This video is so hard to watch.
It’s hard to believe this is Canada, not Iran or the underground church in China.
Pastor Tim, the Canadian pastor who dared challenge the draconian Canadian lockdown laws, has been arrested again.
Here’s the video of the arrest. I dare you not to get emotional.
The Blaze covered the story:
Alberta Health Services said public health measures were violated, a prior warning had been issued, and Stephens had been fined multiple times for repeatedly breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules, the paper said.
Stephens was charged with organizing an illegal in-person gathering, inciting or inviting others to meet illegally, and promoting an illegal gathering, the Herald added.
Stephens and other church leaders have said in-person services would continue regardless of consequences, the Herald reported, and that Fairview held services in an undisclosed location over the winter. The paper characterized such services as “clandestine.”
Stephens wrote on the church’s Facebook page that biblical teaching compels the congregation to meet in person, the Herald said.
“Our actions are not borne out of ‘COVID fatigue’ or simply having enough of the restrictions,” he wrote, according to the paper. “Rather, our actions are borne out of theological commitments to the Lordship of Christ and his instruction to the church as revealed in scripture.”
Stephens added that Fairview doesn’t recognize the state’s authority to intrude in church affairs, and he questions the medical necessity to limit worship, the Herald reported.
On Twitter people expressed their shock and heartbreak:
Pastor arrested for gathering with Christians in Canada
Pastor Tim Stephens arrested on Monday afternoon on new charges, after Fairview Baptist Church gathered for underground worship for 2nd week in a row
To hear his children crying while saying ‘Bye Daddy’ heart breaking pic.twitter.com/uyW1HMaVty
— 🦅 Eagle Wings 🦅 (@CRRJA5) June 15, 2021
Please pray for this man and his family saints!
BREAKING: Pastor Tim Stephens arrested on new charges – Rebel News https://t.co/DEL2LtJyJq— Oma10 🇨🇦🇱🇺 (@theresiasmith52) June 14, 2021
This moment they arrested Pastor Tim Stevens in front of his crying kids FOR HAVING OUTDOOR CHURCH shows how crazy communistic Canada has become.
The scariest part is how apathetic we’ve become to this sort of thing in 2021. #HoldTheLine pic.twitter.com/ApoN6wBcOX
— Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) June 15, 2021
This is not the first time pastor Tim has been arrested simply for hosting a church service.
According to The Blaze:
Stephens was arrested last month for similar violations, but CBC reported that charges were withdrawn because the injunction was improperly served.
Calgary police told the network Stephens’ second arrest was “for hosting an illegal outdoor gathering that did not comply with current restrictions.”
AHS physically closed the Fairview church to prevent access to the building until Stephens could “demonstrate the ability to comply with these restrictions,” CBC said.
Under Stage 2 of Alberta’s reopening plan, places of worship are required to limit attendance to one-third of their building’s maximum fire code occupancy, the network reported.
God bless this brave man, bold enough to stand up to tyranny.
May he stand as a testament to those who will not bow the knee to anyone but God and a warning to those who think tyranny like this will never come to America.
We are already there.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!