When the COVID crisis began, Pastor Kevin Wilson knew that many in his congregation would need a lot of extra soul care. Lighthouse Fellowship Church in Chincoteague Island, VA has brought hope and redemption to some who fell on hard times and felt abandoned.

For years, this small island church has offered specialized ministries to help people free themselves of addiction, prostitution, mental illness, and brokenness. While these ministries certainly do not represent the whole of the church, Pastor Wilson knew the hurting people within those ministries would need extra support, as they depend on the church for the support system they need to stay in the light and away from the deadly temptations of their prior life.

On Palm Sunday, Pastor Wilson opened his sanctuary to a small handful of people who wanted to be present in church that day. How could a church turn away the hurting, and on Palm Sunday of all days?

Including himself, the pastor had just 16 people in the 293-seat sanctuary -- until two police officers walked in.

When he finished preaching, Pastor Wilson was criminally charged with a misdemeanor for having just 6 people more than Gov. Northam’s magic number of 10 attendees in his church. According to VA COVID Order #55, the penalty for disobeying Gov. Northam’s illegal and unconstitutional edict was up to one year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

The police proceeded to tell the pastor and the other 15 people that if they came back to church the following week, Easter Sunday, they too would be criminally charged. For those in the church’s special ministries who might have had past criminal records before they were saved, such a charge could be a violation of probation and land those now physically and spiritually clean folks right back in jail.

Understand that Lighthouse DOES NOT have internet, nor do many of the attendees. For this body of believers who depend on the church family, there was no alternative for Easter.

While that action had a significant chilling effect on the community, the local police took it one step further by parking a marked police car in the church parking lot and dispatching police cars to circle the church throughout the week. The message was clear - stay away from church...or else.

It is interesting to note that on the Good Friday between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, VA Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law two of the most radical pro-abortion baby butchery bills in history. In addition to repealing safety laws that required only doctors to perform abortions along with informed consent, Northam also removed the requirement for abortion facilities to have the same safety standards as other outpatient surgical facilities, among other things. In other words, in Virginia an ear nose and throat medical assistant can now perform a surgical abortion in an unsanitary room -- just like notorious baby serial killer Dr. Gosnell.

Think about this for a moment. Gov. Northam criminally charges a pastor on Palm Sunday. On Good Friday when we remember the Crucifixion of Jesus, he authorizes the brutal killing of helpless babies made in the image of God. Then on Easter he threatens people with prison if they worship the Lord and celebrate the Resurrection.

Clearly, protecting life is not Gov. Northam’s actual agenda...

...but closing churches and silencing God’s people is.

Liberty Counsel was able to get all criminal charges against Pastor Wilson dropped. However, Gov. Northam’s insane, not to mention illegal and unconstitutional shutdown orders still stand. And, he wants us to go away so he can impose more restrictions.

Liberty Counsel continues to represent Pastor Wilson and Lighthouse Fellowship Church in a federal lawsuit against Gov. Northam. Like our other church closure cases in California, Illinois, Kentucky, and Maine, we anticipate these cases will likely go all the way to the Supreme Court. This will be a long fight, but we will not falter until the great American standard of religious freedom is once again made FREE. Free of the edicts of anti-god governors. Free of the persecution from petty bureaucrats. And free of all the restrictions the founding fathers sought to avoid when they wrote the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the first place.

The gates of hell shall not stand against God’s churches!

Your help is needed to win this battle once and for all. Please, take advantage of the generous challenge grant which has been established to DOUBLE the impact of every donation made today. Please, do not let this amazing blessing pass by. Select here or the button below to take the church challenge today!

In Christ,

Mat Staver
Founder & Chairman

P.S. LIBERTY COUNSEL EXCLUSIVE! Join our exclusive online town hall today at 3:00PM ET with the pastors under siege for standing with our Lord. Click here to watch the event live.

P.P.S. As I mentioned above, a generous supporter has established a CHALLENGE GRANT which will effectively DOUBLE the impact of your donation today. Please don't let this opportunity to DOUBLE your effective support pass you by. America's pastors and churches are relying on YOU, a faithful Liberty Counsel supporter, to help ensure religious freedom remains FREE!