A Louisiana Pastor tells Dr. Phil the state can not tell him to stop holding worship services and he will continue to do so. Pastor Tony Spell leads his followers at the Life Tabernacle church on Hooper Road in Central just outside of North Baton Rouge.

Pastor Tony Spell leads services at his church and says he plans to continue allowing up to a thousand people join him in person for services, even though he claims law enforcement visited him because he violated an emergency order banning public or private gatherings of more than 50 people during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pastor says

We feel that we are as an essential part of our community as the retail stores. It is in persecution of the faith for us to be asked to close our doors whenever more people are being contacted in those Targets and Walmarts than are in my service.

Spell says many of his parishioners don't have access to computers to watch a streaming service, but they want to be able to worship.

Spell says law enforcement visited him because he violated an emergency order banning public or private gatherings of more than 50 people during the coronavirus pandemic. He expects that to happen again this Sunday.

 

Spell has told CNN he believes the pandemic is "politically motivated." He will be holding services outside under a tent and will encourage attendees to sit apart from each other, but he still hopes hundreds will attend this Sunday.

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