It all started with a Facebook post ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌



Case Updates



[link removed]





[link removed]



What happens when the government discriminates against people of faith





Dear John,

A few years ago, if you drove down the highway in central Michigan, you could see a sign from the road.

The sign read: “The City of East Lansing Discriminates Against Farmers.”

It was a quite a statement.

But the story the sign told is somewhat incomplete.

It seems that East Lansing only has a problem with farmers who are Bible-believing Christians.



What happened to the Tennes Family

Steve and Bridget Tennes own Country Mill Farms, located 22 miles away from the city of East Lansing.

Because of their faith, the Tennes family believes that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman. In 2016, Steve explained this belief on their farm’s Facebook page to answer a question.

Two days later, government officials from East Lansing contacted Steve about his Facebook post.

Officials knew Steve and Country Mill Farms from the East Lansing Farmer’s Market. The Tennes family had spent the last six years selling their organic produce at the farmer’s market to the delight of the crowds.

But suddenly, the Tennes family was no longer welcome. When officials contacted Steve, they asked him and his family farm not to return to the farmer’s market.

Steve was shocked. His family happily serves everyone, and he had always followed all market policies. So he decided to continue serving his market customers.

The Tennes family finished out the season at the farmer’s market without any problems.

But officials persisted in their crusade against the Tennes family.

The next year, Country Mill Farms was not invited back to the farmer’s market. Then, the city of East Lansing crafted a new policy aimed specifically at keeping the Tennes family from participating in the farmer’s market altogether.

In a public debate, a city council member even called the Tennes’ Christian beliefs “bigot[ed] … ridiculous, horrible, [and] hateful.”

The city was clearly targeting the family because of their faith, John.

So with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, the Tennes family filed a lawsuit against the city to stop this religious discrimination.


You can draw a line and protect religious freedom!

Both Steve and Bridget served our country in the armed forces. They have always been willing to sacrifice to protect our most cherished freedoms. And they’ve seen what happens when government is allowed to abuse its power unchecked.

They just never thought it would happen here in America.

But these are the times we’re living in, John.

Government officials who oppose your religious liberty—like those in East Lansing—will not give in. They’re doubling down on their efforts to undermine your faith and freedom.

That’s why people like the Tennes family rely on your generosity, John. Across America, your brave brothers and sisters in Christ are standing up to government overreach—but they can’t do it alone.

They are waking up to a world that has rejected their right to freely live out their faith, and they need help—they need you.

Already, generous Ministry Friends have answered the call and have given a $115,000 challenge grant to stand against government overreach. Will you join them in drawing a line to protect religious freedom today?

[link removed]

Year after year, we’ve seen God’s blessing when people of faith stand together to defend religious freedom. And we’re trusting God to move in the hearts of people like you right now to stand against government overreach and protect people like Steve and Bridget Tennes.

If the government can punish a couple farmers for publicly expressing their faith, it could happen to anyone. It could happen to you.

But today, you can draw a line, John. You can protect your right to freely live out your faith without fear of government punishment. And when you do, you’ll further the impact of the $115,000 challenge grant.

Thank you for giving generously.



DONATE NOW

[link removed]







DONATE

[link removed]

© 2020 Alliance Defending Freedom

15100 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

All donations are secure, private, and tax-deductible. Member ECFA.



Don’t want to receive the Case Updates emails anymore?

Click here to manage your email preferences.

[link removed]

Privacy policy

[link removed]

| View this email online

[link removed]