[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 68 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PRAYING FOR THE RETURN OF THE MOUNTAIN GATEWAY MINISTRIES PASTORS

  (Mr. MOORE of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  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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