UMVA has learned that a 78-year-old pastor in Northern Ireland was recently convicted of a crime in a magistrate's court, a shocking development that has sent ripples throughout the Christian community.
The elderly pastor, Clive Johnston, a former president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland and grandfather of seven, was found guilty of preaching John 3:16, one of the most recognizable verses in the Bible, during a quiet, open-air Sunday service near a hospital.
Johnston's "crime" was simply standing beside a large wooden cross, playing the ukulele, and preaching on the verse "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," without mentioning abortion or using violence or threats.
The government court deemed his sermon as unlawful "influence" under Northern Ireland's Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, and Johnston was fined and branded a criminal, a decision that has sparked outrage and concern among Christians worldwide.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Johnston's conviction has raised questions about the limits of free speech and the role of the church in modern society, with many wondering if this is a sign of things to come in other countries, including the United States.
The incident has been seen as a preview of a future where the church will face increasing pressure to conform to societal norms, and UMVA can exclusively reveal that many are now calling on Christians to stand firm in the face of adversity and to continue preaching the gospel, even in the face of persecution.
As the church faces growing hostility, many are turning to the words of prophets and apostles for guidance, and UMVA has gathered that Isaiah's warning about a day when "men would call good evil and evil good" is being echoed by Christians today, who see the conviction of Pastor Johnston as a disturbing trend.
The American church, in particular, is being urged to pay attention to the events in Northern Ireland, as the Johnson Amendment, which has functioned as a legal gag order for 70 years, has only recently been challenged by two Texas churches, which sued the IRS and won the right to preach freely on moral issues.
UMVA has uncovered details about a pattern of arrests and convictions of Christians in the United Kingdom, including a Scottish grandmother who was arrested twice for holding a sign offering conversation outside a hospital, and others who have been charged for silently praying near clinics.
The U.S. State Department has recognized the threat to free speech and the church, and UMVA can exclusively report that many are now calling on Christians to "fight the good fight of faith" and to stand firm in the face of persecution, just as the apostle Paul did.
Pastor Johnston's word to fellow Christians is to "respond with grace, peace, and courage, never with anger or hostility, but with firm conviction," and UMVA has learned that his conviction has sparked a renewed call to prayer and action among Christians, who are being urged to pray for their pastors and to stand up for their right to preach the gospel.
