jacob spenst – Protestia

An Update on the Occupation of GraceLife Church

For the third week in a row, GraceLife Church had their service in secret – an undisclosed location somewhere within a 100-mile radius of the city.

Whereas previously hundreds of protesters attended the rally at their facilities, driving hours to wave flags, give speeches, listen to speeches, pray, and protest the occupation of a Christian church by a tyrannical government, the property now lies empty and has been empty the last two weeks, attended to only by a handful of security guards and RCMP officers.

Meanwhile, at their undisclosed location that is still being attended by hundreds of people, Pastor Jacob Spenst preached the sermon yesterday from Colossians 3, going through some heady passages about dying with Christ and having our lives hidden with Christ in God.

Based on the backdrops they are using to conceal their location, as well as the rippling effects on the screen and the lighting, the clothes they are wearing and the backround noise, it appears that the last two services have been held outside in the sun rather than indoors.

At this point, all indication is Parkland police officers and Alberta Health Services (AHS) have decided to leave GraceLife Church alone. They have not crashed or disrupted their newest gathering, despite having the ability to do so. They have not released any public statement to that effect and no major media sources have asked AHS why they have backed off, thereby keeping it out of the news. There is currently no political pressure to chase them down and there haven’t been constant complaints from neighbors and concerned citizens at seeing them gather openly.

In effect, the people have been assuaged by seeing a building boarded up while the body belts out praise to the Lord away from prying and watchful eyes.

With no large crowds gathering at their facilities, there have been rumors that the church is going to have a service near their church property soon, but that has not been confirmed by anyone and should be taken as mere speculation.

James Coates is expected to be in court Monday, May 3rd to fight his remaining charge of violating the Public Health Act, where the Justice Centre will argue that the government and law enforcement violated multiple Charter rights and freedoms by ticketing, arresting, and jailing the courageous pastor, and therefore need to abandon the last charge.

Continue to pray for GraceLife.

A letter from Pastor James Coates to the Church at Gracelife

On March 14, 2021, Pastor Jacob Spenst of Gracelife Church in Edmonton, Alberta, read a letter from Pastor James Coates, their incarcerated pastor who remains locked up in a maximum-security detention center for being unwilling to allow the government to dictate how the worship of the One True Living God is to be conducted.

To the Church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ which is at Gracelife:

Grace to you and peace in the beloved. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has created us worthy to be greatly used in this time of tribulation.

Out of the superabundance of his grace, he has set us apart for this purpose. We have not only been gifted grace to deliver in Christ, but also to suffer for the sake of his headship over the church, a headship which is inseparable from the gospel.

He has been preparing us for this in order to display his glory to the whole earth. We must count ourselves privileged to be used for this end. As with the apostle Paul, my imprisonment has resulted in many of the brethren having greater courage to stand for righteousness. While it is true that many still remain seated, I believe that in due time they will come to see things differently. Please continue to pray to this end.
I know that my imprisonment has increased your love and unity together. This a clear mark of the spirit’s work among you. He is filling you with the fullness of Christ and you’re bearing fruit to the glory of the Father.
Nevertheless, I expect you to excel still more- that your love would continue to increase to his delight and praise. Clothe yourselves with compassion and humility toward each other. Forgive one another if there be any offense. Do so knowing the forgiveness you have received in Christ.
Thank you for the way you have cared for my family in my absence. I truly cannot thank you enough for that. Thank you for the many letters of encouragement you have sent, they are critical to my joy and perseverance. Some have moved me to tears. Pray for my release but also that I would be given the opportunity and boldness to proclaim the blessed gospel, making it clear to the hearers.
Pastor Jacob, Paul, and the elders in development: shepherd the flock of God among you.
Bible studies shepherds: shepherd your studies as unto the Lord. In addition, assist the elders by being diligent to engage newcomers.
Pastor Jacob: preach the word with great patience and instruction, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

I James, write this in my own hand.
I love you and miss you dearly.

And now may the God of all grace minister to every need, that you would be continually sanctified unto the fullness of the stature of Christ. To him be the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

Transcript provided by Protestia. There was also a parenthesis to not forget the live streamers. ‘Pastor Jake’ has been changed to ‘Pastor Jacob’ for clarity.