Every week, the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL) receives hundreds of calls from churches and Christian ministries caught off guard by lawsuits, government overreach, or unexpected legal issues.
Our mission is simple: to stand in the legal gap, so pastors and ministry leaders can remain focused on sharing the Gospel without the crushing weight of legal battles.
This month, we’re sharing three real-life ministry challenges—each one revealing how quickly a church’s mission can be disrupted: a children’s program blindsided by unexpected government oversight, a counseling ministry caught in a legal gray area, and a routine renovation that nearly turned into a financial trap.
This Month’s Featured Cases
When a Kids' Program Became a Legal Target
In a small-town church on the edge of a growing suburb, a weekday kids' ministry was blossoming. What started as a casual day program to help families during summer break had grown into a community favorite, with games, Bible stories, and lunch served each day.
Then the unexpected happened.
Due to the visibility of the program, a state official contacted the program regarding their lack of licensure and whether their program met the requirements of the state’s exemption from licensing for this type of program.
The director was stunned. “We have been operating like this for many years alongside other summer type programs like the YMCA that are not licensed.”
But that distinction wasn’t obvious to regulators.
The church called NCLL.
We quickly analyzed state law, located the statute that exempted ministries from commercial childcare licensing, and crafted a response that helped the church avoid unnecessary scrutiny and fines.
Because of timely counsel, the program continued uninterrupted—and the church learned how easily ministry can be misclassified by a system that doesn’t understand it.
A Counseling Conversation That Crossed a Line
A small-town church had recently launched a new care ministry—one designed to offer biblical counseling and spiritual support to members walking through grief, conflict, and crisis.
One evening, a young couple sat down with a volunteer counselor, hoping to reconcile after months of tension. The meeting started with prayer and Scripture. But before long, the husband grew emotional—confessing that he had accessed private emails and financial records from his wife’s work computer without her knowledge.
What he uncovered, he said, revealed personal failings—but the method he used to obtain it? Likely illegal.
The counselor froze. Was this a private spiritual matter—or an admission of potential criminal activity?
The church reached out to NCLL.
We helped them navigate the gray zone—clarifying the limits of confidentiality, outlining when and how to refer cases beyond the church’s walls, and updating intake forms and training protocols to reflect the church’s responsibilities.
The situation de-escalated peacefully—but the incident became a powerful lesson: even spiritual conversations can cross into legal terrain. Because this church called early, they stayed out of trouble—and strengthened their ministry for future challenges.
A Flooring Contract That Nearly Took a Church Down
A rural congregation with a decades-old building was finally preparing for long-overdue renovations. The worn carpet in the sanctuary would be replaced, the entryways modernized, and several accessibility upgrades added.
The church had already raised the funds. A contractor had been selected. All that was left was signing the agreement.
But something about the contract felt off to one board member—a retired teacher who admitted she didn’t know legalese but had “a bad feeling about it.”
She called the NCLL for a second opinion.
What we uncovered was alarming: multiple clauses that placed all liability on the church—even if the contractor missed deadlines or delivered substandard work. There were inflated fees buried in the fine print and even a clause allowing the contractor to walk away without penalty.
With our help, the church renegotiated the agreement, eliminating dangerous terms and protecting their investment.
Thanks to one person’s discernment and the NCLL’s review, what could have been a financial disaster turned into a successful project—completed on time and within budget.
Looking Ahead
These real-life cases remind us why we do what we do. When churches and ministries face lawsuits or legal threats, resources meant for outreach are diverted to legal defense.
By coming alongside them, we help ensure they can continue preaching the Gospel, serving their communities, and shaping lives for Christ.
