Thank you for the many letters of encouragement you have sent, they are critical to my joy and perseverance. I truly cannot thank you enough for that. Thank you for the way you have cared for my family in my absence. Do so knowing the forgiveness you have received in Christ. Forgive one another if there be any offense. Clothe yourselves with compassion and humility toward each other. Nevertheless, I expect you to excel still more- that your love would continue to increase to his delight and praise. He is filling you with the fullness of Christ and you’re bearing fruit to the glory of the Father. This a clear mark of the spirit’s work among you. I know that my imprisonment has increased your love and unity together. While it is true that many still remain seated, I believe that in due time they will come to see things differently. As with the apostle Paul, my imprisonment has resulted in many of the brethren having greater courage to stand for righteousness. We must count ourselves privileged to be used for this end. He has been preparing us for this in order to display his glory to the whole earth. We have not only been gifted grace to deliver in Christ, but also to suffer for the sake of his headship over the church, a headship which is inseparable from the gospel. Out of the superabundance of his grace, he has set us apart for this purpose. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has created us worthy to be greatly used in this time of tribulation. To the Church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ which is at Gracelife: "It is about doing what is intelligent to them and what maintains their freedoms, but most importantly what is ultimately honouring to their god that they believe in.On March 14, 2021, Pastor Jacob Spenst of Gracelife Church in Edmonton, Alberta, read a letter from Pastor James Coates, their incarcerated pastor who remains locked up in a maximum-security detention center for being unwilling to allow the government to dictate how the worship of the One True Living God is to be conducted. Coates actions were "not about just wanton rebeling," he said, according to CBC News. James Kitchen, Coates' attorney, claims that his client had never agreed to the February 7 undertaking to adhere to public health measures. Coates was also found to have flouted his undertaking release conditions. Upon returning to the church to check for compliance, the RCMP on February 14 determined that GraceLife Church was still not following lockdown measures. The RCMP and Public Health Inspector attended a service on February 7 and found that the premises was "over double the current restricted capacity level," according to a press release.Īuthorities did not disrupt the church proceedings, but afterward, they arrested Coates and released the pastor with a court appearance date. 94 Percent of Nonreligious Black Americans Still Believe in God: SurveyĬoates has been allegedly violating COVID-19 lockdown measures since December, when the RCMP first issued the pastor with a violation ticket.Televangelist: Trump Lost Because God 'Got Weary' of Him Promoting Himself.Priest at San Francisco Church That Defied Lockdown Orders Dies of COVID-19.Coates is expected to remain in custody until the court hearing. An RCMP spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek that Coates was still in custody on Monday evening.Īs Coates continued to refuse the conditions of his bail, "a Judge's Order was issued compelling him to attend court on Wednesday, Feb. Following a bail hearing, Coates was to be released on conditions, but he refused to agree to those conditions and has since remained in custody. Two days later, on February, 16, Coates turned himself in to authorities and was charged with two counts of contravening the Public Health Act and one criminal charge. There, they determined that the church was defying COVID-19 restrictions, which requires places of worship to be operated at 15 percent capacity and mask-use for congregants. On Sunday February 14, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Alberta Health Services visited Pastor James Coates' GraceLife Church in Parkland County, located west of Edmonton. A Canadian pastor who was arrested for violating pandemic lockdown measures will appear in court on Wednesday after spending a week in jail.
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