A Kelowna church congregation will continue to worship together, despite receiving a ticket from police.

Earlier the Capital News reported that Harvest Ministries International in Kelowna was issued a $2,300 ticket for violating COVID-19 public health orders, for the second time.

Mounties visited the church twice, once on Dec. 6, taking an educational approach, and again on Dec. 19, when they issued a ticket to the ministry representative.

READ MORE: Second large gathering at Kelowna church results in ticket

Senior staff member and pastor, Heather Lucier, who confirmed she received the ticket from RCMP on Dec. 19, said it was expected, and changes nothing.

She explained their non-denominational 100-person congregation gathers two nights a week, split into two 50-person, socially-distanced groups.

Since the pandemic began, Lucier said they havensa国际传媒檛 stopped gathering.

sa国际传媒淭ruth of the matter is, we havensa国际传媒檛 stopped. Because we believe itsa国际传媒檚 our constitutional right to do so.

sa国际传媒淲e have let our people know that biblically, the bible says donsa国际传媒檛 neglect gathering together. Thatsa国际传媒檚 the high law that we follow. And if theresa国际传媒檚 an issuesa国际传媒� if we have to choose, wesa国际传媒檙e choosing biblical law.sa国际传媒�

Harvest Ministry has been around for about 18 years, and in Kelowna, since 2018. Lucier said the church is just one part of a global humanitarian effort.

She said if bars and restaurants can be open, so should they be allowed to welcome people in, adding the church should be considered an essential service.

sa国际传媒淪uicide rates are going up, depression rates are going up, and people are looking to the church. And itsa国际传媒檚 time for the church to make a stand. And so we are making a stand,sa国际传媒� Lucier said.

She explained theysa国际传媒檙e not protesting for the sake of protesting.

sa国际传媒淭his is what wesa国际传媒檝e done, this is what we always will do. So wesa国际传媒檙e just continuing on. Wesa国际传媒檙e just doing what wesa国际传媒檙e called to do, as pastors and leaders. Wesa国际传媒檙e having our church open.sa国际传媒�

The Kelowna RCMP called Luciersa国际传媒檚 statements sa国际传媒渧ery disappointing,sa国际传媒� adding officers will continue to actively investigate and take necessary enforcement action on reports of non-compliance with the provincial health orders.

READ MORE: Westlake Drive reopens after truck fire

READ MORE: B.C. surgery wait list getting shorter after COVID-19 disruption

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com

Like us on and follow us on .