March 2000 Newsletter

God at Work in Dayton, Ohio FACE Case

The United States Department of Justice, no matter how much money it spends or how many hours it works, cannot seem to get “done” what it has been attempting to do for the past eight years now. In its frothing attempt to annihilate, obliterate, and ultimately destroy any peaceful proclamation of the Gospel of Christ outside abortion mills, it has suffered yet another setback. That’s right! Federal Judge Walter Rice, who declared a mistrial in the Justice Department’s FACE case against Operation Rescue and five named defendants on September 13, 1999, has now indefinitely postponed the retrial of that case which was to have begun on February 15, 2000.

There is no question that we are absolutely helpless against this huge bureaucratic monolith that stands opposed to those living out their faith in the streets of our cities. We have no weapon nor do we have armor that can withstand the onslaughts of the United States Department of Justice, yet we remain! How? God Himself is intervening on our behalf and on behalf of His precious children waiting to be born.

“Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers … They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares … They plot injustice and say, ‘We have devised a perfect plan!’ … But God will shoot them with arrows … He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin … All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what He has done.” Psalm 64:2-9.

A Week for Life at Moody Bible Institute

By Dawn Skrobot

January 17th - 22nd was the first ever emphasis on abortion week that Collegians for Life put on at Moody Bible Institute. It was the culmination of many months of prayer, work, perseverance, and a miraculous move by the Holy Spirit.

When Collegians for Life first began it was not easy getting it going. The small group of us students who go out to the clinics were unable to have an official pro-life group under Moody's name. And we were unable to use our time spent at the clinic to count for our Practical Christian Ministry that is required once a week. During the first event, we had some opposition.

I had some clues (from signs about the event being torn down to an angry message written to me) that it would not be easy to start this. There were only a few involved and I felt more criticism than encouragement. I remember after the national event in Dayton, Ohio, a few summers ago my family and friends talked about how incredible it would be if we could get Flip Benham or Rusty Thomas to speak at Moody. I never, ever thought it would happen - especially since our active stance on our beliefs was not welcomed. I spent much time praying and speaking with the Dean of Students about our group. He actually was one of the first people that encouraged it, but not enough to allow Moody's full support. I figured there was no way that they would allow Flip to come in and speak to the entire student body. After all, he's the director of Operation Rescue, which is much too radical!!

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I was determined, however, to get Flip to come to speak at chapel. I thought I could do it on my own. I applied for a student-run chapel and thought I could sneak Flip in - it was denied. I was discouraged, but began my "mission" to get the Dean to permit it himself. I received the usual, "the speakers are already booked for the entire semester, - maybe next semester, but what would he talk about?"

Finally, Moody Bible Institute flew Flip Benham in and he was welcomed into our chapel service to speak to the entire student body! As I sat on stage to introduce him I looked out over the crowd of students and faculty and thanked God that He got Flip in. I knew Flip's message would be so powerful and anointed that if only the students could hear him the impact would be great. It was! Flip immediately won them over with his sense of humor and charisma. He had everyone laughing and then the next second he had them completely silenced as he challenged them with the Word of God. I heard more "Amens" that morning than I have ever heard in a chapel here. He gave an altar call that challenged the students to be in the Word every day! The response was great!

Many students approached me for the next few days telling me how much he challenged them. I had a few say how disappointed they were that he left because they were hoping he would be speaking all week. Many students were late to class and some even skipped class because they stayed afterwards to pray. One girl said to me, "He was such an awesome speaker, I guarantee that we will remember that chapel forever." I was so excited that so many students were challenged by Flip. God spoke an incredible message through him!

Saturday I was sure that our turn out for the Memorial Service would be very small. The temperature felt under zero and the snow was falling. Even I didn't want to go out. I figured there is no way anyone else will get up this early to go out and stand in this weather. I was wrong. I went downstairs and saw our little Gideon's Army of about 25 people and my heart was overjoyed. We prayed and then solemnly walked down to the clinic through the snow and went and mourned the babies’ deaths and tried to save those that were planned to be murdered that day. We prayed again, sang, and laid flowers down at the door. God granted us mercy ... the policeman that came by yelled at the clinic escorts and allowed us to continue with our ceremony, which was a pleasant surprise.

After we mourned the deaths of the babies and mothers who died, we rejoiced in the 51 babies that were saved by the so very small Gideon's Army in the last two and a half years. When we were done, everyone stayed even longer and knelt and prayed on the sidewalk. I felt such joy as I watched snow falling down upon the little group that gathered tightly together to pray.

It has been incredible to see how God has moved here in Chicago. I prayed years ago that He would break hearts for the babies and raise up students that would fight this battle. He did, and I give Him the glory!!!

God is Going Back to School, March 1, 2000

We hope you are planning to join us in the “God Is Going Back to School” campaign this year at high school campuses across our nation. There is no ministry that we have been involved in which allows more Gospel interaction with the kids than this campaign. You only need five people to be effective - one to hold a large Scripture sign, two to hold large graphic signs of an aborted baby and a live baby, and two to pass out Gospel tracts and abstinence literature. The whole effort takes about an hour either before or after school. You can be sure it will have a great impact on the community and many, many lives will be saved as kids are made aware of the real truth. Jesus Saves - Satan Kills.

We have had literally hundreds of reports from kids who have chosen life because they saw those signs and realized what abortion really is - murder! Hundreds of kids have received Christ, thousands of Christian high schoolers have been emboldened to share their faith, and hundreds of thousands of pieces of Gospel literature have been handed out. Many of the kids we witnessed to have now joined us and are witnessing to their friends. It is a glorious ministry to bring the Gospel of Christ to the gates of hell.

A Congressional Outrage - U.S.Senate Abandons Christian Witness

Press Release 2/2/2000

An unthinking Senate today voted to strip protection from gentle Christians living out their faith at abortion mills across our nation. In an 80-17 vote, the United States Senate determined to invent legislation that would make it impossible for Christians to declare bankruptcy to protect themselves from the frivolous lawsuits brought on them by a rabid and very powerful abortion industry.

“Just yesterday we lost an appeal at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, in an $11.4 million lawsuit that was filed against us in 1993, that deals with fist amendment rights of Christians to speak the truth in love.” Said the National Director of Operation Rescue, Rev. Flip Benham. “We are still facing two federal trials (one in Dayton, Ohio, and the other in Washington, D.C.) where we have been alleged to have violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) law. We were co-defendants in the Scheidler vs. NOW case which is presently under appeal. And now we have to deal with this totally absurd legislation brought on by the Senate of the United States of America. God help us!”

“There can be no question anymore that the abortion industry has garnered for itself 'most favored business' status in the United States of America. What other industry on earth can invent schemes that make what was legal one day to be illegal the next. What other industry can make U.S. Senators cower and allow peaceful Christians to be stripped of every right and protection because they love little baby boys and girls like God loves them.”

“This has nothing to do with violence outside abortion mills. It is all about silencing the Gospel of Jesus Christ outside abortion mills. If you make peaceful protest impossible, you make violent protest inevitable.”

Lessons Not Learned from Columbine

by Philip Faustin
Executive Director of Operation Rescue Colorado

It has been almost a year since the shootings at Columbine high school in Colorado. A little reflection is in order. What lessons yearned to be taught, and were they learned?

But first a little history. We took the God is Going Back to School Campaign to Columbine in the spring and fall, previous to the shootings. We found many students who were Christians and who were eager to take literature to share with classmates. Even the principal came out and cordially greeted us. The atmosphere was very different from many other schools where numerous students and the administration join together to oppose our message and even our right to present it.

Columbine was not a school where one would have expected such a tragedy to happen. But as I look back I see two killers who were rabidly anti-Christian and the reality that many of their victims were Christians. In a video that they recorded beforehand they even mentioned their hate for one of the future victims who was a Christian. I think that what happened was partly the result of a war going on in the spiritual realm. Christians were outspoken and making a difference and Satan worked through the killers to try to silence that.

Immediately following the shootings it was the churches and pastors who were on the forefront of providing comfort and care. Thousands of people went to prayer vigils at many different churches. On the Sunday following the shootings, 70,000 people gathered in a shopping center parking lot for a church service. Crosses were put up at Clement Park, next to Columbine, to memorialize the dead.

People instinctively knew that they needed to turn toward God at a time of tragedy like this. For many the turning marked a radical change in their life. For others, it was a fox-hole conversion and after the shock passed they returned to their old ways and forgot their need for God.

The schools and government now want to act like the turning had no meaning. It was announced that the crosses must be moved from public property. Family members were allowed to decorate tiles to replace ones from the school walls that were damaged in the shootings. The ones with religious messages were not allowed to be put up and several that had been put up were torn from the walls. God is again pushed out the door.

As we went to the high schools this fall with the God is Going Back to School Campaign, it was evident that the ones who opposed our message the most were the school administrators and teachers. If many of them had their way, prolifers would not enjoy the right of free speech in front of their schools. Sure, there are occasional exceptions but they are rare. We would have hoped that they would have done a little self-examination and realized that the rejection of God and the teaching of immorality in the schools have contributed to the problems we now face. Instead, many seem bent on ensuring that God will continue to be excluded.

Yes, I think that the lessons that yearned to be taught were not learned by many who needed to. For the most part the politicians and schools administrators are hiding behind false solutions. The real answers were plainly in their face but they rejected them. Be assured, metal detectors, gun laws, sensitivity training and psychologists will not bring an end to the violence. Proverbs 29:1 says: A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. The only solution is a return to God and His Word; there is no alternative!

May God have mercy.

operationsaveamerica.org - Our New Awesome Website!

Andrew Street is the young man God has raised up to do the work on our Web and keep you abreast of all the breaking events. He is doing a splendid job. Marilynn Carroll is continually updating our “Streets” section with incredible reports of God’s hand moving on behalf of His children born and unborn.

Keep pressing the gates in Jesus’ Name,

Flip