Pastor Arrested for Preaching the Gospel to the Poor-Part-2

Several officers drag volunteers from preaching platform

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Yesterday, members of the Street Church ministry were forcefully removed from their preaching platform by a mob of police officers. For years the City has been waging a battle against the ministry, getting more and more aggressive with members being manhandled, Christian materials confiscated, and volunteers wounded from rough treatment. Street Church ministries has made several attempts to have their Charter rights restored and have made several pleas for justice and mercy which have, to this date, fallen on deaf ears.

The Citys continued disregard for the desperate needs of the homeless, and the ruthless targeted attacks on the ministry, must stop. There are lives at stake and the constant intimidation of our volunteers, who are really making a difference in these peoples lives, is completely unacceptable. Frankly, I dont understand why Calgarians remain silent while this targeted persecution of our ministry continues unchallenged. When will they realize that when you sit back and allow one group of people to have their rights denied, it wont be long before yours are gone, and there will be nobody to come to your defense, stated Artur Pawlowski lead pastor of Street Church Ministries.

Concerned Christians Canada is launching an awareness campaign and will be contacting thousands of their supporters across the country to notify them of what injustices are going on in the City of Calgary. Already over two hundred thousand people have been informed that this event has happened and there will be many more who will be made aware of the intimate details of the belligerent behaviour of Calgarys finest.

During this altercation three volunteers were arrested, one of which for recording the behaviour of the police from a nearby sidewalk, and still other ministry members were intimidated by being surrounded by squad cars, paddy wagons and police officers. Ironically drug dealers and drug users were conducting their business right in front of the officers and they did nothing to stop them. Its just so hypocritical. Its high time that City council step up to the plate. They need to lay down their battle gear and allow Street Church to care for the less fortunate in peace. The very things that City officials harass Street Church about they allow others to do regularly without attacking them. This is a precisely targeted campaign against a ministry that preaches the gospel. It is bigotry and it must stop, stated Jim Blake, National Chairman, Concerned Christians Canada.

Concerned Christians Canada is letting people know about the arrogance and injustice that Christians and homeless people face in Calgary and will be encouraging citizens to let City council know that they will vote them out next election if they do not stop the attacks. Video footage of the event is available to all interested parties, and will be made available shortly on the Internet for the all to see. For more information on the incident, please contact Concerned Christians Canada at 403-690-4636 or e-mail nationalchairman@concernedchristians.ca.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• baptism
• street
• evangelism
• preaching
• feeding
• the
• poor
• praying
• worshiping
• God
• Jesus
• Christ
• church
• open
• air
• artur
• pawlowski
• homeless
• arrest
• pastor
• Persecution

[Mattman4698]

"Thou shalt not park in a no parking zone."

If the police ask you to move your car...here's an idea...move it and then walk and preach to the poor.

"Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. And render unto God, that which is God's" If Caesar says no parking, God gave you feet to walk.

[1thatisilluminated]

Slowly the NWO begins.  They take our spiritualy leaders away. They do the same in China.

[Historymaker2001]

@cbilljones This is a really bad example of Christianity. I am a Christian, and I'm not dumb (at least I like to think so)

[Historymaker2001]

Disobey the law, get arrested, simple as that. And yes, parking in a no-park zone (marked or otherwise), is against the law. It presents a safety hazard to other motorists and to pedestrians. I also saw evidence of resisting arrest. You could also be accused and convicted of causing a public disturbance. And yes, I am a Christian. I also have friends in the CPS who have crossed paths with you, and they corroborate what I am seeing here

[georgemiser]

Atheists shall rule at this rate. Oh, unrepentant worldly bliss for all! ^^

[cbilljones]

Also saw evidence of resisting arrest, the cop should have beat the guy down hard.

[cbilljones]

man christians are dumb, park in a no parking zone and you get towed, just because your delusional does not make you above the law.

[ChrisBearsaw]

Under the 4th avenue flyover down by the old Cecil...why does this not surprise me

[Mattman4698]

@WiiBrain51 I would agree with you, when those "laws of men" we're talking about are laws stopping people from worshipping or following their God. Parking laws don't exactly qualify.

[WiiBrain51]

@Mattman4698 Caesar had Christians executed and fed to the lions.....I hate this idea that modern or progressive Christians have that we should sit on the side lines and "wait for the rapture" the Bible also saids to stand up to tyrants and that the kings of men make themselves so, evangalizing and preaching the good news takes precendence over the laws of men when the "crime" is non violent

[ChristianRapMusic]

Keep it up... Remember, they hated Jesus first