Northwest Bible Baptist Postpones Reopening After Warning Letter

ELGIN, IL — Despite plans to welcome members back Sunday for in-person services, Northwest Bible Baptist Church (NWBBC) in Elgin postponed their reopening service after receiving what NWBBC Pastor Keith Gomez said was a last-minute letter Friday from Kane County State's Attorney Joseph McMahon. According to a Facebook post written by Gomez, McMahon stated in his letter "his readiness to enforce compliance" of the state's stay-at-home order if NWBBC went ahead with their planned services Sunday.

Gomez's Friday Facebook post came nearly two weeks after attorneys for NWBBC announced the church's plan to reopen May 17 for services in a May 1 letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, despite the state's recently extended stay-at-home order. The letter from First Liberty Institute was sent to Pritzker on behalf of the church, notifying him that the church would "immediately" resume in-person services on May 17, "while implementing strict health and safety protocols."

"Their willingness to enforce Governor Pritzker’s illegal mandate against the local church is mind-blowing, and it is obvious that the forces against the church have eclipsed the gravity of this pandemic," Gomez wrote."While we are ready and willing to engage in this battle, we have been counseled and believe it to be most prudent to temporarily postpone our reopening to achieve a greater long term victory."

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NWBBC said in a news release that it leads a coalition of nearly 50 churches from across the state and plans to implement strict health and safety protocols while holding the in-person services.
Gomez added that they would be taking "recommended action" Monday to ensure these "illegal actions" against the churches don't happen again.

"We have legal representation that desires to win this for us, and there is a plan in place," Gomez wrote. "Much pressure has been put upon our church over the past several months regarding our willingness to reopen. We understand the spiritual needs of our community and the spiritual needs of our church people, and we wholeheartedly long for the day to meet all of those needs."

According to Gomez, that day is coming "soon."

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Instead of their anticipated in-person services, NWBBC resumed their regular Sunday livestream schedule, and members were invited to livestream services, including 10 a.m. Sunday school, from the church parking lot.

Patch will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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