Pastor Andrew Brunson was in a Turkish prison for two years, was released on Friday, and came back to the United States on Saturday.
The Family Research Council (FRC) says this is an important religious freedom case.
The FRC Action Bus tour came through Billings on Friday, with stops at Beartooth Harley Davidson and Yellowstone Christian College.
The group passes out voter guides on Senate and Governor candidates’ views on life, family, religious freedom and limited government.
Pastor Brunson and his wife Norine met with President Trump on Saturday.
Brunson had been falsely accused of terrorism, according to the Family Research Council.
The President and members of Congress from both parties worked for Brunson’s release.
“If it can happen in another country, it can happen over here in America,” said Patrina Mosley, FRC Director of Life, Culture and Women’s Advocacy. “Turkey doesn’t get to the point of putting people in prison for their faith or putting people in prison for sharing their faith overnight. It happens over time and it happens when people don’t vote for people who truly represent their values into office. This has been an answer to prayer and I think it’s a great sign to show that we not only care about religious freedom here as a nation but also abroad and we want to lead on that effort.”
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins is a commissioner of the U.S. International Commission on Religious Freedom.
He observed the court proceedings on Friday and said Brunson needed to get out of Turkey quickly before Turkey’s President changes his mind.
American Center for Law and Justice lawyers represented Brunson, who is from Black Mountain, North Carolina.
The FRC Action Bus Tour was also in Great Falls and East Helena on Thursday.
