February 2001 Newsletter

February 2001 Newsletter

The Gentile Revolution Continues

David, Lori, and Bailey; Tori and Jason; Faye and Flip; Tracy and Craig; Abigail and Jonathan in front

In one of the most glorious wedding covenants I have ever participated in, our son Jason was married to Miss Tori Cantadore on December 29, 2000. Jason met Tori three years ago at the First Assembly of God Church in Torrington, Connecticut. He was playing baseball in Torrington that summer and I remember him telling me about a young lady who loved Jesus and kids more than anyone he had ever met. Her grandpa is the pastor of that church and her dad is the assistant pastor and administrator of the Christian school there.

Jason asked Tori to be his wife two and a half years later, in that very church. On a frosty Friday evening, December 29, they were married in the church where they met. They pledged their lives to each other and to Almighty God. Many of our friends from Rescue joined us in snowy Connecticut to witness God joining two together that they may become one. It is our prayer that the marriage and the family God will establish will return great glory to Him. We pray that this marriage will be a brilliant testimony for the entire world to see what God had in mind when He gave us marriage and family.

"Lord, may the arrows you place in Jason and Tori's quiver be a blessing to their mother and father and to a nation that so desperately needs to know that there is another King whose Name is Jesus. In Jesus' Name, we ask that there would be raised up a mighty army that would steadfastly stand upon your Word, your righteousness, and your justice and that they would truly learn to love mercy as you do. Lord Jesus, we place Jason, Tori, and the heritage you will bestow upon them in your hands. Let them not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies at the gates!"

Flip and Rusty Join the Saints in Bridgeport, Connecticut

By Marilyn Carroll, a soldier in His battle in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Rusty Thomas and Flip Benham with the saints in Bridgeport

The growing public battle over the truth of Christianity makes it more essential than ever for us to defend and communicate our faith. There were 30 pro-lifers out in the frigid cold (-15 degrees wind chill factor) Friday, December 29, doing just that! We had a portable heater and a bunch of hand and foot warmers to help keep us from freezing. Some of the CHS teens came out even though they were on school vacation. Their dedication is truly observed by many, especially God! Our brothers Flip Benham and Rusty Thomas came out to join us because they were in Connecticut for Jason's wedding. It was so good to have them with us.

It was sad that day that 23 moms went in the mill to have their children killed. But we serve a great and mighty God who honors those who show up for the battle. Three babies were saved and three more moms were turned away! We give our Lord and Savior King Jesus all the glory!

Carmen, Rusty, Colbi, and I had the chance to talk to one of the moms, Carla, who was very receptive. Colbi, my 8-year- old granddaughter just had to tell her that the baby in her womb was going to grow up to be a child just like her! "You have taught the little children to praise you perfectly. May their example shame and silence your enemies!" Psalm 8:2.

The abortionist went in at 9:20 a.m. A mother was outside the mill crying because she could not get her daughter to change her mind. Where are all the newscasters to report this injustice? It's amazing how all the newscasts showed the travesty of the seven co-workers that were just killed in Massachusetts, but no one seems to care about the innocent babies that are being killed in abortuaries all over our nation. But God does, and so do we! It was pretty evident to us that 17 babies died in Bridgeport this day. Why didn't we see this reported on the news?

I am joyful to report that 109 babies were saved in the year 2000 at the Bridgeport killing center. Keep believing! God will end child sacrifice in our communities real soon. Pray for the true biblical Church of Jesus Christ to rise up in these evil days and do what God has called us to do! "These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:8-9. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders in Matthew 23 that were in the same state as the American Church today; we need to take note and repent. "Why do you also transgress the commandments of God because of your traditions?"

Let Abortion Die

By Rusty Thomas

Let abortion die, its bloody reign of tolerated terror end.
May it unceremoniously depart, this accepted murder of men.
No mourners, no flowers, no eulogy pronounced,
No grieving, no tears, just its ignoble epitaph announced.

Let abortion die, may it meet its destined fate.
Let it follow the path of every other tyrannical state.
No reprieve, no new bills, no more courts to decide,
No lawyers, no pundits, no little gods to choose who lives and who dies.

Let abortion die, its covenant with Hell annulled.
May history condemn it, the present reject it, and the future be appalled.
No memorial, no gravemarker, no inscription to recite,
No burial, no honors, just death to this blight.

Let abortion die with all its corruption, deceit, and lies.
May it be condemned with extreme prejudice its feigned alibis.
No choice, no freedom, no right to kill anymore,
No slogans, no pretense, no more innocent blood to seep from this ruthless whore.

Let abortion die with its sickening contamination upon the souls of men.
May it pass away swiftly; its existence must not extend.
No resuscitation, no reviving, no second opinion sought,
No new medical procedures, no medicine, No! It must completely come to naught.

Let abortion die, may it reap what it has sown.
This veracious destroyer be destroyed, its cruel heritage become unknown.
No mercy, no pardon, and no more bribes,
No excuses, no justifications, abortion you have no choice, you simply must DIE!

A Letter to the New President

By Abigail Benham, January 22, 2001

Dear President George Bush,

My name is Abby Benham and I am eleven years old. You might have seen my dad on television; his name is Rev. Flip Benham. Well, the whole reason I am writing this letter is because I don't think abortion is right because it kills millions of baby boys and girls. Over the last eleven years of my life I have been waiting for a Christian President (you are the one). I don't think you know what to do about abortion because if you did, you would say "NO" about abortion because it is wrong.

If you said "No" to abortion, you might not please a lot of people but do you know who you will please? Me and my family, all pro lifers (there are a whole bunch of them), but most of all you would be pleasing God! I may be eleven but I do know a lot about what is right and what is wrong, so please, please, please stop abortion.

Love, Abigail Louanna Benham

P.S. I am sending you a Bible Reading Schedule (Jn 3:16, Ps 34:5, Rev, 12:11, 1 Jn 2:17) Please write back A.S.A.P.

Storming the Gates of Hell: 28^th Roe Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio

The glory of our Lord swept across the city of Cleveland as the saints in that city were joined by gentle warriors from across the country to bring the Church of Jesus Christ to the gates of hell. Yes, theology became biography in the streets of Cleveland January 19-22, 2001. We began early Friday morning at Case Western Reserve University bringing the graphic truth of abortion to the very doorstep of this liberal institution. Keith Tucci and Team Redeem were with us as we were greeted by masked pro-aborts attempting to surround us and halt the Gospel presentation.

Though we were frozen on the outside, our hearts were filled with the Holy fire and passion from our Lord as we began witnessing to those who initially hated us. Their masks never physically came off the four days they followed us to every site, but the masks covering their wounded hearts began to be unloosed. John Reyes witnessed boldly for our Lord, and God gave him favor as many conversations were begun by those sworn to stop us. They carried a huge banner emblazoned with the words, "Let's throw the right-wing Christians to the lions." John and several others loved them even more. Friendships were begun between those who hated Christ and those who love Him and, as we left Cleveland on Monday afternoon, there was a promise that they would see us in Wichita. Pray that Jesus will continue the ministry begun in their hearts.

Tom Raddell and Mary Ellen Urmin, the dynamic duo of Greater Cleveland Life Link, prepared the way for us. They made it easy to do battle at the gates of hell. Thank God for them and for their vision. Forty pastors attended a Pastors luncheon where Keith and I were privileged to speak. There we confronted them with the guilt regarding the shedding of innocent blood and our responsibility to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We reminded them that we cannot wait for our new President to do the job that has been given to the Church of Jesus Christ.

Saturday morning 125 gentle warriors brought heaven to the gates of hell on Shaker Boulevard. There are two abortion mills on that street. One baby was saved. The pastors who joined us saw - many for the first time - the battle for what it really is: the police, the masked pro-aborts, the death chants, the turmoil, the conflict between two seeds; the praying, singing, proclaiming saints, and the very presence of Jesus. It was awesome as Tom Raddell preached amid the ranting and ravings of the pro-aborts about the need to repair the altar of the Lord and tear down the false altars of abortion, the homosexual agenda, tolerance, ad nauseum. He gave us Elijah's call to the people of his day, "…How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." I Kings 18:21. He then gave us stones - a message written upon each one - with which to begin the rebuilding of our Lord's altar right at the false altar of these abortion mills. It was a tremendous Scripture lesson. Never have I heard better preaching than on the streets of our cities as Christians are engaged in the battle.

Sunday morning we preached two services and ten precious sinners surrendered their hearts to Christ. More than one hundred men committed themselves to daily bible reading and to repairing the altar of the Lord in their homes, city, and nation. That afternoon we were involved in a citywide memorial service remembering those who have been slaughtered by abortion. Over 800 people attended.

Monday, at noon, on the 28^th Memorial of Roe v. Wade, we turned the Gospel of Christ loose in the city of Cleveland. We had a magnificent sound system with six huge speakers placed in Public Square which is right in the middle of the city. We let the Gospel rip! The sound reverberated off the walls of the buildings and was almost overwhelming. Kristene sang, the elders preached, testimonies were shared, the babies were given a voice, and God was glorified.

We brought large graphic signs and put them up on both sides of the stage. They depicted the Jewish holocaust, a lynching, and aborted babies. The expressions on the faces of those who passed by gave evidence of exactly how effective these signs are. One black man, who had just been released from prison the week before, wept and wept as he saw the pictures of the babies. John Reyes ministered to him and prayed for him.

Hundreds of kids from neighboring schools were bussed into the city to join us as we remembered that one third of their generation had been slaughtered by the lie of abortion. Several students spoke eloquently for the lives of their fallen brethren. With hundreds of people in the streets, the media, the police, the anarchist pro-aborts trying to disrupt the service - we were a sight to behold. One pastor asked me if the pro-aborts had ever actually stopped a memorial service. "They have tried many times," I replied, "but the Gospel of Christ cannot be stopped!"

So many old friends journeyed with us to Cleveland: Bob and Bonnie Behn, Keith Tucci, Team Redeem, John Reyes, Kristene and Weston O'Dell, John Wesley Thompson. What a glorious time we had and how sad it was to leave. But we assured each other that we would be together again to finish a little something that the Holy Spirit began almost 10 years ago in Wichita, Kansas.

Looking forward to seeing you at the gates of hell in Wichita, July 15-21, 2001.

Flip