Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt is calling on the Biden Administration to exert diplomatic pressure to free ministers of an evangelical church founded by an Alabamian who are imprisoned in Nicaragua.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Britt said the administration should “utilize all sanctions enforcement powers and leverage in any diplomatic way.”
“Any options that are in the toolbox should be used to force Nicaragua to remedy this situation,” Britt said.
In December, the administration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega ordered the closure of Mountain Gateway’s 10 churches and arrested 11 of their pastors, accusing them of money laundering, according to Christianity Today.
Four months later, the pastors were found guilty and received sentences ranging between 12 and 15 years and a combined fine of more than $1 billion.
Leaders of the ministry deny the charges and earlier this year said they hadn’t even seen charging documents. Instead, critics of the regime said it is part of an ongoing campaign against Christian ministries and reflects the government’s uneasiness with mass religious gatherings and organizations.
Mountain Gateway was founded by Alabamian Britt Hancock and is based in Texas.
Britt’s speech follows efforts by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, and U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) on behalf of the church.
“Mountain Gateway recruits, trains, commissions, and sends out ordained Christian ministers to spread the Gospel,” Britt said.
In Nicaragua, the organization has advanced God’s Kingdom through discipleship, through feeding and clothing those in need, through providing assistance during natural disasters, and sharing the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. These individuals doing this work should be celebrated – not persecuted.”
