Chris Lindberg: I know that God will protect us and our extremely important prayer event. The world needs us at this time.
God: I tried, but you didn’t listen. Why do you suppose I gave you public health guidelines and sent you a warning tornado? Enjoy your COVID, numbnuts. If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll make sure you get the mild version.
‘God will protect us’: Alberta prayer event now linked to at least 29 COVID-19 cases
In the weeks leading up to a prayer and worship event on his family farm in Deadwood, Alta., evangelist Chris Lindberg acknowledged he wasn’t sure if he would go ahead with the gathering this summer due to COVID-19 concerns.
But ultimately, “the Lord has spoken to me,” he said in a Facebook video. There’s never been a more pivotal moment for Christians and concerned citizens to come together, he said.
“I know that God will protect us and use us to shake this nation.”
At least 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases in western Canada have now been linked to the event, called It Is Time Canada, which was held in the hamlet in northwestern Alberta from July 30 to Aug. 2.
On Monday afternoon, health officials in Alberta said they were aware of 12 COVID-19 cases connected to the event. In a statement, an Alberta Health spokesperson advised anyone who had attended or been in close contact with someone who had been at the event to book a test online and monitor for symptoms.Earlier in the day, northern B.C. health officials issued an alert saying they had linked 17 COVID-19 cases of their own to the same event. Twelve of the cases were due to attendance at the event, while the remaining five were believed to be from secondary exposures.
Another two dozen people have been identified as “close contacts” and are in self-isolation with daily monitoring by public health officials.
The majority of these cases are said to be in the Fort St. John area, “however the exposure alert applies to all of northeast B.C.,” the alert said.“Contact tracing and testing has also identified that some individuals may be at risk of secondary transmission, from contact with cases related to attendance at the event.”
Lindberg did not respond to the Star’s requests for comment. But in a Facebook post Aug. 9, he acknowledged that “a few people” who were at the event had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
“They did not have the symptoms when they were at the event. … I do believe it was an incredible time that we had and keep praying in faith with us that nothing will take away from all that God did.”
Three days later, on Aug. 12, Lindberg posted a video saying he had tested positive for the virus.
“It is true. There was some COVID that happened. You’re looking at a guy right now that has COVID. I am diagnosed with COVID. And I am in quarantine here until the 17th of August. I thank God I don’t know of anyone else in this area that’s got COVID.”
And that tornado I mentioned? It’s the devil’s fault, naturally. It must be nice to have things both ways all the time. I can’t imagine how it must feel to willingly live in the constant state of delusion and nonsense required to be this religious.
“It really feels like the devil is trying to stop this event,” said Lindberg. “We’ve had so much challenge with the event this year. But I also believe with all my heart God has called us to do it and it’s going to be one of the most impacting most powerful events that I’ve been involved with. … It’s going to take more than that for the devil to stop us.”
