I'm skeptical here. I've seen stuff like this too. But whenever you dig a little bit, you find there were details omitted. I sincerely doubt this person could not clinically walk at all. However, they may have still been deemed disabled, and probably still are...
I too used to frequent churches, where a spiritual healer would be invited as a guest. He would summon God's power to heal some in the audience. One time, I decided to bring my uncle, whom has Cerebral Palsy. I asked if he could ask God to heal my uncle. His response was that he did not have time right now, and to make an appointment. I never saw him again.
Studies have been performed, to see if there exists any correlation between prayer for healing, and God's interaction. You stated "he may heal a person of a sickness.' Well, looks like he excludes, 100% of the time, cardiac patients, amputees, CP, etc...
Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer - PubMed
Seems as though God's healing is limited to specific tasks.
As a person who prays for the sick from time to time, I realize that God does not grant me healing, all the time. But I have had people return to me saying they received healing. Some examples:
- Woman with bad back, could not move furniture without pain, said she was healed after prayer, followed her up for a few years, to check if healing remained.
- Muslim man, who I prayed for said he received strength to his body after prayer, ask what it was to be a Christain
- Daughter of a friend had Ulcerative Colitis, prayed for, and received healing after prayer
- Disabled man whose lodge I visited and could not talk, started talking after prayer and fasting
The bible, which is God's word does not "guarantee healing", stating:
1Co 12:28 And God has put some in the church, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then those with wonder-working powers, then those with the power of taking away disease, helpers, wise guides, users of strange tongues.
Notice there are levels granted to people of gifting, some can perform great big miracles, some lesser, and some none.
I don't put much credit on the study you listed, for biblically, you can't just take a random team of prayers, and get them to intercede for people. You have to have people who actually are gifted by God.
And yes it is true the gift is rare. The reason is I have faults, in me, God can not flow through me powerfully unless I am pure of all of them. The same goes for other, people who pray for healing.