Evangelist who refuses to comply with the Louisiana ban on large public meetings and continues to pursue personal Church service, suggested that his congregation will not mind death for their faith.
Reverend Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Central, faced six charges of misconduct after ignoring the orders of the Governor, John Bel Edwards, to contain the spread of coronavirus. Each case provides for a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of $ 500.
Sunday worship was attended by hundreds of parishioners. Local police said that many of them arrived at one of the 26 buses that the Church had brought them.
«The Bible teaches us to not exist in our bodies and present with the Lord, — said the Spell in an interview with TMZ. — True Christians are not against death. They are afraid to live in fear.»
In a previous interview Spell argued that he was persecuted for the faith.
As for those who have already died because of COVID-19, he commented: «They died as free men, fighting for their beliefs».
According to data on 8 April, in Louisiana there were more than 17,000 cases of coronavirus and 652 deaths.
