Burpo, a pastor and the author of “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back” spoke at three separate events in Fairfield Friday.
At a lunchtime speech at Fairfield West Baptist Church, Burpo shared his story of how his son, Colton, had to have emergency surgery 11 years ago when his appendix burst. Waking from surgery, Colton would tell his parents in the days and months that followed of how to went to heaven, where he met Jesus, his grandfather who he knew little about, and his miscarried sister.
As a pastor, Burpo said he had to share his son’s story.
“For a four-year-old to come back and say ‘this is what I saw,’ — you need to tell the world,” he said.
The book is a New York Times best seller, and a movie deal based off the book is in the works, he said. A children’s book based of Colton’s story will soon be available for purchase.
The lunchtime speech at Fairfield West Baptist Church was schedule after two scheduled speeches at Fairfield Senior High School sold out within days.
Dorothy Banette of Fairfield said she after reading the book, she decided to wanted to attend.
“It’s great for the community and hopefully it brings a lot of people to know, really know, Jesus,” she said.
“God has a great place in store for us. Amen,” Burpo said at the end of his speech.
Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237 or Kelsey.Cano@coxinc.com.
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