our history


introducing jim gardner, Ph.D. LPc

This outreach to Uvalde was organized by Jim Gardner, Ph.D., LPC, a Christian counselor from Southeastern Oklahoma who has been in the mental health field for 45 years. He went to college as a young man to learn how to help other Christians to overcome emotional struggles and to find freedom. After completing nine years of college and receiving four degrees, he spent twenty-five years doing tradition counseling until he concluded that it was ineffective.  Then he attended a workshop presented by a pastoral counselor from Kentucky and was amazed at his stories about how he was seeing people being set free from grief, anger, shame, fear, depression, sexual abuse and many other types of disorders through a prayer-based counseling. Dr. Gardner learned to use this new approach and became very excited about it as he saw hundreds of people being set free from depression, trauma, depression, and all types of emotional problems. He wants to provide free training to pastors and churches in Uvalde to help "Heal Uvalde." (The photo, above, was taken twenty years ago). 

set free prayer ministry

Dr. Gardner began Set Free Prayer Ministry in 2008 after writing his first book, "Trading Pain for Peace." After learning the two basic prayer principles and seeing hundreds of people set free from grief, anger, shame, addiction and depression, He began doing seminars locally for pastors and churches in order to train believers how to help other find freedom. He has written five more books since 2008 and over two dozen small pamphlets to spread the news. 


Dr. Gardner went to Las Vegas in 2017 with a small team, after the shooting there that killed 59 people and provided training for a large church there, that continues to use this prayer ministry. He also went to Sutherland Springs, Texas after the tragic shooting of 20 people at a Baptist church there a month later. Having seen hundreds of people set free from all kinds of trauma, he felt compelled by the Lord to come to Uvalde to help people find healing in Jesus. 

Dr. Gardner's marriage

Dr. Gardner and his wife have been married for 50 years. They met in Chicago in 1969 at Emmaus Bible School and were married in 1972.  They had two children, James and Rachel, and have been involved in Bible churches, independent nondenominational churches, and Baptist churches throughout their entire marriage. Their daughter Rachel, shown in the photo above, died in 2019 from Cystic Fibrosis.

dr. gardner's children

Jim and Gloria Gardner have been married for 50 years and they have raised the two children pictured below. Their son James is a musician who received a master's degree in Music from the University of Miami, then he went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated with a master's degree in Ministry.  


Jim and Gloria's daughter, Rachel, died in 2019 from a genetic disorder known as Cystic Fibrosis and this was very traumatic for them. Fortunately, the Lord has healed them from this loss and they work to help others find healing from grief. James' wife, Juanita, was born and raised in Mexico, and she gained her full citizenship in 2022.  They were married in 2013 and James recently completed his training to become certified as a Chaplain in Little Rock, Arkansas. He and Juanita moved back to Poteau, Oklahoma when he completed his chaplaincy training in 2022. 

church affiliation

Dr. Gardner and his wife are members of Heavener First Baptist Church in Heavener, Oklahoma.  Dr. Gardner is well-known by the Leflore Baptist Association Director, Bentley Hill who can provide you more information about Dr. Gardner.  Dr. Gardner also has a counseling office in the Associational office. Bentley Hill can be contacted as follows: Bentley Hill: 918-658-4828        

endorsements

The following individuals are well acquainted with Jim Gardner are supportive of him and Set Free Prayer Ministry. They are familiar with his ministry, his Christian faith, and his family.

  • Bentley Hill, Leflore County Director of missions

    I had heard about Set Free Prayer Ministry for years, but it has only been in the last couple of years that I have had a front-row seat to witness its impressive effectiveness.  Dr. Jim Gardner is interested in more than temporary fixes; he seeks to see people achieve long-term results through the power of prayer.  In addition to sitting through the training myself, I have also heard the testimonies of those who have been set free through his ministry.  It's a blessing to see this life-changing ministry at work.  (918-658-4828)

  • carlos aguilar, pastor of primera iglesia bautista de poteau

    I have known Jim Gardner for over 10 years. He has helped several people that I referred to him from my church and people in town who came to me for help. He helped them through his prayer ministry, and it made a big difference in their lives. This prayer ministry really works!  "Soy el pastor, Carlos Aguilar. Doy testimonio que este ministerio de oracion funciona. Lo he mirado en personas que han llegado a experimentar este ministerio de oracion."   (918-839-3935)

set free prayer ministry consultants

The following three individuals have worked alongside Dr. Gardner for almost 10 years and are very experienced Prayer Ministers. They all have full-time jobs but are available to discuss cases and give advice to other Set Free Prayer Ministers who are learning to use the ministry. 

                              Nathan Tuck can be contacted at: 479-435-8377.

                              Michelle Miller can be contacted at:  918-774-7405

                              James Gardner is also available for consultation at 918-413-5640. 


NATHAN TUCK            MICHELLE MILLER       JAMES GARDNER  

CONSULTANTS from OTHER STATES

The following three individuals have known Dr. Gardner for many years and have been ministering as Set Free Prayer Ministers a long time. They have full-time jobs but are available to discuss cases and give advice to other Set Free Prayer Ministers who are learning to use the ministry.

                              Natalie Brown (Las Vegas, NV) can be contacted at 818-746-6117

                              Laurel Whatney (Sterling, KS) can be contacted at: 620-204-0518

                              Judy Day (Boise, Idaho) can be contacted at: 801-450-9483

                              


          NATALIE BROWN                            LAURELL WHATNEY                                       JUDY DAY