A significant beach event in Jacksonville, Florida, saw over 2,500 baptisms. Pastor Joby Martin from The Church of Eleven22 emphasized the event’s role in spiritual renewal and the importance of public expressions of faith.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Pastor Dia Moodley was recently cleared of allegations following a lengthy investigation. The police had been examining a street sermon delivered in Bristol last November, where Moodley faced accusations of a “religiously aggravated” offense under the Public Order Act, as reported by ADF International.
“Pastor Dia Moodley continues to preach openly despite legal challenges,” says ADF UK.
Moodley had been detained for eight hours and released while the police conducted their investigations. On May 16, the authorities informed him that the case was officially dropped, citing insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.
This marks the second time Moodley faced arrest for street preaching activities concerning Islam and transgender issues. In March 2024, he was similarly arrested but later released with an apology.
Supporters argue these repeated incidents reflect increasing limits on Christian free speech in Britain. During an Easter sermon, Moodley compared Jesus to other religious figures, asserting the belief that only Jesus rose from the dead, which prompted reactions from bystanders.
“We’ll send the boys round if you do that again,” warned a bystander, as seen in video footage, which Moodley reported to the police.
Police reviewed the footage and conducted inquiries but found no sufficient basis for further action and stated that the investigation could be reopened if new evidence comes to light. Moodley is considering legal action against the police, alleging they ignored his free speech rights and did not fully investigate threats against him.
In another instance in London, Pastor Steve Maile faces charges after speaking against Islam during preaching. Elsewhere, Pastor Clive Johnston in Northern Ireland was convicted for a sermon and fined in a protected abortion “buffer zone.” These incidents highlight ongoing disputes around free speech for religious figures in the UK.
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