What I share below reads like an excerpt from a book about the persecuted church in some faraway corner of the world. But everything I mention happened in the past few months right here in America. I know these stories are hard to believe, but they are true and well-documented in our court cases. -Mat

March 30 of this year was an otherwise typical spring day in Tampa, Florida. Lots of sunshine and temperatures rising into the 80s.

...Except for the extraordinary police bust that proved to be a tipping point in our nation’s history.

Police helicopters circled over a residential home while marked police cars lined the street. It looked like a major drug sting, or perhaps the cops were apprehending a murder suspect.

But this massive police operation was not about a drug dealer or murder suspect. The target on this day was a Florida pastor of a local church – Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne.

While his arrest was unfolding, the Hillsborough County Sheriff held a press conference. There was no reason for this show of force. The policy for a low-level misdemeanor allows arrest only if the person is a flight risk, but that was not the case here. The sheriff said he wanted to “send a message” and “publicly shame” pastors.

The pastor was cuffed, booked, fingerprinted and openly mocked... for having a socially distanced church service.

Fund the FIGHT for our Churches - select here or the button below

The deputies were apologetic, but they were following orders. The pastor was treated like a common criminal. Pastor Rodney’s wife looked on in shock as he was placed in the back of a squad car and driven to the county jail where he was fingerprinted, photographed and placed in a cell.

The same sheriff who executed this dramatic arrest on Monday had spoken with Pastor Howard-Browne the prior Thursday and assured him there would be no problem opening the church on Sunday. What changed was the lesbian mayor of Tampa became irate and wanted to intimidate pastors.

Hundreds of churches are under attack...

Pastors are being arrested and criminally charged or threatened with prison. Many parishioners are being threatened by prosecutors with up to a year in prison for attending church. Some churchgoers attending a parking lot Easter service were put on the equivalent of house arrest. Cities are threatening to seize and destroy church buildings.

All because Christians want to worship our Lord, even as the Bible commands. (Heb. 10:24-25)

DEFEND THE CHURCH! - SELECT HERE or the button below

Liberty Counsel worked hard to get the charges against Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne dropped and we were successful. However, the outright persecution of Christians and churches in many areas of the country continues unabated.

Liberty Counsel currently represents pastors, parishioners and churches that have been charged or threatened in six federal lawsuits against the governors of California, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Maine and now Colorado. Next week, I will share the new Colorado case that clearly reveals blatant religious discrimination.

Our case in Illinois, representing the Romanian immigrant churches under attack by IL Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, will be the first church closure case in the nation to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Next week, we will file before the High Court. This is all the more reason why the vacant seat must be filled with a Justice who is a constitutionalist.

With six federal lawsuits and one Supreme Court case regarding church closures, PLUS about 2,000 pastors in 44 states and our regular work defending religious freedom, our staff and resources are strained.

We have also had to defend our existing case load, like the ongoing defense of Sandra Merritt who is under attack by Planned Parenthood for exposing their gruesome “Baby Parts for Sale” scheme.

Our other cases this year address issues like the right to display a nativity scene, the right to fly a Christian flag, and defending the right to seek Bible- based Christian counseling. We will argue two of these cases at the Court of Appeals next month. Our work this year has been the busiest in our history.

And because of that, we need your support like never before.

Please take advantage of the generous challenge grant that has been established to DOUBLE the impact of our supporters’ donations. As you know, our legal services are 100% free and 100% of your donations go to legal defense and religious liberty education.

Without YOUR generous support, none of our pastor and church clients would have a top-notch legal defense in the face of tyrannical anti-god bureaucrats and elected officials. Please, make your best possible donation TODAY. Select here or the button below.

Mat Staver
Founder and 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. DO NOT allow YOUR church to be silenced during this critical election. If we CONSISTENTLY VOTED BIBLICAL VALUES, rogue elected officials would not be trying to destroy our constitutional rights. Your church CAN legally and SHOULD morally get involved.

I encourage you to download a free copy of our “Silence Is Not an Option” DVD and booklet and share it with your pastor or other influential leaders in your community. This training normally costs $35. However, given the persistent attacks on our churches’ very existence, I have decided to make this resource available FOR FREE.

WE MUST VOTE OUR VALUES in 2020 OR THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CHRISTIANITY WILL CONTINUE, and religious freedom could be lost.

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