Police have accused a New Hampshire Bible-believing Christian of posting “criminally threatening, coercive and hateful” messages on the door of a LGBTQ-affirming church in Dover, NH, but it is abundantly clear that the message he posted was based in Biblical Truth and love. Now the Gospel message itself is on trial in New Hampshire District Court and the man is facing criminal charges and legal fees he simply cannot afford.
Isaac Santiago, 49, of Somersworth, N.H., who is facing a Class-A misdemeanor “criminal threatening” charge under NH RSA 631:4(I)(b) for posting a message of repentance on a church door. Police have said “the charges include the possibility of an extended term of imprisonment under the state’s “Hate Crime” statute; specifically alleging this crime was substantially motived towards the victim’s religion, creed, or sexual orientation,” when it is clear that there was no crime and there was no hate. Police did not charge Mr. Santiago with vandalism, and there was no evidence of damage to the church property. Mr. Santiago attached the sign at night when no one was around but was caught on the church surveillance camera and later identified and arrested. Mr. Santiago needs to meet the target goal in this campaign to fund two attorneys who have pledged to stand up for his religious liberties. The first attorney will manage the basic court case and the second attorney will stand up for the Constitutional rights of Christians to preach the Gospel. Mr. Santiago’s arraignment is coming up at 8:30 a.m. on August 12, 2024 at the 7th Circuit Court in Dover. Please help Mr. Santiago defend religious liberty and donate to his legal fund through GiveSendGo.
Let me be abundantly clear: Mr. Santiago is not on trial for attaching a “threatening,” “coercive,” or “hateful” message on a church door. Those who hate Christianity and all that the Gospel of Jesus Christ represents are openly challenging the Truth of the Bible and the freedom to preach and teach what it says. Mr. Santiago’s case is simply an attempt by prosecutors and anti-Christian zealots to set up the legal claim that it is “coercive” to preach the Gospel. But it’s not just the Gospel. If prosecutors are successful in convicting Mr. Santiago on these charges, all religious expression that isn’t within the four walls of our own religious buildings could be declared illegal. This is a matter of pressing public interest.
We want to thank Andrew J. Manuse for this Contribution. Submit yours to steve@granitegrok.com
According to Dover Police Lieutenant Mark Nadeau, state law prohibits a person from placing “any object or graffiti on the property of another with a purpose to coerce or terrorize any person.” The Lieutenant said Santiago was “attempting to coerce his religious beliefs” with the sign he taped to the door of First Parish Church in Dover, N.H., with clear packing tape. You can read a press release from the Dover Police Department by following this link.
Mr. Santiago explained that God Himself directed him to tape the sign using Biblical language calling for repentance on the door of the church, which is a LGBTQ-affirming church. The sign, which is pictured above, read, “Jesus is coming soon! The devil deceived you! God will never except (sic) ‘LGBTQ.’ Be saved today or you will perish in your sins! Repent and believe!” This message is a paraphrase of John 8:24, Luke 13:3, and can also be backed up in Romans 1:16-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and various Old Testament Scriptures such as Leviticus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 22:5.
Santiago said he spends a lot of his free time handing out Bible tracts calling for repentance to people around town where he lives and where he works, and he has also placed similar signs in public places where signs are placed. He explained that he has a heart to serve the LORD, who has asked His servants to preach the Gospel of repentance to all, so that some might be saved. One day he saw an affirming LGBTQ message on the church’s public display, and he believes God called him to place his sign with the above referenced message of love in that location. He taped it to the door so as not to cause any damage, he said.
The Church, First Parish Church of Dover, NH, has a rainbow image on its placard outside the building that indicates “All are welcome here.” It also has an “Open and Affirming Statement” displayed prominently on its website that reads, “First Parish Church is Open and Affirming, welcoming all to participate fully in the life of our church family, its ministries, fellowship, leadership, rites and sacraments, regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, social or economic situation, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
According to an unbiased, God-fearing reading of the Holy Scriptures, the church’s position to affirm sinful behavior such as LGBTQ is itself a sin that God has said He will judge, and the message Santiago taped on the church door was a loving attempt to save such sinners from judgment. There wasn’t even a modicum of hatred in his intent. God does not desire condemnation for any one of us, but rather that all of us will turn away from our sins and come to repentance through the grace of Jesus Christ. That being said, God has also said that sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God. Only those who repent from their sin in Christ and then live according to the righteousness of God’s Word will inherit eternal life. God is just and will not ultimately accept those who continue to practice sin, which the LORD calls “lawlessness.” See Matthew 7:21-23, for example. A message of repentance is thus an invitation to live with God forever, which is the best gift anyone could possibly receive.
From a civil perspective, we ought to pause and reflect on the grave legal problem the Dover Police have created as it pertains to religious liberty. Because we know that Santiago’s sign contained Biblical messages and that he desired to reach congregants at an errant “Christian” church with Biblical truth, it is highly troubling that the civil authorities have involved themselves at all in this internal church matter. Lieutenant Nadeau of the Dover Police may posit that Mr. Santiago’s sign was an “attempt to coerce their religious beliefs,” but he would be wrong. Mr. Santiago was actually attempting to save members of First Parish Church who call themselves “Christian” from the coming judgment of God that they will endure, without repentance, for deceiving other believers. There is no coercion in sharing the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ in His Holy Word; only love and a hope for redemption.
Please contribute today to help Mr. Santiago defend the Word of the LORD in New Hampshire District Court so that He does not have to stand up against the enemies of God alone. Please help Mr. Santiago defend religious liberty and donate to his legal fund through GiveSendGo.
Read an op-ed written previously on this subject.
Andrew J. Manuse is the pastor of First Fruits Ministries, a first-century Messianic congregation of Jews and Gentiles returning to the Jewish roots of the faith in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) through the Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures. First Fruits Ministries is located in Manchester, NH.