We welcome you to FEA, where we are overcoming through the power of the Word. May God bless you richly today.
On Thursday April 22, Indiana Governor, Eric Holcomb, signed SB 263 into law. This bill ensures that churches and other religious organizations are allowed to remain open during a state of emergency, on the same terms as other businesses and services. It labels churches and religious organizations as “essential services”. As a result, the state will now be restricted regarding the limits it can impose on churches during an emergency. Governor Holcomb signed the bill into law less than one month after it was passed. The bill was passed in the state Senate, 36 -10, and the state House, 74-20. The sponsors of the bill said it is needed to protect churches during any future emergencies similar or even worse than the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to local and state governments shuttering churches.
Part of the text of the bill reads as follows, “Religious organizations provide essential services that are necessary for the health and welfare of the public during a disaster emergency.” The bill goes on to point out that the state and its “political subdivision” may not impose restrictions on churches and religious organizations that are “more restrictive than the restrictions imposed on other businesses and organizations that provide essential services to the public.” The new law specifically allows the state to order a “religious organization to comply with a generally applicable health, safety, or occupancy requirement,” but it must be “neutral towards religious organizations and equally applicable to any organization or business that provides essential services.”
It is also important to note that this new Indiana law includes a section allowing individuals to sue the state if they believe their religious liberty rights have been violated. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal organization which specializes in religious liberty cases, has applauded the new law. Greg Chafuen, ADF legal counsel said, “Houses of worship and religious organizations provide soul-sustaining operations that are essential to our society and protected by the First Amendment. While public officials have the authority and responsibility to protect public health and safety, the Supreme Court has made clear that the First Amendment ‘cannot be put away and forgotten’ even in a pandemic. This means that the government can’t treat churches worse than shopping centers, restaurants, or gyms without violating the Constitution. We commend Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana Legislature for making it clear that officials cannot use a public crisis to discriminate against religious operations.”
Since this pandemic, many churches throughout our nation have suffered immensely because of the unreasonable restrictions which governors and mayors have imposed upon them. We thank God for the stand which Indiana is taking in the interest of the church. May God bless that state abundantly and may other states learn from them. Amen!
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SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK
COMMUNION
Today
LUNCH HOUR HOTLINE/PRAYER
Wednesday, 12:00 noon – Lunch Hour Hotline
5:30 p.m. – Prayer
HOUR-OF-POWER PRAYER SESSION
Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
NEXT SUNDAY- MOTHER’S DAY
Worship & Ministry, 9:00 a.m.
Board Meeting cancelled
__________________________________________________________________ THE YEAR OF ADVANCEMENT
The Kingdom Men’s Ministry
Would like to inform all the men of the Church that
Mother’s Day Donation Envelopes are available
and they are also due back today.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MINISTRY
The FEA Sunday School Ministry would like to thank all the parents and helpers who participated in our Children’s Sunday celebration.
We would also like to thank Pastor Emily, the presenters, parents, children and helpers who participated in our first Skills Building Program. It was a great success.
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MEDIA MINISTRY
World Overcomers: WSTA 1340 AM station: Sundays at 8:30 a.m. & Tuesdays at 6:00 a.m.
- Website: http://www.wom.vi & Email: info@fea.vi
- On our Website you will find: Live Streaming, free copies of our audio message & radio broadcast. You also can see Live Streaming on Periscope , Facebook, & YouTube
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The vision of FRENCHTOWN EVANGELISTIC ASSEMBLY, INC. is to be a mighty people who live as world over-comers: being all God wants them to be, doing all God wants them to do, possessing all God wants them to possess, and manifesting the power of God through signs, wonders and mighty deeds.
The mission of FRENCHTOWN EVANGELISTIC ASSEMBLY, INC. is to bring sinners to Christ, to establish believers in the faith, and to equip the saints to impact the nation and beyond for the glory of God.