Church Disruption in St. Paul: A Member’s Account

Caleb Phillips, a 21-year-old who regularly attends Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, has reported distressing encounters involving left-wing agitators at his church over the past two Sundays. The unrest began after a disruption during a service on January 18.

Phillips expressed that he felt the negativity directed at him and other churchgoers was indicative of “spiritual warfare” targeting the congregation. “The Bible says our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil,” he noted during a conversation with a news outlet.

A recent graduate, Phillips has been part of Cities Church since October. He was drawn to the church’s strong biblical teachings and leadership. However, during a service in January, a large group of anti-ICE protestors entered the sanctuary, chanting loudly and interrupting the worship.

Phillips described the situation as “traumatic,” revealing that it caused many children in the church to cry from fear. He criticized the protesters for targeting a pastor connected to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, suggesting they should be embarrassed and questioning their authenticity as Christians.

“I was stunned,” he recalled. “It just happened so suddenly, like fireworks. Children shouldn’t have to witness those kinds of scenes.”

Despite the chaos, congregants at Cities Church regrouped to complete the service that evening. Phillips mentioned that attendance in the following Sundays has been noticeably high, although protests persisted outside the church, echoing harassment toward the congregants. Thankfully, with police support, the protestors were kept from re-entering the building.

The week after the disruption, Phillips reported that some agitators directed racist insults at his Asian girlfriend, implying she was aligned with “Nazis” merely for attending the service. Reflecting on the incident, he compared stepping outside to face the protestors to entering an “ice bath.”

“Looking at the peace and joy we had in church contrasted sharply with the hate being directed at us—it made me feel sadness for them,” he shared.

In a touching moment, Phillips and other young church members sought to respond not with anger but with compassion. They approached some of the agitators and asked if they could pray with them. Surprisingly, the protestors agreed, and together they offered prayers for peace in the Twin Cities.

However, as they attempted to leave, one protestor with a megaphone began verbally attacking Phillips’ girlfriend again, making derogatory remarks about her race and threatening her.

Phillips expressed his frustration and anger upon encountering continued hostility, but he tried to remember that these moments reflect a deeper spiritual battle rather than mere personal conflicts. “We’re not going to hate anyone,” he affirmed. “We love our city, our church, even those who oppose us, and we pray for everyone.”