CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: 🔥 Pastor Wins Big in Ohio! Appeals Court Upholds Church’s Right to Run Shelter
Ohio appeals court rules in favor of Pastor Chris Avell, allowing Dad’s Place Church to continue its overnight shelter ministry amid city challenges.
The court reversed the injunction and remanded the case, requiring the trial court to re-examine the city’s actions under the strict scrutiny test to protect the church’s religious freedom.
Your church opens its doors to homeless people… and the city responds by filing both criminal and civil charges against the pastor.
That happened in Ohio — and on November 21, 2025, the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals issued a ruling that allowed the church’s temporary overnight shelter ministry to continue.
Stay with me — near the end, I’ll show the key detail from the case that explains why this matter reached the courts and what is still unresolved.
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This is the story of Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place Church in Bryan, Ohio.
During cold nights, Pastor Avell allowed homeless people to stay at the church — a temporary overnight shelter ministry.
For over two years, the City of Bryan pursued multiple enforcement actions against the church, including:
18 criminal zoning charges
Criminal and civil fire-code prosecutions
Middle-of-the-night inspections
The city also demanded the installation of an expensive fire suppression system, which it does not require of local motels, apartments, or senior living facilities.
These actions represented both criminal and civil charges against Pastor Avell and the church.
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First Liberty Institute, along with the law firms Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Gibson Dunn, and Spengler Nathanson PLL, represented Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place Church throughout this case.
The city attempted to stop the church from operating overnight.
They issued fines, threats, and additional enforcement actions.
Pastor Avell appealed.
On November 21, 2025, the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals ruled:
The injunction shutting down Dad’s Place’s religious activities is reversed.
The church’s temporary overnight shelter ministry may continue operating.
The case is remanded to the trial court to reconsider Dad’s Place’s claims under the Ohio Constitution and U.S. Constitution using strict scrutiny.
The appeal of Pastor Avell’s criminal conviction remains pending.
This ruling is a major legal victory, but the broader case is not fully over. Further proceedings may still occur, but the court made clear: the city cannot close the ministry while constitutional claims are considered.
This case highlights the intersection of city enforcement and church ministry, and what it means for ministries across America.
Do you think churches should be allowed to operate temporary shelters without city interference?
Type FAITH OVER FEAR — if you believe churches must be free to serve the vulnerable without excessive government restrictions or Type RULE OF LAW — if you think local authorities should enforce codes and regulations regardless of the ministry.
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First Liberty Institute — Press Release, Nov 21, 2025
Breaking: Ohio Court Rejects City’s Effort to Shutter Church’s Temporary Shelter Ministry
https://firstliberty.org/media/breaking-ohio-court-rejects-citys-effort-to-shutter-churchs-temporary-shelter-ministry/
Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals — Case Opinion
Pool v. Dad’s Place / Chris Avell
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/6/2025/2025-Ohio-5262.pdf
CBN News Coverage
Ohio Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Pastor
https://cbn.com/news/us/ohio-appeals-court-rules-favor-ohio-pastor-city-treats-him-criminal
🔥 Pastor Wins Big in Ohio! Appeals Court Upholds Church’s Right to Run Shelter | Christian Breaking News!