The Neumann family has ties to the "Unleavened Bread Minstries," a little-known church that shuns modern medicine in favor of prayer. A statement posted on the organization's Web site by the founder, David Eells, says the Neumanns "contacted one of our elders to ask that I call them to pray for their daughter. That elder got in touch with me Saturday evening and I called the Neumanns."
Eells also wrote that the Neumanns have posted testimonials on their Web site but are not "'under' our minstry."
Eells does say his church does not believe in the the medical intervention.
"We are not commanded in scripture to send people to the doctor but to meet their needs through prayer and faith. As anyone here in the ministry will tell you, we are not against doctors for those who have their faith there and never condemn or restrict them in any way," Eells writes. "But we know that the best one to trust in for healing is Jesus Christ. The foundation for receiving this benefit from Him is repentance and faith in His promises."
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But authorities believe the girl, who was enrolled in a local public school until last spring and this fall has been homeschooled, was likely ill for several days, perhaps longer, before her death Sunday.
In the interview, Leilani Neumann said that she is not worried about the police investigation because her family's lives are "in God's hands" and they know that they did the best thing for their daughter that they knew how to do.
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In one chapter of his book "Sovereign God for Us and Through Us," Eells writes about the need to rely on God to face corporal sickness. "We cannot get anyone out from under a curse except through the Gospel," Eells wrote. "Sometimes God is merciful, but we cannot guarantee God's deliverance to those who do not walk under the blood."
The Unleavened Bread Minstries is not the only church to attract the attention of law enforcement in connection with members refusing medical help.
The Christian Science church is one of the largest and perhaps best-known churches to favor divine spiritual healing over medicine. The church generally considers sickness as the result of fear or sin and looks down upon drugs and surgery. Still, the Christian Science church does not literally forbid church members from seeking medical attention.
