COVID - The World's Latest Excuse for Persecution

I think we all knew this was coming, but it is nonetheless shocking to see it happen.

A friend of mine, James Coates, who went through the D. Min. program with me and is a pastor in Canada, has been arrested by the Canadian Government for holding church services.

Here is an update from James' wife:
James has been in isolation in a cell block since yesterday morning. His hearing didn't go very well. The crown went for the jugular. The JP say he didn't want to detain him, he wasn't interested in making a martyr of him. He could walk if he just sets aside his God-given pastoral duties but he can't do that.

He has a hearing today to set a court date for his charges. It's very possible that they will remand him until his court case. The Crown has called him a danger to the health and safety of Albertans. May God have mercy on our nation!

I read to my children the work the Lord is doing in people through James so they can see the sacrifice of their father is not in vain. My prayer is that men will stand! They can't see that if they shut us down on this issue they will shut us down on any issue they deem to be "a danger to the health and safety of Albertans."

My heart is broken. They tried him in secret. The officers lied to us and told us he wasn't there. They tried to hide him and sneak him out the back door. In the providence of God one of our men was there. The officer only allowed him to tell him that they loved him and were here with him. They pulled him away.

They have remanded him as our lawyer seeks the appeal. The conditions of his release are that he would not pastor anymore. I cannot visit him. 

Please be in prayer for James, his church and his family.
You can find out more about the case here.
Here is the link to the last sermon that James was able to preach at his church.