Judge, - "I only care about the 30 seconds surrounding the return of the button."

Report by Bruce Garren who was in attendance at the trial yesterday (Sept. 2nd, 2008).

Members of Spirit One Christian Center led by Pastor Mark Holick went to Wichita City Court yesterday (September 2, 2008) praying that the outcome would be like their court appearance of a year ago, but this time ‘the deck was stacked against them.’ The Gay Pride event organizer with the help of the Wichita Police convinced the City Court Judge that the manner in which Pastor Mark return his event button for a refund represented battery and found him guilty. It was evident to those in court as the truth became known that the City was going to be sure that the outcome was going to be different this year. The charges against Pastor Mark and Spirit One for sharing the gospel last year were thrown out (lawsuit pending) because no offense was found in what they did.  This year, it seemed, the event organizers and the Wichita Police were going to insure that judge had everything he needed to find them guilty.

A group of Spirit One Christian Center congregation members attended the Wichita Gay Pride event in a public park after paying five dollars for an event button in order to peaceably share the gospel and consequences of the homosexual life style with the event participants. But long before their attendance that day the event organizers and the police had been preparing for their coming. It was clear as Pastor Mark cross examined the witnesses that his accusers had been expecting him and his church and were going to find some charge that they thought the judge would accept even if it meant lying to the court in the process. In the end, the Court found him guilty of battery which include a fine ($100.00) and court cost. Guilty of battery for tossing the event button to the event organizer approximately 5 feet away which landed gently on his folded arms after requesting a refund. It had been the police sergeant in charge who on that day said, “That’s battery” and turning to the event organizer asking him if he’d like to press  a charge of battery against Pastor Mark. At this, the meeting organizer seeing his chance happily agreed. Pastor Mark was immediately cuffed and put in a patrol car to be taken to jail.

Pastor Marks defended himself in the courtroom arguing that if his rights to freedom of speech and religious expression had not been infringed upon to begin with there would have been no need to return the event button and further, that the charge of battery (returning a 0.4 ounce button with an underhand toss) was spurious at best. But on this day the court was going to hear none of what Pastor Mark was going to say even with witnesses from Spirit One who testified that Pastor Mark clearly had no malice in returning the button. Against Pastor Marks protest the judge allowed him only to discuss the activities of 30 seconds around the return of the button.

Less than an hour after the judges verdict Pastor Mark filed an appeal with the 18th District Court of Appeals hoping to find justice in the higher court with a jury of his peers.

The meeting organizer testified during his testimony that only gays, lesbians, and friends were invited to the event and that is why Pastor Mark and Spirit One Christian Center were not welcome, but clearly Pastor Mark and the warriors at Spirit One are in fact the best friends that these lost people have, for they are the only ones who cared enough to come to the event and share the truth about the consequences of their choice to spend their lives living in sin.  The best way for those of us who call ourselves Christians to show our love for the people who are confused about the truth is to go to where they are and be Jesus in the flesh.

Bruce Garren

The trial lasted only 30 minutes or less.  Both of the police who testified lied (or significant exaggeration).  The city prosecutor "OBJECTED" strenuously and repeatedly to (I would estimate 50-75%) of any question I would try to ask of the cities witnesses or my witnesses.  I truly wish that I had a video of the trial ( I motioned at last years trial to video and it was denied.)  As witnessed by maybe 40 people in the courtroom, the verdict was decided long before we awoke that morning.  One of our members (Russell Disney) testified that he was ejected from the park for nothing else than for caring a bible.  I'm not for sure but I believe the prosecutor was Mary McDonald (if it was) she is a long time city prosecutor and avout enemy of the Church of the Lord. 

We have this on video and wanted to enter the evidence that the Sergeant that arrested me, threatened and said that he was going to arrest me, take me to jail, warned you, etc., - 7 times BEFORE I returned the button.  The prosecutor objected and the judge sustained, "not relevant" only the 30 seconds around the button. - Pastor Mark

Isaiah 59:14
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
 
Pastor Mark Holick