Florida Report - March 23, 2005

Flip, Miss Eva, Coach Dave, Bill Hewitt and Joseph Parente are among the 10 to 12 rescuers arrested as they attempted to take water to Terri Schiavo this morning. Three children, ages 10, 12, and 14, were among those arrested.

Florida Report - March 23, 2005

At 11:30 am (ET) CNN and Fox News reporting live from Pinellas Park , Florida , showed Flip Benham, Director of OR/Operation Save America as he gave the charge to gentle Christians waiting to go into the Pinellas Park hospice to give water to Terri Schiavo. In a strong and compelling voice, he spoke of the value of Terri's life, whom he described as “precious in the sight of God.”

“If Terri Schiavo must die,” he said, “it is imperative that she not die alone.“

“We are here as the Church of Jesus Christ to allow theology to become biography in the the streets of Pinellas Park , Florida.“

Holding aloft his huge Bible, Flip said, “It is this book that the Judges are ruling against. The Lord said, 'All who hate Me love death,' and these judges love death.“

He introduced Eva Edl as a 69 year old concentration camp survivor who would attempt to bring water to Terri by laying down her life on Terri's behalf.

Reminding the crowd surrounding him of Jesus' words, Flip said, “Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Before the microphones were turned off, we heard Miss Eva, who was holding her white styrofoam cup of water for Terri, saying, “Why am I doing this? I love Jesus. He laid down his life for me that I might have eternal life.“

A priest who had been with Terri earlier described her deteriorating condition. According to him her tongue is swollen, her cheeks are sunken and her eyes are dark rimmed.

Please pray for Terri.