When Father Anthony Cecil Jr. attended the Encounter School of Ministry's annual conference in 2021, he was dealing with significant personal challenges. His father's death shortly after his ordination in 2019, coupled with a foot injury and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, left him grappling with anger and grief.

Father Cecil recounted his experience during an interview, saying, “My whole life changed.” He found himself angry with God and unwilling to admit it.

At the conference, a laywoman approached him and asked if he had ever sought divine healing for his injury. Although initially skeptical and dismissive internally, Father Cecil allowed her and others to pray for him. During their prayer session, he experienced a sensation that felt like fire throughout his leg, leading to the sudden cessation of pain that had persisted for months.

This experience opened Father Cecil up to further spiritual healing during the conference. “In the span of 24 hours, everything changed,” he said. He left with renewed hope in Jesus' teachings and an understanding that prayers could indeed bring about change.

Shortly thereafter, Father Cecil was called to a hospital where a young man was dying. After performing the anointing of the sick and praying for healing through the sacrament, he later received news from a nurse that the patient's condition had unexpectedly improved.