Conservative Pastor Says His Church 'Will Never Close' Because of Coronavirus: 'We're Raising Up Revivalists, Not Pansies'

A conservative evangelical pastor has told his followers he will not be closing his church amid the coronavirus outbreak because they are not "pansies."

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, leader of the Florida-based Revival Ministries International, even went as far as telling his congregation to shake each other's hands while he was delivering his sermon at the River Tampa Bay Church on March 16.

"Well I know they don't want us to do this, but just turn around and greet two, three people. Tell them you love them, Jesus loves them," Howards-Browne said, according to the website Right Wing Watch.

"Listen, this has to be the safest place. If you cannot be saved in church, you in serious trouble."

Authorities have repeatedly warned people against shaking hands, and advise frequently washing your own hands and avoiding touching your face and eyes.

The Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also recommended that all mass gatherings events with 50 or more people be canceled for the eight weeks in order to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Speaking during his sermon, which was attended by a large crowd of people, Howard-Browne said he has no plans to cancel his congregations.

"We are not stopping anything," he said. "I've got news for you, this church will never close. The only time the church will close is when the Rapture is taking place.

"This Bible school is open because we're raising up revivalists, not pansies."

In 2017, Howard-Browne visited the White House in order to "lay hands" on President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, along with several other pastors.

The same day as Howard-Browne's sermon, Trump tweeted advice on how people "stop the spread" of coronavirus, which included limiting handshakes.

Last month, Howard-Browne claimed he has plans to stop the coronavirus having previously "cursed" Zika from Florida in the name of Jesus, but will only do so in the U.S.

"We are doing the same thing with the coronavirus," Howard-Browne said in a video posted on his Periscope on February 24. "We do not need it on these shores, and somebody said 'Well, what about the rest of the world?' I mean, I can't be responsible for every city, or whatever."

The pastor, known for his "holy laughter" sermons, also made headlines in January after suggesting Jesus Christ should have "beat the crap out of" former National Security Adviser John Bolton for turning against President Donald Trump with his book and suggesting there was a quid pro quo agreement with Ukraine—the main basis of the president's impeachment trial.

Howard-Browne's church has been contacted for further comment.

There have been more than 3,370 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S., with 69 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University. A total of 12 patients have managed to recover from the virus.