US Constitution 1st Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Pastor Goes to Jail for Hosting Home Bible Study

Michael Salman, the pastor from Phoenix who was fined and sentenced to jail for holding Bible studies in his home, started his 60-day jail sentence at 10 a.m. today.

The preacher asked for prayers as he left his wife and six kids to report to Maricopa County Jail.

"I have spent time with my family this morning praying, crying and saying our goodbye. My heart is broken, but glory to God," Salman wrote on his Facebook page this morning. "Our God wil take care of us and my family. Please pray for us! Until God opens the prison's door, I will be with you all in prayer and spirit."

Salman was found guilty of code violations for hosting Bible studies on his 4.6 acre property, which he has been doing for the past 7 years. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail along with three years probation and ordered to pay a $12,180 fine.

Read the article herehttp://www.christianpost.com/news/arizona-pastor-goes-to-jail-holding-home-bible-study-religious-freedom-77909/

Town repents after threatening to shut down Bible study

An Apple Valley couple was in shock after they were told their home Bible Study was in violation of town law, according to a citation found on their front door.

“I was appalled when I read the letter,” said M. Sharon Rogone, who leads the weekly study with her husband, Phillip. “Soon we will be an underground movement. If this is America, then where is our religious freedom?”

The “courtesy” citation, posted Wednesday by a code enforcement officer, stated the town’s code and a complaint “that church services are being held at this address.”

The citation also gave the Rogones until June 27 to comply, or else the town would take legal action.

“I wrote to Bill O’Reilly, FOX News, Glenn Beck and to as many people as I could,” said Rogone, who attends High Desert Church in Victorville and has hosted the study in the couple’s Choco Road home for the last seven years.

“There are about 15 of us, and we have about seven cars here that all fit in our driveway, or in front of our property,” Rogone said. “We’re not rowdy or obnoxious. We even invited the entire neighborhood over to hang out.”

Read the entire article here: http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/shut-35120-study-apple.html