Manitoba pastor arrested for violation of health orders

A Manitoba pastor who has openly defied provincial public health orders was arrested Monday evening in Steinbach, Man., the Church of God confirms.

"We ask that Christians would pray for Tobias' strength, wisdom, and release, as well as for his wife and sons,"Heinrich Hildebrandt, a pastor at the Steinbach-area church, saidin an email to CBC News.

Tobias Tissen,another pastor at theChurch of God Restoration near Sarto, Man., in the rural municipalityof Hanover,was the subject of an arrest warrant issuedearlier this summer for violating public health orders.

Hildebrandt said the arrest was in connection with the outstanding warrant but did not elaborate.

A Twitter account in Tissen's name posted an update Monday evening stating "Tobias will be kept in custody overnight, and is scheduled to appear before a magistrate tomorrow, where he will most likely be asked to sign conditions to obtain his release."

Over the the past year, Tissenand his churchhave receivedfines for violating in-person gathering limits.

Tissen is also part of a group of seven rural Manitoba churches fighting the legality of the health order in court.

CBC has reached out to the RCMP to confirm the arrest and is awaiting a response.