The Louisiana pastor who continues to defy government orders to limit crowds during the coronavirus pandemic was cited this week, according to the Baton Rouge Advocate.  

Even still, hundreds filled the church’s parking lot yet again for another service Tuesday evening, reported CBS News. Worshippers flocked to hear the Louisiana pastor who earlier in the week claimed more than a thousand people had attended Sunday services, even as the pandemic outbreak continues.

Pastor Tony Spell is facing six misdemeanor counts for continuing to hold services despite the ban on gatherings, according to The Advocate.

At Tuesday’s services, a few protesters turned out, too, reported CBS News. One man shouted at the church with a bullhorn. “God don’t like stupid,” one protester’s sign read. It did not appear anyone, including authorities, tried to physically block people from entering the church grounds to attend services.

WAFB reported that after Tuesday’s services, some churchgoers socialized outside the church’s front doors, some exchanging hugs and handshakes. Spell also came out of the church and told supporters and critics that he doesn’t consider keeping his doors open any different than stores staying open. He also compared going to church to going to the hospital, except at church you get spiritual healing, reported CBS News.

SOURCE: KHOU 11, Doug Delony

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One of the most difficult parts of human existence is coping with loss, terminal illness and other life difficulties. Famed evangelist Luis Palau knows this all too well.

Palau, 85, lost his father at a young age and quickly came to Christ—and ministry. He’s spent his entire life preaching the good news that heaven is a reality, and that Jesus deeply loves every man, woman and child.

But when Palau was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2017, he had to go back to basics and deeply grapple with his own faith and journey.

“For a week, I felt Satan attacking me and making me question, ‘How am I sure I’ll have eternal life?’ It shakes you up, but you go back to the book,” he said in a Pure Flix Podcast interview. “I reread Hebrews 7, 8, 9, 10 again and again. If those chapters don’t convince you that we have eternal life then nothing will. So it brought me peace.”

Listen to Palau speak about his cancer diagnosis, life and legacy:

SOURCE: Charisma News

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On Wednesday, faith leaders across the Buckeye Bible Belt held a press conference regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Their statewide call to prayer comes less than one year after local officials observed the anniversary of a victory against another pandemic that occurred almost two centuries prior.

Last year, both the Mansfield mayor and Richland County Board of Commissioners publicly acknowledged divine intervention that curtailed the cholera pandemic in August of 1849 after corporate prayer and fasting. In light of the COVID-19 world crisis, 120 area clergy also feel the Almighty can heal their land if His people humble themselves.

Pastor Paul Lintern of Oakland Lutheran and Southside Christian Church recounted the compelling account outside the Troy Township Fire Station before joining three other clergy in reading the joint proclamation.

Pastor Louis Blevins of Latter Rain COGIC described the chain events leading up to the proclamation of national and state emergencies involving COVID-19. “With tens of thousands of cases occurring throughout China and the rest of the world, and a collapse in the stock market this month resulting in the largest drop since the ‘1987 Crash,’ the cancellation of schools, elections, and other cultural events has reached epic proportions across the nation.”

Pastor Jody Odom of Ambassadors for Christ asserted that “the Bible is a leading source of modern health knowledge,” and cited Scriptural examples and a list of Bible-believing pioneers in medicine. He also reported local developments from last year.

SOURCE: Charisma News

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Financial relief is finally on the way to many Americans who are struggling due to the COVID-19 crisis. Yet it will take a lot longer for Americans to recover from the fear the coronavirus has sparked in many people’s hearts.

I take this pandemic seriously and you should as well. But statistically, your risk of getting the virus is still remote and the risk of dying from it is minimal. But there is a virus that we hear almost nothing about these days, and it is absolutely going to touch you. In fact, the death rate from it is 100%.

I speak of the virus of sin, an infection that has been passed on since the beginning of human existence. It’s a virus that we all have and are born with. The Bible says it this way: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). And sadly, every single one of us will actually die from it. Again, the message of the Bible is: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23a).

That’s pretty dismal and sounds hopeless. But while we can’t stop the earthly consequences of the sin virus, the rest of that verse tells us there is a cure.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The cure is blood-based; the Blood of a Savior that cures the sin virus for its eternal effect.

SOURCE: Charisma News

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Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday urged churches comprised of more than 10 people to stop meeting, saying temporary limits on large gatherings are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19.

It was the first time either Pence or President Trump had directly addressed the issue.

“Karen and I, and I know the president, we’ve been enjoying worship services online,” Pence said on ABC’s Nightline, referencing his wife. “We’re so grateful to churches and synagogues and places of worship around America that have … heeded the president’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America. We really believe this is a time when people should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. And so we continue to urge churches around America to heed to that.”

The White House’s Coronavirus Guidelines ask Americans to “avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.” Although the guidelines imply that churches should not meet, the issue largely has fallen on cities and states to specifically apply.

Source: Christian Headlines

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The parking lot at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. was eerily quiet Sunday as Senior Pastor Greg Laurie and members honored self-isolating due to coronavirus. On Wednesday, it became a hub of activity as medical personnel used the idle lot as that county’s third drive-thru testing site for COVID-19.

The testing, one of three sites offered in conjunction with Riverside University Health System, is ongoing. To qualify, patients must first make appointments and show symptoms of coronavirus or been in contact with someone who has tested positive. In addition to the church, the county is already testing at Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium, the now-grounded minor league baseball team for the San Diego Padres, and at a county fairground in Indio.

Church officials used Facebook to assure its members the threat of exposure was minimal since patients never leave their cars.

“Our hope is to reassure you that while we are doing everything we can to aid in combating the effects of COVID-19, the testing will be conducted outside in the patient’s vehicles,” the post read. “Therefore, our campus will not be affected by the presence of the medical testing. We want to be as helpful as we can during this difficult season and this opportunity is allowing us to do that. We love you, and we are praying for your safety and health always.”

As tests for COVID-19 have become more readily available, many communities have begun offering drive-thru testing as a safer option in slowing the virus’ spread.

Source: Christian Headlines

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A group of nurses from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee gathered at the hospital’s helipad earlier this week to pray amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“When you have a few extra minutes at work, you take the time to go to the helipad and pray,” Angela Gleaves wrote in a Facebook post, according to Faithwire. “We prayed over the staff in our unit as well as all of the hospital employees.

“We also prayed over the patients and their families during this trying time,” Gleaves added. “We also prayed for all of our colleagues around the world taking care of patients.”

According to Today, Gleaves was joined by fellow nurses Sarah Kremer, Beth Tiesler, Tanya Dixon and McKenzie Gibson.

Kremer had asked Gleaves to join her to pray on Monday, which was also Kremer’s birthday.

“We just wanted to share (the pictures) to let everyone know that we were praying not only for our hospital, but all the patients and the families,” Gleaves told TODAY. “It’s just a really hard time for families as well as patients right now because a lot of hospitals aren’t allowing visitors.

Source: Christian Headlines

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