First Liberty




We just filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Bryan, Ohio.

City officials are using law enforcement to force our client Pastor
Chris Avell to end his ministry and shut down Dad's Place
Church.

Pastor Chris faces nearly two dozen criminal charges. Why? For keeping
Dad's Place open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve his
community, including anyone looking for a place to come in out of the
cold.

This religious hostility must end. That's why we're
fighting back and taking this matter to federal court.

As more proof of their hostility, this past Friday, the city released
a statement with some very disparaging and hostile remarks against the
church. They painted Pastor Chris and Dad's Place as criminals
and said that "inappropriate activity" was happening at
the church.

The only ones engaging in "inappropriate activity" here
are the city officials determined to harass and intimidate a church
for serving its community. The city also refused multiple times to
meet with us and Pastor Chris to resolve the issue.

Pastor Chris is fully within his rights to keep the church open as
long as he wants. He's simply doing what churches throughout
history have done: care for those who walk through their doors no
matter the time of day. What Pastor Chris is doing is NOT criminal.
Period.

"Instead of prosecuting a pastor in an effort to drive his
congregation from her sight, the Mayor should be supporting a church
trying to care for the marginalized, people going through some of the
worst situations in their lives and in the dead of winter. The
Constitution and the law demand nothing less," said First
Liberty attorney Jeremy Dys.

The Mayor and the city cannot get away with this brazen
discrimination. Their actions violate federal and state laws.
They're also unconstitutional. City officials must be held
accountable for their ILLEGAL behavior.

What's being done to Pastor Chris and his church is wrong. It
betrays what religious freedom is all about. Pastors in America should
not be punished for opening their church to serve the most vulnerable.

Pastor Chris still needs your support. This legal battle is just
beginning. Can this pastor and his church count on you?

Please give to First Liberty today. Your gift makes a HUGE difference.
You're the one who helps us win and deliver freedom for everyday
Americans like Pastor Chris.



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