Matthew suffered from a fatal crippling form of arthritis.  The medical name is Ankylosing Spondylitis & Prototype Spinal Arthritis.  To be healed of the ailment is impossible medically speaking.  There is no known cure for this disease and the victim dies an excruciating lingering death.

The disease causes the vertebrae to fuse together like a steel rod in the spinal column and the fusion shows up in an x-ray as a straight line.  There are also black spots in the blood.

Matthew had already deteriorated in body, succumbing to the disease until numbness occurred in both legs and in his hands.  The back and neck were in much pain and at times he lost control of his hands.  The most difficult aspect of this disease was the shame and embarrassment of facing friends with the news that he was going to be paralyzed, a complete invalid.  Mobility is lost first and then total physical incapableness completes the course of this dread disease resulting in death.

Some of the ailments Matthew was suffering are as follows:

-         Ocular involvements: Acute anterior uveitis, usually occurring episodically and affecting one eye at a time, acute pain and redness, and photophobia area the usual symptoms, which in time cause total blindness.

-         Cardiovascular Disease: A fibrosing lesion, which thickens the aortic valve and proximal root and often extends into the conducting system, most patients require permanent cardiac pacemakers, aortic valve replacement, or both.

-         Pulmonary Disease: Restriction of chest wall motion by joint fusion, respiratory function is preserved owing to the good diaphragmatic function, but will develop severe kyphotic deformity and captivation may occur and be complicated by Asperillus infection.

-         Renal Disease: Renal function may become impaired, but episodes are usually self-limited.

-         Neurologic Disease: A major of morbidity and mortality in spinal fracture, with cord compression occurring even with minor trauma, and a cauda equina syndrome occurs around sacral nerves that leads to progressive leg weakness dysfunction, and complete sphincter dysfunction, which leads to paralyses from neck down.

This was the prognosis and diagnosis given to Matthew� Help me please, somebody help me� doesn�t  anybody care that I am here? �   was  his cry�  THE LORD JESUS CARES� This was so miraculously brought out on Sunday December 6, 1998 during the morning service in Singapore.  Matthew came and was on the front row worshipping with all of us.  I had been alerted he was to be in the service.

At the end of the service we, the ministering brethren, went to Matthew and laid hands upon him praying in faith and fervency.  Brother Bobby Matthews, the Pastor of Jesus Alive Missions, and others of us witnessed
Matthew fall to the floor under the power of the Spirit of God.  Such great faith was being transmitted by Brother Bobby, the Pastor,  that  I  went  on to minister to many others in the congregation.  Brother Chong remained prostrate on the floor seeking and worshipping the Lord.  I revisited the scene among other ministerings during the altar service.  Matthew was the last person to leave the auditorium.  That was Sunday after morning worship�

On Monday morning we left on a four hour trip into Malaysia for our Camp Meeting which began on Monday night.  When the meeting opened Monday evening, the announcement was made that Matthew Chong had gone for his regular appointment at the hospital on Monday morning.  When the x-ray was taken, there was no black line!!!  The doctor sent him to the lab for the blood work�  there were no black spots.

When the doctor came in to speak with Matthew, he said, �Are you the one I have been hearing about that is believing God for some kind of a miracle of healing?�  Matthew replied, �Yes!�  The doctor said, �Then you�ve got it!!!�

The news electrified the camp meeting and there was a manifestation of great joy - faith leaped among the people.  It was overwhelming to participate in the atmosphere of the Miraculous!

Almost two years later, Matthew Chong is still healed.  I have seen him twice and rejoiced and worshipped the Lord with him in his great miracle.  Again:  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Lee Stoneking

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