John G. Lake: The Minister Who Faced More Trials Than Any Other in Modern History

The life of John G. Lake serves as a powerful example of what the Bible says in Psalm 34:19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." His journey was marked by afflictions, troubles, trials, miracles, and divine deliverance.

John G. Lake was born on March 18, 1870, in Ontario, Canada, as one of 16 children. When he was still a young boy, his family moved to Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, in the United States. At the age of 16, he attended a Salvation Army meeting where he heard the gospel and soon gave his life to Christ. This moment of surrender would set the course for a life of faith, perseverance, and supernatural encounters.

One of the most painful trials that shaped Lake’s faith was the unrelenting sickness that plagued his family. For thirty-two years, a strange cycle of disease and premature death followed them. Eight of his siblings—four brothers and four sisters—died from illnesses, leaving their home constantly overshadowed by suffering and sorrow. His childhood memories were filled with funerals, the cries of a broken-hearted mother, and the silent grief of a father who had spent all he had trying to save his children. These experiences left a lasting imprint on Lake, stirring within him a deep hunger for the power of God.

As an adult, Lake watched helplessly as his brother, who had been sick for 22 years, was on the brink of death. Despite every medical effort, nothing could stop the continuous bleeding from his kidneys, and he was kept alive only through blood-creating foods. Meanwhile, his 34-year-old sister was also dying from five cancers in her left breast. She had undergone five surgeries, each removing large tumors, only for more to grow. Eventually, the doctor turned her away, saying there was nothing more to be done.

Another sister was dying from an issue of blood, her strength fading as her life’s blood drained away day by day. Sickness seemed to have taken hold of his family, and no amount of medical intervention could stop it.

In February 1893, Lake married Jennie Stevens, a woman he had met in Harvey, Illinois. But two years into their marriage, the same afflictions that had tormented his father’s family appeared in his own home. Jennie was diagnosed with tuberculosis and heart disease. Her heartbeat was so irregular that she would suddenly collapse, lying unconscious on the floor until she revived. Doctors prescribed stimulants, increasing the dosage over time until they finally gave her nitroglycerin tablets in a desperate attempt to keep her heart functioning. After these treatments, she would remain in a semi-paralytic state for weeks. Eventually, the doctors admitted there was nothing more they could do.

Desperate for answers, Lake began searching for divine healing. His search led him to John Alexander Dowie, a healing minister in Chicago. Clinging to hope, Lake took his dying brother to Dowie’s healing home. As prayer was offered and hands were laid upon him, the power of God moved, and he received an instantaneous healing. He arose from his deathbed completely well and returned home.

Overwhelmed with joy, Lake and his family wasted no time in bringing his sister with five cancers to the same healing home, carrying her on a stretcher. Though weak, she listened intently to the preaching of God’s Word on healing. Hope ignited in her heart. When prayer was offered, the power of God descended, and her pain instantly vanished. Within days, the large core cancer turned black and fell out, while the smaller ones disappeared completely. Her mutilated breast miraculously regrew, becoming whole again.

As news of these healings spread, his sister with the issue of blood turned to God in faith. She and her husband had prayed for healing before, but nothing had changed. Then, one night, Lake received a telephone call—her condition had deteriorated rapidly, and if he wanted to see her alive, he needed to come immediately.

When he arrived, he found her unconscious in a room full of mourners. There was no pulse. In agony, he cried out, “She must not die! I will not have it!” He immediately telegraphed Dowie, saying:
"My sister has apparently died, but my spirit will not let her go. I believe if you will pray, God will heal her."

Dowie’s response was immediate: “Hold onto God. I am praying. She will live.”
Miraculously, she completely recovered and, within five days, joined the family for Christmas dinner.

Lake’s faith had been transformed. He had seen firsthand the miraculous power of God, but the greatest test of his faith came in April 1898. Jennie was nearing death. A fellow minister encouraged him to accept the inevitable, but as he read his Bible, Acts 10:38 leaped off the page: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." A new fire ignited in his soul. Approaching Jennie’s sickbed, he declared boldly that she would live.

He contacted Dowie and asked for prayer, then knelt beside Jennie and poured out his heart to God. As he prayed, the power of God touched her, and she suddenly shouted aloud, “Praise God, I am healed!”

News of her healing spread across the country, and soon, people from far and wide came to their home, seeking prayer.

In 1908, with only $1.50 in his pocket, Lake, Jennie, and their seven children boarded a ship to South Africa, trusting entirely in God’s provision. Upon arrival, South African immigration required a $125 fee for each family. Standing in line with no means to pay, Lake watched as a stranger approached him and handed him $200, covering the fee.

That very same day, another miracle unfolded. With nowhere to stay, the family stood on the dock in Johannesburg, when an American woman approached them and, after a brief conversation, offered them her home.

His ministry flourished in South Africa, where thousands were healed. But in the midst of revival, tragedy struck. On December 22, 1908, while Lake was ministering in the Kalahari Desert, Jennie died from physical exhaustion. When he returned home and learned of her passing, he was devastated.

Years later, after remarrying and moving back to the United States, Lake founded healing rooms in Spokane, Washington, where as many as 200 people a day sought divine healing.

On Labor Day, 1935, after returning from a Sunday School picnic, Lake suffered a stroke. For two weeks, he lay in a debilitated condition, and on September 16, 1935, he passed away at the age of 65.

John G. Lake’s life was a testament to unwavering faith, relentless perseverance, and the miraculous power of God. From the depths of personal tragedy to the heights of global ministry, he proved that faith, when acted upon, could move mountains. He was not just a preacher but a living embodiment of divine healing and supernatural provision.

Though he passed from this world, the impact of his ministry did not die with him. His story remains a beacon of hope, reminding us that God still works wonders through those who dare to believe. His life was not just a story of miracles—it was a call to every believer to rise, trust God completely, and walk in the fullness of His power.