early dead from a series of debilitating heart
attacks, Mrs. McDougall had Cust about gi&en up hope
6hen she happened to hear of the Miracle (er&ices
conducted by Kathryn Kuhlman.
9'f Miss Kuhlman 6ould come e&en as close as
California,9 she told her friend in Melbourne, 9' 6ould
Cump a plane.9
9)ut don=t you kno6,9 her friend eBclaimed,
#
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
9Kathryn Kuhlman has meetings once a month in Los
Angeles@9
Ten days later, Morag and her son )ruce 6ere
6inging their 6ay to6ard AmericaAeBpecting a miracle.
As in the days 6hen >esus 6alked the dusty roads of
?alilee, healing all those 6ho came to ;im, so ;e still
reaches out and touches those 6ho come to ;im in simple
faith. The story of Morag McDougall=s healing is surely
one of the most tender and eBciting stories of the decade.
-
1. That Fainting Spell
My housecoat around me, ' cracked the front door
and peered at the early morning mist. )ehind me, >ack,
dressed in his usual conser&ati&e bro6n business suit,
gently 6rapped his arms around my 6aist. ' lo&ed the feel
of his freshly sha&ed cheek against the side of my neck.
;e 6as ready for his day at the office.
Mo&ing around me and out the door, he brushed his
lips across mine. 9(ee you at dinner, dear,9 he smiled.
9And happy anni&ersary.9
Fifteen years of marriage to the busiest, yet most
wonderful man in all Australia, ' thought. ' leaned against
the doorsill and follo6ed him 6ith my eyes as he mo&ed
briskly do6n the 6alk to6ard the dri&e6ay. The light fog
hung in the tops of the eucalyptus trees. The gray,green
trees symbolized AustraliaAcasual, almost graceless,
slightly eccentric, robust in temperament. They scattered
their bark on the parched soil of the outback in the remote
interior of our rugged continent, and dropped their lea&es
in our garden in times of drought. Like the maple tree of
"
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
Canada, they represented all that is uniDuely Australian.
Jack was like that, ' thought, as ' 6atched him get in
his car and pull into the street of Ascot Eale on his 6ay to
6ork. (till a young man, he occupied a most important
position in the petroleum business on the continent. 3&en
so, his &igorous dri&e 6as combined 6ith a deep faith in
?od. Despite the grief 6e had suffered 6hen our blind
child had died, and despite our son )ruce=s affliction,
some of 6hich could ha&e been caused by brain damage,
these had been fifteen years of happiness. ' 6as a blessed
6oman.
>ack=s car disappeared do6n the street, but ' lingered
at the door. A skylark had risen from a nearby paddock
and 6as lifting his &oice in magnificent song, heralding
the coming of the day. The rays of the early morning sun,
filtering through the ground fog, reflected in the de6drops
on the rose bushes beside the house. And o&erhead, the
gray sky, Cust moments before sparkling 6ith the stars of
the (outhern Cross, 6as no6 turning a soft pink. Then,
almost as if an unseen conductor had 6a&ed his baton, the
gum trees 6ere filled 6ith a symphony of sound as the
birds came ali&e and stretched their &oices to6ard ?odA
a soft serenade of da6n.
There 6as a scent of spring in the air. 't 6as
(eptember in Australia and before long the summer 6inds
6ould blo6 and the people of Melbourne 6ould shed
their Cackets and head for the beaches and tennis courts.
)ut this morning, as the sky turned from rose to pale
!+
That Fainting Spell
yello6 and then light blue, e&erything 6as springtime.
The 6ords of )ro6ning=s 7ippa, learned in school
6hen ' 6as a mere child, danced through my mind2
The years at the spring And days at the
morn Mornings at se!en" The hillsides
dew#pearled" The larks on the wing" The
snails on the thorn$ %ods in &is hea!en'
Alls right with the world(
?od 6as in ;is hea&enAof that ' 6as sure. My
parents had both died 6hen ' 6as young and ' had been
reared on a farm in rural Eictoria. Through it all, mo&ing
from aunts to uncles, ' 6as a6are of ;is hand. Then the
year before ' married >ack, ' met ?od personallyA
through >esus Christ. :es, ?od 6as in ;is hea&en.
)ut deep inside, like a cloud passing the sun, there
6as an uneasiness. All 6as not right 6ith the 6orldAat
least 6ith my 6orld. 7erhaps it had to do 6ith that
fainting spell <ednesday as 6e 6ere on our 6ay to
church. ' had ne&er felt that 6ay before. 't 6as as though
my &eins had simply sDueezed tight and all the blood that
normally surged through my system disappeared. 'n that
brief instant, ' had the sensation of dying. The men
carried me to the church but ' 6as soon on my feet again.
Then there 6as >ack=s 6orried look after it 6as all o&er as
he insisted ' see a doctor.
' tried to put him offF yet, 6hen something goes
6rong in your body, 6hat other option is there but to go
!!
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
to a doctor. )f Jesus were still on earth, ' often thought, '
would go to &im( After all, the )ible said ;e healed all
those 6ho came to ;im. )ut >esus 6as not here. ;e 6as
in hea&en and, it seemed, 6e 6ere left alone on earth to
struggle along the best 6e could.
!.
2. "You Have Had A Heart Seizure"
The sound of the boys= &oices brought me back to the
present. %ob 6as eightAthe picture of good health.
)ruce, in his thirteenth year, 6as one of those special
children that had to struggle all the time Cust to keep up2
those horrible seizures since he 6as three. And then the
day 6hen he 6as playing under the baby=s pramAback
6hen little blind >ohnny 6as still ali&e. The doctor had
put )ruce in eyeglasses shortly before, and still
unaccustomed to them, he had raised up and smashed the
glass into his eye. <hen ' got to him he 6as crying and
rubbing his eye 6ith his fist, grinding the sli&ers of glass
deeper and deeper into the eyeball. The doctors 6anted to
remo&e the eye, but ' insisted ?od 6ould perfect him
also. They left it, though he 6as totally blind in that eye.
)ut no time to reminisce. The day 6as upon me. ?et
the boys off to school, then &isit the doctor. 9?od=s in ;is
hea&en and that=s dinkum,*
1
' said to no one in particular,
and started do6n the hall to the boys= room.
! Australian phrase for 9real,9 or 9true.9
!/
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
The boys off to school, ' started straightening up
around the house. <hy did ' tire so easilyG <hy this
nagging feeling that something 6as 6rongG ' 6as taking
the last of the breakfast dishes off the kitchen table and
6iping the counter 6ith a damp to6el 6hen ' became
a6are of a strange sensation in my left arm. ;eat. That=s
6hat it 6as. A spreading 6armth from my shoulder to my
fingertips. +dd, ' thought. )ut ' finished 6ith the kitchen
and started do6n the hall 6hen the tingling suddenly
changed into fire. (earing@ )urning@ ' gasped in agony as
scorching pain ran the length of my arm. ' tried to mo&e
my hand, but the arm 6as po6erless, paralyzed, hanging
at my side 6ith liDuid fire.
9Dear ?od@9 ' choked out as ' stumbled into the
bedroom. 94h please and ' fell across the still unmade
bed. *othing, not childbirth nor the kidney infection,
matched the pain ' 6as no6 eBperiencing.
?radually it subsided and strangely enough, ' dozed
off. <hen ' a6oke, moments later, the sun 6as streaming
through the big bay 6indo6 in the bedroom. Tiny dust
particles, like el&es on a golden staircase, 6ere dancing
up and do6n the sunbeam. ;ad it been a dreamG ' sat up
in bed, rubbing my eyes and smoothing my hair. ;ad '
imagined the 6hole thingG *o, there 6as still the faint
hint of a tingling sensation in my left arm.
9Think, old girl,9 ' said aloud. 9Try to remember
6hat happened.9 )ut ' could not. My mind simply
blocked out the ordeal as though it had ne&er taken place.
!$
*,ou &a!e &ad A &eart Sei-ure*
' finished my house6ork and 6alked t6o blocks to
the tram. Melbourne is the second largest city in
Australia, and our suburb of Ascot Eale is one of the
many smaller communities that surround it. 't 6as a short
train ride into the city.
My first stop 6as the clinic 6here se&eral doctors had
their offices. After a Duick eBamination the young doctor
said, 9>ust ner&es, nothing to be alarmed about.9
9(orry,9 ' argued, 9but my husband insisted ' see a
specialist.9
9)ut that can=t be arranged for t6o 6eeks,9 the doctor
replied.
9Then '=ll be back in t6o 6eeks,9 ' said. 9'f ' li&e that
long,9 ' added, chuckling.
' had meant it as a Coke. )ut as ' turned to lea&e the
clinic, ' had to fight off a dark foreboding that my 6ords
bordered on being prophetic.
)ack home that afternoon ' 6ent through the motions
of preparing the e&ening meal. (ince the 6ar beef 6as
plentiful in Australia, and >ack=s gentle hug as he came in
and smelled roast 6as all the re6ard ' needed.
At dinner >ack sur&eyed the table, then looked up at
me. 9Like cheese and 6ine, you impro&e 6ith age,
Morag,9 he said 6ith a sly grin.
9<ine ' kno6 nothing about, thank you,9 ' laughed.
9)ut since '=m approaching forty '=ll identify 6ith cheese.9
!0
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
>ack reached o&er and sDueezed my hand, then
bo6ed his head and asked grace. 9Lord, ' thank you for
these fifteen years ... may 6e ha&e many more...9
My mind 6andered as he finished his prayer. <as
fifteen years 6ith >ack all ' 6ould ha&eG %ob could gro6
up and take care of himself, but 6ho 6ould care for )ruce
if ' 6ere goneG ' tried to enCoy the dinner, but fingers of
fear had snatched my appetite.
The boys 6ere up from the table, lea&ing >ack and
me alone for a fe6 moments. ;e 6as in a hurry to attend
a (unday (chool teachers= meeting at 5lemington
7resbyterian Church that night, but ' needed to talk. '
reached o&er and touched his hand.
9>ack, this morning ... the strangest thing . . . 9 ;e
listened as ' described the pain.
9:ou had better go do6n to the doctor in the
morning,9 he said.
9' 6as there this morning,9 ' told him. 9;e said it 6as
Cust ner&es. ' ha&e to 6ait t6o 6eeks to see the
specialist.9
9Then ' 6ant you to go back in the morning and tell
them it=s not ner&es. (omething must be 6rong.9
>ack 6as on his feet, reaching for his coat. 9't 6as a
good dinner,9 he said. 9And you are a good 6ife. ' 6ant to
keep you around for a long time, so Cust take it easy
tonight. '=ll be home early.9
The children 6ere in bed 6hen it returned. Like a
!1
*,ou &a!e &ad A &eart Sei-ure*
dark intruder it came into our home. There 6as no6here
to hide as it sank its ugly talons into my body. 't started
the same 6ay as beforeAtingling, then 6armth, then
searing pain in my arm, spreading across my neck and
into my chest.
Surely, Jack will be home soon, ' kept thinking. )ut
the minutes dragged into centuries as the pain raged
through the top half of my body. ' couldn=t e&en cry out
for the boys. <as this the endG <ould >ack return and
find me on the bed, limp in deathG
' looked up and sa6 >ack standing in the door of the
bedroom. ;is face paled as he sa6 me t6isting on the
bed, my head drenched in perspiration. <ithout a 6ord he
grabbed the phone and called the clinic. A young doctor, a
locum
.
, 6as on duty. )y the time he had reached the
house ' 6as fighting for each breath. The doctor ga&e me
an inCection, checked my heart and took my blood
pressure. ;e then motioned for >ack to follo6 him into
the other room.
' could hear >ack=s &oice in the hall6ay outside the
room. 9Don=t tell me that ... she 6as at your clinic this
morning ... you said nothing serious . . . 9
There 6as more talk, but things 6ere becoming fuzzy
as the sedati&e took hold. <hen they returned >ack bent
o&er me.
;is eyes 6ere red and s6ollen. Thats funny, '
. A resident doctor.
!#
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
thought, Jack crying. ) must be worse than ) think(
9:our husband tells me you are a &ery sensible
person,9 the young doctor said.
' tried to grin through the pain. 9<ell, that=s not 6hat
he tells me.9
The doctor smiled slightly and placed his stethoscope
against the upper part of my chest. 9:ou ha&e had a heart
seizure, Mrs. McDougall. <e are going to get you to the
hospital and do e&erything 6e can for you. )ut ' do not
6ant you to mo&e a muscle until the ambulance arri&es.9
!-
3. u!lic "pinion #as $ore I%portant
Than Healing
' 6as in and out of consciousness by the time the
ambulance pulled into the dri&e6ay. Eaguely, as through
a foggy glass, ' could see the boys= faces peering from
their bedroom 6indo6Athe fright in their eyes reflecting
in the eerie red glo6 of the flashing light on the
ambulance. Then the doors shut behind me and ' slipped
into blackness. ' kne6 that Cust beyond that misty shado6
6as the silhouette of deathAso close ' could almost reach
out and take his hand. ;o6 easy it 6ould be to go 6ith
him. )ut if ' did, 6ho 6ould care for )ruceG . . . '
hung on, determined to li&e.
' 6as siB 6eeks in the %oyal Melbourne ;ospital. Dr.
Maurice 3theridge, 6ho 6as to become a dear friend o&er
the years ahead, 6as my heart specialist. ;e eBplained '
had barely escaped death during a coronary occlusionAa
clot to the heart.
9:ou=&e cleared a big hurdle,9 he said 6hen he
dismissed me. 9:ou came as close to dying, yet li&ing, as
!"
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
anyone '=&e e&er kno6n.9
' 6as ali&e, and although ' left the hospital 6ith 6hat
the doctor called an 9enlarged heart,9 ' 6as able to return
home and resume a partial routine. The doctor assured
me, ho6e&er, that ' 6ould al6ays be on medication, that '
could ne&er again eBert myself physically, and that the
condition could return any timeA6ith e&en more serious
results. Although ' didn=t ask, ' kne6 6hat he meant by
that. ' could drop dead at any moment.
The neBt three months 6ere spent recuperating at
home. <e had a nurse, 6hich helped. Then in 5ebruary '
6as gi&en another chance. Despite the fact that >ack and '
had been officers in our 7resbyterian church, 6e 6ere
interested 6hen a 6ell,kno6n American e&angelist came
to Melbourne proclaiming that miracles and healing 6ere
for today.
9Do you think 6e could attend some of the
meetingsG9 ' asked >ack, realizing they 6ere being held in
a tent.
>ack grinned. 9:our parents may ha&e been (cottish,
Mrs. McDougall, but you=re an Aussie to the bone. <e=ll
go tonight.9
't 6as my first introduction to spiritual healing. 3&en
though ' did not understand all the e&angelist=s methods,
there 6as no denying that ?od 6as at 6orkAand that
people 6ere being healed. <e 6ent back again a second
time. During the ser&ice, 6hen the e&angelist announced
that the ;oly (pirit 6as Cust as po6erful today as ;e 6as
.+
/ublic +pinion 0as More )mportant Than &ealing
at 7entecost, ' felt something happen in my body. 't
6asn=t much, Cust a sensationAmore like a tingle, ' guess.
' thought &ery little about it until t6o days later 6hen '
6as do6nto6n in a department store buying something
for the boys. 3&er since my first attack, more than three
years before, ' had been unable to 6alk up stairs. ' al6ays
took the ele&ator. )ut this morning, since ' 6as in a hurry
to make my purchase and then get on to the doctor for my
regular checkup, ' forgot. 'nstead of taking the ele&ator, '
bounded up the stairs. 't 6asn=t until ' reached the top that
' realized ' could breathe. 5or three years ' had been able
to breathe only in short gasps. *o6, e&en though my heart
6as fluttering from the eBertion of climbing the stairs, '
could breathe deeply.
Amazed, ' hurried on to the doctor=s office. ;ad ?od
healed meG <as the sensation ' had felt the other night
really the ;oly (piritG Dr. 3theridge checked me out and
then took an H,ray.
9This is absolutely amazing,9 he said, as he held the
negati&e up to the light. 9:our heart has returned to its
normal size. 't is no longer enlarged. Tell me 6hat has
happened to you.9
' bit my lips. ' 6anted, desperately, to testify of the
healing po6er of ?od, but ' 6as afraid to tell Dr.
3theridge that ' had been to the meetingsAand that ?od
had touched me. (o ' said nothing. Like (imon 7eter of
old, ' refused to testify that ' had been touched by ?od.
3&en as ' left the doctor=s office ' felt ' could sense
.!
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
the sad eyes of >esus on me. The healing 6as mine. ;e
had gi&en it to me. )ut ' had refused to take it ... had
refused to testify.
3Bhausted, ' had to retire early that night. 7ublic
opinion 6as more important than healing. <hate&er ' had
recei&ed from ?od ' no longer had. (tanding in my
bedroom, looking out the bay 6indo6s at the eucalyptus
trees in the front yard, ' thought of the recent decision on
the part of se&eral Australian cities to cut do6n the gray,
green eucalyptus and replace them 6ith more decorous
trees imported from o&erseas. 't 6as almost as if the cities
6ere like meAashamed of ?od=s gift. ' cra6led into bed,
too tired to cry.
5or t6o years ' struggled, &ainly, to regain my former
strength. *othing seemed to help. (ometimes there 6ould
be 6eeks 6hich passed 6hen ' couldn=t e&en get outside
of the house. ?radually, though, as ' read my )ible, '
disco&ered that although it is ?od=s intent for a person to
get old and die, no6here does it seem to be ?od=s intent
for people to get sick and dieAespecially to linger on
6ith a debilitating disease. :et ' 6as getting sicker and
sicker.
;ealing, as ' came to understand it in the )ible, 6as
not so much an e&ent as it 6as a state in 6hich a person
li&es. The Christian, it seemed, should be continually
healed of all his diseases. After all, didn=t the )ible say of
>esus, 9)y his stripes 6e are healed9G ' yearned to 6alk
in that kind of health. 'nstead, bit by bit, ' 6as dying.
..
/ublic +pinion 0as More )mportant Than &ealing
3&en 6hile ' 6as pondering all this in my heart, ' had
another serious attack. ' had been in bed most of the day
6ith a throbbing headache. To6ards e&ening ' had arisen
to fiB the dinner meal for the family. %ob, 6ho 6as
ele&en by then, had been home all day 6ith a cold. )y
dinner time, ho6e&er, he 6as feeling better and Coined the
rest of us at the little table in the kitchen.
<inters in Melbourne, 6hich last from >une until
(eptember, are usually rather mild. ;o6e&er, ' had been
cold all day and by dinner 6as actually shi&ering. >ack
had pulled a small radiator IheaterJ up close to my chair at
the kitchen table 6hen suddenly ' began to feel great
flashes of heat through my body. ' tried to speak, but
nothing came out. ' kne6 my mouth 6as mo&ing, but '
heard no 6ords. ' raised my hand to motion >ack to mo&e
the radiator a6ay from my chair, but 6hen ' did ' felt
myself falling.
3&erything 6ent into slo6 motion. ' could see >ack
rising out of his chair, could see the look of panic on his
face. ' sa6 the terrified look on )ruce=s face and the tears
appearing in %ob=s eyesAall as ' fell to6ard the floor.
Then there 6as painApounding, pulsating, stabbing
through my head. ' kne6 ' 6as ha&ing a stroke.
>ack 6as at my side almost the moment ' hit the
floor. The children 6ere terrified. 't 6as as though that
hideous, foreign monster had in&aded our home again,
bent on carrying me off.
' tried to speak, to ask >ack to call the doctor. )ut
./
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
instead of 6ords, all ' heard coming from my lips 6ere
slurred, animal,like sounds. My right side 6as deadAno
feeling. >ack tried to help me into a sitting position but '
could not mo&e my right arm or legF it 6as as if they
belonged to somebody else. %ob and )ruce half,carried,
half,dragged me to the couch. ' could not get my eyes off
my right arm. ;o6 strange it looked, dangling there by
my side. ' reached o&er 6ith my left hand and grabbed the
6rist, pulling my arm up onto the couch beside me. 't 6as
like holding somebody else=s hand. There 6as no feeling,
no sensation 6hate&er.
' could hear >ack in the kitchen, dialing the phone.
The first doctor said he could not possibly comeF he had a
clinic full of people. Another doctor 6as on his 6ay to a
hospital emergency. >ack finally reached the specialist,
Dr. 3theridge, 6ho agreed to come at once. )y that time
the first effects of the stroke had subsided, and ' could
feel some sensation returning to my arm and leg.
Dr. 3theridge eBamined me, called it a 9spasm,9 then
ga&e me an inCection and some medicine. ;e first insisted
' go to the hospital, but 6hen ' obCected he allo6ed me to
stay home, pro&iding ' 6ould remain bedfast for at least
ten days.
.$
&. "#e $ust 'o So%ething Further"
The effects of the stroke 6ore off, but my heart
condition gre6 progressi&ely 6orse. 4&er the neBt fifteen
years ' became a semi,in&alid, in and out of the hospital,
often confined to the bed for days at a time.
;o6e&er, there 6ere some good things that happened
in those years. 4ne of them 6as meeting Da&id and 4li&e
%eekie. Da&id 6as unlike any other Christian ' had e&er
met. Most of the people in Australia are church people,
although many of them are simply C K 3 IChristmas and
3asterJ Christians. )ut the %eekies= brand of Christianity
6as different from most of our friends. They talked to
?od as if they kne6 ;im personally. Christianity 6as
more than a (unday religion for them. <hen ' Duizzed
them about their intimate relationship 6ith the Lord, they
said it 6as because they had been 9filled 6ith the ;oly
(pirit.9
' remembered the term. 't had been used by the
American e&angelist. ' had, of course, heard of the ;oly
(pirit. ;e 6as the Third 7erson of the Trinity. <e sang
.0
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
about ;im in our 7resbyterian churchA97raise 5ather,
(on, and ;oly ?host.9 And in the Apostles= Creed, 6hich
6e so routinely droned each Communion (unday
morning, there 6as a line 6hich said, 9' belie&e in the
;oly ?host.9 ;o6e&er, ' didn=t kno6 any more about 9the
;oly ?host9 than ' kne6 about the 9holy catholic
church.9 They 6ere Cust 6ordsA6ords and phrases.
3mpty. Meaningless.
The filling of the ;oly (pirit 6as not meaningless to
the %eekies, ho6e&er.
*or 6ere the gifts of the (pirit. They belie&ed in
healingAand in miracles. Many times 6hen ' gre6 faint
in the night, 6hen my heartbeat slo6ed and my legs
crumpled under me, or 6hen the pain surged through my
chest and do6n my arm, >ack 6ould rush to the phone to
call the %eekies, e&en before he called the doctor.
Countless times Da&id and 4li&e got out of bed in the
middle of the night and rushed to my house to pray for
me. And countless times ?od ans6ered their prayers. :et
healing, final healing, 6as al6ays Cust beyond my
fingertips of prayer.
%ob gre6 tallAabo&e siB feetAand married. ;e had
completed his degree at the uni&ersity and had been a
good football and cricket player. All that ' lacked in my
o6n life, all that )ruce lacked in his, seemed to be made
up for in %ob. <hen his 6ife, (usan, presented him 6ith
a 6ee lassie named Caitlin, it 6as one of the happiest
days of my life.
.1
*0e Must 1o Something Further*
9:ou must not lean so much on %ob,9 >ack told me
one e&ening. 9', too, am proud of his accomplishments.
)ut our faith must be in the Lord. 't is upon ;im 6e must
lean and look for our satisfactionAnot in the
accomplishments of our son.9
' laughed. 9' am not leaning on %ob. '=m simply
proud of him, that=s all.9
9)ut 6hat if he 6ere taken from usG9 >ack probed.
9Then ' 6ould feel as if my &ery life 6ould be gone,9
' said.
,et 2ob is strong and healthy( 0hat could possibly
happen to him.
The thought haunted me. <as ?od preparing me for
somethingG 4r 6as it simply my o6n negati&e attitude
6hich had begun to look for e&erything to go 6rongG
' had little time to think about it, for something else
happened in my life, an eBperience 6hich 6as to be the
beginning of an entire ne6 dimension of li&ing. Da&id
and 4li&e %eekie 6ere attending a small 5ull ?ospel
church in Melbourne. They in&ited us to go 6ith them to
one of the (unday night meetings. ' had a gro6ing desire
to 6alk in health and happiness the 6ay the %eekies
6alked in it, and >ack and ' both readily accepted their
in&itation.
At the close of the ser&ice that night the pastor, Mr.
)raley, stepped out from behind the pulpit and spoke
informally to the congregation. ;e said, 9's there
.#
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
someone here 6ith a special needG 7erhaps you=d like to
be born again and become a Christian. 4r, if you are
already a Christian but lack the po6er in your life,
perhaps you=d like to recei&e the fullness of the ;oly
(pirit. 'f so, you may come to the altar and 6e=ll pray for
you.9
' turned to >ack. 9'=m going up,9 ' said 6ith
determination that shocked e&en me. 9' 6ant this baptism
of the ;oly (pirit that Da&id and 4li&e ha&e. 'f this 6ill
help me in my Christian 6alk, if this 6ill help me pray
betterAthen ' 6ant it.9
>ack looked at me intently as ' spoke. ' sa6 his eyes
filling 6ith tears. ;e nodded. 9' think 6e=&e 6aited long
enough. <e=ll go together.9
<e stood, side by side, holding hands at the altar.
The pastor and Da&id %eekie laid their hands on us.
9Lord, fill them 6ith :our ;oly (pirit,9 they prayed.
:et nothing happened. At least, ' didn=t feel anything
happen. The minister finished praying and ' looked up,
shaking my head. 9' guess '=m Cust one of those stubborn
7resbyterians,9 ' said.
There 6as nothing else to do but return home.
)efore going to bed 6e sat Duietly in the li&ing room.
There 6as so much ' did not understand. ' lo&ed the Lord.
>ack and ', %ob and )ruce, 6e all lo&ed the Lord. <e
6ere follo6ers of >esus Christ. :et our li&es seemed
spiritually po6erless and my body 6as dying. ' kne6
.-
*0e Must 1o Something Further*
there 6as more to Christianity than ' had eBperienced. '
sa6 it in the li&es of people like the %eekies. <as it not
for me tooG
' 6as 6eary and rested my head as ' began to pray.
(oftly, barely murmuring my con&ersation of praise, '
prayed, una6are of time and space, una6are that >ack had
left his chair and 6as ho&ering o&er me. >ack told me
later, much later, that he 6as afraid to touch me, for the
glory of ?od 6as all around me. :et to me it all seemed
so natural.
' do not kno6 ho6 long all this lasted, but ' do kno6
that as ' rested in my chair, my lips no6 silent, ' felt
peace.
'n Australia the interior of the continent is referred to
as the 9outback.9 There is &ery little &egetation and the
ranches, or stations as 6e call them, must co&er &ast areas
of land to pro&ide enough grass for the sheep and cattle.
)eyond the outback is the 9back,of,beyond.9 't is here, in
this 6ilderness region of rugged mountain ranges, arid
6astelands and sun,bleached deserts, that the roads run
out and Duit. 4ne hundred years ago a group of rugged
eBplorers, tramping their 6ay through the MacDonnell
range of mountains, stumbled across a springAa sort of
oasisAlying almost in the center of the continent, a
thousand miles from Adelaide on the south and Dar6in
on the *orth. Alice (prings lies in the &ery midst of the
back,of,beyond, yet it is the center of a pastoral region
that eBtends out6ard almost one hundred milesAsprings
."
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
in the desert.
' had been li&ing my spiritual life in the back,of,
beyond, perishing for lack of moisture. *o6, in the
Duietness of my o6n li&ing room, there had begun to flo6
out of me streams of li&ing 6ater, bringing life to the
parched 6asteland of my soul.
' drank deeply, and for the first time in years, found
myself belie&ing there 6as more to come.
)ut ' 6as not yet out of the desert. 'n the late fall, Cust
before 3aster, ' returned to the hospital. Many times
during that summer, ' had 6akened at night to find my
heart beating 6ildly as though it 6ere trying to force
blood through a closed passage. 4n at least t6o
occasions, 6hen ' 6as hanging out clothes during the hot
months of >anuary and 5ebruary, my legs buckled under
me as my tired heart seemed to Duit. 4n these occasions '
6ould ha&e to go back to bed for a 6eek or more, and
t6ice the doctor put me in the hospital for obser&ation.
My blood pressure soared and dippedAto dangerous
eBtremesAand ' realized my condition 6as rapidly
deteriorating. Dr. 3theridge finally insisted ' return to the
hospital for treatment. 9<e must do something further,9
he said.
/+
(. "Surel) You 'on*t #ant Hi% +o,"
Doctors at the %oyal Melbourne ;ospital put me
through a ne6 series of tests. Among these 6as a strange
eBamination 6here the doctors attached 6ires to my body
6hich led to some sort of tele&ision screen. ' ga&e them
reports as they pushed buttons. 't took a fair 6hile and the
neBt day Dr. 3theridge came into my room to make his
report.
The aorta &al&e, he said, 6as narro6ed do6n until
only a small amount of blood could pass through. 9't is
like a pipe that has formed a crust on the inside. 't must be
replaced immediately.9
9Are you suggesting an operationG9 ' asked.
9*ot suggesting,9 he said soberly. 9' am telling you it
is imperati&e.9
9<ill the operation cure meG9 ' asked.
9<e don=t kno6,9 he said, pacing the room at the end
of my bed. 9<e might open you and then ha&e to se6 you
right back up again. 't might be that the tissue has been
/!
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
irreparably torn. At best, it is risky business.9
9Look,9 ' said, 9' think >ack and ' should pray about
this.9
Dr. 3theridge nodded. 94f course,9 he said. 9)ut you
must not 6ait long. :ou are critically ill and any sudden
shock could kill you.9
*either >ack nor ' felt ?od 6anted me to ha&e the
operation, so 6e trusted that there 6ould be no sudden
shock to force me back into the hospital.
<e 6ere 6rong. <ithin 6eeks from the time ' left
the hospital my &ery soul 6as 6renched from me. %ob
died@ My son, the pride of my life, the father of my
precious granddaughterAdead. There 6as no 6arning. ;e
6as the picture of health. The typical young Australian,
strong, muscular, tall and handsome as they come. 4ne
day he 6as 6ith us, the neBt he 6as gone.
<e had dri&en to Adelaide, in (outh Australia, for a
fe6 days. (usan, %ob=s 6ife, 6as do6n there on a &isit
and 6e had brought little Caitlin do6n. As 6e dro&e
through the city ' sensed something 6as 6rong, like a
dark presence in the car. %ob 6as DuietAtoo Duiet.
(omeho6, in the inner places 6here only mothers kno6, '
sensed all 6as not right.
9%ob, are you not feeling 6ellG9 ' asked casually.
;e glanced at me from the corner of his eye. ' kne6
he did not 6ant to alarm me because of my health. 9'=m all
right, Mum,9 he said. 9>ust a bit of dizziness.9
/.
*Surely ,ou 1ont 0ant &im 3ow*
:et ' could tell it 6as more than thatAfar more. ;is
head 6as t6itching and the beads of perspiration stood
out on his face like de6 on the morning grass.
//
7icture sho6ing Kathryn Kuhlman before an audience at the (acramento Memorial Auditorium, (acramento, California.
*Surely ,ou 1ont 0ant &im 3ow*
97ull o&er to the left, dear, and stop,9 ' said.
Adelaide is a beautiful city, a city of churches, parks
and gardens. %ob 6as ha&ing difficulty, but he steered the
car to the curb near one of these small parks. ;e reached
for the ignition key, but collapsed o&er the steering 6heel.
*ear panic, ' grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled
him back in the seat. ;e tried to say something but his
&oice 6as slurred. ;e had lost control of his mo&ements. '
kne6 in an instant 6hat it 6as, for ' had 6alked that path
myself. 't 6as a stroke.
' Cumped from the car, frantically 6a&ing my arms at
the passing traffic. A car full of old,age pensioners pulled
alongside.
9's he drunkG9 the dri&er said, peering through the
6indo6.
94h, no,9 ' said, tears streaming do6n my face. 9;e
doesn=t touch it. ;e=s had a stroke.9
4ne of the men Cumped out and helped me push %ob
to the other side of the seat. ;e then dro&e us to a nearby
phone booth 6here ' called (usan, %ob=s 6ife. (he met us
at the %oyal Adelaide ;ospital 6here 6e 6aited anBious
hours as the doctors 6orked 6ith %ob. At last they
reappeared. They had done all they could. Time 6ould
gi&e us our ans6er.
' found a room at a nearby motel and collapsed into
bed. My o6n heart 6as beating 6ildly, but ' let my mind
6ander back in years to a scene that took place 6hen %ob
/0
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
6as ele&en. ;e had been playing in the backyard. >ack
and ' 6ere ha&ing tea 6hen %ob came running into the
kitchen.
9Dad, ?od Cust spoke to me and said ;e 6anted me.9
>ack reached out and rumpled %od=s hair. 9<ell, %ob,
you go back to 6here you 6ere, out under that old apple
tree, and tell ?od you are Duite ready.9
A fe6 minutes later %ob burst through the door back
into the kitchen. 9' told ?od 6hat you told me,9 he
grinned.
>ack smiled and nodded. Then seriously he added2
9Look, %ob, 6rite that do6n in your )ible, that on the
!#th day of May, !"01, you accepted >esus Christ as your
(a&iour. '=m asking you to do this because years from
no6 the de&il 6ill come to you and try to con&ince you
other6ise.9
' lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. ;o6 clearly
%ob=s childish &oice filled my mindA9Dad, ?od Cust
spoke to me and said ;e 6anted me.9
9Dear Lord,9 ' prayed silently, 9%ob is not yet
t6enty,fi&e. (urely :ou don=t 6ant him right no6, do
:ouG9
)ut ?od did 6ant himAright then. T6o days later he
died. 4nly the inner presence of the ;oly (pirit carried
me through that ordeal, for had it not been for ;im there
6ould ha&e been t6o funerals in that 7resbyterian church,
rather than one.
/1
*Surely ,ou 1ont 0ant &im 3ow*
)ut the shock and grief pro&ed to be too much for my
tired heart. (usan and Caitlin &isited us, and one night,
Cust after (usan had taken the baby upstairs and put her to
bed, ' felt my lungs begin to tighten up. ' 6as losing my
breath. (tanding in the hall bet6een the dining room and
the li&ing room, ' tried to call out to (usan. ' could not.
All ' could do 6as slump against the 6all, praying she
6ould hurry do6n from upstairs. The 6orld 6as rapidly
closing in on me, like an e&ening fog that s6irls in from
the sea and smothers the ships in the harbor. ' 6as backed
into the corner of nothingness, strangling, gasping for air.
9'=m going to ha&e an attack,9 ' choked out as (usan
came do6n the stairs. ' staggered for6ard and pointed to
the phone.
9Do you 6ant me to call Dr. 3theridgeG9 (usan
asked, alarmed.
' nodded. (he dialed the doctor, but before she hung
up, >ack 6alked in the back door. ;e kne6, 6ithout
asking, 6hat 6as 6rong. ;adn=t he seen me, many times,
in the same conditionG ' 6as standing against the 6all,
bent double from the 6aist, my lungs fighting for each
breath.
>ack picked up the phone and called Da&id %eekie.
Moments later Dr. 3theridge rushed in. ;e listened to my
chest 6ith his stethoscope, took my blood pressure and
then said, 9Don=t mo&e.
'=m going to call an ambulance. :ou ha&e an
accumulation of fluid in your lung ca&ities. 3dema.
/#
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
:ou=re literally dro6ning and '=&e got to correct it
immediately. '=m going for a hypodermic. '=ll be back
before the ambulance arri&es.9
Things 6ere reeling by that time. ' could hear some
of the 6ordsF the rest drifted off into space. ' kne6 >ack
6as pacing back and forth in front of the 6indo6. )ruce
had left the room, 6eeping. The pain, raging through my
chest, 6as 6orse than it had e&er been. ' 6as dying.
Then ' 6as a6are of Da&id %eekie standing o&er me.
;e 6as praying.
Dr. 3theridge 6as back, almost pushing Da&id out of
the 6ay as he stabbed the needle into my flesh ... then the
ambulance ... and the flashing red lights outside the house
again ... and the s6aying ride to the hospital ... the 6eird
6ail of the siren ... the mask o&er my face as the attendant
ga&e me oBygen ... and finally the intensi&e care unit of
the hospital.
4nce again ' 6as sa&ed by prayer. <ithin a 6eek '
6as able to sit up in bed and listen 6hile Dr. 3theridge
stood o&er me, his &oice steady but his face serious.
9;a&e you any idea ho6 close 6e came to losing
youG9
' nodded. 9>ack has told me 6hat you said,9 ' said
softly. 9;e says it 6as only the grace of ?od that ' li&ed
through it.9
Dr. 3theridge nodded. 9:ou can=t go on like this.
:our aorta &al&e is in critical condition. :ou must ha&e
/-
*Surely ,ou 1ont 0ant &im 3ow*
an operation.9
9*o,9 ' said solemnly. 9>ack and ' ha&e prayed about
it and 6e do not feel ?od 6ants me to ha&e the surgery.9
9:ou kno6,9 Dr. 3theridge said gra&ely, 9you could
reach the point of no return. 'f that comes, 6e=ll ha&e no
choice but to do emergency surgery.9
9And ' ha&e no choice but to sur&i&e on emergency
prayer until ?od heals me,9 ' said.
%eluctantly, Dr. 3theridge released me from the
hospital 6ith strict orders to stay at home. ' kept
remembering that touch of ?od in the tent meeting. Deep
inside there 6as still hope, Cust a glimmer, that ?od might
do it again.
/"
-. I +eed A $iracle
Months passed and it 6as only the lingering presence
of little Caitlin that kept me in touch 6ith reality. <hen
(usan announced that she 6as going to remarry and mo&e
to Los Angeles, taking Caitlin 6ith her, ' thought the end
had surely come. Tired and 6eary, the candle of hope
flickered and almost 6ent out.
't 6as 4li&e %eekie, ' belie&e, 6ho ga&e me my first
copy of ) 4elie!e in Miracles( 9That=s 6hat ' need,9 ' told
4li&e after ' had pored through the book in one e&ening.
9' need a miracle.9
4li&e had come by the house and 6e 6ere sitting
o&er a cup of tea. ' had been in bed all morning, and 6as
able to get out only for a fe6 hours each afternoon.
97ittsburgh is so far a6ay,9 ' said sadly. 9'f Miss
Kuhlman 6ould come e&en as close as California, ' 6ould
Cump a plane. ' could then go see little Caitlin and be
healed at the same time.9
4li&e blinked and half rose from her chair. 9Morag,
$!
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
don=t you kno6G Kathryn Kuhlman has meetings once a
month in Los Angeles.9
<e talked on about many things, but ' heard nothing.
'n my mind ' 6as already buying tickets, packing
suitcases and climbing aboard a 7an Am Airlines flight to
Los Angeles. (urely this 6as a 6ord from ?odAdirectly
to me.
' had a shocking rash, like a bad case of eczema that
co&ered great parts of my body. The Collins (treet skin
specialist, perhaps the leading dermatologist in
Melbourne, had hospitalized me for it on se&eral
occasions. 9:ou 6on=t die from the rash,9 he had
concluded, 9but it 6ill be 6ith you fore&er. All 6e can do
is ease the discomfort 6ith an ointment.9
Dr. 3theridge pointed out that the rash alone 6as bad
enough to keep me home, not to mention my heart
condition 6hich 6as bound to be aggra&ated by the strain
of flying ten thousand miles.
4ddly, despite the doctor=s obCections, >ack felt '
should make the trip. 9'f ?od is speaking to you, dear,9 he
said, 9then ' shall not stand in ;is 6ay. ' am belie&ing
6ith you that you 6ill return to Australia healed.9
Ten days later )ruce and ' 6ere 6inging our 6ay to
Los Angeles. )ruce had lost his Cob se&eral months
before. ;is blind eye and unpredictable blackouts, plus
his o&erall condition made regular employment difficult.
>ack felt that e&en though )ruce 6as no6 past thirty, he
6ould be better off li&ing 6ith us 6here 6e could take
$.
) 3eed A Miracle
care of him. ' 6as glad to ha&e him along, hoping he, too,
might recei&e some kind of miracle.
(usan and her ne6 husband, (te&e, met our plane at
the airport on 5riday afternoon. <e spent (aturday
touring )e&erly ;ills 6ith them. <e stopped for lunch in
a small restaurant off <ilshire )oule&ard and after 6e
ordered, (usan said, 9Look in that 6indo6 across the
street. 'sn=t that a notice about this lady you=&e been
speaking of, Kathryn KuhlmanG9
' turned and looked. There 6as a notice in the
6indo6 of a shop saying, 9)ooking for Kathryn Kuhlman
coaches.9 ' could hardly 6ait to finish my meal.
The man in the shop eBplained that they had regular
buses from this area of the city that 6ent to the Kathryn
Kuhlman Miracle (er&ices. 'n fact, he said, there 6as a
meeting scheduled for tomorro6 afternoon at the (hrine
Auditorium Cust south of the business district.
94h, can you reser&e t6o seats for me on the coachG9
' asked.
9'=m sorry,9 he said, shaking his head. 9There is no
more room. All our seats are taken.9
9Look,9 ' said, 9Cust tell me ho6 to get there. That=s
all ' 6ant to kno6.9
9(ay, 6here are you fromG9 the man said, noticing
my accent. 9Australia.9
9Australia@ :ou mean you=&e come all the 6ay from
Australia Cust to attend a miracle ser&iceG (urely ?od 6ill
$/
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
pro&ide a 6ay for you to get in, e&en though the coach is
full.9
' turned to )ruce. 9Let=s take a chance. The doors
open at one o=clock so 6e had better get there early.9
3arly 6as the 6ord. The neBt morning 6e 6ere at the
(hrine Auditorium at 02$0 a.m. There 6as already a
cro6d of people Dueued up around the front doors. 't 6as
going to be a long 6ait and ' 6as concerned about my
heart. (eldom on my feet for more than a fe6 minutes at a
time, no6 it seemed ' 6ould ha&e to stand for almost
se&en hours. ' turned to a 6oman standing beside me2
9Does anybody e&er die 6aiting to get into these
meetingsG9
(he laughed. 9'=&e been coming to the Miracle
(er&ices for some time. <e al6ays get here about sun up
to get a place close to the door. Many of those 6ho arri&e
early are desperately ill, but '=&e ne&er kno6n of anyone
dying. The po6er of ?od surrounds this place on the day
of the Miracle (er&ice. ;e protects all those 6ho come in
faith.9
That 6as reassuring, for ' 6as already tired and
6eak. The 6oman, 4rpha, introduced me to her friend
>une and 6e stood and talked. 4thers told me of the great
ser&ices in the past and recounted many miracles they had
seen. >ust hearing these testimonies strengthened me.
All this friendliness amazed me, for ' had heard that
:anks 6ere self,centered materialists. The cro6d outside
the (hrine Auditorium 6as anything but that, ho6e&er. 't
$$
) 3eed A Miracle
6as more like a family and they recognized me simply as
a sister from the other side of the 6orld. *one of us 6ere
strangers, Cust friends 6ho had ne&er met. Con&ersation
flo6ed freely, as did ministry.
9Listen to this,9 ' 6hispered to )ruce. Directly
behind us 6as a man on crutches. ;e 6as telling the
stranger neBt to him that he had dri&en do6n the night
before from (an 5rancisco. ;e had slept in his car in
order to get in front of the line. The other man, a dentist
from Los Angeles, reached out and laid his hands on the
crippled man, praying that ?od 6ould heal him during the
ser&ice.
(uch lo&eAe&en among people 6ho had ne&er met
before. This must be a place of ?od.
The hours passed like seconds. (uddenly the doors
s6ung open and 6e 6ere insideAseated in the second
round of the balcony. 't 6as like nothing ' had e&er
eBperienced before. The cro6d 6as 6arm, friendly, and
most informal. :et in spite of the friendly buzz of
con&ersation, there 6as a holiness about the place.
Church, ' had been brought up to belie&e, should be a
place 6here e&eryone sits like mummies, faces straight
ahead, hands in lap, minds in neutral. )ut this giant
auditorium, filled 6ith more than se&en thousand people,
6as &ibrant 6ith life.
The mighty choir 6as on stage, rehearsing. 9't seems
the choir should rehearse backstage and then come out
and perform,9 ' 6hispered to )ruce.
$0
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
(till, as 6e sat and listened, ' sensed something
special about e&en the rehearsal. The sil&er,haired choir
director, 6ho ' learned from the man neBt to me 6as
actually one of America=s most reno6ned musicians,
6ould stop the choir in the middle of a song, make
corrections, and then begin again. 't 6as a typical choir
rehearsal. :et it 6asn=t typical. ?od 6as mo&ing through
those &oices and ' had to fight back the tears e&en as '
listened. ?od 6as there.
5rom 6here 6e 6ere sitting 6e could see the
6heelchair section. All those in 6heelchairs 6ere allo6ed
to come in early and occupy a reser&ed section in the
auditorium. My heart reached out to a young boy, in his
early teens, 6ho 6as slumped in a 6heelchair. ;e 6as so
much like our little blind >ohnny had been.
94h ?od,9 ' prayed desperately, forgetting all about
myself, 9>ohnny is in hea&en 6ith :ou. ;e ne&er had the
opportunity of being healed because 6e kne6 nothing of
:our mar&elous po6er. )ut, dear 5ather, this little boy
has a chance. 7lease heal him.9
)ruce reached o&er and clasped my hand in his. ;e
didn=t understand my tearsF all he kne6 6as something
6as 6rong inside me. ;e reached out in lo&e and
compassion. ' 6as glad ' 6as not alone.
't ne&er 6as clear to me 6hen the meeting started.
Most of our Australian churches ha&e a formal call to
6orship, perhaps e&en a processional. )ut here in the big
auditorium the lo&e and praise Cust seemed to flo6
$1
) 3eed A Miracle
together and suddenly ' 6as a6are that Miss Kuhlman
6as on stage. The people 6ere singing, the organ 6as
booming, and the choir broke into a rendition of the song
6e had learned 6hen )illy ?raham came to Melbourne
A9;o6 ?reat Thou Art.9
A spirit of praise seemed to s6eep the mighty
auditorium. The people rose, as one, and erupted in
Coyous acclamation of sound and harmony. All around me
they 6ere spontaneously coming to their feet, arms raised
to6ard hea&en, &oices blending together in mar&elous
symphony. The entire room 6as filled 6ith music. 't
s6elled up from the main floor, &ibrated off the 6alls and
ceiling, and lifted my inner being to heights ne&er before
attained. ' 6as 6orshiping. 5or the first time, perhaps in
all my life, ' 6as 6orshiping. ' 6anted to shout. ' 6anted
to dance. ' 6anted to stretch my arms all the 6ay through
the elegant ceiling, through the clouds, all the 6ay to the
throne of hea&en. 7raise@ <hat a 6onderful 6ord. 4h,
ho6 ' praised &im5
$#
.. All That Counted #as /esus
' kept 6anting to pull my eyes do6n and look at Miss
Kuhlman. After all, ' had come ten thousand miles to see
her. )ut ' could not look at her. ' realized ' had not come
all the 6ay from Australia to see Kathryn Kuhlman. ' had
come to see >esus. To be touched by ;im. 't suddenly
made no difference 6hether Kathryn Kuhlman 6as on
stage or not. 't made no difference 6hether she e&er
appeared. All that counted 6as >esusAand 6e 6ere ;is
)odyAprepared as a bride adorned for her husbandA
6orshiping our coming King.
The singing changed to a song ' had ne&er heard.
&e touched me'+h, &e touched me( And
oh, the 6oy that floods my soul( Something
happened and now ) know &e touched me'
and made me whole(
<e sang it once, t6ice. 't 6as as if the 6ords had
been a part of my soul all my life. ' 6as s6ept up in the
singing as the music soared all around me.
$"
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
(lo6ly it died, until only the soft strains of the organ,
barely heard, 6hispered through the room. Again ' tried
to lo6er my eyes to look at Miss Kuhlman, but could not.
My hands 6ere still outstretched to6ard hea&en, my face
up, my eyes shut. (oftly, Cust abo&e the sound of a breath,
' heard Miss Kuhlman=s &oice...
9The ;oly (pirit is here. ;e=s here, Cust as ;e said ;e
6ould be ...9
The tears 6ere 6ashing do6n my cheeks as she
continued. 9There is po6er in the name of >esus . . . 9
All around me ' heard that name, that matchless
name, being 6hispered from muted lips of thousands.
9>esus ... >esus ... >esus.9
9<e kno6, 5ather,9 Miss Kuhlman=s soft &oice
continued, 9that miracles are already happening in this
place. <e promise to gi&e :ou all the praise, all the glory.
' kno6 ' am nothing ... nothing ... 6hate&er happens in
this place today is because of :ou . . . 9
Then, gro6ing out of a 6hisper and rising on the
6ings of praise, the choir and people 6ere singing2
9Alleluia@ Alleluia@9 )ut ' could utter nothing as the
music s6ept up from the main floor and s6irled to6ard
the hea&ens. All ' could do 6as cryAopenly,
unashamedly, and murmur o&er and o&er, 9Thank :ou,
>esus, thank :ou, >esus.9
As if the ;oly (pirit kne6 6e could stand no more of
;is glory, the atmosphere of the meeting changed. Miss
0+
All That 7ounted 0as Jesus
Kuhlman became folksy, informal, and her soft laugh
rippled o&er the congregation as she 6elcomed the people
to the ser&ices. 5or the first time, ' 6as able to look at her.
(he 6as not at all like ' thought she 6ould be. ' had
eBpected to see her 6ith 6ings, and a halo, drifting three
feet abo&e the stage touching first this one and then that
6ith a magic 6and as the stars glittered around her head.
'nstead she seemed &ery humanF in fact, almost
Australian. (he leaned on the speaker=s stand 6ith one
elbo6 and 6elcomed the folks and made us feel so at
home.
(he introduced a group of ministers 6ho 6ere
&isitingAand the congregation roared its appro&al. Then
she introduced a group from a nearby Catholic con&ent. A
6hole section of Catholic priests and nuns stood to their
feet. There 6as another roar of recognition from the
audience.
0hat is happening in the world. ' 6ondered. )ack
home in Australia there are still areas 6here Catholics
6ould not e&en be allo6ed to come into a 7rotestant
meetingAyet here they 6ere not only recognized, but
applauded. (urely ?od is bringing ;is church together. '
made a mental note to relate all this to my 7resbyterian
church 6hen ' returned.
Then Miss Kuhlman introduced a police captain from
;ouston, TeBas. 9T6o years ago,9 she said, 9Captain >ohn
LeErier 6as dying of cancer. 3ntire portions of his body
had been eaten a6ay. ;e fle6 to Los Angeles as a last
0!
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
resort. Look at him no6.9
The cro6d 6as on its feet applauding as the robust
police officer made his 6ay to the microphone. ' sat,
entranced, as he told ho6 the doctors had gi&en him up. A
)aptist deacon, he kne6 nothing about the healing po6er
of ?od until he sa6 Miss Kuhlman on tele&ision and then
read her books. )elie&ing that ?od could heal him, he
fle6 to Los Angeles to attend a Miracle (er&ice. And ?od
did heal him. 'nstantly. ;e has since been filled 6ith the
;oly (pirit and is spending much of his time tra&eling
around the nation testifying to the po6er of ?od.
Thats the secret, ' thought. +nce you are healed you
must be willing to testify( For if you dont claim it, it will
ne!er be yours( ' thought back to the tent meeting in
Melbourne, 6hen ' 6as so sure ?od had touched me. :et
' had been ashamed to testify to the doctor, afraid he
6ould laugh at me.
9'f you=ll gi&e me one more chance, Lord,9 '
promised, 9'=ll tell the 6orld.9
9There is a beautiful presence of the ;oly (pirit here
this afternoon,9 Miss Kuhlman 6as saying. 9The same
;oly (pirit that fell upon those early belie&ers at
7entecost is here today.9
A sacred, holy stillness descended upon the meeting.
Like the moaning of the night 6ind as it &anishes into the
stillness, so all soundAe&en, it seemed, the breathing of
the peopleAfaded a6ay into the hush of re&erence.
0.
All That 7ounted 0as Jesus
9There is a child being healed,9 she 6hispered. 9;e=s
in this section.9 (he gestured to her left at the 6heelchair
section. My eyes follo6ed the direction of her eBtended
arm and ' sa6 that young boy, that crippled, t6isted
young boy, rising out of his 6heelchair.
A gasp 6ent up from the audience. All o&er the
auditorium people 6ere rising to their feet, stretching
their necks to see. The boy and his mother 6ere out in the
aisle, 6alking for6ard. A cheer, that started as a lo6
rumble, gre6 6ith intensity and s6ept through the cro6d.
The boy=s steps seemed to gro6 stronger as he mo&ed
do6n the aisle. Miss Kuhlman met him at the front edge
of the platform and escorted him to the microphone. ;oly
pandemonium broke loose in the auditorium as the people
roared 6ith Coy.
9This applause is not for me,9 Miss Kuhlman said to
the young lad, 9nor is it e&en for you. These people are
applauding >esus.9
After Duestioning the boy and e&en ha&ing one of the
doctors on the platform step out and eBamine him, Miss
Kuhlman reached out to pray for him. 3&en before she
uttered her first 6ord, the boy crumpled to the floor.
My heart sank. +h no, it wasnt real( )t was all
emotion( &e tried and got as far as the platform, but now
hes fallen to the floor( &ow awful5
)ut no one else seemed alarmed. Miss Kuhlman 6as
standing on stage, her hands raised, praising the Lord. The
0/
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
ushers, the members of the choirAall 6ere standing
around looking at the boy and thanking ?od. 4ne of the
men helped the boy to his feet. ;e 6asn=t staggering.
;is legs 6ere firm and strong.
9<hat happenedG9 ' asked the man beside me, 6ho
had been to the meetings many times before.
9;e 6ent do6n under the po6er,9 he said.
98nder the po6erG <hat a strange phrase.9
9*ot so strange,9 the man 6hispered as the young
boy left the stage 6ith his mother. 9't happens all the time
6hen Miss Kuhlman prays for people. (he says she
doesn=t understand it, and neither does anyone else. 't=s the
same thing that happened in the )ible 6hen people came
face to face 6ith the po6er of ?od, and fell to the
ground.9
't 6as too much to comprehend.
There 6as another healing in the 6heelchair section.
A lady, 6hom ' had noticed outside the building, had
come for6ard. <hile in the 6heelchair she had to breathe
from an oBygen tank, 6hich 6as attached to the chair.
*o6 she 6as coming across the stage, pushing the
6heelchair in front of herAthe oBygen tank hanging
uselessly to the frame. )ehind her 6as a great line of
other people 6ho had been healed and 6ere coming to the
stage to testify.
0$
0. ""h1 Than2 3od1 It*s $e4"
' lost track of time as one after another the people
came for6ard. 't 6as so much different from the tent
meeting ' had attended in Melbourne. There they had
brought the sick for6ard and the e&angelist had prayed
for them. ;ere the people came for6ard after they 6ere
healed. Miss Kuhlman prayed for no one to be healed. 'n
fact, se&eral times that afternoon she definitely said she
6as not a healer. (he had no po6er herself, she insisted.
All she did 6as conduct the ser&ice and ?od did the
healing. 9'f the ;oly (pirit 6ere not here,9 she said, 9then
e&en though ' 6ere here, and the choir sang and the
musicians playedAthere 6ould be no healing. 5or ?od
alone healsAnot man.9
The meeting 6as dra6ing to a close. *either )ruce
nor ' had e&idenced any personal healing, but 6e had
been blessed beyond all eBpectation. An announcement
6as made for a future meeting in December, less than a
month a6ay. ' kne6 6e should remain in the (tates in
order to return once more.
00
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
(usan and (te&e found us a beautiful room in
3ncinitas, do6n the coast from Los Angeles, 6here 6e
could relaB and enCoy being in this beautiful section of
America. Three days later )ruce and ' had returned to the
room after breakfast. ' 6as sitting Duietly in a chair near
the 6indo6 reading my )ible 6hen )ruce interrupted me.
9Mum, sho6 me your hands.9
9<hat=s all thisG9 ' ans6ered, laying aside my )ible.
9:our hands,9 )ruce insisted. 9Look at them.9
' gasped. The rash 6as gone. ;o6 long it had been
gone ' had no idea. 7erhaps it had disappeared during the
night. 7erhaps it had been 6hile ' 6as reading my )ible.
)ut it 6as gone.
' hurried into the bathroom and eBamined other parts
of my body. The ugly, red rash, 6hich had become so
much a part of me that ' had forgotten about it, had
disappeared. *ot a trace 6as left. The rest of the day,
indeed for many days thereafter, ' spent the maCority of
my time praising ?od for this miraculous deli&erance.
(urely, ' felt, it 6as the first sign that ?od intended to
heal my heart also.
' placed an o&erseas telephone call to >ack. ;e
reCoiced 6ith me and encouraged me to stay on as long as
' 6anted. ;e missed me terribly, he said, but felt strongly
that ?od 6as going to heal me. ;e=d rather ha&e me gone
for a month, he said, than for a lifetime.
<e mo&ed back up to Los Angeles and returned to
01
*+h, Thank %od, )ts Me5*
the (hrine Auditorium for the December meeting. 4nce
again, arri&ing before siB o=clock in the morning, ' found
my ne6 friends, 4rpha and >une, in the Dueue. The front
doors s6ung open promptly at one o=clock and as before
6e 6ere s6allo6ed up in the mo&ing mass of human
bodies 6hich flo6ed into the auditorium like flood6aters
do6n a dry ri&erbed.
As before ' 6as caught up in the presence of the ;oly
(pirit 6hich seemed to permeate e&ery corner of that
great building. The meeting had scarcely started 6hen
Miss Kuhlman, in her 6arm, informal manner, began
polling the people in the audience to see 6here they 6ere
from.
9;o6 many here from KansasG9 A score of people
stood to their feet. 9;o6 about TeBasG9 A dozen others
stood. 9>ust call out 6here you are from,9 Miss Kuhlman
laughed. 9'=ll bet e&ery state is represented, plus many
foreign countries.9
My heart 6as beating rapidly as people called out
their home states. Should ) shout out A8ST2A9)A. '
6ondered. Then, e&en before ' had a chance to say
anything, ' heard something else. 't 6as a rushing,
gushing sound of 6ind 6hirling through the auditorium.
' looked up, eBpecting to see the huge drape 6hich
co&ers the ceiling, billo6ing in the 6ind. *othing 6as
mo&ing. ' looked at the stageF perhaps it 6as coming from
there. The drapes 6ere hanging motionless. *o one else
seemed to notice it.
0#
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
' turned to )ruce. 9Do you hear itG9 ' said.
9;ear 6hat, MumG9 he asked.
Am ) losing my mind, hearing sounds that arent
there. ' 6ondered. ' turned to 4rpha 6ho 6as sitting on
the other side. 9Can you hear that noiseG9
(he shrugged and said, 9<hat noiseG9
9't=s a rushing noise, like the sound of the 6ind.9
4rpha looked deep into my face. 9Do you still hear
itG9 she asked.
9:es, it=s all through the building.9
4rpha=s lips gre6 6hite and she said 6ith shaking
&oice. 9't=s the ;oly (pirit. 't=s your healing. Let=s Coin
hands and pray.9
Miss Kuhlman 6as still taking a poll of the states as
4rpha, >une, )ruce and ' Coined hands do6n the ro6 and
began to pray. ' felt a 6onderful peace. At the same time
there 6as a pumping sensation throbbing in my chest. '
closed my eyes and could &isualize the blood, long held in
check beyond that blocked &al&e, no6 surging through
the healed organ, pulsating out into my lungs and through
my body. Along 6ith it came an eBDuisite inner calm.
' relaBed in my seat and heard nothing for the neBt
t6enty minutes. 't 6as as though ' had dropped off to
sleep, although 4rpha later suggested ' 6as really 9under
the po6er.9
Then, as the &oice of >esus called dead Lazarus to
0-
*+h, Thank %od, )ts Me5*
rise and come forth from the tomb, ' heard Miss
Kuhlman=s &oice, rousing me from my re&erie.
9There is someone in the center section, a dozen or so
ro6s back, 6ho has recei&ed a healing for a blockage in
the chestAperhaps a blockage to the heart.9
' 6as on my feet, 6a&ing my arms. 9't=s me@9 '
shouted. 94h, thank ?od, it=s me@9
?one 6as my (cottish reser&e, my 7resbyterian
dignity. ?one 6as the fear of ridicule, the shame of public
opinion. ' had denied ;im once beforeF ' 6ould ne&er do
it againAe&en if ' 6ere laughed at or nailed to a cross.
' di&ed for the aisle, tromping on people=s feet,
banging against their knees as they tried to mo&e aside for
me to get out. )ehind me ' could hear )ruce. 9Mum,
Mum, ' can see colors out of my blind eye. My sight is
returning@9
' reached back, grabbed his hand and pulled him
along 6ith me. <e barged out of the ro6 of seats and into
the aisle. An usher met us and tried to block our 6ay.
9<hat ha&e 6e hereG9 he said kindly, determined not
to let me get to the platform unless my healing 6as
genuine.
' 6as unable to reply, unable to articulate. ' guess my
Australian accent 6as bad enough 6ithout ha&ing all my
6ords Cumbled together in eBcitement.
9't=s me,9 ' said o&er and o&er. 9' am the one Kathryn
Kuhlman 6as talking about. '=m healed.9
0"
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
' finally made him understand that ' had recei&ed
healing of my heart. 3&en as ' stood there in the aisle, it
6as becoming more and more e&ident. The old tiredness,
6hich ' had li&ed 6ith for t6enty years 6as gone. ' could
feel my blood flo6ing freely through my body. ' could
breathe, long deep gasps of air all the 6ay do6n to the
bottom of my lungs. And the rattle in my heart, that a6ful
rickety sound 6hich used to 6ake me at night, 6as gone.
' 6as healed.
The usher escorted me to the stage 6here a medical
doctor pulled me aside for a fe6 minutes and talked to
me. ;e asked Duestion after Duestion, but like the usher,
had a difficult time understanding me.
9;a&e you a husbandG9 he finally asked.
9:es, back in Australia.9
9Do you mean you came all the 6ay from Australia
to America to be healedG9
94n a 6ing and a prayer,9 ' laughed. ' had almost
forgotten about )ruce 6ho 6as standing behind me. '
grabbed his hand and pulled him to6ard Miss Kuhlman.
The doctor 6as telling her something about my aorta
&al&e ... Australia ... )ruce ... and suddenly ' 6as on my
back on the floor. 5or a moment ' had a &ision of 3liCah,
ascending to hea&en in a 6hirl6ind, and then it 6as like
the emerald (outh 7acific at da6n, stretching for limitless
miles beyond the horizon, calm and glassy, 6ith only a
slight ripple on the beach.
1+
*+h, Thank %od, )ts Me5*
(omeone helped me to my feet and ' sa6 Miss
Kuhlman=s face in front of me, smiling. (he reached out
again and ' slipped back into the serenity of that ocean of
peace.
(trong arms lifted me back to me feet. ' tried to speak
to Miss Kuhlman, but ' felt myself once again being
immersedAslipping into the gentle tide of the ;oly
(pirit.
9Don=t touch her,9 ' heard Miss Kuhlman=s soft &oice
from some place far a6ay. 9That=s the po6er of ?od.9
' do not kno6 ho6 long ' remained on the platform,
but some minutes later ' 6as a6are that t6o men 6ere
helping me to my feet. )ruce 6as in front of me, as 6e
6ent do6n the steps to the main floor. ;e had remo&ed
his glasses and his face 6as 6et 6ith tears. 3&en though
he could not see clearly out of his blind eye, it 6as
miracle enough for him that he could see colors and
shapes.
To this day ' cannot remember ho6 6e got back to
our room in do6nto6n Los Angeles. ' remember stepping
off the bus about a block a6ay from the 4asis Motel and
feeling so Coyful that ' began to skip and sing. 94h, ?od is
good, oh, ?od is good, praise the Lord, for the Lord is
good.9
9(hush, Mum, shush,9 )ruce said, embarrassed.
9There are people looking.9
'ndeed there 6ere. 7eople in a booth alongside the
1!
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
street 6ere staring at me. 7eople in their cars, 6aiting for
a traffic light, 6ere looking. 't meant nothing. ' kne6 '
6ould ne&er again be ashamed of the po6er of ?od.
9<ho caresG9 ' laughed at )ruce. 9Come, let=s run
and sing all the 6ay to the room.9
' 6anted to call >ack in Australia, but ' kne6 he 6as
in (ydney that day on a business trip. 't made no
difference, 6e 6ere scheduled to lea&e early the neBt
morning on a flight back to Melbourne and he 6ould meet
us at the airport. ' could surprise him then.
<e said our good,byes to Caitlin and her parents.
This time, ho6e&er, it 6as not as before. *o longer 6as
she the center of my life, my tie 6ith reality. <ith >esus at
the center of my life, Caitlin, as much as ' lo&ed her, 6as
simply another of ?od=s precious children. *ot only had
?od replaced my aorta &al&e, ;e had healed my broken
heart. Little >ohnny=s death, %ob=s death, )ruce=s
continued afflictionAall 6ere in ?od=s hand. 't is ?od
6ho rules the uni&erse, 6ho touches each life, 6ho lets
;is rain fall on the Cust and the unCust. ' kne6 ' 6ould
return home and smother >ack 6ith my lo&eAa lo&e ' had
not been able to gi&e for years because of my 6eariness
and pain. ' 6ould stand in our 7resbyterian church at the
in&itation of the minister and testify for all to hear that '
had been healed by the po6er of the ;oly (pirit.
' settled in my seat on the 7an Am #$#. The captain
announced 6e 6ould be flying through a hurricane and
6arned all the passengers to buckle in tight and not be
1.
*+h, Thank %od, )ts Me5*
afraid. ' smiled, leaned back, and prepared to go to sleep.
*othing frightened me any more. ' 6as 6hole.
't 6as December, the end of autumn in America. 'n
t6enty hours 6e 6ould fly into summer in Australia. )ut
geography made no difference to me. ' did not ha&e to
return to the 9land do6n under9 to find summer in
DecemberAit had already begun in my heart.
The years at the spring And the days at the
morn ((( %ods in his hea!en'Alls right
with the world(
1/
5pilogue
5ollo6ing her return to Australia, Mrs. McDougall=s
first public encounter came the follo6ing (unday
morning 6ith her minister and his 6ife, Dr. and Mrs.
?ordon 7o6ell. Mrs. McDougall had Cust entered the
beautiful sanctuary of her 7resbyterian church 6hen Mrs.
7o6ell grabbed her arm, pulled her to one side, and
6hispered, 9My, you=re looking 6ell. >ack said you had
been on a holiday to the (tates. 't must ha&e done you a
6orld of good.9
Morag grinned and replied, 9'=&e been healed by the
po6er of the ;oly (pirit.9 (he then proceeded to tell the
minister=s 6ife the entire story. Dr. ?ordon 7o6ell is
among the 7resbyterian ministers in Australia 6ho teach
spiritual healing and pray for the sick at the (unday night
ser&ice. 'nterested, the 7o6ells in&ited the McDougalls to
the manse in order to hear Morag=s full testimony.
(e&eral months later, Dr. 7o6ell asked Mrs.
McDougall to speak during a (unday e&ening ser&ice,
testifying of her healing. Later she shared her testimony
o&er his nation6ide radio broadcast.
10
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
Mrs. McDougall=s second encounter 6as 6ith Dr.
Maurice 3theridge. Dr. 3theridge had been on a long
Christmas holiday 6hen she returned, so it 6as the first of
5ebruary before he 6as able to eBamine her.
9;o6 6as the tripG9 he inDuired as Mrs. McDougall
prepared for her eBamination in his office.
95ine,9 Morag ans6ered, determined not to say
anything until the doctor confirmed her healing.
9(ho6 me your hands,9 he said. The rash 6as gone
and the doctor made notes in his records.
*eBt he took her blood pressure. 't 6as normal. ;e
made more notes.
;er lungs 6ere perfect also. 9:ou should ha&e stayed
in America,9 Dr. 3theridge murmured as he made
additional notes.
)iting her tongue, Mrs. McDougall said nothing.
Asking her to sit on the eBamination table, Dr.
3theridge began a thorough eBamination 6ith his
stethoscope. Morag 6as praying silently. 94h, Lord, :ou
kno6 '=m healed. ' kno6 '=m healed. Let the doctor find it
out also.9
9Amazing,9 Dr. 3theridge said as he listened, first to
her chest and then to her back. 9Amazing. The rattle is no
longer there.9
5olding his stethoscope and putting it in his pocket,
he sat do6n at his desk and began making final notations
11
:pilogue
on Morag=s file. 5inishing his 6riting, he leaned back in
his chair and said, 9*o6, tell me 6hat really happened in
America.9
5or a second, for a fleeting second, there 6as a
temptation to say nothing. )ut she had gone too far
already. Taking a deep breath Morag said, 9<ell, Doctor,
medical science is 6onderful, but you do belie&e ?od can
heal, don=t youG9
Dr. 3theridge smiled slightly and drummed his
fingers on the top of his desk. 9'f ?od e&er heals anybody,
' belie&e ;e 6ould heal you.9
That opened the door and Morag poured out her
testimony. (he told him the entire story2 the &isit to the
Miracle (er&ice, e&en the sensation of po6er and peace as
she fell to the floor three times at the (hrine Auditorium.
Dr. 3theridge listened patiently. Then donning his
leather apron and hea&y glo&es, took four H,ray pictures
of her heart and lungs. All 6ere negati&e. (he 6as healed.
;e closed his file and replaced it in his dra6er.
9:ou are a remarkably 6ell 6oman,9 he said.
As the 6ord spread through the 9land do6n under9
that Morag McDougall had been gi&en a ne6 heart, she
ran into critics. 9<hy did you ha&e to go to AmericaG
Don=t you belie&e ?od can heal here alsoG9 one 6oman
asked.
9' do not kno6 6hy the 3thiopian had to 6ait until he
6as in the desert to find out about >esus, 6hen ?od could
1#
10,000 Miles for a Miracle
ha&e told him 6hile he 6as &isiting in >erusalem,9 Morag
ans6ered. 9*or 6hy ?od 6aited until (aul of Tarsus 6as
on the road to Damascus to speak to him, rather than in
his home to6n. *or 6hy ' had to go ten thousand miles
for a miracle. All that is ?od=s business. :ou may
Duestion ;im if you 6ish' shall simply praise ;im.9
Another said, 9<e do not doubt that ?od can heal.
)ut 6hy do you insist on talking about it all the timeG9
Morag is not defensi&e. *either is she ashamed. ;er
ans6er, she says, is found in a &erse of (cripture 6hich
has taken on special meaning since her healing.
*4ehold, ) ha!e set before thee an open
door, and no man can shut it$ for thou hast
a little strength, and hast kept my word,
and hast not denied my name* ;2e!( <$=>(
1-
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