One year ago this week, attending church became illegal for many Americans. Ever since, Liberty Counsel has been fighting to liberate this once-great nation's religious freedom. Read on for an up-to-the-minute update.

Exactly one year ago in Florida, the first pastor in America was arrested for holding church. Since that day, our lives at Liberty Counsel have not been the same. And the fight is far from over. —Mat

A lot can happen in a year. March 16 marked the one-year anniversary of the “two weeks to stop the spread” mantra that kept many Americans imprisoned in their homes.

Then, a group of rogue governors chose to use the “opportunity” of the COVID virus lockdowns to impose tyrannies so radical not even the British tried them.

For the first time in our nation’s history, opening and/or attending church in America became illegal in many states and municipalities.

On March 30, 2020, our client Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne of The River at Tampa Bay Church in Florida was arrested for opening his church, where the ministry also feeds more than 900 needy families each week.

This pastor was the first to be arrested in the world during COVID for holding church. As we were about to file a federal lawsuit, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring that attending church and places of worship was “essential activity.” Florida became the first state where previously restricted churches had freedom.

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On April 5, Palm Sunday, in Chincoteague Island, Virginia, our client Pastor Kevin Wilson of Lighthouse Fellowship Church received a criminal summons for having 16 people in his 293-seat sanctuary. This church does not have internet service, and thus had no virtual Easter service.

One week later, on Easter Sunday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear sent police officers to Maryville Baptist Church to issue citations demanding a two-week forced home confinement for attending a drive-in, stay-in-your-own-car parking lot service.

After these first three cases, an avalanche of egregious anti-church orders followed from other radical governors, and our phones began ringing off the hook with requests for help.

In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis tried to shut down our client Andrew Wommack Ministries and Charis Bible College.

In Maine, Gov. Janet Mills continues to harass and litigate against our client Pastor Ken Graves of Calvary Chapel of Bangor. This case is now at the U.S. Supreme Court.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom had the audacity to ban all worship, even in private homes!

And in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot have gone so far in persecuting our immigrant Romanian church clients that the city threatened to seize and destroy Elim Romanian Pentecostal’s beautiful buildings if the church continued to meet with more than 10 people. This case is still pending, and we'll soon be filing more legal arguments.

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In addition, we have assisted more than 2,000 pastors and churches in 44 states as they maneuvered through the unconstitutional quagmire created by out-of-control governors. And our work continues.

PRAISE GOD–WE ARE WINNING!

In Florida, our pending lawsuit prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis to order all church restrictions to be lifted statewide.

In Kentucky, we won two back-to-back decisions from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, freeing Kentucky Christians to return to church.

In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis wisely chose to free churches in his state rather than face Liberty Counsel in court.

In California, last month the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Gov. Gavin Newsom’s total ban on worship, freeing our clients Pastor Ché Ahn and Harvest Rock Church until the Ninth Circuit decides on the merits of the case.

But more churches need to be freed...

We currently have a church freedom case pending at the Supreme Court, Pastor Ken Graves and Calvary Chapel of Bangor vs. Gov. Janet Mills. I will update you on the status as soon as I am able.

Fund the legal fight to FREE THE CHURCHES! Select here or the button below.

It is time to stop the abuse of the First Amendment once and for all!

Liberty Counsel, along with the pastors and churches we represent, are resolved to continue to fight for religious freedom. Are you?

If you are ready to take a renewed stand for religious freedom, I challenge you to respond, even if you have given before to the Challenge Grant. This generous grant will DOUBLE the impact of every donation made.

Please, make your best possible sacrificial gift TODAY so that religious freedom will exist for all of our families’ tomorrows.

I invite you to partner with us. Every donation to Liberty Counsel will be DOUBLED through our Challenge Grant. Support Liberty Counsel by selecting here or the button below.

There is yet another threat to our religious freedom, one happening at the hands of our own legislators...

The grossly misnamed “Equality Act” seeks to create a special protected class for LGBT and Q activities. In addition to putting boys in girls’ rooms, men in women’s sports and crossdressers onto children’s playgrounds this bill also will make abortion a federal “right” and will end RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act), along with any and all religious exemption claims.

Therefore, if your church takes a stand against abortion, or simply refuses to hire a crossdresser to lead Sunday school, it will be in violation of the law and open your church to massive lawsuits and persecution from radicals and the U.S. Department of Justice.

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW TO STOP THIS DREADFUL BILL!

Please, fax Congress NOW and tell them to LEAVE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ALONE!  STOP THE “EQUALITY ACT”! Select here or the button below.

And please join me in earnest prayer for our nation.

Sincerely,

Mat Staver
Founder & Chairman
Liberty Counsel

P.S. We have a Challenge Grant that will effectively DOUBLE the impact of your donations! Select here to fund the fight for religious freedom!