Faith That Moves People

Last Saturday, Kalley Heiligenthal (a worship leader at Bethel Church in Redding, CA) lost her two year old daughter. Here is the text from the post she shared on Instagram:

We’re asking for prayer. We believe in a Jesus who died and conclusively defeated every grave, holding the keys to resurrection power. 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.

I just became a Dad a little over three months ago to a sweet little girl. Hearing things like this shake me to my core. It’s my biggest fear and I’ve had several times where I’ve woken up in the night in a panic that something has happened to her.

Their response though has undone me. I’ve watched over the last four days as they’ve gathered in worship sessions and prayer meetings to contend for this little girl. To some this seems like a desperate display of grief and an extravagant denial of the facts. To me and to hundreds of thousands of people around the world, it is an unbelievable leap of faith into the arms of a Father that they trust. The most moving clip I’ve seen is one of Kalley leading worship the day after all of this happened. It was the most beautiful picture of a child dependent on their Dad, crying out for a breakthrough. It was vulnerable and raw and it was real.

You may say that resurrection is impossible and I’d have to agree with you. It turns out though that my entire relationship with God and the foundation of my life is built on the impossible. An innocent man who was dead for three days defeated death and broke out of a sealed tomb. Before He left, he declared:

“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do — even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father! For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory to him. Ask me anything in my name, and I will do it for you!”

— John 14:12–14 (TPT)

So to Kalley and the people surrounding her family at Bethel, I want to say:

Thank you. Thank you for stepping outside of your circumstances and leaning into the God that you’ve learned to know and love. The God that you’ve pursued and the God that has pursued you. Thank you for being an example of raw faith and vulnerability. Thank you for walking upright and in the wisdom of the Kingdom. You have unleashed something in my heart that has long been pent up. You have unleashed something in our country that will not be shut down.

And to sweet Olive:

You leave behind and incredible legacy. Your two years here were too short, yet your peace and grace has been made evident even from afar. Your parents love for you and love for our Papa has left a lasting impact on hundreds of thousands of hearts. Rest deeply in His embrace.