Decemner 2004

December 2004

God's Providential Hand in Columbus, Ohio

Could any of us have possibly known the political and spiritual significance of the State of Ohio in this year's Presidential election? No way! Yet, God Himself guided us to the capital of the State of Ohio to conduct our national event this summer and be a precursor to the November elections. The theology of the church house burst into biography in the streets of Columbus and the picture was painted. It was a living parable for all of Ohio to see that moral issues would be the ones determining this election and Christians would be the ones bringing the battle to the gates.

Below is a short history of how God brought us to Ohio by His providential hand and what He is saying to America:

It was in August of 2003 when God brought many of us to contend for the faith in Montgomery, Alabama, as we joined Chief Justice Roy Moore in the battle over the Ten Commandments Monument. It was here that we met a group of men from the Columbus, Ohio, area who called themselves “Minutemen.” They were, all of them, men who were ready to stand for Christ at any minute, anywhere! Our hearts were knit together during those exciting weeks.

They joined us in Washington, D.C., where we conducted an Ecclesiastical Court at the Supreme Court in October of 2003. We declared that the Supreme Court of the United States of America was in contempt of the Court of Almighty God and we burned six abominable Supreme Court decisions right on the front steps. Several of us would have been placed in federal prison for 60 days had it not been for the Minutemen from Ohio who courageously intervened and surrounded us.

It was then that I knew God was calling us to hold our national event in Ohio. We had been asking God for clear direction concerning our national event, and on that day at the Supreme Court, we got it! God made it clear that these were the kind of men who would storm the gates of hell until they gave way in the Name of Jesus! Yes, these were the kind of men through whom He could show Himself strong.

Little did any of us know the huge political ramifications the State of Ohio would play in the upcoming Presidential election. We never gave it a second thought. Though we were planning our way, God was directing our steps. He knew where He wanted us.

Mary Ellen Urmin tried her very best to find us a church that would host us in Columbus. Some made commitments, only later to change their minds. God had something better planned for us. We always say that “the theology in the church house needs to be made biography in the streets.” That is exactly what God had in mind! He wanted us to take this Gospel battle to the streets and keep it in the streets. Mary Ellen got us permits to meet at City Hall every night for our rallies. What an incredible opportunity! We held an open-air Gospel proclamation for an entire week in the capital city of Ohio – the pivotal state (the linchpin) of this year's Presidential election.

Not only that, Jesus used His avowed enemies (the pro-abortion crew, the homosexual activists, and Muslims) to help us paint this incredible picture. That's right! Every night they came to our rallies spewing their vile stuff, and every night they received the powerful love of God through His Word and our deeds. We loved them, and they just couldn't get over that. I remember well our last night in Columbus. Many of the pro-aborts and homosexuals asked us to join them to have pictures taken. They hugged us as we said our good-byes. Can you imagine? Jesus uses even His enemies to bring Him praise.

So there it was for the entire world to see this past summer. We lived out in the streets of Columbus a picture of the cultural war going on for the heart of our nation. This was an incredible picture being drawn of the battle between two conflicting world views – the seed of the serpent vs. the seed of the woman. Long before the world would see it played out in our Presidential election, God gave us the privilege of living this battle out in the streets of Columbus.

The national event demonstrated clearly the fundamental differences that were going to be seen on November 2, 2004, between the red states (those who voted for Bush) and the blue states (those who voted for Kerry). But this issue was most vividly portrayed when one sees the breakdown between the red counties and the blue counties – America is all red! This election wasn't about the war in Iraq, nor was it about the economy. It was all about who is Lord and whose laws reign.

We dealt with abortion – there is an insurmountable chasm that exists between the red counties and the blue counties here. We dealt with the horrible and enslaving sin of homosexuality – there is an insurmountable chasm that exists between the red counties and the blue counties here. We confronted the murderous lie of Islam head-on with the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, there is even an insurmountable chasm that exists between the red counties and the blue counties here. Why?

All three of these issues are moral issues. They are physical manifestations of the spiritual battle that is raging in the heavens (the seed of the serpent vs. the seed of the woman). They clearly mark our cultural divide. All require us to choose whose side we are on. There is no possibility of compromise or finding “common ground.” It is either Jesus or the devil, life or death, liberty or slavery.

By land (we walked over 1800 miles to get to Columbus), by air (we had five consecutive days of an airplane flying over the city of Columbus with Gospel messages), and by sea (the ever present reminder of Columbus's ship the Santa Maria on the Scioto River next to City Hall), we came to Columbus to paint a picture (a living parable) of the real battle that is going on for the heart of our nation.

Yes, God directed us to Ohio so that He could make a statement! He made that statement! Now it is up to you and me to shout it from the housetops.

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28.

Mary Ellen Urmin said it this way: “…He (God) also reminded me of where the most powerful place is – not in the mass of thousands, but in the stance of but a few. It is with those willing to stand separately for truth, those unashamed to take the message to the public square, where it is needed by the most and done by the least. I am a proclaimer in the streets and that is where the battle is being won.”

MIRACLE AT CENTRAL CABARRUS HIGH SCHOOL
Twenty give their hearts to Christ!

“There is an army, completely untapped, that is simply waiting for its marching orders.” Those were the words of Ryan King, one of the gentle Christian warriors that is bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ back into the high schools with us in the “God is Going Back to School” campaign.

Ryan and several others had the privilege last Friday evening at the Central Cabarrus High School football game to present the Gospel of Christ to hundreds of kids. Ryan had been passing out brochures and witnessing for our Lord Jesus and His pre-born children at the high school each morning last week, and had decided it was time to talk with the kids at the football game that night.

When our gentle Christian warriors arrived at the game, some of the kids immediately recognized them but dared not approach them. So Ryan, just before halftime, gathered a group of our folks around him and began to preach. It wasn't long before several of the kids began to gather. Ryan gave them “heaven” and, with a no-holds-barred presentation of the Gospel of Christ, felt impressed by God to give an invitation for those who desired to repent of their sins and receive Christ. Scott Heldreth thought Ryan was crazy, but the invitation was given nevertheless.

Twenty young people, several kneeling on the blacktop in front of the concession stand with tears filling their eyes, gave their hearts to Christ that night. It didn't stop there. Ryan felt that there were many others who wanted to receive mental, physical, and emotional healing. By now the kids were breaking into groups where several of our folks were praying with them. Many were touched by the Spirit of the Lord and healed.

Stunned by what God was doing at a high school football game, word quickly got around to the other side of the stands. One young cheerleader from the opposing team came over and shared that she was a Christian and had just stood up on her bus on the way to the game and presented Jesus. She felt that what was happening at this football game was a confirmation for her to be bolder in her proclamation of the Gospel. She pleaded with Scott and the group to please come to her high school. Amazing, isn't it?

Many of our Christian friends have railed against us and our methods. But we know that when the Church of Jesus Christ comes to the gates of hell, the gates of hell cannot and do not prevail. Our God is an awesome God! He is just looking for an excuse to show up and show off. The gentle Christian warriors gave Him that opportunity last Friday night, and what a night it was!

Ryan told me that ever since he was in high school he would do crazy things for the Lord Jesus. He would stand on top of the tables in the cafeteria and preach, and kids would cry and give their hearts to Christ. He told me that kids need an example of Christian boldness and faith to be lived out before them so that they too can be bold and full of faith.

Yes Ryan, there is indeed an army, completely untapped, that is waiting for orders. This army is filled with the potential to stand boldly for Christ. Unfortunately, it is presently being raised up in our nation's godless school system. God is looking for an excuse, any excuse, to show up and give them the orders. Will you give Him one?

CHRISTIANS ARE BEING MARGINALIZED IN CITIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21.

Those of us in Operation Save America have come to realize our responsibility before God to stand in the public arena and proclaim the Name of Christ. We know that many in the Church today look upon us as being showy and looking for attention. We are told that our methods are not productive and hurt the cause of Christ. Please know that with the most humble earnestness that I can muster, I give you this warning:

Your liberty to share the Gospel of Christ is under attack and you know it not! Without Congress passing any laws to strike down the First Amendment, Christians are being arrested or threatened with arrest in cities all across America because of little petty city ordinances. There are battles going on in Charlotte, Waco, Dallas, Denver, Milford, Columbus, Richmond, and many other cities.

We know that what comes at us in the streets will eventually find its way into the four walls of the church buildings. We have learned to die to the criticism that our motives are anything but obeying the voice of the One who saved us. We have learned to die to the idea that we hurt the cause of Christ by offering life to those being dragged away to the slaughter. What we will not die to is the fact that we love the Lord's Church in America and the Church must be awakened from its slumber. We must be made aware that we are in a battle for our very lives and the future of our children.

While we are all breathing a sigh of relief that President Bush has been reelected, it is not a time to rest. We must realize, whether we voted for President Bush or Michael Peroutka, that we have been given this small window of opportunity to work as we have never worked before. Eventually, what is taking place on the city level will begin to take place on the federal level and most of us will never see it coming. What will our response be when our pastors begin to be arrested for saying that homosexuality is a sin? Will we tell them not to preach against sin because getting arrested will hurt the cause of Christ?

Be encouraged, Saints! This is our call in America today! Stand in the Light and do not waiver! God is on our side. Our prayers and our obedience reach the very throne room of God. It is faith that pleases Him, not fear. Stand firm in the faith He has deposited within you and give the good testimony, whatever situation you find yourself in. America is not a lost cause! The One who created her can reshape and remold her. It may take going through the fire, but we serve the One who is able to deliver us from the very fires of hell itself!

NATIONAL EVENT – DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 16-23, 2005

In light of the battle heating up, it appears that we will be joining all of the saints in Denver, Colorado, this summer for our National Event – July 16-23, 2005. God is in it and the saints in Denver have been ever so faithful to Jesus and His children! We ask you to join us in praying and fasting every Monday evening to Tuesday evening (sundown to sundown) for this event and what God would have us speak to our nation. We have four years to prepare our nation for what is coming. We will begin in Denver!

Keep storming the gates,

Flip