Dear Champion of the Lord and the Preborn,
Court Trials in Mississippi
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time'” (Revelation 12:10-12).
Donned with Christian/pro-life clothing, Jesus is Lord buttons, and a rousing chorus of Stand up for Jesus hymn upon their lips, the accused entered Jackson, Mississippi’s city court. Rev. Flip Benham and I came to support and stand with Cal Zastrow, Ester Mann, and Johnny Breeken as they faced bogus charges.
Jackson’s finest has been at the beck and call of the abortion mill for years. In fact, a federal ruling in 2006 was introduced into evidence on Cal’s defense that rebuked the Jackson police department and warned them to cease and desist in their attempts to deny Christians their First Amendment Rights. It was clear during the trial the Jackson police ignored the restrictions.
After wading through the congested court docket, our three brethren faced the bench. Ester Mann and Johnny Breeken are locals, so the court decided to set their court trial for Nov. 25,2013. They are being charged with obstructing the sidewalk. The prosecutor decided last minute to amend the charges against Cal Zastrow and added the same charge. The judge allowed it and Cal ended up facing three charges. Since Cal is from Michigan the court graciously went forward with his trial. Many times, hostile courts knowing we are from out of state and the expense it takes to appear in court, purposely postpone the trial. They do it for one reason and that is to add to our burdens.
More witnesses were arrayed against Cal than any other case that day. Three police officers and two business owners testified against Cal. The business owners, like most Americans, were more concerned about the graphic pictures than they were the abortion mill was actually doing this evil act against children across the street.
Irony and hypocrisy knew no bounds in this trial. The prosecutor strained at gnats, (Your sign touched the ground, your chairs and ladder obstructed the sidewalk, and other petty concerns) while he swallowed camels, (He ignored the reality that babies are being murdered at the last remaining death camp in Mississippi). Tragically, the entire court system seemed oblivious to this incredible discrepancy.
Cal’s Lawyer, Steve Thorton, did a masterful job. When he cross examined the police officers and the business owners, he exposed their contradictions and inconsistencies. One of the most illuminating parts of the trial that reveal the sad state of affairs in our beleaguered nation, was the testimony of the police officers. Out of the three, one was honest, but misinformed as to the nature of the city ordinances that Cal supposedly violated.
Attorney Thorton when he cross examined the police officers, he asked them some basic questions concerning the date of their graduation, training, and the nature of the oath they swore before God to uphold. All three of them could not recall the nature of the oath that took as law enforcement officials. Attorney Thorton literally had to coax and grant them clues to remember their oath of office, which is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. None of them surrendered this information of their own accord. I took a similar oath in the military three decades ago and the oath still remains fresh with me. For whatever reasons, it was not so with these gentlemen.
Wait, it went from bad to worse. One of the officers was asked if he knew the provisions contained in the First amendment. He swore up and down that he did and yet could not name one of them. It was an extreme embarrassment for the prosecution. ChristianNews.net reporting on this situation stated:
“The attorney asked, ‘So, you’re familiar with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?’ [The officer replied,] ‘Oh yes,'” Zastrow recalled. “The attorney said, ‘Can you recall the themes-the main points of the First Amendment?’ The officer said, ‘Oh yes, I can.'”
“My attorney said, ‘Why don’t you tell the court what they are,'” he continued. “Well, I can’t recall all of them,’ the officer replied. ‘Okay, well, just tell us one point-just one thing that the First Amendment to the Constitution mentions,’ my attorney said. And the officer answered, ‘I guess I don’t know that right now.'”
“That was frightening,” Zastrow said. “He thinks he’s upholding the law, obeying the law and enforcing the law, but he doesn’t know any elements to the First Amendment to the Constitution
A nation facing tyranny and an ungodly dictator (Obama) desperately need law officials of this caliber to succeed. This is yet another casualty and violation of abortion. Our government is duped by Roe vs. Wade to defend the indefensible. If they refuse to protect life, stop the shedding of innocent blood, and defend the right to life, is it reasonable to expect they would defend the freedoms of those seeking to rescue those led away to slaughter?
If I was the trainer of the Jackson police academy responsible to teach officers the Constitution of the United States, retirement or seeking another job might be in order. I kept wondering what the judge was thinking after listening to these testimonies and discovering the federal document seeking to restrain the abuse of the Jackson police department. Her verdict answered the question. She dismissed two of the charges against Cal and the third one she said was “under advisement.” We should hear very soon her verdict on the last charge. Please pray for Cal and his family as they continue to press on in the battle.
Next month, Rev. Flip Benham and I will be heading back to court to stand with and support Brother Chet Gallagher. He has two charges arrayed against him for preaching on a public sidewalk. He recently sent this message out as he prepares for his defense:
Dear Friends,
Bless you in the Name above all names!
I’m writing to explain why I will not request an attorney to represent me after being arrested and charged criminally for “obstructing (preaching the Gospel upon) the public sidewalk” and “resisting (unlawful) arrest.”
We leave for Mississippi soon and perhaps some may wish to help with our travel expense to enable JoAnn to be with me in court. If so, “Thank you!” You can make a non-taxable donation here: (www.wepay.com/donations/chet-gallagher )
So why am I not using a lawyer? Y’Shua, when prophesying and instructing on the future arrests, trials and convictions of His disciples, gives us very specific instruction:
Mark 13:10-11
“And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Am I against attorneys in all cases? No. We appreciate the help we have received from dozens of godly lawyers over the years. Steve Thornton, for example, who represented Cal Zastrow, just this week, exposed the inept, egregious and even “criminal” misconduct of a few Jackson, MS police officers. (Ephesians 5:11)
For me, this trial is an “in that hour” opportunity to believe and obey. Here a just a couple of reasons why:
His words are: “But WHEN they arrest you” …not IFthey arrest you. We don’t seek to be arrested but understand that our Messiah promised that this will be the consequence of “preaching the Gospel.” That is the context. Fearing arrests or doing all we can to avoid arrests could rob us of opportunities when the Holy Spirit would testify through us. (Acts 1:8)
2. I am inclined to “…worry beforehand, or premeditate what (I) will speak.” Should it be my prepared testimony and strategy presented in court or His? This time I’ll just accept that He meant what He said and choose to believe He will do what He says He will do “in that hour” both for His glory and for my good. At 2:30 PM on Sept 18th pray that “whatever is given (me) in that hour” that it will not be me who speaks, “but the Holy Spirit.”
A criminal conviction with additional jail time for preaching publicly and passively resisting police tyranny may be His plan and purpose. Honestly…I hope it isn’t, but even if believing and obeying Him in some matters seems strange…even risky…it’s still all about Him and the cross we’re privileged to bear. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship wrote, “Those who believe, obey; those who obey, believe.”
Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love Me you will keep My commandments.” We love Him, believe Him and are simply seeking to obey His commandment in this matter. In closing, two of His commandments come to mind:
· John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Thanks for loving us and allowing us to share this with you.
· Matthew 28:20: (“Part B” of the Great Commission) “…teaching themto observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen
We do hope to see you soon in Mississippi, if not for my trial on September 18, then certainly for the Regional States of Refuge event November 2nd.
Link to video of my arrest in Mississippi here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1BUXNZUIcs
All I can add to Chet’s message is to reinforce his invitation to come to Mississippi for our States of Refuge regional event scheduled from Nov. 2-6. Perhaps soon, Mississippi will make history by becoming the first abortion Free State in America. With the obedience of God’s Church and the help of heaven, nothing is impossible in Jesus’ name!
