In Colchester, one of Britain’s oldest recorded settlements, an entire church community is facing the possibility of being criminalized for their street ministry.
The church, Bread of Life Community Church in Clacton-on-Sea, has been issued a Community Protection Notice that risks criminalizing the entire church, regardless of their personal involvement, for preaching the gospel in nearby Colchester town center.
Over the last decade, we have defended hundreds of church ministries and street preachers who have been censored for their outreach ministries.
And the frequency of these cases is only increasing.
The message is clear: authorities, both in Colchester and beyond, are curtailing the sort of Christianity that might disrupt our complacent culture.
And the gospel has always been disruptive.
Whether it is preaching the gospel, providing food to the homeless, or simply offering educational resources to those interested in Christianity, church ministries that reach into the heart of local communities are vital to the spread of the gospel.
Jesus calls us to be disciples who go out and make more disciples.
But by this kind of action, there is a real danger that councils will seek to confine this kind of public proclamation of our faith to within the walls of the church.
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