January 2000 Newsletter

We want to thank all of you for supporting this ministry through some incredible trials and tribulations. Many precious children are alive today and saints are equipped because of your prayers and financial support. The battle is being fought and won as we press the gates of hell. Today, We need your help! Your gifts to Operation Rescue go directly into the ministry. They are not tax-deductible and we have no salaried employees. This makes it hard for some to give! We rarely ask, but if you believe our Lord is using this ministry and it is worthy of your financial support, please help us now. Our commitment to our Lord and to you is that we will not go into debt to finance His ministry.

A Thank-You From Gentle Warrior, John Reyes

I would like to say a heartfelt “Thank You” for all of the prayers, support, and love that you demonstrated for me while I was incarcerated in the Lynchburg City Jail. Just as Moses stood in the gap for Israel, so you too stood in the gap for the inmates and myself. During the past three months, I watched the Lord do some miraculous things, not only in my own life but in the lives of other inmates and Corrections Officers within cell block A-1.

Your prayers have touched the ears of our gracious and merciful God who reached out and embraced 12 sinful men, forgiving them of their iniquities. Our wonderful Father set these men free from bondages that held them captive, and put new songs of everlasting life in their mouths. Jesus Christ brought liberty to the Lynchburg City Jail! The Lord also sent a holy conviction to 16 back slidden Christian men (including one Corrections Officer) who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, have decided to walk holy lives in Christ. They have purposed to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith, and put their own lusts and the world behind them. God is faithful. He heard your prayers and answered them.

For those of you who wrote to me while I was incarcerated, I want to say “Thank You” for taking time to encourage my heart. I received over 1200 letters while I was in jail and I was blessed as I read every one of them! Reading your cards and letters was always one of my favorite parts of the day. The other inmates also enjoyed them and were blessed to hear what the Lord had been doing in your lives. The tracts you sent me were also a blessing. These little “Gospel Carriers” made their way into every hand that entered into and left cell A-1.

For those of you who sent me money orders for my canteen fund, I would like to say “Thank You”. With that money I was able to purchase shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, paper, envelopes, pens, a toothbrush, socks, underwear, and T-shirts. I was able to minister to some of the other inmates by buying for them what they needed. Many of these men lacked the support of friends and family and therefore had no one to send them financial help during their incarceration. Your contributions to me helped clothe these men with underwear and T-shirts and also provided for them deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and shampoo. You helped the poor and needy inside the Lynchburg City Jail by blessing them with essential items that they needed. Thank you for giving to those less fortunate.

For those of you who sent financial gifts to help me pay my fine, rent, and college tuition, I would like to say “Thank You.” I will always remember your kindness and generosity. You saw that I had a need in those areas and, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you didn't hesitate to help me. Thank you very much.

Again, my brothers and sisters in Christ, “Thank you” for all of your prayers, encouragement, support and love for me while I was in the Lynchburg City Jail. My cup overflows with thankfulness and love for you. You are a blessing to me and a joy to our Father's heart. May the LORD richly bless you for your steadfastness in prayer and your continuing efforts as you storm the gates of hell in this nation, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the World.

The Department of Justice Bows to the Hand of Almighty God

On January 24, 1998, fourteen precious saints of our Lord were arrested while they knelt and prayed on a sidewalk leading up to the Capitol Women's Center in Washington, D.C. They were confined in jail for several hours and then released after paying a $50 fine. Their crime? They laid down their lives and freedom that others might live. Theology had become biography in our nation's capital. These saints had become “living parables” expressing God's love for His preborn children.

Why would anyone do such a thing? Love! It was the 25th memorial of Roe v. Wade, a decision that ushered our nation into the most horrible holocaust of bloodshed in her history. The death toll for all of America's wars pales in comparison to the death toll reaped in 25 years of decriminalized child killing. These 14 gentle warriors joined thousands of fellow Christians marching for the lives of their preborn brothers and sisters in Washington, D.C.

Something in the hearts of these 14, however, would not allow them to just “march for life”. There had to be something more they could do. God led them to the very gates of hell. They went to an abortion mill - the Capitol Women's Center. They made a public proclamation for their nation to see that the lives of children are precious. They blocked no doors. They honored God's Law.

With over 150 brothers and sisters in Christ encouraging their hearts, the 14 obeyed their Lord and quietly knelt on a sidewalk leading to the killing center and prayed. They were arrested, served their time, and paid their fine. Finished, right?

Wrong! The United States Department of Justice, wholly unsolicited by Capitol Women’s Center, seized this moment in an attempt to bring a national injunction against leaders of Operation Rescue by using FACE. This was and is a part of the never-ending saga of the Justice Department’s absolute animus towards those who allow theology to become biography in the streets of our cities. If salt dares depart from the salt shaker, watch out! The Justice Department has spent millions of dollars pursuing us from one city to the next to silence the Gospel message that we bring to abortion mills.

Why does it spend so much time and effort attempting to annihilate Operation Rescue? There are certainly larger organizations, stronger political action groups, more formidable pro-life networks than this “flea” called Operation Rescue. The reason is simple. We are effective! There may not be many of us but we continue to pursue the enemy until we ultimately crush his “lying” head. We see the battle clearly and fight with weapons that demolish the lies of the enemy.

We have learned over the years that the weapons we fight with tear down the lies and strongholds that have allowed abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, premarital sex, the legalization of drugs, crime, violence, ad nauseum, to savage our nation. We have learned well our spiritual heritage and will fight to death and beyond to ensure that the cross of Christ prevails. And prevail it will!

Please keep us in your prayers as the Justice Department prosecutors continue to offer more and more opportunities to compromise the lives of little children our Lord has commanded us to defend. Pray that we do not give in to the temptation to bargain with an enemy that comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. This enemy, manifested in the sheer animus our Justice Department has against us, may bruise our heel, but we will most assuredly crush his hoary head in Jesus’ Name!

At first the Justice Department was hopeful that it would get a national injunction on the 14 and enjoin them from going near an abortion mill anywhere in the nation. All hopes of that fell quickly through the large gaps of their malicious prosecution. They then offered to drop all claims of damages and attorneys’ fees and drop the national injunction if we would agree not to come within 20 feet of an abortion mill door in D.C. Failing at that, they tried to sweeten the deal again, but we wouldn’t deal. It makes one wonder why they brought FACE charges against these gentle lambs in the first place.

God was at work in a mighty way! We made no deals with an enemy intent on obliterating the Gospel message in front of child killing centers. We sought no “common ground.” We continued to storm the gates of hell! This made us a danger to those presently in control of our Justice Department.

We met the enemy of our Lord’s children in Judge Gladys Kessler’s U.S. District Court on December 9, 1999. Though this judge was pro-abortion, we watched in amazement as God threw the Defense Department prosecutors into utter confusion. They did everything they could to cut more deals and have us settle out of court. They seemed desperate for us to sign an agreement. Our Godly attorneys said, “No!” God had raised up three of His own to represent us in court and they were very bold. The wicked fled though no one was pursued. Scripture (Pr 28:1)came to life in Judge Kessler’s court.

courtroom observer reports that the Spirit of God was at work throughout the trial. Our defense lawyers all seemed to be depending on God and not on their "horses and chariots." One of them observed that in some ways this case was very much like Gideon and the Midianites. There definitely seemed to be a spirit of confusion among the Department of Justice lawyers. At one point in the trial, the courtroom was filled with a rancid burning smell. The entire proceedings had to be transferred to another courtroom. They also missed the chance to call some witnesses by failing to follow basic court procedures. Most defendants were able to rest without calling any witness because of the lack of evidence presented by the government prosecutors. Closing arguments will be presented to Judge Kessler in written form. We need to continue to pray for her as she decides on this matter. “The heart of a king is in the hands of the Lord…” (Proverbs 21:1).

Wisdom for the Republican Primaries

I have been watching the Presidential debates and listening to Rush Limbaugh's incessant puffing up of George W. Bush (known as "W" to friends). Even though "W" acknowledged Christ as the most influential person in his life on December 13, 1999, he is only a young babe in the Lord. There is another, residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., who also acknowledges that Name. I am not questioning the spiritual veracity of “W’s” confession I am just pointing out that not all who acknowledge Christ have the same level of maturity. Notice those who wear crosses and carry Bibles into the abortion mills to kill their children. Jimmy Carter professed Christ and I voted for him because he did, but Jimmy did not have a biblical worldview.

"W" finally did do something to endear himself to the Christian conservative element of his party. He has really taken some whacks at them lately because he knows they have no place else to go. The problem with "W", as those of us from Texas know, is that he simply does not have a biblical worldview of his own. If he surrounds himself with those who understand biblical principles he does well. Primarily, however, he is a pragmatist. He learned this from his daddy. He is running the race "not to lose" (big tent) and, in so doing, is arousing the ire of all. He learned this from daddy also.

He refuses to commit to choosing a pro-life running mate. Why? His finger is still in the air figuring which way the wind will blow. He will not commit to a pro-life litmus test for the appointment of federal judges. The enemies of life certainly will, but not "W." He is a "compassionate conservative." He will not work toward a human life amendment - that’s' for the courts to decide. “W” may be "born-again" but he does not have the maturity and steel built into his character that comes through the Refiner's fire. If he did, he would have handled his drug problem with deep humility, acknowledging the sordid truth about himself, and the power of Almighty God to deliver him. Instead, he chose to handle it in the same way and with the same words that Bill Clinton handled his drug problem. Too Bad! It is the way of the world.

Our country needs a leader, tried and true. One who will place principle before politics. One who will lay his political future down to stand for the principles of his Lord. America is crying for such a leader and such a vision. "W" does not have it yet. He has neither the steel in his character or the biblical worldview to fight the battle savaging our nation.

Rush Limbaugh has continually denigrated the other Republican candidates because he believes that the real problem in America is with the radical liberal agenda. He believes that if McCain, Forbes, Bauer, and Keyes continue to attack "W" he may lose the presidential election in 2000. Limbaugh is wrong about the real problem- dead wrong! He may not be wrong about "W" losing the election but he is wrong about the real problem. The real problem is not with the Democrats.

The real problem lies within the Republican Party. The problem is one of trying to build a coalition and win an election leaving biblical principle behind. God will build His own coalition if there is a people who will unashamedly stand where He stands and proclaim His Word. The Republican Party is basically ignorant of God's Word and, when it comes time to stand for Him, it has always been ashamed to do so. The Republican Party is ashamed of God's Word and so is Rush Limbaugh. "W" is probably just ignorant of it!

That leaves us with a problem. Who do we vote for? Do we vote for the lesser of two evils? Never! To vote for the lesser of two evils is to vote for evil still! What do we do? We must trust God and allow Him to have His way with the sorry state of the Republican Party. There will never be room for men like Bauer, or Keyes in the this Party any more than there was room for Jesus at the Inn. We must go outside, to an insignificant stable and allow God’s Word to be birthed.

The Republican Party will continue to give us guys like "W". It can control him. It will say to us, "Well, at least he is a lot better then Gore or Bradley." And we, like the obsequious and disobedient sheep we are, will say “yes” once again. We will say “yes” to our slave masters and work hard for the election of one who won’t stand for the principles of Almighty God because he doesn't know them.

The Republican Party and "W" will have the happy, “dog licking” support of those great Christian organizations like the Christian Coalition, the National Right to Life, and what’s left of the Moral Majority, who are all looking for a place at the table. But God will not have a people willing to take the battle right to the enemy's gate in Washington, D.C. We have forgotten who we are and why we are here.

“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Psalms 81:11-14.

Keep pressing the gates in Jesus’ Name,

Flip Benham
Director