George Frederick Garland

George Frederick Garland was a graduate of Princeton University, a business executive in New York City, a lifelong student of the Bible, a moderator of two book discussion groups, a lay reader and Sunday School teacher in his church, and a member of the Norwalk (Connecticut) Clergy Association. As an authority on Bible narratives, he compiled a reference book, Subject Guide to Bible Stories, which lists stories under the topic they illustrate, such as guidance, forgiveness, or courage.

Mr. Garland experienced the power of God to heal in his own life and witnessed healings, accomplished by prayer alone, in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and friends. He wanted to call attention to the hundreds of healings in the Bible, those in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament. Omitting the genealogies, battle scenes and other historical events, he compiled in The Power of God to Heal the most inspiring incidents in the Scriptures and included many prayerful passages that can promote healing.

Through direct quotations he highlighted the cures of physical problems performed by the disciples of Jesus as well as by Jesus himself: cures of deafness, lameness, blindness, mental illness, deformity and the effects of accident. He also excerpted biblical recordings of the expansion of food supply, protection from danger, dominion over the weather and instant transportation. He noted that Jesus expected his followers to practice spiritual healing--"He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." John 14:12

Mr. Garland strongly felt that prayer accomplished miracles in the past and can bring about well-being, safety, and harmony in the present. His own life experience encouraged this view.