A Hillsong church member contracted the virus after skepticism about its affect and the vaccine
Tributes are pouring in on social media for Stephen Harmon, a 34-year-old congregant of Hillsong Church who died of COVID-19 after he posted jokes in regards to the pandemic.
Harmon, a graduate of Hillsong College, died Wednesday after a month-long bout with the coronavirus, The Daily Beast experiences. Prior to his loss of life, he shared a number of social media posts by which he appeared to not take the pandemic too severely.
(Credit: social media/Harmon)
He made memes about trusting his religion over Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“When you can’t trust the Bible cause it was written by man, but you trust the CDC/Fauci guidelines cause they were written by man,” he wrote. “Makes total sense.”
He additionally made mild of vaccine compliance efforts in a tweet earlier this month.
“Biden’s door to door vaccine ‘surveyors’ really should be called JaCovid Witnesses. #keepmovingdork,” Harmon tweeted on July 8. In June he wrote, “IF YOU’RE HAVING EMAIL PROBLEMS, I FEEL BAD FOR YOU, SON. I GOT 99 PROBLEMS BUT A VAX AIN’T ONE!”
But simply a day later, Harmon revealed to his followers that he had been recognized with COVID. His scenario deteriorated a few days later when he revealed he was “on max oxygen” and “struggling to function.”
His updates continued as he was recognized with bacterial pneumonia amid his COVID an infection. Last week, Harmon famous that his well being had declined and he was struggling to breathe. He said he was on “the max oxygen they can give me.”
“I’m overwhelmed by the kindness shown by so many of you over these last three weeks,” he said.
In his ultimate tweet on July 21, Harman requested supporters to hope for him previous to being intubated.
“Please pray y’all, they really want to intubate me and put me on a ventilator.
“Even the slightest movements and my heart rate skyrockets and oxygen dependency increases,” he tweeted.
i’m selecting to going below intubation, i’ve fought this factor as arduous as i can but sadly it’s reached a level of essential alternative & as a lot as i hate having to do that i’d reasonably or not it’s willingness than pressured emergency process. don’t know when i’ll get up, please pray,” he wrote.
Story continues
(Credit: Harmon/social media)
Brian Houston, president of the Hillsong megachurch, confirmed Harmon’s loss of life on Instagram.
“Stephen was just a young man in his early 30’s. He was a graduate from Hillsong College and a vital part of our church in California. He was one of the most generous people I know and he had so much in front of him. He would always turn up to our grandkids soccer games and he will be missed by so many. RIP.”
Houston said in a follow-up submit that Harmon “was one of the most generous people I know and he had so much in front of him.”
Harmon’s loss of life prompted social media customers to encourage others to take the COVID vaccine.
“RIP. Please get vaccinated everyone. This is too tragic. A young life lost way too soon,” one Instagram person wrote in a reply to Houston’s submit.
Houston additionally shared information of Harmon’s loss of life on Twitter, and whereas the message was met with combined responses from pro-vax people, many slammed the pastor for not urging church members to take the jab.
“Heartbreaking enough to have vaccinations done at your scam church? Stop killing people pastor. Tell them to get vaccinated. Do something good with all that power you have instead of just taking their money for your lifestyle,” one person commented below Houston’s submit.
Another wrote, “I’m sorry for your loss. God made brains and intellect; that became science and medicine, among other things. Taking vaccines is not an affront against faith. It is gratitude for all the glorious things that God has given us and faith in His messengers and works through others.”
A 3rd added, “It’s heartbreaking news. And it will happen over and over and over again if people don’t get vaccinated. Please stand up for human life. Please don’t let Stephen Harmon’s death be in vain. Please get vaccinated against Covid-19.”
Another person famous: “Viruses don’t suffer fools gladly, and being arrogant and reckless on top of that seems to attract their attention. A cautionary tale for others who still think they’re thinking when they think like Stephen Harmon.”
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s “Dear Culture” podcast? Download our latest episodes now!
TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com immediately!
The submit California man who said he had ’99 problems but a vax ain’t one’ dies from COVID-19 appeared first on TheGrio.
