Heaven is For Real

Todd Burpo, father of then almost four year old Colton, will tell the story of what became the New York Times bestselling book, "Heaven is For Real." The rock band, "Read You and Me" will also play.
   Just two months before his fourth birthday, Colton Burpo was rushed into the Imperial, Nebraska emergency room with a burst appendix. Colton's parents, Todd Burpo, the pastor of Crossroad Wesleyan Church, and his mother Sonja were overjoyed that he survived the emergency appendectomy. They didn't expect, however, to hear the innocent and plainspoken stories that young Colton eventually started to tell them about his visit to heaven during that hospital stay. Over the next several months and years, the young boy would share his experiences of meeting long-departed family members, of seeing John the Baptist and even of meeting Jesus, who he said "really, really loves the children!"
Pastor Burpo began using some of his son's stories in his sermons and saw the impact they had on members of his congregation. Eventually, the Burpo family decided the experience needed to be shared with the public and contacted a small publishing house. Word of the book quickly spread and soon it was on the New York Times bestseller list.
   They are now on a jam-packed international tour, primarily going to metro areas. Clear Lake is the only Iowa or Minnesota location on their current schedule.
The Christian rock band "Read You and Me" recently joined the Burpos on the nationwide tour. They released their new album "EP Part II" in the spring of 2011.   The band's name comes from a quote attributed to Dwight L. Moody, an American evangelist and publisher who founded the famed Moody Bible Institute in the 1800s. "Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me." More information is available on their website www.readyouandme.com.
   The event is being sponsored by several North Iowa churches, businesses and individuals. Three friends who had read the book decided last fall that it would be a great experience for North Iowa and contacted the Burpo family. They have done the fundraising, coordination and publicity. Funds are still being raised toward an approximate cost of $7,500.00 including fees, airfare, accommodations and publicity. Any donations should be please made out to Real Heaven/CL and mailed to MBT Bank Highway Office, 1919 US Highway 18 East, PO Box 32   Clear Lake, IA   50428-00032. Any funds raised beyond the actual costs will be donated to the ministries listed on the website at www.hifrministries.org.
   North Iowa celebrity Pete Hjelmstad will be the emcee.
Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event, but the Burpos will not be doing a book signing because of the anticipated large crowd. The rain site will be at the Clear Lake High School gymnasium. People are encouraged to bring their own chairs to either location.

*The Clear Lake Public Library will hold a book discussion on Thursday, June 14th at 7pm.  The library will have multiple copies of Heaven is For Real available for loan.