We all had a great leadership meeting here in snowy Charlotte, NC, earlier this month – and what a meeting it was! We stormed the gates of hell at two high schools, three abortion mills, and three abortionist’s neighborhoods. Best of all, we planned our way allowing God to direct our steps as we strategized to allow the theology of heaven to become biography in the streets of our cities this new year. Below is Rusty’s report of our meeting with maybe a special surprise.
Enjoy!
Dear Champion of the Lord and the Preborn,
Operation Save America Leadership Meeting 2014
“Plans are established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war” (Proverbs 20:18).
What an adventure the annual leadership meeting turned out to be for Operation Save America. Leaders from all across America braved the ice storm as they made their way to Kannapolis, NC to discuss the New Year and storm the gates of hell. There is great glory when the saints get together to love God and serve His purposes. Though there were many obstacles to overcome, our time in North Carolina proved beneficial.
The traveling, however, was still treacherous. Most of the time the highway was a parking lot with little or no movement. Thousands of abandoned cars and trucks were scattered along the Interstate. Some of them parked on the actual highway lanes in all directions. Several trucks and trailers jackknifed and there were several accidents. A lot of people were stranded, hunkering down in their cars, convenient stores, and other places. To God be the glory, the OSA saints pressed on and made it safe to fulfill our appointed time together.
MINISTRY TIME
The ministry of God’s word, as usual, was rich. We feasted upon God’s truth to renew our devotion to Him and the just cause to end the American holocaust. Rev. Flip Benham, Pastor Keith Tucci, and other anointed men of God addressed the gathering to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. We discussed our national event in New Orleans from July 19-26, 2014, the States of Refuge campaign, and two new ministry opportunities. More on that later. We enjoyed great fellowship, meals, and outreaches on the streets of North Carolina.
STREET ACTIVITIES
Our time together also consisted of taking the Gospel of the Kingdom to the highways and byways as our Lord commanded. Each morning we split up into teams and went to different gates of the city. The first morning we went to two high schools. We set up signs, passed out Christian/Pro-life literature, and preached the Gospel on portable sound systems. The first school had limited access to the students, but we did the best we could under the circumstances.
The second school afforded us greater access to the students and for the most part we were well received. Very few students refused the tracts. The police, however, were called out and gave some of our preachers a warning about the city’s sound ordinance. Everyone, except one, for some reason I was not included in the warning.
I was a couple of minutes into the message explaining why we were there at the high school, when a police officer noticed the sound system. My text was Romans 6:23, which states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The essence of the message connected the signs we held to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first sign we showed was the picture of Malachi, which means, “My messenger.”
This sign revealed the horrific reality of abortion. It demonstrated the graphic nature of this cruel act perpetrated by the sin and crime of abortion against children made in God’s image. In this, we witnessed the wages of sin, which is death.
On the other hand, we held live baby signs, which revealed the “gift of God is eternal life.” One sign points out what happens to a nation that violates God’s laws. It is ugly, horrible, and leads to death, both physical and eternal. The other sign points out what happens to nations that honor God’s law. It is beautiful.
Once the police officer saw me, however, he turned on his lights, whipped his car around, jumped out, and aggressively moved towards the portable sound system. He ripped it from my hands and without a warning wrote up a citation. Apparently, he was upset about our presence at the high school. After receiving the citation, I shook his hand and blessed him in the name of the Lord.
The citation demanded a return on March 6th for a court trial. Instead of making the long trip back to North Carolina, I opted to pay a fine. In the long run, it was a much cheaper option, though the injustice remains.
The next day our teams went to two death camps and three neighborhoods of abortionists. The Scriptures teach, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). Exposure became the order of the day. We exposed the truth and love of God to those lost in sin, darkness, and despair at the death camps. We also exposed the abortionists in their neighborhoods. The saints came back with many testimonies on how the Lord used our feeble attempts to love our neighbor as ourselves, advance the Kingdom, and expose this grave evil to set the captive free.
There was no small stir on our team, which consisted of Doc Johnston, his precious family, and a new couple who joined us at our leadership meeting. The couple set up signs at the entrance of the neighborhood, while Doc’s children passed out flyers in the neighborhood. Doc and I went to the abortionist, Jimmy Isaac Newton’s home. Unfortunately, he was not at home.
While Doc wrote a note to him calling him to repent and provide a way out through the Gospel to end his sinful activity of child murder, I noticed a couple filming us. After we went back to his home and dropped off the note, we addressed the couple. We explained why we were there and the man responded, “Go back to Virginia from whence you came.” We responded, “How do you know we are from Virginia.” Doc told him that he was from Ohio and I was from Texas. From there, we ministered the Gospel to them. As we preached, we both became aware that the man was brandishing a gun. Interestingly enough, the Gospel proved more powerful than the gun. They ran off telling us that they had called the police. Instantly, we became the church on the run. We packed up everybody and made it back safely to the camp for more meetings. Thanks be to God!
BOMBSHELL
“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man” (Proverbs 20:6)?
About a month prior to the leadership meeting, brother Flip called me. We exchanged some small talk for awhile and then Flip got to the main reason for his call. Though I heard what he was saying, it was difficult to comprehend. I had to ask him to repeat what he was communicating to me. Even then, it was hard to accept what he was saying.
In the middle of our time together at our leadership meeting, Brother Flip Benham dropped the bomb he mentioned to me in our conversation previously. Though I knew was coming, it still took my breath away. Flip announced that after 20 years of faithful service he was stepping down as national director of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America.
The response in the room was similar to mine. Some could hardly believe it, while others choked back the tears. Others suspected this day would come, but still struggled with the reality that Flip was stepping down.
During my conversation with Flip prior to the meeting, he also asked me to take his place as national director of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America. To be honest, the thought never entered my mind. For twenty years, the Lord called me to be a friend to Flip and serve him as assistant director. My only purpose was to stay faithful to the Lord in that capacity.
After he announced this to the leaders, he had me address the gathering. I have not to this point accepted the position, but asked the leaders to join me in prayer and then call me with their counsel. This report is now going out to a greater audience and my request remains. Would you please pray for Flip, OSA, and my family as we seek the Lord’s will in this crucial matter.
Our national event in New Orleans, LA from July 19-26, will be the last event Flip will lead the charge as national director of OSA. I admonish everyone who has been a part of OSA in times past to please try and make it to New Orleans. The Bible says we should give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). It is proper and fitting that we honor the man of God who has stood so faithful in the battle for the souls of men, the lives of children, and the future of our nation. Hope to see you there.
