Canadian Pastor Tim Stephens says he is “thankful to God” as he’s released from jail.
Stephens, who serves as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary, was arrested on June 14th for holding an outdoor worship service after authorities ordered his church building to be closed.
Police in a helicopter discovered where Stephens was holding worship gatherings and arrested him soon thereafter at his home in front of his crying children.
Rebel News quoted the pastor as saying, “Today is a very thankful day. I’m thankful that the restrictions are done and rescinded, including the court orders that go along with that.”
He added: “Most of all, I’m thankful for God. I’m thankful that He’s built His church, that He’s sustained our church at Fairview Baptist Church. I’m thankful that He strengthened me, my wife, and our family, and that, through this, people have come to know the saving love of the Lord Jesus Christ. People have been strengthened in this country and around the world, and so, for these many reasons, I’m thankful.”
During his confinement, Stephens wrote a letter to his children asserting that “I have been arrested because I am convinced by the Word of God, reason, and science, that we must gather as a church and live our lives with freedom in Christ.”
Stephens is not the only Canadian pastor to face legal consequences for holding in-person worship services.
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri recently urged the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to consider placing Canada on its Watch List due to its continued lockdown restrictions, arrests of Christian pastors, and seizure of church property.