Posted on 12/23/2019 11:22:12 AM PST by Gamecock
A Christian megachurch in California is soliciting prayers and US$100,000 in donations on behalf of two of its members, who are holding out hope that Jesus will “resurrect” their recently deceased toddler.
Kalley and Andrew Heiligenthal say their daughter, Olive Alayne, passed away on Dec. 14 at the age of two.
Kalley is a well-known singer at the Bethel megachurch in Redding, Calif., and she shared the news of her family tragedy with her 262,000 followers on Instagram Sunday.
“We’re asking for prayer. We believe in a Jesus who died and conclusively defeated every grave, holding the keys to resurrection power,” she wrote in the post.
“We need it for our little Olive Alayne, who stopped breathing yesterday and has been pronounced dead by doctors.”
The post goes on to ask for “bold unified prayers from the global church to stand with us in belief that He will raise this little girl back to life. Her time here is not done, and it is our time to believe boldly, and with confidence wield what King Jesus paid for.
More than 151,000 people had liked the post and another 16,000 users left comments by Thursday. A majority of the comments encouraged her to keep hoping for the child’s resurrection.
Her cause of death has not been released. However, the Redding Police Department confirmed that they responded to a medical call early on Dec. 14. “It resulted in a death,” Sgt. Brian Torum told McClatchy News.
The Heiligenthals are clearly being encouraged by the Bethel Church, a powerful Christian organization in Redding that claims to have approximately 11,000 followers and nearly half a million fans on Facebook. Bethel also has its own TV service, music label and media wing, and it’s in the middle of building a $96-million campus for itself in Redding.
The Bethel Church says it recently held its first-ever prayer service dedicated to a person’s resurrection. The group’s pastor, Bill Johnson, explained in a video on Wednesday that resurrection is possible because “we have biblical precedent; Jesus raised the dead.”
Johnson did not say how long the church would pray for a resurrection.
“Bethel Church believes in the stories of healing and physical resurrection found in the Bible (Matthew 10:8), and that the miracles they portray are possible today,” the church told the Redding Record and Spotlight newspaper on Tuesday.
The girl’s body has been at the Shasta County Coroner’s Office since it was transferred there from the hospital on Dec. 14, Bethel Church told local station KRCR News.
The church has set up a GoFundMe page to raise US$100,000 for the family, although it does not specify exactly what the cash will be used for. The campaign had raised more than $44,000 by Thursday afternoon.
The GoFundMe page quotes Kalley Heiligenthal’s post about resurrecting her daughter, then calls for people to help “bless, honour and support the family in the coming days.”
“We have set up a gofundme in an effort to support the Heiligenthals,” wrote organizer Peter Mattis. “Please join us with your prayer, your solidarity and your financial support.”
GoFundMe says the campaign is not in violation of its terms of service.
The campaign story is clear in that the funds are for financial support for the Heiligenthal family, and the family is entitled to use the funds for a memorial service of their choice,” the fundraising platform told Global News in a statement.
Bethel Church told KRCR that the page was set up to cover unknown expenses for the family during this time — as well as future expenses for their child, who is still deceased.
The church and the Heiligenthals have drawn sharp criticism from some individuals who have accused them of trying to make money off the tragedy. Some have also chastized the church for encouraging an impossible goal, rather than helping the Heiligenthals deal with their unfortunate reality.
“This is either lunacy or a giant scam in the making,” Twitter user @5thTMNT wrote on Tuesday.
“This is so sad,” tweeted author Chrissy Stroop. “I have observed firsthand people getting psychologically destroyed, for years, because they didn’t get an expected miracle. Waiting for a resurrection, though, is next level unhealthy. But they also have a GoFundMe seeking $100,000 for … what?”
Kalley Heiligenthal has been posting daily messages on Instagram, saying that each day is a “good day for resurrection.”
Tens of thousands of people have replied to her posts. Many offer messages of support. Others have expressed sympathy for the couple’s loss while pointing out that their expectations might be unrealistic.
“Is she currently on life support?” one person wrote. “Just curious on how that works logistically if she’s been pronounced dead?”
So I've heard.
Preying on the grief of those praying is blasphemy. There will be a steep price to pay when it counts.
I detest these charlatans.
Please just bury the child and know she is happy and playing at the feet of Jesus, she will never be sick again, hurt or cry. And you will see her again if you believe.
Legit...
OK, can you please explain to me why they need a $100,000 GoFundMe account to pray for their daughter???
I did not see the monetary need...Did I miss something?
Far be it from me to denigrate some else’s religion but this is so awful and so sad. Let us pray that this little one’s parents find strength and solace in God’s love and find themselves a church that will not try to profit from their grief.
All prayers are answered...sometimes the answer is “No.” God has a reason for all things.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 55:8.
Don't worry. It was.
What exactly is the definition of a ‘megachurch’? Which member puts the growing, biblical church over the allowable member limit?
We never got to see his wife from the front, but from the back she had VERY long black hair, wore 5" heels and an ermine fur coat. She was wearing the donations.
Didn't call off the fundraiser, though:https://www.gofundme.com/f/heilifund
Unless it's changed, the fundraiser itself looks innocuous:
Early on December 14th, Kalley and Andrew Heiligenthal’s beautiful little girl, Olive Alayne, unexpectedly stopped breathing in her sleep. She was 2 years old, vivacious, full of wonder, full of life.Through all this, our desire is to bless, honor and support the family in the coming days. Please join us with your prayer, your solidarity, and your financial support.
We don’t want the parents to have any concerns over finances throughout this situation, nor do we want to limit the generosity of those who want to support the family. GoFundMe requires a “goal” however any amount for the family will be a blessing to them. All funds will go directly to the Heiligenthal family.
What exactly is the definition of a ‘megachurch’? Which member puts the growing, biblical church over the allowable member limit?
Two thousand attenders, I think, is the usual number considered to be a "mega"church.
Actually, now that you mention it, I don’t mind that. But if a guy named Hank Williams or Buck Owens tried to sell me something, I’d be skeptical!
Thank you for the accepted definition. Why are churches derided simply because of their attendance? After Peter’s first sermon, the church in Jerusalem was a ‘megachurch’. It is the adherence (or lack thereof) to the gospel and scripture that matters. Not the size.
Sounds a lot like an Oral Roberts shake-down threat. Donate or I’ll die.
we are told to pray”Thy will be done” not selfish our will be done. I guess these folks mossed that in Jesus prayer?
God does work all things for good for those who love Him and called according to HIS purposes.
I see this little girls passing as a time the family and congregation and all should see all the good God could do through the passing of this girl, instead this couple and others want to try to supercede God with their wants instead of His???
Mega Bump!
Praying for you. I can relate to some of your story and pain of loss. As other commentor said “unanswered prayer” or as I see it, some times the answer is different than what we wanted.
God’s glory is what every happening is supposed to be all about, not my wants. Some times God’s glory comes through a way that is in line with my wants and prayers to God and some times He reveals His glory through opposite what I prayed and wanted, by the growth He does in and through me and those around.
The lives touched through the person’s passing and even after the person is gone.(doctor’s, caregivers, friends, etc etc lots of people see and experience a portion of the events around a person’s illness and passing and maybe we never get to see big changes in other people God makes?) It’s amazing all the chain of events that God can use and string together from prayers answered as we want and those answered different than we wanted.
mayny years ago I grieved the loss of a loved one and could not bear to speak their name for 5 years without bursting into tears. more recent I lost an even coser loved one and by then I had grown to realize God does reveal His glory even our pain, God does work allthings - even the most tortuous happenings in our lives - for good.
Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart, and lean NOT on YOUR OWN understanding.....
He knows our pain. God had to deal with the death of His only begotten son. Thank God we believer’s know we will be reunited and have eternity together.
YES - there are those who believe answers to prayer should always be as they want. They are not following Jesus in my opinion.
God be with you always :)
See my post 26.
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