by Kelly Elbert –
CLEAR LAKE – The New York Times Best Seller Todd Burpo spoke to thousands of North Iowans who filled the Clear Lake High School gymnasium Wednesday night at an event sponsored by several North Iowa churches, businesses, and individuals. The Nebraska Pastor is the author of a Christian book entitled “Heaven is for real: A little boy’s astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back.”
In 2003, the Burpo family’s life changed forever when their three year old son Colton (pictured, right, courtesy of Jenna Wise; singing “Amazing Grace” below) was misdiagnosed with the flu instead of a burst appendix and was rushed into the emergency room for emergency surgery. According to Pastor Burpo, it was there in the waiting room that he spouted an angry, resentful prayer to God. “I was mad at God. I told him, “God, after all I’ve done for you, is this how you treat your pastors?” Much to Todd and Sonya’s relief, their son survived.
According to Todd and his wife, Sonja Burpo, in the months after Colton’s recovery, their toddler son began to share his experiences of his trip to heaven during that hospital stay. He said he met Jesus. According to his parents, he recognized his grandfather in a picture he had never seen before who had died 30 years before his birth. His mother, Sonja, told the audience that Colton even knew of the miscarriage that she had before he was born and had met his sister in Heaven.
Pastor Burpo used his son’s story in his sermons, and according to him it was evident that the tale was an inspiration. He and his family decided to share their story with the world. By April of 2011, the book had sold over a million copies and spent 65 weeks at number one on the New York Times’ bestseller list, and Sony has just bought the rights to make a film adaptation.
Todd Burpo said that while there will always be naysayers and that he himself was a skeptic, his son’s story has never wavered. He admitted that he lost approximately a third of his congregation due to their feelings about the book, yet he still travels the nation to share his story.
Jenna Wise of Manly attended the event. She told North Iowa Today that a friend who was having troubles told her to read “Heaven is for real” and she loved it. “It was the first book that I read front to back. It made me feel better after my grandma died” Jenna had one question for Colton; she asked him if pets went to Heaven. According to Jenna, Colton simply said “Heaven is perfect.”
The crows in the CLHS gym
Sonja Burpo, Todd Burpo Pete Hjelmstad acting as MC
I saw the Burpo’s that evening, and was it ever humbling to see thousands gather in one place to hear the same message. And I LOVED how the emphasis from the Burpo’s point of view was to make this an evening of worship, which is what it turned out to be. 🙂 Thank you!
How did an unbaptized fetus get into heaven?
Who cares if they are making money on their book? Nothing wrong with people having faith, and sharing their story of how they found their faith. I think part of the decay in society today is that too many people don’t have faith in God or go to church. Whether you believe in God or not, there’s something to be said for living by the simple 10 commandments, which are morals and standards. Some people need faith in their lives and you shouldn’t put that down.
When the bible thumpers stop putting people down for not believing maybe people will treat them better. Just because you don’t believe in God doesn’t mean you don’t have morals. They claim God and all in the bible are facts and we should have faith. If that was true they wouldn’t need faith. I don’t have faith that the sun will come up tomorrow because I know it will.
Please tell me this book is in the fiction section.
what an amazing story from this little fellow…..I saw their family and they are wonderful. thank you for everyone who had a part in bringing them to Clear Lake……
Thank you Kelly~ Very well written.
WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY!!! AMEN
I have always believed that heaven is real….this is an amazing thing:)