Pastor James Coates in jail for one more Sunday. Erin Coates releases statement

A week ago Edmonton Pastor James Coates marked a sobering anniversary. March 16 was the one month anniversary of his incarceration. Albertans weren’t sure just how long Pastor James Coates would remain in prison. Coates was taken into custody back on February 16 after the Pastor of Edmonton’s GraceLife Church refused to sign a bail condition which would have required him to promise to stop holding services that violate public health rules on the size of gatherings.

Then on Wednesday Alberta Crown Prosecutors agreed to withdraw all but one of the Public Health Act offences Coates was charged with and it looked like the pastor might be released as early as Friday. The Provincial Court of Alberta quickly sent out a press release stating there would be no proceedings on Friday.

Family and friends are now expecting Coates to be released following procedures on Monday at Stony Plain Provincial Court. Pastor Coates’ wife Erin Coates released a statement on her instagram feed recognizing the delay.

From the Instagram account of Erin Coates

Hi friends, so we weren’t able to get the Friday hearing we hoped for. James’ hearing is Monday morning. This breaks my heart that he has to wait and be away from our family and GLC when he was so excited to potentially get out. He is trusting the Lord with it. He said his work for the Lord must not be done yet. Please remember that even his release is not set in stone…the JCCF article stated they EXPECT the release of James in the upcoming days. The judge has to agree to the terms of the deal. We have high hopes but ultimately our hope is in the Lord. This has been an emotional roller coaster for my children. We have been praying for the last couple days that our hope would not be in the timing of James’ release but in the perfect sovereign will of God. I’m not going to lie, every day without him is a little harder especially with the prospect of his release. I’m trying to subject my emotions to the Lord and trust in His timing alone. Please pray for James, this is the fifth Sunday without GLC, he misses the body. Please pray that he would use the most of his time and that God would continue to protect him. Please pray he would have the words to speak with his statement before the judge and that he will glorify the great name of Christ Jesus. Thank you everyone. I’m so thankful that you all pray so fervently for us, how we need it!

Last Sunday at GraceLife Church Associate Pastor JACOB SPENST read out this letter of encouragement to the congregation written by Pastor Coates from his jail cell.

Related Topics:#ErinCoates #GraaceLifeChurch #PastorJamesCoates feature

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Blue Bombers become first CFL team to earn playoff spot with 26-16 victory over Elks

Published on October 15, 2021

The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — Zach Collaros threw two touchdown passes as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Edmonton Elks 26-16 on Friday night to become the first CFL team to clinch a playoff berth.

Winnipeg (9-1) captured its seventh straight victory and improved to 7-0 within the West Division. Collaros finished 15-of-24 passing for 210 yards with an interception to remain the CFL’s passing leader (2,565 yards) but is also tops in TD passes with 15.

This marks the fifth straight season that Winnipeg, the defending Grey Cup champion, has made the playoffs.

Edmonton (2-7) suffered its fifth straight loss and dropped to 0-5 at home this season.

Edmonton’s defence forced a safety at 9:31 of the first quarter, then came up big five minutes later as Trumaine Washington intercepted Collaros in the end zone. The Bombers closed out the opening quarter with a 37-yard Ali Mourtada field goal.

The Elks responded with Sean Whyte’s 34-yard field goal at 11:22 of the second.

Winnipeg took the lead with three minutes left in the first half as a 47-yard completion to Kenny Lawler set up Collaros’s five-yard TD strike to Andrew Harris. But Harris appeared to suffer an injury to his right knee and did not return as Brady Oliveira finished up with 105 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Whyte kicked a 25-yard field cut Winnipeg’s half-time lead to 10-8.

Mourtada converted from 27 and a career-high 43 yards to start the third. Edmonton tied it 16-16 on Taylor Cornelius’s 11-yard TD toss to Shai Ross. Backup quarterback Dakota Prukop added the two-point convert.

Rookie Cornelius got the start as incumbent Trevor Harris was a healthy scratch.

Moments after Elks defender Aaron Grymes couldn’t hang on to an easy interception opportunity, Collaros hit Rasheed Bailey on a 48-yard completion before finding him on a five-yard scoring strike six minutes into the fourth.

Mourtada cemented the win with a 23-yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining.

Winnipeg hosts the B.C. Lions next Saturday while Edmonton has a bye week before returning home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Oct. 29.

NOTES: Harris being sidelined while healthy has led to speculation the Elks are actively shopping their veteran quarterback on the trade front… Lawler returned to the lineup after being suspended by Winnipeg for its last game for an impaired driving arrest… The actual attendance appeared to be far beneath the announced 24,276 fans.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2021.

The Canadian Press