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.