Florida pastor arrested after church seen jammed for Sunday service during pandemic
I've heard this on the news today, and it made me cry thinking of persecuted Christians, but at the same time I felt overcome with joy that this sort of thing would never happen in Freehold - Mayor Hold would never allow it.
Quote:
A Florida pastor was arrested Monday at his home one day after his church was packed with worshippers, despite a local "safer-at-home" order that was designed to help curb the spread of coronavirus, reports CBS Tampa affiliate WTSP-TV. A live-stream of the service at The River at Tampa Bay Church showed its crowded main sanctuary.
According to WTSP, the sheriff told church leaders they were in direct violation of the order that was issued by Hillsborough County officials and went into effect Friday. It requires that businesses and organizations considered essential abide by social distancing guidelines and keep people 6 feet away from each other or shut down.
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Of course, the church had a Godly explanation for why it didn't obey the orders:
Quote:
In a statement posted earlier this month on Facebook and on its website, the church explained why it's keeping its doors open when so many other places across the state and nation are closing.
The statement read in part, "In a time of national crisis, we expect certain institutions to be open and certain people to be on duty. We expect hospitals to have their doors open 24/7 to receive and treat patients. We expect our police and firefighters to be ready and available to rescue and to help and to keep the peace. The Church is another one of those essential services. It is a place where people turn for help and for comfort in a climate of fear and uncertainty.
"Therefore, we feel that it would be wrong for us to close our doors on them, at this time, or any time. In a time of crisis, people are fearful and in need of comfort and community, more than ever before."
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Can I hear an Amen? Yes, churches are essential, and yes, we need to cram into churches now more then ever!
The
only way of avoiding the coronavirus is praising Jesus as loud as we can in packed churches!!