In March 2001, a phone call changed the Wommack family forever. Andrew Wommack, the well-known Bible teacher, was at a conference when he got the news. His son, Jonathan Peter Wommack, was dead. He hadn't just fainted or stopped breathing for a second. According to the reports, he had been dead for roughly five hours.
Most people would collapse. Honestly, that’s the human reaction. But the Jonathan Peter Wommack testimony isn't a story about grief; it’s the cornerstone of what the Wommack family teaches about the power of faith and the spoken word.
The Hospital Room and the Five-Hour Gap
It started in a hospital in Colorado. Jonathan had been brought in following a crisis—specifically, an overdose—and the medical report was grim. By the time Andrew and his wife Jamie were fully aware of the situation, the body had already been moved. People often ask, "Was he really dead?" According to the testimony, he had turned black. His body was cold. He was essentially sitting in a morgue-like setting, stripped and tagged.
Andrew didn't pray a "begging" prayer. You know the type. The "Oh God, please if it be your will" kind of prayer.
Instead, he and Jamie spoke to the body. They commanded life to return. They used the authority they believe every believer has. It sounds radical. To many, it sounds impossible. But five minutes into that focused, authoritative prayer, Jonathan Peter Wommack didn't just twitch. He sat up.
Why the Timeline Matters
The "five hours" is the part that usually trips people up. In a medical setting, brain death typically starts within minutes of the heart stopping. If someone is gone for five hours, there should be catastrophic neurological damage.
But the testimony claims there was none.
Jonathan didn't just wake up; he recovered fully. He was back to himself. No "vegetative state," no learning to walk again, no slur in his speech. For the Wommack ministry, this served as the ultimate "proof of concept" for their teachings on the Believer’s Authority.
Different Perspectives on the Event
Now, we’ve got to be real here. Not everyone buys the story.
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If you look at public records or statements from those outside the inner circle, like Desiree Wommack (Jonathan’s former spouse), the narrative shifts slightly. She has alleged that the situation was a medical revival following an overdose at the hospital rather than a supernatural resurrection in a morgue.
This creates two very different versions of the same night:
- The Supernatural Account: Jonathan was dead for five hours, moved to the morgue, and raised purely by the command of faith.
- The Medical Account: Jonathan suffered a severe overdose, was clinically dead or near-death, and was resuscitated by medical staff in a hospital setting.
Andrew has remained steadfast. He uses this story as a primary example in his book A Better Way to Pray. To him, the medical details don't diminish the miracle; they just provide the canvas for it.
The Practical Side of "Raising the Dead"
What does this actually mean for you? Even if you aren't looking to raise someone from the dead, the Jonathan Peter Wommack testimony offers a specific psychological and spiritual framework.
It’s about "the law of faith."
Basically, the idea is that God has already provided everything—healing, prosperity, peace—and it’s up to the person to "release" it. When Andrew heard his son was dead, he reportedly refused to let his emotions take the lead. He focused on a single thought: Life.
Lessons from the Testimony
- Control the Atmosphere: Andrew often talks about how he had to get "unbelief" out of the room. He didn't want people crying or mourning around him while he was trying to stand in faith.
- Speak to the Problem: In this theology, you don't talk to God about the mountain; you talk to the mountain about God.
- The Power of Words: The belief is that words are containers. They carry either life or death.
Moving Forward with This Knowledge
Whether you view this as a literal resurrection or a dramatic medical recovery, the impact on the Wommack ministry was massive. It moved their teachings from the realm of "theory" to "reality" for thousands of followers.
If you're looking to apply the principles found in this testimony to your own life, start with your internal dialogue. Watch how you talk about your "dead" situations—whether that's a failing business, a broken relationship, or a health struggle.
Identify your "Mountain"
Take a look at the biggest obstacle in your life right now. Are you begging for it to go away, or are you speaking to it with authority?
Audit your Circle
Andrew was very intentional about who he let near him during that crisis. If you are going through a hard time, surround yourself with people who speak life, not just those who want to "cry with you."
Study the Mechanics
If this interests you, look into Andrew Wommack’s teachings on The Believer's Authority. It goes deeper into the "how" behind the Jonathan Peter Wommack testimony. It’s less about being "special" and more about understanding what you believe you already have.