Life and people

Bethel lays to rest resurrection as Olive is buried

By Danielle Jarvis

As two year-old Olive Heiligenthal was laid to rest, the church and her parents finally have closure.

Olive went down for her day sleep just a few weeks ago and never woke up. Her parents, Andrew and Kalley Heiligenthal, along with their church, Bethel Church in northern California, asked for Christians to pray for a miracle.

Kalley has been a worship leader and songwriter at Bethel Church and with Bethel Music since 2014. She also serves as 2nd Year Worship Pastor for Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.

“We’re asking for prayer,” she commented in an Instagram post at the time. “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.”

Olive was buried recently, giving the church closure.

“Yesterday our community buried little Olive Heiligenthal,” Bethel worship leader Jenn Johnson stated on Instagram. “The past two weeks I have been at a loss for words. Four of the past five years, Brian and I have contended for life with someone on our team or family during the holidays. One lived, three died. It has been brutal.

“And this year with Olive, I was just angry. Not angry at God, but at the great loss for this family and another year of loss for our family at the holidays. But Andrew and Kalley’s faith and contending revived a fire in our community and around the world. They are heroes.”

The church’s senior pastor, Brian Johnson, released a video explaining why the church was believing for a miracle.

Olive’s mom, Kalley, took to Instagram to comment. “Olive, we miss you, love you so much and we’ll see you soon,” she said. “We know now more than ever that King Jesus is good and His every word is worth believing and following at any cost. That’s the song we’ll sing until we’re with you again and we finally sing it together. We cannot wait.

“It’s a new day, and we’re awake for it. This is a victory story.”

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