Last Updated Nov 15th, 2019 at 7:58 pm

Tennessee Pastor Bryan Nerren was arrested in India on October 5, after customs officials questioned him about his faith. Nerren was traveling with two other pastors to meet ten other ministers in Bagdogra for a conference.

After New Delhi customs officials observed money in his possession, Nerren explained that it was for the myriad expenses for the two conferences with 1,000 attendees, as well as for expenses for the 13 ministers for their two-week trip. Customs officials specifically asked if Nerren was a Christian, following it with an hour of questioning.

The customs agent specifically asked if Pastor Nerren was a Christian and if the funds would be used to support Christian causes, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.

Nerren was cleared and given no further instructions. During his following flight to Bagdogra, New Delhi customs officials told Bagdogra customs officials that Nerren was traveling illegally without proper documentation for the money — documentation he was never told to have.

The pastor was arrested in Bagdogra and denied all visitation, including from diplomatic staff at the U.S. consulate. A doctor who came to evaluate him spat on the floor before examining him after learning Nerren was a Christian.

Pastor Nerren was released on bail six days after his arrest, but a judge retained his passport and banned him from traveling. He remains stuck in India.

The American Center for Law and Justice is currently advocating for his release. Nerren’s wife presented a heavy plea for prayer over her husband and their family: