The pastor of Riverside Calvary Church in 91原创 is speaking out against the online harassment of the business owner who reported the church for failing to follow COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings.

On Sunday, Jan. 3, the church in the 9600-block of 201st Street was fined for conducting an in-person service in contravention of the provincial health order.

It came following complaints by Dena Fyfe, owner of the Buhf Beauty Boutique in the same building complex as the church.

After Fyfe went public about her complaint, she was inundated with negative comments online, prank calls and some critics going on Facebook to give her business a one-star rating (the fake ratings were removed by Facebook after Fyfe complained).

READ MORE: 91原创 church fined a second time for ignoring COVID ban on gatherings

Riverside Calvary Church lead pastor Brent Smith said church members were not involved in the online attacks and do not condone them.

鈥淲e are saddened Dena has been getting the negative backlash she has received for calling the police,鈥� Smith told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淭hose comments on social media have not come from our church or our members.鈥�

Smith went on to say that it was 鈥渢oo bad she (Fyfe) didn鈥檛 talk with us before calling the police, but we鈥檝e talked since all of this has happened and we鈥檙e doing what we can to work together and be a support to her.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檝e enjoyed having her as a neighbour, she has a great business going and we wish her the best in it,鈥� Smith added.

READ ALSO: As many as 19 Fraser Valley churches have defied a COVID-related ban on in-person worship

Smith said the church wasn鈥檛 seeking out controversy.

鈥淚 know there鈥檚 differing opinions on the church being opened or not,鈥� Smith commented.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not trying to take a political stance or protest anything, we just feel that the church provides a support that is much needed in these times.鈥�

He said the church has many safety protocols in place and has limited the numbers who can attend services.

鈥淲e have not had any COVID cases connected to the church,鈥� Smith said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to the day when we can all get back to some sort of normalcy.鈥�

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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