Acquitted Irish Pastor Urges Clergy to 'Take Your Stand for Christ'

A Christian pastor from Northern Ireland who was put on trial for "hate speech" says preachers need to be ready to stand for the truth in the face of opposition.

"There are faceless people in the world today who would suppress the Gospel and defeat God's people," Pastor James McConnell told CBN News.

Mcconnell called Islam "satanic" in a sermon he preached to his church, Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The sermon was also broadcast over the Internet, leading a prosecutor to charge McConnell with violating the Communications Act.

A judge found McConnell not guilty, but the very fact that he was brought to trial has religious freedom and speech advocates concerned.

Meanwhile, McConnell offer the following advice to preachers

"Don't draw back," he said. "Take your stand for Christ. We have got to win the day and there are powers in the United States and powers in Great Britain who are out to suppress this. We need to expose them and bring them to light and shame them."