On May 9, a healing meeting was held at Tokyo Antioch Church.
Mr. Joseph Akimoto shared his testimony of healing from schizophrenia. Born into a pastor’s family, he attended church every Sunday from childhood. However, during his second year of university, he suddenly began hearing disturbing voices saying, “I’m going to kill you. You should die. You’re disgusting.”
At his worst point, even the sound of the shower seemed to be speaking badly about him. He believed people were watching and chasing him, and once shouted from his balcony, “Stop watching me! I’ll kill you!” He became unable to attend school or even go outside alone.
After about a week in this condition, he was taken to a psychiatric hospital. Even on the drive there, he believed the car behind them belonged to an organization trying to kill him. A doctor diagnosed him with schizophrenia, and he was hospitalized for three months.
After leaving the hospital, he fell into deep discouragement because of his illness and could no longer meet his friends. He lost confidence and hope, and this difficult season continued for about ten years.
But God had not abandoned him. One day, a woman contacted him and said, “I believe God is leading us toward marriage. Would you like to pray together?”
He thought she would be disappointed if she learned about his condition, but he honestly told her everything. In response, she said, “Let’s pray together for your healing.”
From that time on, they met once a week in a park to pray and read the Bible together. She also gave him homework: every day he was to read Bible verses and written confessions of faith aloud. With the support of his family, he gradually became able to pray for five minutes each day.
She even prepared a prayer notebook for him and placed “Well done!” stickers in it. Encouraged by this, he began praying and reading the Bible more and more, continuing to confess in faith, “I am healed.”
Then one morning, about a year later, he woke up feeling physically light, mentally clear, and filled with strength to live. As he sincerely sought healing, stood in faith, and held firmly to the Word of God, he experienced healing from schizophrenia.
Today, Mr. Akimoto is married to Yorokobi of the gospel group Peace, and he is working and living a blessed and fulfilling life.
