Christian Word - Emmaus Ministries

SOME BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

The healing and teaching ministry of Keith and Iris Whitehead began in 1982 following Iris' own point-of-death healing from emphysema at St Mary Magdalene's church, Maltby, Yorkshire, on the Friday of Pentecost, after which she found herself beginning to move powerfully in a healing ministry. Keith joined her later, following a profound conversion experience in August of the same year at a conference in Spinkhill, near Sheffield, Yorkshire .

In the earlier part of their ministry they joined the Ampleforth Renewal Community created by Stephen Wright OSB.and were subsequently elected as lay leaders for five consecutive years. During this time, Iris' gift of healing was complemented with an increasingly powerful gift of the word of knowledge; this has continued to grow and works especially strongly through her hands during times of praying with other people. They left Ampleforth in 1990 when the Lord moved them on to other things.

Shortly after an invitation in 1990 from Tom & Pam Edwards (lay evangelists of many years standing, based at St Augustine, Florida) they extended their ministry to the United States. Since then they have worked in parishes, at conferences and with prayer groups in a number of states, including Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and California.

From 1987 until 1997 they organised The Ushaw Conference, which subsequently became the Northern Conference, held each year in July at Trinity & All Saints College, Leeds, Yorkshire. The Conference became well known for its depth of spirituality and a number of nationally and internationally known speakers participated over the years. Keith & Iris also organised and ran for many years a chapter of the Full Gospel Businessman's Fellowship.

In 1986 Keith and Iris were given a year's notice by the Lord that he desired them to be available for his work on a full-time basis, and in 1987 they both agreed that Keith should give up his position as senior lecturer in economics at Leeds Metropolitan University. This he did in September of that year. Keith spent the next two years in full time study for the Cambridge University Certificate in Religious Studies, and those studies were extended for many years after.

The teaching side of their ministry developed from an early stage in local churches, with prayer groups and at various kinds of events. In 1990 they also began a long term series of weekend teachings at the House of Mercy, Hornsea, in East Yorkshire. Several weekends are held there each year and teachings have covered such topics as Physical and Inner Healing, Dealing With Evil, Christian Meditation, Effective and Dynamic Prayer, Led by the Holy Spirit, Growth in Wholeness and various other aspects of Christian discipleship.

In 1997 they were joined in their ministry to local churches and homes for the elderly and mentally sick by Joan McHale who also makes the annual Emmaus commitments to prayer and to serving God's people through this particular ministry. She is qualified as a teacher in the very demanding area of children with special needs. She also plays guitar and joins Keith & Iris in working in local parishes and churches where they provide short missions (usually of between three and six evening over consecutive weeks {sometimes on consecutive evenings}) on a variety of topics. For example, a recent development is the trilogy "The Flame of Love" which examines faith, hope and love in a closely interconnected way. Each evening last for one hour (plus any ministry afterwards) and includes relevant Scripture readings, short talks, poetry and music and songs., all of which coalesce into a coherent treatment of the theme.

In 1991 Keith was anointed with a gift of poetry. Since May 1993 he has had some 600 poems published in journals and magazines, plus three short collections of verse. A full length collection is included on this site as "Working It Out". In recent years Keith has also developed a tenor voice, writes music and these also finds their way into the general ministry.

Following their marriage on 26 December 1958, Keith & Iris had two sons (both now married with their own children) and live in West Yorkshire in the north of England.

BELIEF STATEMENT

Without reservation:

We believe in one God, the Father , the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seatewd at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, wqho proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

March 2004