Pray for Wichita

Here are two articles from OSA - Wichita concerning an incredible opportunity to witness for our Lord Jesus.  Please pray for the men involved in the case that they would speak well for the Lord and his precious babies.

A Higher Law Appeals to a Higher Court
Five men appeal their conviction for trespass at George Tiller's abortion mill
by Donna Lippoldt

On June 16, 2004, twelve Christians walked onto George Tiller's property.  Tiller is the infamous late-term abortionist in Wichita, Kansas, who not only kills children, but baptizes their dead little bodies and incenerates them in his on-premises crematorium.  These brave Christians entered the property to offer free adoption to abortion-minded women who had scheduled appopintments with “Dr.” Tiller.  They were all arrested and taken to jail, but not until one precious young woman chose life and escaped from the clutches of her prodding boyfriend.

Judge Lindspaun found all of them guilty of trespass.  Five have chosen to appeal.  This process and preparation has been grueling and educational.  You might ask why they are appealing.  We really believe, given a jury trial, one person will understand the concept of rescuing those led away to slaughter.  It is inspiring to go to court and hear Christians testify for the Lord and for the unborn.  I would invite you to come, support, and pray for these five brave men.  We are so proud of them. 

The judge has said, after filing several motions, that they can present their motive.  This is very important.  If you want to see the Gospel up close and personal, mark your calendars for June 13 and 14.  Plan to come to the trial.  You will be blessed.  Several suponeas have been issued.  Tiller, Carhart (third trimester abortionists famous for Carhart vs Nebraska case), and Sella (lesbian abortionists that comes to Wichita from California) have all received them.  We have subpoenaed several of the workers at Tiller's mill.  We have witnesses that we hope will testify to how horrific this procedure is.  We pray that the Lord will be glorified.  Our desire is to rightly represent Him. 

The jury trial will be held in the county court house, (the blvd building on the northwest corner of Main and Central).  Four of the men are representing themselves: Pastor Mark Holick, Bill McGinnis, Shawn Mumy and Bruce Garren.   Attorney Rick Macias is representing Kevin Stanfield. 

OSA-Wichita will hold a press conference opening day of the trial and we will post daily reports.  Please pray for the saints in Wichita as they fight the good fight in Jesus' mighty Name!

“Set Them Free”
Such innocent words, such a sinister meaning.
By Kendra Wilcox and Donna Lippoldt

On June 16, 2004, that is what twelve Christians tried to do for the unborn children that were being killed at Dr. George R. Tiller's late-term abortion mill in Wichita, Kansas – “set them free.” Tiller specializes in second and third-trimester abortions, a specialty that has women from across the United States and other countries flocking to his clinic named Women's Health Care Services. In heartbreaking irony, the Christians were trying to set these babies free from death when they were arrested.

A late-term abortion at Women's Health Care Services can cost upwards of $5,000 and Tiller boasts of killing more late-term, viable babies then anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. He killed 613 in the last two years alone. Not surprisingly, Tiller lives in a wealthy gated community close to an exclusive country club.

Tiller's clinic is a literal fortress with armed security guards, video surveillance, and a walk-through metal detector at the entrance. An electronic gate opens to a secured parking lot. A fence surrounds the property and there is a back-up generator on site. The clinic uses a crematorium to dispose of the aborted babies and its flue juts from the clinic's roof. In a taunting image, an American flag waves from a pole above the building to the left of the pipe. Tiller raised the flag the same day he declared his abortion clinic an “Outpost of Freedom.” Which was, by the way, when Operation Save America came to town in 2001.

Inside the clinic in the room where the late-term abortions are performed, there is a serene poster of a leaping dolphin attached to the ceiling. The caption below reads, “Set them free.” The clinic's poster implies a woman's baby will be released to “heaven” through the act of abortion. I'm sure many mothers while anxiously waiting for Tiller to inject a needle into their baby's beating heart, meditate on those gentle sounding words. The phrase makes it seem selfish not to abort a Down's syndrome, handicapped or otherwise “unwanted” baby.

Women's Health Care Services has an adult sized crematorium in the building to burn the aborted babies “set free” by the abortion. It is not unusual for praying saints to gag at the sickly sweet, stomach turning odor of fumes and burning flesh or to see fragile black ashes coming from the incinerator's vent. While the crematorium fires up and ashes begin to fall on the sidewalk counselors outside, a woman can lean back in her hospital gown and contemplate how her precious unborn baby will join the dolphin dance in the stars.

An article in a major newspaper recently reported the story of “Susan” who aborted her Down's syndrome child at Tiller's clinic in August. Susan reportedly caressed and kissed her daughter before she was cremated. Her daughter's ashes are now in an urn covered with images of dolphins.

The clinic also offers a chaplaincy program which provides “individual counseling, group counseling and the celebration of spiritual sacraments such as baptism of the still born fetus and blessings for the aborted fetus.” 1 Since a woman may desire “a token of the precious time” she and her “baby had together” prior to the abortion,2 the clinic offers hand prints and footprints of the dead baby, photographs of the dead baby and allows the aborted woman to embrace her baby following the abortion.3 For those parents who desire it, the baby's remains can be taken home in an urn and kept as a “living memorial.” An anonymous letter posted on the clinic's website states, “We are grateful to allow her to pass from our lives without pain and with dignity. We are grateful that we were able to see her, hold her, baptize her and tell her goodbye. We are grateful for her tiny footprints as a visual reminder of her short existence. We are grateful for her ashes and urn that will remain a tangible part of our lives and will serve … as a living memorial to her.”4

A recent article in the LA Times reported on the investigation by the State Attorney General for possible violations of Kansas law by the clinic. Kansas law stipulates that no abortion can be performed on a viable baby unless the pregnancy would permanently affect the mother's health in a substantial way. There are also allegations of the clinic concealing sexual predators by not reporting to authorities underage girls who are brought to the clinic for abortions, a further victimization of the children.

The message the twelve Christians were taking to the women headed for abortion was that they would adopt their baby and pay for everything. It was not a declaration that they took lightly. Bruce and his wife Marsha prayed about it and knew the Lord was asking them to take this step. The twelve were made up of pastors, a pastor's wife, business executives, teachers, musicians, and Christians who took this seriously. They met at the OSA-Wichita office and partook of communion together before walking the one block to Tiller's abortion mill.

For fourteen years, faithful Christians have stood in the gap at Tiller's with Sidewalk Counselors, intercessors and lately worshippers. The twelve came from different churches. The day was bathed in prayer, and fasting. Each one had their assignment. Pastor Daniel was to engage the Security Guard and explain to him that they were there peacefully with a message to the women going in. Two other men had video cameras. Some prayed, some preached. All were passionate about what they were doing.

Saints gathered outside in support. Worship broke out and Kip Bloss was the spokesperson for the team. When they stepped on the property, they were quickly met by an irate Security Guard by the name of Carl Sweeney. He was undone. Soon as they were walking further north he pulled out his gun and started waving it around. He told them not to take another step. They stopped and some went to their knees and began to pray. Michelle, a sidewalk counselor engaged every woman she saw in conversation. This irritated Carl and he shoved her down to the ground. He handcuffed Pastor Daniel and Pastor Mark immediately and later pulled out his mace and threatened within inches of their eyes to spray them. In the meantime all were praying, singing, worshiping and making declarations about the Lord and His sovereignty. The media came quickly to ask questions and began filming. The police came and at first were very puzzled. Gradually they took charge and asked some of the twelve to leave. They very politely refused because of their convictions.

Young women were trying to come in. One parked on the street because of all the police. She and her very tall boyfriend got out of the car and approached the driveway. There were probably 8 police cars present. Soon the captains came and tried to figure out what to do with these gentle Christians. All during this process they were calling out to the women and telling them of the love of Christ Jesus. If not for the love of Christ, they wouldn't even be there. It was obvious that the young woman who parked in the street was listening to the rescuers. She didn't want this abortion, her very large boyfriend did. He practically had her in a headlock prodding her into the building. She didn't go unnoticed by the rescuers. They called out to her offering all sorts of help with the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. After about 20 minutes of deliberating, she got away from him and came outside to those of us who were standing there and said, “I'm sure glad you were here today.” Victoria chose life for her and her baby.

They were all taken to jail, but the process took quite awhile and they were able to witness for over an hour.  The twelve were found guilty of trespass in municipal court under Judge Lindspaun, but not without first stating their convictions concerning the Law of God and the sacredness of life.  It was a great day in court.  Five went on to appeal and that's where we are today. The trial will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 13 and 14.  We have prepared a defense of motive.  The court would not allow a necessity defense.  The motions that have been heard were taken seriously enough for Judge Owen to listen to what he felt was great testimony.  Unfortunately, he would not allow the necessity defense even after a motion to reconsider.  Please pray for these five fabulous men who are standing for integrity.  This is a jury trial and we're asking for a jury that will understand and find them innocent.

1 Women's Health Care Services, P.A., “Meet Our Chaplain,” Women's Health Care Services, P.A., http:/www.drtiller.com/chap.html.

2 Women's Health Care Services, P.A., “Remembrances and Special Requests,” http://www.drtiller.com/remembrances.html.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.