Abram Jessie Curles almost died when he was 10 years old. His sister bit him on the knee, and six months later, he woke up paralyzed.
“I could feel pain and thought I was going to die. The doctors at Shands Children’s Hospital were completely baffled, and issued a grim prognosis to my mother,” Jessie said.
But his mom, Betty Perrish, knowing where her hope comes from, made her way to the hospital chapel to pray for her son’s healing.
“Early on, my mother had gotten a vision of me preaching,” Jessie said. “So, she reminded God of that vision, and asked what was going on, since it looked as if I were going to die.”
Betty received very specific instructions from God: “God said, ‘Go tell the doctors Jessie was bitten on the knee six months ago.’”
Jessie was rushed into emergency surgery, and an infection was discovered from the human bite and removed. However, the family was told that Jessie would never walk again. The doctors told them his left leg would never grow because they had to cut tendons. The physicians said Jessie would never play sports and would always have to wear a prosthetic shoe. So, little Jessie asked his mother if all that was true, and she said, “You will not have ANY of those malfunctions.”
Betty rebuked the predictions and announced: “No, he’s going to preach and will be just fine.” Three weeks after the surgery, Jessie was walking. His left leg grew as normal. No prosthetics were needed, and sports? Well, that’s where things took a dramatic turn.
“My nickname as a young man was ‘Her Prodigal Son,’” Jessie said.
Instead of realizing the power of God’s healing and leaning into his mother’s prayers, Jessie became mesmerized by the sport of wrestling and developed a serious drinking problem.
“Because of my addictive personality, alcohol almost ended my life several times,” Jessie said. “Plus, God also spared my life on numerous occasions while on the road.”
As a professional wrestler, Jessie fought in all of the Southern states under various names, including Cowboy Jessie Dalton.
“I was able to share the ring with some of the world’s brightest wrestling superstars. I also wrestled for three of the world’s largest organizations: World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling, and American Wrestling Association, along with many regional, independent promoters.”
When Jessie got married, his wife, Renee, asked him to go to church with her.
“I continued to wrestle while I was going to church,” Jessie said, “But one day the Spirit of the Lord told me to quit. So, I began searching Him out, spending time in His Word, and eventually felt the calling to preach, just like Mama had prophesied. I finally surrendered my heart over to the Lord after the demonic spirits were broken off of my life. Since I met Jesus, my insecurities from losing my father when I was only 4 years old have been washed away.”
It was very difficult for Jessie to stop the sport of wrestling, because he had put in 20+ years, but the stronger he became in the Word of God, the draw of wrestling became weaker. He stopped drinking, too.
“And that’s what I want people to understand—It is through a relationship with Jesus that makes a difference. It’s not just praying a prayer and trying to do better to fight off the fiery darts of the enemy,” Jessie said. “People need to understand how to put on the Full Armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-19.)
Fortunately, Jessie’s mom was able to see her prayers answered. She watched her prodigal come to the Lord to get saved, become a gospel singer, and ultimately enter the ministry.
Today, Pastor Abram Jessie Curles ministers at the Oasis of Love Tabernacle in Bayou George, Florida. Along with his wife of 30 years, he ministers at the Bay County Jail and operates a food bank that feeds hundreds of people in need each month.
“I truly believe God spared my life so I could pray for the sick and see miracles done,” Jessie said. “We watch in amazement as oxygen tanks and arm braces come off. People are delivered and set free. In fact, many of our healings have actually been documented on video. I knowit’s authentic, because I’ve been there and experienced God’s extraordinary healing grace. The healing power of God overrides medicine every time, and we witness it every week.”
For more information about Oasis of Love Tabernacle, and to get in touch with Pastor Jessie Curles, visit oasisoflovetabernaclebayougeorge.com.
