There is nothing more unnatural for a parent than to survive his/her child especially when the latter is just two years old. Last December 14^th, Olive stopped breathing “and died shortly afterwards. She was taken off life support, with her remains subsequently moved to a coroner’s office.”

Prayers were naturally offered to the grieving family but what made this news attract not only the attention of religion media but the mainstream as well is the plea of the mother, “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" in the belief that Olive’s “time here is not done.”

Her church “has put out messages saying that the power of prayer could bring back Olive from death.” One video purportedly shows its members chanting, “’Olive, come out of that grave in Jesus name,’ while waving olive branches around in the air.” They cite Scriptures as its basis for its plea with its “stories of healing and physical resurrection…and that the miracles they portray are possible today. There are references to resurrection in the Bible, and we believe that with God, nothing is impossible, even things like resurrection.”

Yes, the Bible is replete with accounts of people being raised back to life but unless I am mistaken, not one prayed for a resurrection. They were angry like the widow of Zarephath's son but she never asked. One was already dead but came to life when his body was manhandled. Some were raised on the initiative of Jesus, the prophets and apostles. The only prayers ever made were in the context of healing from illness but they died before Jesus could reach them. Still, the surviving families did not ask for a miracle from the grave.

To explain their confidence, the pastor cited an instance where the son of one of their members had medical issues was healed “during the period of prayer.” But there lies the difference. The boy never died.

Almost a week after Olive’s passing, the church has decided to move on: “We have sought a miracle from God to raise her from the dead. We realize this is out of the norm, but that’s what a miracle is – it’s outside the box of nature and our power…When you are a friend of God and know that He is your heavenly Father, you trust Him and ask for big, outlandish miracles.”

Before coming to a closure, the pastor admitted not knowing “when the church members would stop praying.” To that I say, “Don’t! Don’t stop praying! The family needs it now more than ever as it is forever minus one beloved member during this season of family togetherness.”