By Timothy Himes

As the lockdowns continue, churches remain shuttered with their congregations unable to attend worship services. This is a disturbing sight for me and should concern all Canadians deeply, regardless of beliefs.

In November, the public health office in Wellington County detected an outbreak of coronavirus in a Mennonite school, and swiftly imposed mask wearing and a ban on singing! These directives weren’t followed closely enough, so their schools and churches were ordered closed.

The old order Mennonites live in rural areas, they’re usually identifiable by their unique dress and simple lifestyle, and are historically known to be conscientious objectors, and non-confrontational. They’re not connected by technology, they don’t have cellphones or cars.

Their kids can’t do school over a zoom call because they don’t have computers! Their church has always been the focal point and connective hub of the community. To take that away from them is truly unconscionable.

Causing a stir goes against their beliefs, but a pastor in Aylmer, Ontario is more than willing to speak up against injustice. Pastor Henry Hilderbrandt, of the Church of God (a modern offshoot of the Mennonite faith) has continued to hold parking lot church services, and has also become a prominent speaker in the fight against “the new normal”.

Pastor Hilderbrandt’s peaceful courage, and vocal determination has reminded me of the best aspects of church fellowship, and the fact that religious freedom has always been considered a cornerstone of our society. In fact, many immigrants in Canada today, came here to escape religious persecution. I’m also very grateful to his congregation for standing up repeatedly when it has counted.

But speaking of immigrants, here’s a little background history. My mom was Mennonite and her parents experienced the revolution in the Ukraine as society fell apart toward the end of the first world war. The Mennonite people had it quite good in their adopted country for decades, becoming very successful farmers. But when things began to collapse, they quickly became targets. Several thousand were killed, many thousands more were beaten, raped and robbed.

My grandfather returned to the farm with his family to find his brother hanging dead in the barn, having been used for bayonet practice. Against the Mennonite creed, he joined the white army and fought the communists for the remainder of the conflict, leaving for Canada several years later with his wife and baby, just before the iron curtain closed for good. He settled in Steinbach, MB where my mom was born.

Why do I mention all this? Just to point out that this isn’t the first rodeo for the Mennonites. They witnessed oppression wash over them first hand and like many of us, they recognize similar conditions developing here.

So those troubles are only a generation away for me. Maybe that’s why I’m so offended with the lockdowns and senseless rules which are destroying our society day by day. We can’t allow it to deteriorate any further. Surely there is a peaceful solution to restoring our freedom?

Where is the danger in parishioners sitting in parked cars listening to the sermon on their radio? Of course, packed air flights are ok, packed big box stores are fine, but drive in church… heaven forbid! In fact, the Public Health office sent a letter to Pastor Hildebrandt’s church in Aylmer, Ontario instructing him to ensure the cars are parked 6 feet apart, with no idling of engines. What?! You can’t make this stuff up!

In early December:

Pastor Hilderbrandt was ticketed for attending a gathering in London 2 weeks prior.

Pastor Tobias Tissen in Steinbach, MB was ticketed for the same offence. All captured on video with police and bylaw officers arriving at his house at night, unable to answer the pastors questions, never mind look at him.

Patrick Allard was ticketed for attempting to attend a Church of God gathering in Winnipeg that never happened, it was prevented by the RCMP.

Christian minister Artur Palowski in Calgary has been repeatedly prevented from feeding the poor people on the street, and ticketed. Fining the clergy and denying them the freedom to practice their faith? To feed the hungry?!

This isn’t the country I signed up for. Even the most devout atheist would agree that closing churches isn’t the sign of a healthy, progressive society.

It’s apparent to anyone paying attention now, the extent to which the media has lied to us.

Those same lies keep the people afraid, and the lockdowns in place. Many of the police know this is all wrong, they’re just following orders to keep their jobs. Hopefully they do what’s right, and decide to stand with the people, so we can all avoid what the globalists would subject us to. I believe they will.

Hey, we’re all happy to buy some great furniture or produce from the Mennonites at the roadside, but can we stand by them, and add our voice to theirs when we see injustice?

God is with us, and good will triumph. Keep the faith.