"I believe it's a victory for all Christians," Voices of the Nations' director Peter Ruparelia told LifeSiteNews, likening the fight to a "David and Goliath" struggle.

"We can now say the name of 'Jesus 'in the public square," added his wife Beena.

Credit for the victory goes to lawyer Marty Moore of the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, Ruparelia said.

That the Yonge-Dundas Square management board reversed its decision "is good news for freedom of expression for all groups," Moore told LifeSiteNews in a telephone interview.

It's a particular triumph for the members of VOTN, who have defended their "freedom to express their religious beliefs."

JCCF took up the case in late October, issuing a "letter of intent" to sue the City of Toronto and the Yonge-Dundas Square management board for violating VOTN's charter rights of freedom of religion and expression.

But in December the YDS board agreed to negotiate with VOTN. Since then, Moore and City of Toronto lawyer Ian Duke have hammered out a "document of understanding," specific to VOTN and its Christian music event.

VOTN agreed to the final document on January 29, Ruparelia told LifeSiteNews, adding: "Marty did a great job."

According to the lengthy and detailed agreement of understanding, performers at the one-day Christian music and dance festival can "sing any song" they want, and "even pray from the stage" said VOTN's event coordinator Leye Oyelami. (Photo via VoicesOftheNations.com)

Scripture reading and testimony is likewise permitted—as long as these acts of public praise and worship occur "in the context of the performance," he added.

VOTN can also have a prayer tent, and distribute promotional materials—but these need to first be vetted by the YDS management, Oyelami told LifeSiteNews.

The YDS management board ratified the agreement on Thursday, and voted in favour of issuing VOTN a permit by the end of February, for the August 6 event.

It was admittedly a rather anti-climactic end to a widely publicized dispute that stirred outrage well beyond Toronto.

The YDS events manager denied VOTN a permit in October, stating that its festival performers in previous years had praised Jesus and Jehovah, and that amounted to proselytizing,

"If you're praising Jesus, 'praise the Lord,' and 'there's no God like Jehovah,' that type of thing, that's proselytizing," Natalie Belman told Oyelami at the time. "That is a big problem... That [kind of thing], from the stage, is not acceptable."

News of that decision and perceived discrimination against Christians galvanized the Christian community to protest.

Over 30,000 people signed a LifeSiteNews petition, and 10,000 TheRebel.media petition asking the city to reverse the ruling, petitions which a VOTN delegation delivered to...

Continue reading here.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

An Easter Miracle!! 2nd Crew Member from Downed Jet in Iran Rescued and Safely Extracted after Intense Race to Reach Him before IRGC Terrorists

PRAYER ALERT: US F-15 Fighter Jet Downed in SW Iran, 1 Pilot Rescued and Safe; Search Continues for Second One

Dutch Sheets: Good Friday Message & Communion

'I Began to Pray': Pastor Talks Down Crazed Man Who Points Gun Directly at Him, Leads 10 to Christ

Trump HHS Renews Planned Parenthood Grants for 'Final Year' Due to Legalities, But 'Funds CANNOT Be Used for Abortions'

WATCH: Families at the Center of Washington State Transgender Sports Debate Stand Firm for Truth

Levin: Ruling Against Birthright Citizenship Should Be a 'Slam-Dunk' for Supreme Court [Video]

Colorado Appeals Court Reverses Tina Peters' Sentencing, Could This Lead to Her Freedom?

March Job Growth Triples Expectations, Unemployment Rate Dips

Artemis II Mission Pilot: 'We Need Jesus; Whether Here on Earth or Orbiting the Moon'

Democrat Lawmaker Steps Down, Says Faith No Longer Aligns with Left's Agenda

Trump Administration Charges 9 in Massive Massachusetts Fraud Scheme

ICE Finally Detains Notorious Hamas Fundraiser Salah Sarsour; Decades of Terror Ties Exposed as AMP Leader Faces Deportation

Johnson, Thune Hatch Plan to Fund DHS and Launch a Second Reconciliation Push to End the Dem's Shutdown

Pentagon Briefed Trump on Plan to Seize Uranium from Hands of Iranian Terrorist Regime

President Trump Reassures Americans: Iran Operation Won't Be a Forever War

Pam Bondi OUT as Attorney General

Countdown for Historic Space Mission Artemis II Begins

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Halt Construction on Privately Funded White House Ballroom; Trump Responds

Trump Rolls Out a Plan to Back Farmers amid Rising Costs, Pledging 'Golden Age'