A GoFundMe campaign for recently jailed Canadian Pastor James Coates has raised more than $45,000 from over 400 individual donors.
Coates, pastor of GraceLife Church in Edmonton, Alberta, was released from jail Monday after spending a month behind bars. He refused a conditional release that would have required him to stop preaching sermons until his church came into compliance with the 15% capacity limit put in place by Alberta Health Services.
The fundraiser was launched by John Klassen, who described Coates as “a rare and refreshing voice of courage in these [unprecedented] times.”
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“He has stood on the Word of God faithfully, courageously, and uncompromisingly as a man of God when, all around him, men falter and fail,” he wrote. “Pastor James is facing what not too long ago would have been unheard of.”
Klassen went on to say he is “raising money to benefit Pastor James and GraceLife Church of Edmonton to do good, as Galatians 6:10 exhorts us, and any donation will help make an impact.”
Since his release Monday, which followed the government’s decision to drop the criminal charge against the preacher, Coates is facing penalties for public health violations.
GraceLife is also facing charges for violating health orders.
“The church was non-compliant with the Public Health Order in that it was over the allowed capacity,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a March 10 statement. “The RCMP members were present for public safety and to support AHS, and did not go inside the church.”
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At the time, the police said their investigation into GraceLife remains open.
The church has held normal worship services since last June, when Alberta’s first public health emergency ended.
“We believe [people] should responsibly return to their lives,” the church stated. “Otherwise, we may not get them back. In fact, some say we are on the cusp of reaching the point of no return.”
Coates’ trial for the remaining charges is scheduled to begin May 3.
To donate to the GoFundMe for the pastor, click here.