As Seventh-day Adventists, we all acknowledge the importance of prayer, though perhaps few of us experience the full power of prayer in our lives.
On February 2, 1990, the Ferret family experienced the miraculous power of prayer. It was Pitcairn Island’s bicentenary celebration, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s centenary. The Australian 60 Minutes team had just arrived on the island to record the event and were staying with the Ferret family. Pastor Rick Ferret and his family were involved in the joyful celebrations . . . until the moment arrived when every parent’s nightmare became a reality.
Their youngest child, Ashlee, at only 18 months old, fell over a 30-metre rock cliff and sustained severe basal skull fractures. Ashlee’s mother, Jenny, who was the island nurse, rushed with great anxiety to get to Ashlee but in her haste, she slipped and fell three metres and severely fractured her leg.
Pastor Ferret, who was also a qualified nurse, risked his life to rescue them both. He reported, “Ashlee actually died three times when we were going back up the cliff face, but I managed to revive her.” A doctor was visiting the remote island from the USA at the time, which itself was a miracle. When he examined Ashlee, however, he informed both parents that there was nothing he could do for her.
Pastor Ferret ran back into the town square where everyone had gathered and asked the people to pray. One of the Adventists, who was visiting the island for the celebrations, immediately organised a prayer meeting in the church. Pastor Ferret was overcome with emotion and shock and couldn’t bring himself to join, instead going off on his own to try to comprehend the tragic situation while the community prayed.
The medical resources on Pitcairn Island were insufficient to cope with the accident and the doctor advised that Ashlee be taken immediately to the nearest hospital . . . but the closest medical facility with the necessary services was some 5000km away in New Zealand! The radio operator, Tom Christian, was up all night on HF radio trying to contact a ship anywhere in the ocean. Miraculously, a Russian cruise ship on its way to Tahiti changed course and Ashlee with her mother Jenny and sister Meralda were able to secure passage on the ship.
As soon as the ship left, the rest of those living on the island, who are largely Seventh-day Adventists, continued to pray together. Those days of devoted prayer made a huge difference, because by the time the Ferrets arrived in Tahiti four days later, Ashlee was completely healed.
Pastor Ferret stated that Ashlee’s recovery was a pure miracle, plain and simple. Everyone on Pitcairn Island agreed, with Pastor Ferret reflecting, “The Pitcairn people have had a lot of miracles over the years, and this was another one that God provided” (Adventist Record, May 11, 1991).
The doctor present at Pitcairn Island at the time who assessed Ashlee wrote to Pastor Ferret after his return to the USA saying, “I’m not a believing Christian, but if ever there was anything that would change my mind that there was a God, the accident was it” (Adventist Record, May 11, 1991).
Prayer has power. Not only to bring about healing and restoration, but also to compel non-believers to acknowledge God’s existence. Prayer has power, yet we often only resort to prayer in times of hardship and disaster. I wonder how many miracles we miss by only resorting to prayer when our lives are turned upside down?
Olivia Fairfax is an assistant editor for Adventist Record.
