Louisiana Church Ignores Social Distancing Advice, Welcomes 1,800 People to Church

A Louisiana church has disregarded the official advice on social distancing and welcomed 1,800 people through its doors.

Despite the rampant coronavirus outbreak, over the weekend Life Tabernacle Church had 26 buses transport crowds of worshippers down to church for Sunday Service. The shocking act of defiance came despite a grave warning from the state’s governor and a plea for churches to temporarily cease operations.

“I would urge that faith leaders and all faith leaders to heed this directive and not necessarily engage in mass gatherings where this coronavirus can spread,” Gov. John Edwards said this week, as he issued a comprehensive “stay at home” order.

However, Life Tabernacle’s Pastor Tony Spell said he would be openly defying the advice and believing God for the protection of his flock.

“That is our command. ‘They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover,'” Spell told WGMB. “When the paramedics can’t get there, when the law enforcement can’t get there, the holy ghost can get there it will make a difference in someone’s life.”

If anyone in his congregation becomes infected with the COVID-19 virus, Spell insists that he will simply invoke the healing of the Holy Spirit. “I’m going to address that by laying hands on them and praying for them and depending on God to heal their body,” he said.

Louisiana is one of the worst-affected states in…