I want to update you about the hearing Monday before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in our case representing Pastor Ché Ahn, Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry. Read on to learn what happened and what comes next. -Mat

Monday, I delivered oral argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals representing Harvest Rock Church and the 162 California churches affiliated with Harvest International Ministry against the outrageous church closure edicts of CA Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The hearing was on our emergency motion for an injunction pending the appeal. In the most basic terms, we are asking the court to STOP all of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s unconstitutional, illegal and discriminatory actions against churches until the court can hear the full merits of our case.

The three-judge panel who heard our case was hard to read. My presentation went well, but we don’t know how the court will rule. That preliminary ruling could come at any moment.

Regardless of what is decided on this emergency injunction, the court has fast-tracked the merits of the case for another hearing yet to be set. Our briefing on the merits of the case will be filed within the next week. After the state responds and we file a reply, I will return to the appeals court for the ultimate ruling on the merits.

This is an astonishingly fast timeline. But we are fully and totally prepared for this battle. We worked through the weekend to provide additional information the court requested.

As you know, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom has, since the beginning of the COVID crisis, laid down a series of ever-more-restrictive orders that target churches for discriminatory treatment. Newsom banned singing, worship and even home Bible studies among friends.

On August 31, Newsom issued a new “Blueprint” for California which furthers that discriminatory treatment even as it further erodes the First Amendment right to religious freedom. In this new Blueprint, Newsom opens schools, gambling houses, entertainment centers, museums and more... but not churches.

So, churches in 80% of California cannot open for worship!

Let me give you some additional examples:

• A private school may hold in-person classes for students. But that same school may not hold chapel services for those same students, even if the school is part of a church.
• A church may serve meals to an unlimited number of people, but not share communion with those same people.
• A church may shelter an unlimited number of people, but that same church may not hold indoor services in 80% of California, and only to a limited number of people in the remaining parts of the state.
• A church may offer unemployment or addiction counseling, but sermons or homilies are banned, the consequence of which is a criminal charge with up to a year in prison.

In each of these scenarios, California pastors and church members face criminal charges, jail and fines for doing God’s will.

The facts of this case make clear that there is something going on in the state of California that has LITTLE to do with COVID and MUCH to do with SILENCING THE WORD OF GOD.

Yet, despite the overreaching efforts of lawless governors and other officials, THOUSANDS of people are being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ under the ministries of pastors and evangelists determined to save souls even in -- and perhaps especially in -- this time of trial and church persecution.

• In Michigan, a university student hosted a baptism party on the shores of Lake Michigan, and 400 people showed up to publicly praise and worship the Lord despite Michigan’s restrictions on churches and worship. Twenty-five people were baptized that day.
• In California, abortion-survivor-turned-pastor John Hibbs baptized over 1,000 people in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean.
• Missionary musician Sean Feucht’s traveling ministry has appeared in several regions over the last few months, including in some of the most restricted and riot-shattered cities like Seattle, Minneapolis and Kenosha. Hundreds have been baptized at these gatherings including a Black Lives Matter protestor who came with the intention of disrupting the event but found himself overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and surrendered his life to Jesus!

People are coming back to the Lord in droves and many more are meeting Him for the first time. Lives are being changed and souls are being saved even in, and perhaps because of, the turmoil around us.

The Lord is calling His people. The Lord is building His church.

That, I believe, is a major reason why anti-faith governors are fighting so hard to shutter America’s churches and silence the Word of God. We are in a spiritual battle of epic proportions and dark forces are intensely working to prevent God’s will for America as expressed in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Thank you for your steadfast support throughout this battle. Your fellowship and your generosity make it possible for Liberty Counsel to provide top notch, free legal representation to the brave pastors, church elders and parishioners who would rather be jailed than shut their churches and silence God’s Word.

There isn’t much time left in the generous church challenge grant that will DOUBLE the impact of every donation made today. Please, use this opportunity to DOUBLE your impact on our defense of the pastors and churches fighting to do the work God commissioned them to do.

Given the speed of this California case, we should have the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision on the emergency injunction against CA Gov. Gavin Newsom’s illegal edicts soon. I will update you on the court’s decision as soon as I have word. And I will also keep you up-to-date on the progress of our other cases representing churches in Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Maine, as well.

The Challenge Grant will DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT in the fight for pastors and churches!

Please, pray for our legal team, our staff and most especially for the pastors, churches and churchgoers willing to take risks for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mat Staver
Founder & Chairman

P.S. Please do not let the challenge grant opportunity pass that will DOUBLE the impact of your contribution. America's pastors and churches are relying on YOU to help ensure religious freedom remains FREE! Select here.

P.P.S.  If we as Americans had consistently voted our biblical values, rogue governors would not be restricting churches today. The fact is, churches CAN and SHOULD get involved in our nation’s elections. That’s why I am offering our $35 “Silence Is Not an Option” training course, which details churches’ legal rights in the political arena at NO CHARGE during this crisis.  DO NOT allow YOUR church to be silenced during this critical election.

Select here to get your FREE "Silence Is Not an Option" download now.