A PASTOR said his congregation would rather die than not go to church as he refuses to stop services during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had previously violated the governor's stay at home order, after hundreds of parishioners gathered amid the coronavirus pandemic.

12 Pastor Tony Spell talks with journalists before attending Sunday service on April 5. Credit: Reuters

12 A protestor holds a sign at the Life Tabernacle Church on March 31. Credit: AP:Associated Press

In an exclusive video interview with TMZ, Spell said: "They say everybody's going to get it.

"Then if everybody's going to get it... Let's get on with life."

The defiant pastor held Palm Sunday church services despite the surge in confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths across the Unites States.

He has already been hit with six misdemeanors after repeatedly ignoring state orders against large groups assembling.

When asked about the possibility of one of his parishioners dying from coronavirus, he told TMZ: "The bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies and be present with the lord.

"So like any pure religious person...death looks to them like a welcome friend.

"True Christians do not mind dying, they fear living in fear.

"People that can prefer tyranny over freedom do not deserve freedom."

In Spell's mind, if Christians who attended church during the coronavirus outbreak were to die, they would die "like free people fighting for their convictions."

12 Pastor Tony Spell holds a Holy Bible and bottle of hand sanitiser as he speaks with the press at Life Tabernacle Church before a Palm Sunday service in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 5. Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Life Tabernacle Church. Pastor Tony Spell says he will keep violating a ban on gatherings because God told him to. Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 Pastor Tony Spell attends Sunday service at the Life Tabernacle megachurch challenging state orders. Credit: Reuters

In regards to communication platforms like Zoom possibly supplementing the act of physically going into church, Spell told TMZ: "It does not work.

"If it worked then why would America spends billions and billions of dollars on churches."

His comments come as the total number of confirmed US coronavirus cases reached 400,549 on Wednesday.

At least 12,857 people have died from the deadly virus in America - and 21,711 have recovered.

12

Last week, when Spell was asked by CBS why he broke the Louisiana Governor's orders, he said: "Because the Lord told us to."

"Over the last two weeks I have worked with the Sheriff, State Police the State Fire Marshal, Reverend Tony Perkins and others to address this matter outside of legal action. Mr. Spell made his intentions to continue to violate the law clear," Corcoran said in a statement.

"Instead of showing the strength and resilience of our community during this difficult time, Mr. Spell has chosen to embarrass us for his own self-promotion."

Spell, who according to local news, claims his services cure cancer and HIV, said no "dictator law" should keep people from worshipping God.

12 A man protests outside as congregants arrive for services at the Life Tabernacle Church. Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 A congregant in a church bus yells out to reporters as they leave services at the Life Tabernacle Church on March 29. Credit: AP:Associated Press

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"We're defying the rules because the commandment of God is to spread the Gospel," said Spell in a recent interview with Reuters.

"The church is the last force resisting the Antichrist, let us assemble regardless of what anyone says," he added.

12 Tony Spell previously vowed to keep holding church services amid a stay-at-home order in Louisiana Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 Spell talks to congregants after a service at Life Tabernacle Church Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 Credit: AP:Associated Press 12 Credit: AP:Associated Press

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