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Friend,
Long before ME Gov. Janet Mills decided to illegally and unconstitutionally attack the churches of her state, Ken Graves was raised up as a warrior for the Lord. Born in what the pastor describes as one of the poorest parts of the state, Ken was the son of a hard-core alcoholic whose addiction brought heartbreaking violence upon the young family. Graves' father eventually left, leaving yet more poverty and pain in his wake.
Through God's grace, in his teens Ken stumbled across a copy of "The Cross and the Switchblade," a biographical account of David Wilkerson's Christian outreach to drug-addicted gang members. God’s abundant love described in that book struck a chord with Ken, freeing him to see beyond his own pain and to get beyond his father's bondage. With that, young Ken knew exactly what his life work would be — he was called to be a pastor, and he wanted to minister to alcoholics and drug abusers.
At the age of 16, Ken dropped out of high school, traveled to the nearest of David Wilkerson's Teen Challenge facilities and insisted they take him in. The request was unusual because Ken was not an addict, not a gang member and not homeless. Instead, he was a determined teenager who heard the Lord's call on his life — to share the good news of God's redeeming love with those who, like his father, suffered under the torment of addiction.
Ken Graves moved into that Teen Challenge facility and earned an apprenticeship under some of the finest Christian leaders of the time. At 23, Pastor Ken Graves began a church with a home Bible study, then a jail ministry to reach "his" people — those with broken homes, broken faith and hurting, often addicted souls — and many who had never been exposed to the Word of God. These people needed the kind of redemption that only God's care can accomplish.
Today, Calvary Chapel's ministry covers the entire community. But on campus, there are residential homes for recovering men and women. And although the church serves the needs of the greater community, the heart of the ministry is the yearlong live-in recovery program for addicts seeking rescue. At any given time, Calvary Chapel houses 48 desperate people "relearning life" through the lens of the Cross.
But the COVID pandemic brought trouble to Calvary Chapel.
When Gov. Janet Mills issued her stay-at-home order, she made many exceptions, but none for religious assembly. NO worship was allowed under the governor's initial order, no matter what. Yet at the very time Gov. Mills banned Calvary Chapel from assembling, she deemed liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries to be "essential."
The substances Pastor Ken was helping people overcome were deemed essential, while the one thing that could save those addicts — the church — was ordered closed!
Gov. Mills' orders allowed secular services in the same church building with the same people but banned religious services. The men and women could still meet for substance abuse support, but could they worship? The yearlong program includes studying the entire Bible, prayer and worship.
Risking punishment, Ken would not secularize the program and stop the essential reason the recovery ministry works.
Gov. Mills was clear that churches must close. But her view of "church" is limited. It did not take into account Calvary Chapel of Bangor's extended ministries. If the substance abuse program has to be secular, who will decide what is religious? If only those in the substance abuse program can worship, then Gov. Mills has divided the church.
Eventually, Gov. Mills allowed 10 people to assemble and then 50, no matter the size of the building. But Pastor Graves has 48 recovering addicts and a full congregation that need their church open.
Pastor Ken Graves determined he'd stay open – for all his flock - even if the governor herself tried to bar the doors. He answered to God, not a misguided governor!
Despite threats of criminal charges, fines and even potential imprisonment, Pastor Ken Graves is continuing to preach, and Calvary Chapel is fighting to remain open (with social distancing and sanitizing).
The flock is the family and Pastor Graves is their earthly shepherd. He has been there at the birth of a child, performed that person's wedding, and has been there at the birth of the next generation. He cares far more for his flock than a politician possibly could.
Like so many of the other pastors we are representing against lawless governors, Pastor Ken knows that at any time he can be thrown in jail for serving God's people. He'll keep preaching.
Ken Graves' day in court.
On Wednesday, September 9, Liberty Counsel appeared before the Court of Appeals on behalf of Pastor Graves and Calvary Chapel. We continue to await the court's decision on whether religious freedom remains free. Like our other cases defending churches, these cases may not be resolved until heard by the full U.S. Supreme Court. And now Liberty Counsel has two church cases pending before the Supreme Court.
I am honored to stand with Pastor Graves, and all the other pastors we are representing. And I am equally honored and thankful for your continuing support. These pastors, thanks to you, are not fighting alone.
Thank God for the provision of a NEW Year-End Challenge Grant that has been established to DOUBLE THE IMPACT of your gift. Every gift between now and the end of the year will be effectively doubled. Please, give as generously as you can. Religious liberty is truly on the line.
Please help us make certain that fearless pastors like Ken Graves can continue their God-given, constitutionally protected ministries in this challenging time.
Mat Staver,
Founder and Chairman
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