‘I am heartbroken’: Wife’s despair after shock death of ‘healing’ evangelist

The wife of an Australian ‘healing’ evangelist has shared her grief over his death while hundreds have left tributes to the down to earth preacher lauded for his compassion for people.

John Mellor, who travelled the world as a 'healing' evangelist, has died after a short illness.

The wife of an Australian ‘healing’ evangelist has shared her grief over his death, saying she is devastated and ‘still in shock and disbelief’.

Sunshine Coast based preacher John Mellor made headlines around the world after praying for the sick, featuring on television current affairs shows and in newspaper articles.

The down to earth Aussie with a big sense of humour once famously prayed for A Current Affair journalist Nick Coe who reported on camera ‘a warm tingling sensation’ spreading across his spine as he was prayed for a neck injury he had for 16 years.

“It is real. I can feel it,’’ he says in the piece.

It followed huge meetings at Suncoast Christian Outreach Centre at Woombye where people were seen to get out of wheelchairs and report being pain free after long term ailments.

Australian evangelist John Mellor with his wife Julie.

Mr Mellor, who has travelled around the world preaching in front of thousands of people, was described by his wife Julie as the ‘loveliest, kindest, most pure-hearted and fun-loving man and husband that ever lived’

“It was an honour and joy to be his wife and serve God with him. He was my best friend and the greatest companion. I am heartbroken. My whole world has disappeared and I’m at a complete loss.”

John Mellor pictured during an Ipswich visit. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times

Mrs Mellor said her husband had devoted more than 47 years to sharing the Christian gospel, after his own conversion at the age of 20.

In that time, he had brought ‘thousands of people’ to God.

John Mellor, formerly of Brisbane, was described as a down to earth Australian preacher who believed in faith healing.

This publication understands Mr Mellor died after a brief illness, which he shared only with a close inner circle of supporters.

“Though John was a public figure, he and I are very private people. For the sake of John’s dignity and privacy, I choose not to share any details of John’s passing, so please don’t ask,’’ Mrs Mellor posted.

John Mellor with his wife Julie. "He was my best friend and the greatest companion. I am heartbroken. My whole world has disappeared and I’m at a complete loss.’

“I want to thank all of the pastors around the world, family and close friends who supported us in faith and prayer, believing Jesus for a miracle. John has now received his miracle and reward in heaven.”

Mrs Mellor was herself an atheist for most of her life. A former high school teacher, she has three degrees from Melbourne University and a Master’s degree from Cambridge University.

Sunshine Coast preacher John Mellor has been remembered by his wife Julie as the ‘loveliest, kindest, most pure-hearted and fun-loving man and husband'.

After going on her own personal trauma, she began her own journey for healing and eventually became a Christian after picking up a Gideon’s New Testament.

John Mellor worked in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Mr Mellor, who grew up in Brisbane, began his ministry among the Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory after himself battling depression, anxiety, fear and alcoholism.

It was there, his ‘healing’ ministry began as he prayed for sick people in remote communities.

John Mellor praying for the sick at one of his meetings.

In more recent years, he travelled the world with his wife posting videos of healing testimonies. His ministry had more than 20,000 followers on Facebook and YouTube.

Former president of the Christian Outreach Centre, where Mr Mellor was a pastor, Neil Miers, said Mr Mellor was a ‘gentleman’ who genuinely loved people and would often pray for them ‘three or four times’ until they had been ‘set free’.

“He certainly had a passion to see people saved, healed and set free,’’ Ps Miers said.

Paul Borg, four times world champion blind yachtsman, who had suffered from macular degeneration for 11 years, told of being able to see his grandchildren for the first time after repeated prayer from Mr Mellor over several nights.

Ps Miers said people had travelled from as far away as China to attend meetings on the Sunshine Coast.

“He certainly had a special gift,’’ Ps Miers said.

John Mellor speaking on Christian television during an overseas trip.

Mr Mellor himself never claimed to be able to heal people, and admitted that not everyone would be healed.

“It‘s not me who heals,’’ Mr Mellor told the Sunshine Coast Daily back in 2012. “It’s the presence of God released through prayer and faith that heals these people.”

At the time, Mr Mellor said he had seen everything from the blind seeing again to people with terminal cancers making a full recovery.

A public memorial is expected to be held for Mr Mellor on the Sunshine Coast in early April.

Originally published as ‘I am heartbroken’: Wife’s despair after shock death of ‘healing’ evangelist