{"id":411520,"date":"2021-04-11T18:28:14","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T22:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=411520"},"modified":"2021-04-11T18:28:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-11T22:28:17","slug":"john-macarthur-commends-underground-church-in-canada-reads-heartfelt-letter-from-jailed-alberta-pastor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-macarthur-commends-underground-church-in-canada-reads-heartfelt-letter-from-jailed-alberta-pastor\/","title":{"rendered":"John MacArthur Commends \u2018Underground Church In Canada,\u2019 Reads Heartfelt Letter From Jailed Alberta Pastor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjohn-macarthur-commends-underground-church-in-canada-reads-heartfelt-letter-from-jailed-alberta-pastor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=411520&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-1396.jpeg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Pastor John MacArthur on Sunday commended GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada, which is meeting in secret after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) barricaded their building with three layers of chain link fence. He also read a heartfelt letter that the church\u2019s pastor sent to MacArthur\u2019s congregation.<\/p>\n<p>Rising to address the members of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, which has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/john-macarthurs-la-county-church-continues-to-fight-for-freedom-to-hold-indoor-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">legally wrangling<\/a> with county and state authorities since deciding to resume in-person services last July, MacArthur first noted how James Coates and his congregation are meeting in a location they refuse to publicize after RCMP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/police-shut-down-church-of-alberta-pastor-who-was-imprisoned-for-holding-church-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">raided them<\/a> at dawn last Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmazing to have an underground church in Canada,\u201d MacArthur said. \u201cThis because the government of Alberta triple-fenced the church in and locked it so people couldn\u2019t go there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MacArthur observed how out of the province\u2019s millions of residents,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data\/Canada_medical_cases_by_province\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">approximately 2,000 people<\/a> have died from the virus in Alberta since the beginning of the pandemic, most of whom were in nursing homes. He claimed there was \u201cno legitimate reason\u201d for authorities to forcibly shut down GraceLife Church for continuing to hold services in defiance of Alberta\u2019s Public Health Order, which capped church services at 15% capacity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut they did,\u201d MacArthur said. \u201cThis is a first for the Western world, to have the government lock out believers from a church.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MacArthur went on to mention how Coates, who is a graduate of the seminary affiliated with Grace Community Church, was imprisoned for more than a month in a maximum security facility in Edmonton. As The Daily Wire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/exclusive-pastor-and-lawyer-defiant-after-canadian-police-raid-barricade-church-at-dawn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reported<\/a>, Coates&nbsp;said fellow prisoners were aware of his situation and came to him <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/it-was-precious-to-me-canadian-pastor-jailed-for-holding-church-services-recounts-touching-moment-he-was-freed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">seeking spiritual advice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>WATCH:<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=QbvXjjxzHMw&#038;feature=oembed\">https:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=QbvXjjxzHMw&amp;feature=oembed<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p>MacArthur then noted how the Alberta government has been met with intense backlash for how Coates and his church have been treated. \u201cThe scene is changing,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a massive outcry against the government for doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 300 people gathered at GraceLife Church on Sunday morning to protest and rip down portions of the three-walled barrier erected around the building, which was guarded by about a dozen police officers, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/westernstandardonline.com\/2021\/04\/third-wall-built-around-gracelife-church\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Western Standard<\/a>.&nbsp;\u201cDozens of RCMP cruisers blocked access roads for kilometres surrounding the church,\u201d the outlet reported.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"10.527607361963\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A church in Edmonton, Canada wouldn\u2019t obey politicians and lock its doors. So they jailed the pastor for 35 days. The church still wouldn\u2019t close. So police raided it, turned it into an armed garrison &amp; occupied it. And still the Christians come. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yNZRUXXudl\">pic.twitter.com\/yNZRUXXudl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ezra Levant \ud83c\udf41 (@ezralevant) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ezralevant\/status\/1381319356265676805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro <a href=\"https:\/\/westernstandardonline.com\/2021\/04\/exclusive-ucp-mla-says-shandro-approved-barricading-gracelife-church\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">personally approved<\/a> the raid against GraceLife Church last week, according to reporting that the Western Standard based upon a United Conservative Party lawmaker&nbsp;who spoke to them on condition of anonymity. Shandro has since denied the allegation.<\/p>\n<p>Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has faced <a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/politics\/fifteen-ucp-mlas-say-kenneys-latest-covid-19-restrictions-move-alberta-backwards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">internal backlash<\/a> from members of his own caucus for his COVID-19 restrictions, several of whom signed a letter rebuking Kenney for reinstating restrictions on Albertans.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"4.8721804511278\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A Statement from 15 UCP MLAs to all Albertans. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ableg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ableg<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/medhat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#medhat<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/G22ssFs7aN\">pic.twitter.com\/G22ssFs7aN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Drew Barnes (@Drew__Barnes) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Drew__Barnes\/status\/1379880188385710080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 7, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>After recounting the situation with GraceLife Church, MacArthur later read Coates\u2019 letter:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"47\">\n<p><em>To Grace Community Church, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Grace to you and peace in Him. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has superabundantly glorified Himself through you.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>For decades, you have been a strong and steadfast pillar and support of the truth, so much so, the Lord established many other beacons of truth throughout this world as a direct result of your ministry. You have exemplified a profound love for the brethren, warm service and hospitality, and an undeniable love for God and His Word.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>In fact, His Word has sounded forth from you with such power and precision, that the fruit of your ministry is absolutely immeasurable this side of Heaven. Pastor John\u2019s 52 years of faithful ministry is as much a testimony to you as it is to him. May God richly reward you for your faithfulness.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Thank you for the way you cared for me, my family, and congregation during my imprisonment. Your love and prayerful support were vital to our steadfastness in the face of suffering. The letter from the elders was an immense encouragement. The support from Dr. Nathan Busenitz and The Master\u2019s Seminary was both humbling and strengthening. And the pastoral care provided by Pastor John was incredibly comforting. It was also a rich blessing to receive letters from a number of you while imprisoned. Those letters provided necessary fuel for my resolve.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>My wife Erin also sends her greetings and thankfulness. She was and continues to be greatly strengthened by your letters. You poured into her early in her spiritual development and you are pouring into her now, as well.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>You have suffered well for the gospel. It is an indescribable blessing to join you in that suffering. Our congregations have been counted worthy for this purpose. May we rejoice in this, as did the apostles in their sufferings. Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord over all creation and the supreme head of the Church. We will bow to Him and Him alone. Only He is worthy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>And now may He continually strengthen you unto all faithfulness and may He constantly radiate His honor and glory through you. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014James Coates<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/exclusive-pastor-and-lawyer-defiant-after-canadian-police-raid-barricade-church-at-dawn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EXCLUSIVE: Pastor And Lawyer Defiant After Canadian Police Raid, Barricade Church At Dawn<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i>member<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pastor John MacArthur on Sunday commended GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada, which is meeting in secret after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) barricaded their building with three layers of &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2312003,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-1396.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"John MacArthur Commends \u2018Underground Church In Canada,\u2019 Reads Heartfelt Letter From Jailed Alberta Pastor","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-411520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-1396.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"John MacArthur Commends \u2018Underground Church In Canada,\u2019 Reads Heartfelt Letter From Jailed Alberta Pastor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=411520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2312003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}