Pastor and best-selling author John Loren Sandford died March 30, 2018. He was 88.
In 1975, Sandford founded Elijah House with Paula, his first wife, who died in 2012. The ministry posted on Facebook the day of his passing: “It is with sadness, but great rejoicing that we at Elijah House say goodbye to our beloved founder, John Loren Sandford. He passed into glory this morning at 4:49 a.m. PDT. His wife, Marte, and all of his family would appreciate your prayers.”
Sandford graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity in Religion and Personality. He pastored churches in Illinois, Kansas and Idaho for 21 years before founding Elijah House. The ministry, based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, offers prayer ministry and training in prayer and the prophetic.
The Elijah House site observes that the Sanfords “traveled extensively, teaching the biblical principles of repentance and forgiveness behind inner healing, highlighting the transforming power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They are considered pioneers in the prophetic and inner healing movements. Their vision was to reveal that which keeps believers bound in repetitive sin, by, as John—and Elijah House—still says today, ‘evangelizing the unbelieving areas of the believer’s heart.'”
The Sandfords both experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1958, which “enriched their ministry,” the Elijah House website says. They were married in 1951 and had six children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Four years after Paula’s passing, Sandford married Marte Pierson.
Sandford was also known for his many books, including Transforming the Inner Man, Letting Go of Your Past, The Elijah Task, Deliverance and Inner Healing and Why Good People Mess Up.
Elijah House invites words of encouragement or letters “to let the family know how John had impacted your life, through his books or ministry.” These can be sent to [email protected].
