Pastor Charged With ‘Criminal’ Activity For Opening His Church 24/7 For The Homeless

First Liberty Institute is defending an Ohio pastor facing 18 criminal charges for housing the homeless in his church overnight—and he receives a new charge for every day the church remains open, he says. City officials charged him for violating zoning laws. A court hearing is scheduled for today, Jan. 11.

Chris Avell, pastor of Dad’s Place in Bryan, Ohio, started opening the church to the homeless 24 hours a day, seven days a week in March 2023. The local homeless shelter was usually full and had to turn away hundreds of people every year.

“I used to be an atheist, and this is what God did for me,” Avell said on Fox News, his voice heavy with emotion. “I was spiritually homeless and He provided a home for me in Heaven. … He’s put a burden on my heart for them.”

In November, the city sent a letter and posted a sign warning the church that it would face criminal prosecution if it did not stop housing and feeding the homeless on church property. The pastor said that was something he simply could not do—“I have to follow Christ.”