A Canadian church continues to be harassed for holding church services, and you won’t believe what local authorities have done now.
From restricting the number attendees to even forcing the church to lock its doors – out-of-control bureaucrats have done everything possible to stop the name of Jesus from being preached.
So when a local pastor decided to host a church service outside in a sincere attempt to gather Christians together safely – the courts came after him with a vengeance.
Henry Hildebrandt is the Pastor of The Church of God in Ontario.
While COVID-19 lockdowns have limited church gatherings to no more than 10 people, Pastor Hildebrandt continued to host church services in-person and online.
But once authorities saw that more than 100 Christians were gathered (without masks) to worship together, they fined The Church of God and several of its Pastors more than $100,000!
Insanity.
The judge even ordered the church to be closed.
And while Pastor Hildebrandt could have simply stopped gathering and given up, his faith led him to find a different way to meet.
So he held an outdoor church service – and as a result, he is now facing another $66,000 in fines.
It’s estimated that up to 1,000 people attended the outdoor worship service – clearly showing there is a demand for Christians wanting to meet together!
But instead of worrying about how he’s going to pay such steep fines, Pastor Hildebrandt’s faith is leaving it all to God.
The Christian Post reported:
“Maybe there is a way how He works it out where it doesn’t get paid. If it needs to be paid, then there will be a way to do it. Whatever He wants, we are seeking His will in the matter to know what we need to do with that.”
Wow.
Talk about living out your faith when it really counts!
It’s clear that Canadian authorities are hostile to Christians now more than ever.
Who could forget the story of Pastor James Coates being arrested and held in jail – deprived from his family for hosting church services?
Or the story of Pastor Artur Pawlowski being dragged away in handcuffs down the side of the road with his brother.
And now yet another pastor is being targeted.
But Pastor Hildebrandt isn’t surprised at what is happening – he simply points to Scripture.
The Christian Post continued.
“I wish that all of us would look with open eyes to see what is happening,” he added. “A revival has begun, an awakening is taking place, and God is using these things to kick out lukewarm Christianity, and like the Book of Revelation says, ‘It’s either we are hot or we are cold.”
Amen!
As Christians, while we are called to respect those in authority, we are never called to serve man above God.
God commands His people to meet and worship together.
And Christians should have the freedom to meet and praise His Holy name in public whenever they want.
Authorities may fine, imprison, or bully Christian pastors…
… but those with genuine faith will keep on preaching the Gospel, just as they were called to do.
Please remember to say a prayer for Pastor Hildebrandt and his congregation, that they will remain strong through this trial and be able to gather together without harassment.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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