When people develop serious ailments, they look to their own health care plans, but many also look to God's health plan to help them recover.

To help facilitate that process, many churches host healing ministries.

Some, like the Victory Family Church in Cranberry Township — which holds healing services each Thursday — include their healing ministries as part of an overall message of treating the whole spirit, body and mind.

The Rev. John Nuzzo of Victory Family said the prayers ask for the wisdom and grace of God to be given to physicians and for the healing of the person. Nuzzo pointed out the healing in the Bible is, by definition, recovery.

Prayers also are said for the instantaneous type of miracle, which everyone hopes will happen, he added.

Churches such as the First English Lutheran Church in Butler hold monthly healing services to pray for those who are ill.

First English has been holding the services for a decade. The Rev. James Dollhopf said attendance ranges anywhere from one or two to more than 50 people.

The Butler church continues on with the early practice of the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.

Dollhopf recalled a time when he preached in Erie, and one of his churchgoers was going to have heart bypass surgery — at that time a new and risky procedure.

He told the parishioner the congregation was going to pray for him. The man later reported feeling a sudden feeling of joy and relief that corresponded with prayer time during the service.

When Dollhopf visited him later that day, he explained the service ran a little long. Dollhopf said he was stunned that the man also knew the service ran long, demonstrating the healing power of prayer.

Interim deacon Tara Jernigan of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Butler said her church holds a healing service several times a year and brings in outside speakers to talk about faith and healing.

The services include the laying of hands by the congregation and the anointing with oil. Bible passages on those days also deal with healing. There is also an opportunity for prayers from the heart.

The church is involved with The Order of St. Luke the Physician, an inter-denominational religious order. Based on the four Gospels of Jesus Christ, the ministry began in 1932.

Ken Herbst, a member of the group as well as St. Peter's, said the St. Peter's chapter began in 2001 with a small group of couples.

Upon joining, the couples studied healing through a series of books to learn about the healing ministry of Jesus in the New Testament.

From there, the group shared that knowledge with others. Activities include visits to local hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and residences to offer prayer, guidance and comfort to those suffering from ailments.

St. John's United Church of Christ in Evans City also hosts monthly healing services, and Sunday services in the church's worship prays for healing.

Churchgoers pray for those who are ill and hospitalized and for God's care, comfort and healing.

Like similar healing services, there is the laying of hands and anointing with oil. People also come and pray for the sick.

Healing is not just physical, but spiritual, said the Rev. Verna Call of St. John's.

"It's important for that person to know love and be comforted and to know their suffering is heard," she said.