Praying for the Return of the Mountain Gateway Ministries Pastors

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, evangelists with Mountain Gateway Ministries have worked across the country doing disaster recovery, providing food, clothing, and planting churches with the support and assistance of the Nicaraguan Government.

Americans and their Nicaraguan counterparts associated with Mountain Gateway have made it their mission to spread the hope of the Gospel to the Nicaraguan people for nearly 30 years.

In January, the attorney general of the Nicaraguan Government began pursuing charges against 3 U.S. citizens associated with Mountain Gateway and 11 of the Gateway Nicaraguan pastors on trumped-up charges of money laundering and organized crime. Since then, 11 pastors have been charged with up to 15 years in prison and a combined $1 billion in fines.

These pastors were working to bless the people of Nicaragua, and now all their personal property has been seized. They have no legal representation, which is a violation of their human rights.

These sentences leave families without income, children without mothers and fathers, simply for sharing the good news of Jesus.

I am deeply concerned these citizens and pastors are being targeted for sharing their faith. I ask the Nicaraguan Government to release the imprisoned pastors immediately.

Matthew 5:10 says: ``Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.''

I am praying for a swift resolution to the persecution of these pastors and that they be safely returned.

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