In the realm of spiritual giants, few names resonate with the quiet intensity and unwavering faith of Rees Howells. Known as the Intercessor, Howells lived a life fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit, wielding prayer like a sword—not in public platforms, but in secret places of warfare that shaped the course of history.
Born in Wales in 1879, Howells lived during a time of global upheaval. His life was marked by radical obedience, supernatural provision, and an uncommon burden for intercession that led him to stand in the gap for nations, revival, and most famously, against the rise of Adolf Hitler during World War II.
Intercession During World War II
As the founder of the Bible College of Wales, Howells gathered his staff and students not just for theological training but for spiritual battle. When Hitler’s forces threatened to swallow Europe, Howells believed that God had called him to resist Nazi tyranny in prayer. While the war was being fought on the battlefield, it was also being fought in the spirit.
Every day, they would gather in the college to pray—sometimes for hours, sometimes days—believing that their intercession could influence world events. They specifically prayed for the miracle of Dunkirk, the halting of Hitler’s advance, and the protection of Britain. Many of the breakthroughs that historians now call “miraculous” coincided with the specific burdens of prayer carried by Howells and his team.
While they never took credit, they truly believed they were called to be watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 33:7)—not passive observers, but divine partners in the unfolding story of history.
His Legacy
Rees Howells passed away in 1950, but his life continues to stir believers around the globe. His example teaches us that intercession is not a secondary ministry—it is central to the heart of God. He didn’t just pray about problems. He prayed through them until the breakthrough came.
His son, Samuel Rees Howells, continued the vision and upheld the call to intercession, carrying the mantle into the decades that followed.
To this day, the Bible College of Wales, now restored by Pastor Colin Dye and the ministry of Cornerstone Singapore, still carries that legacy—training intercessors who dare to believe that prayer can shape nations.
10 Memorable Quotes from Rees Howells
- “The intercessor must be dead to everything but the will of God.”
- “If I could only make men see what real prayer is, I believe I would be doing more for the cause of Christ than anything else.”
- “God is raising up a people who will not accept the dictates of the enemy.”
- “An intercessor is one who is in such an agony until he gets the thing he is praying for.”
- “The Holy Ghost is not given for our enjoyment, but for our empowerment.”
- “You can never be the same after God has made you an intercessor.”
- “You cannot claim a vision from God and remain the same man.”
- “We are called to pray the price, not just pay the price.”
- “There is a world of difference between a prayer warrior and an intercessor—one prays, the other becomes the prayer.”
- “Faith is not hoping God can—faith is knowing He will.”
A Final Word
Rees Howells didn’t leave behind best-selling books or large crusades. He left behind a life laid down—a legacy of intercession that challenged the powers of darkness and changed the course of a generation.
In a world still shaken by war, division, and fear, the call to intercession is louder than ever. The question is—will we answer it?
