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Will there ever come a day where (a) the term influencer will no longer be used, and (b) people will no longer be able to make a career out of just being one of those influencers? I hope so. In fact, I pray it will happen.
See? Now there is a reasonable thing to ask our God in Heaven above to grant someone. Unlike, say, resurrecting the dead.
Before we get too far into this strange story, let me be very clear. Losing one’s child, regardless of age, has to be one of the most devastating things that can happen to a human being.
This is what happened to Andrew and Kalley Heiligenthal, two Christian influencers, when their two-year-old daughter reportedly died unexpectedly last week.
Questioning God and begging him to not let it be real is a 100 percent understandable reaction. I can’t imagine the pain they are going through right now, and I am well aware that everyone grieves in their own way.
However…
Starting up a GoFundMe page immediately after unexpectedly losing a two-year-old child with the stated goal of raising $100,000? Does anyone else find that to be (a) a little inappropriate, and (b) fishy AF?
“We’re asking for prayer. We believe in a Jesus who died and conclusively defeated every grave, holding the keys to resurrection power,” Kalley Heiligenthal wrote on Instagram along with a photo of their daughter. “We need it for our little Olive Alayne, who stopped breathing yesterday and has been pronounced dead by doctors. We are asking 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. It’s time for her to come to life.”
Pretty odd, right?
Don’t tell that to all the people who commented on the post, with statements like “We are with you, for you, behind you, believing and praying!!!! DO THE IMPOSSIBLE GOD!” and “Yes Olive!!! WAKE UP LITTLE GIRL” and “With you my friend and Absolutely praying for a miracle” and “Her time here is not done, come to life Olive. Standing with you.”
Or the people who have already donated OVER $43,000 to their cause.
Along with the overwhelming shock and devastation of losing their daughter are the unforeseeable expenses the Heiligenthal family will incur, medical and otherwise.
We have set up a gofundme in an effort to support the Heiligenthals. Please join us with your prayer, your solidarity, and your financial support.
Hard to believe, but people are more than a little bit skeptical of this plea for money to help with the Heiligenthal’s “unforeseeable expenses.”
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1206756922642161664This is so weird. We’re praying for a miracle but um we also might need $100,000 k thnx
— Chrissy Stroop (@C_Stroop) December 16, 2019
This is cruelty that feeds on the vulnerable and naive. This should be criminal. #EmptyThePews
— To Me, It Matters (@SheBleeds) December 16, 2019
Since they’re asking for people everywhere to pray, the excuse will be that not enough people prayed enough and/or didn’t donate enough money. Or the usual “god works in mysterious ways” line.
Odd they say her time here wasn’t done. Doesn’t that spit in the face of god’s plans?
— My Anxiety Will Not Stop Me (@1980Phoenix) December 17, 2019
Oh dear Lord. I'm a Christian and this is so sad. This is a cult. And what is the money for? Do they think God charges for miracles/resurrections? I must have missed that part in the bible. They've raised over 15K so far!
— DebbieM🇺🇸🇺🇦🏳️🌈 NO FBR Lists!*Biden/Harris (@MkdDebbie) December 17, 2019
The website Hallels.com, a “Christian music web portal,” posted a story titled “The Christian Music Community Surrounds Kalley Heiligentha in Prayer as Daughter Stops Breathing” that read in part, “Kalley has revealed that her baby daughter has stopped breathing. The doctors have pronounced her dead. At this time, no cause or reason has been given to why Olive Alayne Heiligenthal has stopped breathing.”
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1206669615801257984Meanwhile, Kalley keeps posting photos to Instagram proclaiming her hope for her daughter’s resurrection.
“Day 3 is a really good day for resurrection,” she wrote. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude by your outpouring of love for us and faith for Olive. Jesus is Faithful and True and He’s riding in with the victory He bought for Olive. Olive Alayne means “victorious awakening”. We call on the mighty all-sufficient name of Jesus and we call you back by name, sweet girl. You will live. Thank you for your faith-filled declarations, keep them coming. Worship Jesus with us, He is moving, He is good, He is worthy and He is alive.”
The next day, four days following her daughter’s passing, Kalley wrote, “Day 4 is a really good day for resurrection. All hail, make way for King Jesus! Thank you so much for joining your faith to ours, we feel your strength and radical belief. Keep declaring life over Olive Alayne with us. “It is finished” were His last words before bursting back in resurrection life, so we’re not done. It is finished, so we’re not done. This is awakening. Come alive, Olive!”
On Wednesday she wrote, “Day 5 is a really good day for resurrection. I’ve never been more grateful for Jesus. He is endlessly worthy of our love, trust, faith and risk.”
Thoughts and prayers to the entire Heiligenthal family. They are certainly going to need them, one way, or another.