Chuck and Stephanie Fromm have been fined for holding Bible studies in their home in Southern California. According to City officials they are in violation of a municipal code prohibiting ‘religious, fraternal or non-profit’ organisations in residential neighbourhoods without a permit. Without warning they were fined in May, then again in June, for $300 dollars and appeals were denied because they need a ‘Conditional Use Permit.’ Without the permit they face $500 for each additional gathering. A conditional use permit is costly and difficult to obtain as it requires traffic and environmental impact reports and making the home accessible to wheelchairs. The President of the Pacific Justice Institute said, ‘Informal gathering in a home cannot be treated with suspicion by the government just because it is religious. We cannot allow this to happen in America, and we will fight as long and as hard as it takes to restore this group’s religious freedom.’
Pray: for common sense to prevail and for God to use this situation positively for the community. (Ps.11:7)