Letter From John
Elijah House was founded on faith. In November 1973, the Lord commanded Paula and I to leave the pastorate and move to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We were to write books, practice and teach inner healing, and to found the organization, which became Elijah House Ministries. At the time, we had a son in seminary, a daughter in university, and four children still at home. We left salary, house and car allowance, medical insurance and monthly retirement accrual, and went out with nothing!. . .and the Lord provided!
Elijah House began in our home. Eventually, after our children grew up and left home, our bedrooms became counseling offices, the living room and dining room became our reception area, the basement became the administration and products area, and Paula and I found ourselves confined to only our bedroom and restroom. The Lord answered our cry, and miraculously provided a beautiful property for Elijah House near Coeur d’Alene along the Spokane River (and we moved to a home of our own). The property would be ideal for our ministry needs, but it would cost over $177,000.In today’s market that would be a steal, but at the time, it was way beyond our means. We stepped out in faith. . .and the Lord provided!
Meanwhile, two things happened: first, the ministry grew. . . now there are Elijah Houses in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Finland,Austria and South Africa. New Elijah Houses are being formed in Guam and the Philippines, and several other nations are hoping to start one as well. Paula and I have written six of the seven books God originally commissioned us to write (I am presently writing the last chapter of the seventh). We have also written ten other books, all on the prophetic, inner healing and deliverance (our sons, Loren and Mark, co-wrote two of them). Elijah House started up 100 facilitated schools last year. This year, we started 123 facilitated schools. Our prayer ministers minister to hundreds of people every year. And our products department ships books, CD’s and tapes around the world. The Lord has miraculously provided!
Second, our beautiful Idaho property became unsuitable,mainly because we were not zoned for growth. Having found a buyer, we could not then find a suitable property in the Coeurd’Alene area. We ended up purchasing a building at 317 N. Pines Rd. in Spokane Valley, Washington, which has been our headquarters for the last 5 years.Washington’s tax laws have never been favorable to us, but far more importantly, we are reminded by the Holy Spirit that moving to Washington was only temporary, not the ultimate fulfillment of our original mandate to found Elijah House in Coeur d’Alene. Meanwhile, the Lord has graciously provided, miraculously.
Now, a marvelous, ideally suited property in Coeur d’Alene has become available to us! But again we find ourselves wholly dependent on the Lord’s graces. We need your assistance if the property is to remain available to Elijah House. So again, we are stepping out in faith, believing that the Lord will provide miraculously, even during this recession.
We believe that God has made us like the tree of Psalm 1:3 “.. . like a tree firmly planted by streams of living water, which yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Never mind this season of economic stress in the nation and the world.We believe our roots will reach deep into the Lord’s river and He will provide.
We are trusting you, our many friends around the world, to join us in prayer, and to help in whatever way you can. It is the Lord who provides, but most often through His dutiful servants who respond to His call.
May God bless you all.
In His love,
John Loren Sanford, Co-Founder, Elijah House Ministries
