Police warn church leader about continued violation of Covid rules

A church leader who was warned by police on Tuesday about his continued violation of the Covid19 protocols for religious gatherings said he is prepared to be arrested and if the authorities shut down his assembly, they will be judged by God.

Pastor Julius Louie of the Faith Deliverance Church said on Tuesday evening that taking vaccines, wearing masks, and social distancing as stipulated by the ministry of health are sinful and cannot save us; only God can.

“…They are telling us sanitizing is the way. If we don’t sanitize, if we don’t take down names, if we don’t social physical distance, wear masks, it would not be accepted by the State; it would not be accepted by the ministry of health. That is what they are saying to the church. They are trying to turn God church upside down,” the pastor said during a bible study meeting that was streamed Live from the church on Facebook.

According to S.R. & O. No. 18 of 2021 – Public Health (Covid19) (Gathering) Rules Gazetted on June 17, 2021, places of religious worship are required to check the temperature of all congregants as they enter the venue; hand washing or sanitizing stations must be available; there shall be physical distancing of 3-6 feet between congregants or personal bubbles; facial coverings are mandatory for persons over five years old; and a record of each person entering the place of worship shall be kept for 28 days to facilitate contact tracing.
All these protocols have been banned at the Faith Deliverance Church located at Redemption Sharpes, even as COVID19 infections have seen a sharp increase over the last two weeks.

Mask wearing is also not allowed at a day-care and pre-school run by the church out of the ground floor of the church building. The pre-school held a graduation ceremony on September 5, and the day before the event, the person who runs the pre-school reminded parents that anyone turning up in a mask would not be allowed to enter.

“Also please be reminded that we do not want anyone wearing of mask as our school is a part of the church and we do not follow the demonic advise (sic) from w. h. o. We would not allow anyone to be wearing the mask inside. Or the child will collect their package and leave,” the message went on. “Please let those whom you will be inviting be awear (sic) of what we stand for and there (sic) dress code and parents dress code as well. Honor to Almighty God. Thank you in advance. Looking forward for a great graduation ceremony…” the Whatsapp message to parents stated.

Pastor Louie repeatedly stated in his Live broadcast on Tuesday evening that the instructions he receives from God will never be subordinate to those from man.

“…God is saying he is greater than the Prime Minister, he is greater than the Governor General, he is greater than the presidents, the governors, the CMOs, he is greater than all. And for them to want to turn my work upside down, I have a message for them….”

He declared that he viewed the intervention of the State authorities as an attempt to shut God down.

“I want to say to the authorities in this country, if you so desire, if you think the building belongs to you and you want to shut it down, go ahead!!! GOD WILL JUDGE YOU!!”

The pastor said that when man seeks protection, if that protection is not of God’s spirit, it is sin.

“So the state want me to sin against God and the Church to sin against God by not depending on God for protection, but on the vaccine and on social distancing and

masks and sanitizing. It is wicked and evil in the eyes of God.”

The vast majority of churches in St Vincent and the Grenadines have implemented the COVID19 protocols in varying degrees, but the church leader said even if he is the only pastor in the country to stand up to the authorities, it does not mean he is wrong.

“Not because all the other pastors bend and ask how low to bend, mean that I am wrong. I heard from God, he spoke to me. He told me what he wants for his church. Was Nehemiah wrong because Nehemiah stand alone, was Jeremiah wrong because he stand alone? Was Daniel wrong? But that is how I am being looked at in this country,” he related.

He said it is a shame that the Government is obeying the WHO (World Health Organization) and the United Nations in not giving God a place among the people of SVG.

“If the authorities choose to arrest me, I am prepared…. I rather they lock me up than God lock me out,” Louie declared, to applause from his congregation.

He said God will judge all world leaders who continue to harass God’s people and questioned whether we want a blessing or a curse in the country.

“How could vaccine be my hope? How could mask be my hope? How could sanitizing be my hope? What is going on in this country? What do we really want in this country? Do we want a blessing or do we want a curse? Do you want to get God angry and blow up that volcano over there? That is what you all want! It is just sleeping for a while. This government has a serious decision to make.”

He said he will not be intimidated by a threat to close down his church and warned the Prime Minister that no one fights God and wins.

“Let them do what they think they need to do…”