Thousands of people gathered at Higher Vision Church on New Year’s Eve for the final event of the controversial “Let Us Worship” faith protests that have been held across the country over the past several months.
On Thursday night, Sean Feucht, a former Republican Congressional candidate and volunteer pastor for Bethel Church in Redding, CA, brought his controversial “Let Us Worship” series to a close with a concert in the parking lot of Higher Vision Church in the unincorporated areas of Valencia.
While officials from Higher Vision said that the concert was not an official event for the church, they also posted saying that they would “love for you to join us as we worship & pray for revival in our region, state, & country.”
“We are providing an outdoor venue conducive to a socially-distanced worship experience and some volunteer support services,” reads a statement issued by the church the night before the event. “Masks will be freely available, those who are feeling ill are discouraged from attending, and an on-stage announcement will be made to this effect at the beginning of the event.”
2 HOURS TO GO!!!!!
THIS WILL BE THE PARTY OF ALL PARTIES TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR!!!
WATCH ONLINE ON YOUTUBE!!#LetUsWorship pic.twitter.com/D9nGZrb85v
— Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) January 1, 2021
However, witnesses reported that less than half of those in attendance were wearing masks, and many were not adhering to social distancing guidelines.
At one point during the event, an estimated 2,500 people were in attendance, according to officials on scene.
Officials with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station posted that morning that they were aware of the event, and would “be monitoring” it, with patrol cars from the station being seen along The Old Road near the event.
No arrests or citations had been reported in connection with the event as of Friday morning.
See Related: Worship Protest To Be Hosted In Valencia On New Year’s Eve
Feucht accuses state and federal governments, as well as social media of “silencing the faithful, banning our voices, and outright attacking our God-given right to declare His goodness” on his Let Us Worship site.
“States across America, including here in California have shut down church services and even outlawed singing in church. Instagram and Twitter is censoring Christian voices every single day,” reads the Let Us Worship website. “And every hour that passes they grow bolder in their efforts to silence the faithful. It’s time for the Church to rise up with one voice and tell our government leaders and the rulers of big tech that we refuse to be silenced!”
The event came hours after public health officials reported an additional 15,129 COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County on Thursday, along with 290 deaths.
In 2020, L.A. Public Health identified 770,602 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 10,345 deaths since March.
On Saturday, Dec. 19, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reversed its ruling that Los Angeles County religious services were not allowed to be held indoors, which came on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling which allowed for such services.
As of Thursday, places of worship in L.A. County are permitted to offer indoor and outdoor services, provided that strict physical distancing is followed and masks are worn at all times.
Photo by Jade Aubuchon/KHTS News.
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