by Jorge Gomez • 2 minutes
Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place church in Bryan, Ohio need our ongoing support. First Liberty is in the midst of intense legal proceedings, and we ask that you keep the pastor and the congregation in your prayers.
We’ve secured several legal victories over the last several months. We made sure Pastor Chris doesn’t have to worry about going to jail, at least for the time being. Another favorable ruling is allowing the church keep its doors and ministry open 24/7 to serve anyone who needs help while the case proceeds.
These wins were important and positive, but they’re temporary. We still have a lot of work ahead to stop the city’s discrimination against Dad’s Place.
After more than a year of aggressive legal attacks, the city still refuses to back down and leave the church alone. On the contrary, the city simply will not stop its attempts to put Pastor Chris behind bars and shut down the church’s ministry.
On Wednesday, our legal team had a crucial court date in the civil matter. We argued before the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals. Our legal team urged the Court to stop the city’s unlawful actions and reverse a lower court’s decision that would prevent Dad’s Place from operating its critical ministry.
“Like churches throughout history, Dad’s Place is a place of safety for those in desperate need,” said Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel at First Liberty. “We are hopeful that the Sixth District will recognize that churches caring for those in need should be encouraged and affirmed, not punished or prosecuted.”
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also sent one of his top attorneys to be present at the hearing and argued in favor of Dad’s Place.
Attorney General Yost has been tremendously supportive of Pastor Chris and the church throughout their legal fight. He’s submitted three briefs in support of Dad’s Place.
“We appreciate the outspoken leadership of Attorney General David Yost whose multiple briefs in support of Pastor Avell have been critically important in defense of Dad’s Place,” Dys said.
“This is a battle over the First Amendment and freedom of religion,” AG Yost explained. “Pastor Chris keeps his church open to anybody, all the time, because he believes the words of Jesus as recorded in the 25th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel: ‘What you do for the least of these, you do it for me.’”
We expect the Ohio Court of Appeals to issue a ruling in the coming weeks. Please keep the judges in your prayers as they deliberate and write their decision.
Churches in America that care for people in need should be championed and supported—not punished. Winning this case is about making sure that Dad’s Place, along with every house of worship in our country, is free to live out their faith and serve the most vulnerable among us.
This legal battle is far from over. We’re going to keep fighting for Pastor Chris and Dad’s Place. But to win, we’re going to need your continued support.
Right now, Pastor Chris and the people who depend on Dad’s Place are depending on us. Will you support them today with a timely donation?
Your gift today can help our legal team secure a victory that will protect this church and Bryan, Ohio’s most vulnerable from the city’s constant attacks.
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