By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
PARIS, FRANCE (ANS) -- Representatives of the Paris Elim Church will be going to court in order to continue worshipping in their current location. Paris Elim church representatives are going to be in court on Wednesday, January 19 and Friday, January 28, 2005.
“The local government is trying to chase the church from its current place of worship. This is happening to many other Protestant churches in Paris and in many other places across France,” says Pastor Jack McKee of New Life Ministries based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in an e-mail received by ASSIST New Service (ANS).
“The local authorities have had a policy for some time that is anti-Christian and they desire to see churches closed down -- they are being successful and many are being shut. In addition to pressure from local authorities is the increasing rise in Islam, which is becoming more aggressive and very anti-church and anti-Christian,” McKee said.
McKee said that while the details of the Court case are quite complicated, the basic aim is to see the church closed down completely.
McKee asks for prayer: that this will not be successful, for wisdom for the church leaders and their lawyers, and that this attempt to stifle freedom of worship will not succeed.
He added: “As the first Court case takes place tomorrow (Wednesday), the need for prayer is urgent. If your church has a meeting this evening, please share this prayer request and ask everyone to pray.”
McKee’s website may be located on the WWW at: www.newlifeministriesireland.co.uk