May 24, 2020
In this episode of the Conservative Business Journal Podcast, John Di Lemme interviews Pastor Stacey Shiflett of Calvary Baptist Church in Dundalk, Maryland.
Pastor Shiflett made national headlines for ripping up a cease-and-desist order during his sermon after local officials threatened a $5,000 fine for holding in-person services.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that houses of worship could reopen at fifty percent capacity in which Shiflett's service with approximately 100 congregants in a 600 person capacity sanctuary was in compliance.
However, Pastor Shiflett was in defiance of the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services's order requiring houses of worship to remain closed and restricting gatherings to fewer than 10 people.
Shiflett tore up the cease-and-desist order declaring, "We're going to do it God's way."
Listen as Pastor Shiflett shares why he made the decision to stand his ground especially when churches were deemed "non-essential" plus hear how politics played a part in houses of worship remaining shuttered.