The church has also provided meals to undernourished children, ministered to refugees, and spent $85,000 on facilities for people in the homeless community. Said Matheson, “Our church has ministered the love of Christ in many new ways using Facebook, YouTube and by opening our doors to those experiencing homelessness.”
Rev. Ray Matheson is not the only church leader in Canada to take issue with pastors defying COVID-19 restrictions. Twenty-three church leaders in Steinbach, Manitoba, and the surrounding area signed an open letter pleading with residents to follow public health orders. Fifty clergy signed an open letter requesting Springs Church to apologize for its behavior.
“If the authorities were asking us to deny our faith or to go against the principles of Scripture,” said Matheson, “we would need to obey God rather than the government. This, however, has not been the case in the current situation. Health restrictions placed upon us still allow us to worship God and follow all the essentials of our faith.”
