“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
Steve Tennes owns and operates Country Mill Farms in Michigan where he grows fruit that he sells at the farmer’s market in East Lansing which is twenty-two miles away. Tennes has also made his beautiful land at Country Mill Farms available as a wedding venue.
Since 2017, for six years, Tennes has not been allowed to sell his fruit at the East Lansing farmer’s market because according to the city he has violated the city’s non-discrimination ordinance. So, how did Tennes violate East Lansing’s non-discrimination ordinance? Simply put, by upholding and adhering to the Biblical teaching about marriage being between one man and one woman.
In a social media post, Tennes stated that he believes and follows what the Catholic Church teaches on marriage being between one man and one woman, and thus, at his Michigan orchard there would be no allowance for same-sex wedding ceremonies as it goes against his Christian faith. Due to his public stand for the truth on marriage, the city of East Lansing barred Tennes from selling his produce at the farmer’s market.
Tennes decided to take a stand for his right to religious freedom and with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit challenging East Lansing’s decision to bar him from the farmer’s market. Thankfully, in recent days, in the ruling of Country Mill Farms v. City of East Lansing, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney delivered a triumph for religious freedom when he ruled that the city of East Lansing violated Tennes’s rights.
Religious freedom is a bedrock right that must be defended at all costs as it serves as the foundation for all of our other freedoms.
LET US PRAY…
Father, we give You the praise for this immensely important triumph for religious freedom here in America. Lord, thank You for the courage and strength of Steve Tennes to stand firm for Your truth about marriage. Father, empower us as Your people to boldly advocate for Your truth in our culture. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
