As many of you probably all ready know, I was banned for life from the church I've attended for the past 4 years, along with my boyfriend, Edwin McCora, who has attended Central Church of God for at least 6 years, and off and on since he was young.  The reason?  I couldn't tell you.  They did not tell me.  In short, we visited the church to hand out pro-life brochures to make the congregation aware of 2 abortion mills within just 4 miles of this spectacular church.  We went asking for their help.  Our goal?  To arouse their attention to abortion and call them out in the streets!  As Christians we are called to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, this includes abortions mills.  To read the full story visit http://www.operationsaveamerica.org/738.htm. 

I have had the distinct privilege to be interviewed for two TV programs and one radio broadcast, all of which found me.  All outlets individually contacted Central Church of God to request their participation in sharing their side of the story.  Central Church of God did not return RUReadyRadio’s call, nor did they call Truth Temple back.  However, Life Dynamics, Inc was able to speak briefly with the Associate Pastor, Dennis Livingston.  He informed them that they banned us because of our association with Operation Save America, and that they don’t agree with Operation Save America’s tactics of showing pictures of aborted babies.  When did a difference of opinion justify excommunication from a Church??  Jesus speaks in Matthew 18 of the appropriate measures of dealing with a Christian brother or sister in sin.  While we committed no sin when defending the unborn that day, they did not even follow proper procedure to deal with us if we had.

Over four weeks ago I sent a letter to Pastor Loran Livingston.   With it, I included a CD from Focus on the Family featuring Abby Johnson, who left Planned Parenthood after 8 years with them.  I also included a print out of the amazing story of Mechelle Hall, who went to have an abortion and instead pulled a knife on the pro-life sidewalk counselor, Leah Winandy, placing it at her throat.  Mechelle now thanks Leah because she never got the abortion.  Finally, I included a wonderful packet called “What Must Be Done To End All Abortion” by Flip Benham – Read it here http://www.operationsaveamerica.org/brochures/acrobat/ToEndAllAbortion.pdf

I have not heard back from Pastor Livingston, or anyone else at the church.  I don’t expect I will.  Below is the letter that was sent to him.

Dear Pastor Loran Livingston,

My heart is broken.  Never in a million years would I have imagined receiving the treatment we did from the staff and security of our own church for handing out pro-life brochures.  We simply looked to inform our friends at Central Church of God that there were two abortion mills within a four mile radius of our church.  When I joined Operation Save America and came to Central Church of God on Sunday, February 7th, our intent was to bring a light on the reality of abortion and ask faithful Christians to join us in this battle.  I presumed we would be welcomed by your staff, as well as the masses of faithful Christians. 

While the congregation was very gracious and receptive, security and Central’s leadership was not.  Why?  What did we do so wrong?  I found out when I had a meeting with your brother Dennis, Janice Landreth, Larry Bumgarner and three of Central’s administrative pastors.  I was treated with contempt and even mocked.  While I was under the impression the meeting would be a mutually beneficial gathering, we were told at the beginning that we weren’t going to be allowed a chance to speak.  It was at this meeting that I was informed by Pastor Dennis that I was banned from Central Church of God forever.

Which of you can truthfully accuse me of any sin committed on that fateful day?  How can you ban me from church without telling me what act has warranted this punishment?  Did anyone offer us an opportunity to present our case?  How can you kick me out without question and without a fair trial among my peers?  Even the world offers this justice. 

I have been excommunicated from my own church based on the human caprice of a self-appointed board.  We do have a responsibility before God to make known to you the horror that is taking place just down the street from our church.  I cannot back down from this awful truth.  Babies are being murdered and our church has chosen to look the other way.  We should be standing side by side, fighting together.  Paul wrote, and I say the same to you, “I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed but that I will continue to be bold for Christ.”

Now that we are banned from Central Church of God forever, please tell me what did I do wrong?  We got off the property when we were told to, we turned off the sound speaker when you started the first service, and we left after the second service began.  We lifted up the name of Jesus as best we could, and spoke clearly on behalf of children waiting to be born.  We spoke well of you and our wonderful church.  Why would Central reject God’s Word concerning the murder of children created in the image of God?  Yet, we have been banned from church for life.

I was told on the phone by Ms Janice Landreth that we had spoken ill of both you and our church.  This is simply not true.  Your staff and security have a video tape of us.  Please watch it.  I asked Janice if she had watched the tape.  She hesitated and answered, “Well, not in its entirety.”  She said they would play the video tape for us when we had our meeting on Tuesday, the 10th. 

At the meeting your brother Dennis accused us again of speaking negatively.  Flip Benham, who joined me for the meeting, begged Dennis to play the tape.  He would not.  When cornered the only speech he could produce as “negative” was that I called our church “inward.”  I did not simply call the church “inward”.  I asked the question, “Have we become an inward church?”  This question was proposed as we were informed of your comment about us during the first sermon, and as your security was pushing CMPD to arrest my boyfriend for “impeding traffic.”  The question is fair when the church is rejecting us for our stance on life and refusing to help the poor babies being killed in this city.  This was not done in a “wrong spirit.”

Your administrative pastors shared with us that people were offended.  We did not hear this from any of the folks we talked to (excepting security and staff).  Those who are easily offended probably should be.  We are just as offended.  Someone murdered poor baby Malachi.  Someone shred his poor body to pieces and now the world wants him to be hidden away.  He is God’s child.  He was not given a choice of life.  The least we can do for him is to remember him. 

Pastor, you have never been one to back down from God’s Word in order not to offend.  You have been lifted up by the power of Almighty God to preach His Word and you have done so beautifully and not once have you concerned yourself with someone who might be offended.  We both know God’s Word can be offensive to some, but it’s still the Truth.  So why start worrying about offense now?  The bottom line is abortion kills children.  Don’t shoot the messenger.

Your administrative pastors told us that post-abortive women entering the church were inconsolable after seeing the graphic pictures.  If this is the case, then our church has failed them.  We have failed to help them in their need to deal with the regret, pain, and suffering caused by abortion.  We have failed to offer to them the true repentance and forgiveness that can only be given through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Abortion hurts women.  We must acknowledge this sin and confess it - not conceal it.

I have had the distinct privilege of being under your preaching for the past four years.  I have worshiped the Lord Jesus Christ with you, received your council, and developed wonderful friendships within the church.  I have enjoyed the singing of the choir immensely and brought family members and friends to experience the godliness within this church.  I’ve received your blessing for the New Year and am a member of Circle of Pearls.  I felt at home in this church.  My boyfriend, Edwin, has been coming to this church off and on since he was a boy.  He has admired and respected you and revered you as the “best preacher ever”.  He owns many of your sermons on CDs and listens to them a lot.  He simply loves you, yet he was arrested for carrying God’s truth to the church he loves.

What have we done to receive this kind of treatment by our own brothers and sisters in Christ?  When security told us to get off the property, we did.  We did have two men drive back on the property to turn their van around.  They were not aware, nor had either been warned, that the van was already asked to leave the premises. This was an error – we own it.  It was not done purposely, but it was our mistake, nevertheless.  The police did not want to arrest the guys and were ready to let them go, but security demanded they be arrested.  It’s a shame that they weren’t let off with a warning like the CMPD officers wanted to, but that was security’s choice. 

My boyfriend, however, was not arrested for anything he did on the property.  He was arrested for crossing the street where there was no crosswalk, and then the charge was changed to “impeding traffic.”  A CMPD police officer told us that Central’s security was pushing and pressuring them to arrest us.  It was eye-opening to see Edwin standing on the Central campus, wearing his red JESUS hat with his hands cuffed in front of him.  Unbeknownst to him, the man he respected and admired so much had been inside slamming us to the congregation, advising the Christians not to take our literature or talk to us, calling us “radicals” and of the “wrong spirit”.

“Radicals?”  For Christ?  Proudly!

“Don’t take our literature”?  Really?  Does the church not have the discernment to know right from wrong?  Are we not mature enough in the Gospel of Christ to be able to take a brochure and know if it is of God’s will or not?  Our literature was that of the truth.  It speaks of saved babies, sharing the Gospel, calling the church to action, and provided the locations of the two closest abortion mills.  Why would you deny the church this information?  God desires His bride to know where innocent blood is being shed and storm the gates of hell! 

“Wrong spirit?”  Can the devil cast himself out?  Would not his kingdom shatter?  Is the wrong spirit one who kills babies or tries to save babies?  Is the wrong spirit that of one following the word of God and standing up for murdered babies?  But furthermore, if you truly felt we were of the wrong spirit, why didn’t someone come outside after the first service and invite us in to church?  Is it not the responsibility of the church to spread the Gospel and help the lost lambs?  If you truly felt we were not of God, why didn’t you try to help us?

Since I’ve been attending church at Central I’ve heard you mention abortion a few times and preach on the subject once.  When you did preach on the subject you mentioned that you did not know much about it and as you delved into research you were stunned to find out that there had been 40 million babies killed in our country since 1973.  Edwin and I had been waiting for an opportunity to give you a booklet called “How to End Abortion” and after this service, we felt it was the perfect opportunity to deliver it to you.  So after the night service we rushed to stop you before you left the sanctuary and by the grace of God were able to give it to you and had a brief conversation with you, though it was difficult to do since the choir was still singing.

For a year and a half I have tried to reach Outreach Ministries to simply discuss Life.  I just wanted to even talk about something as simple as a Life Group, but no one ever returned my calls or emails.  I was told in our meeting with the pastors that you said Central wasn’t obligated to return anybody’s calls.  I thought the church was supposed to be there for its brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Jan. 22, 2009, a memorial service was held at the corner of Tryon and Trade in uptown Charlotte in honor and remembrance of all the babies who have died through abortion.  I sent a notice via email to both Outreach Ministries, as well as almost every leader listed on your website with an email address.  No response.

In February 2009, 40 Days for Life, the nationwide peaceful vigil of prayer, fasting and community outreach participated in by Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals and crosses over all lines of denominations, took place at the local abortion mill just 3.9 miles from the church.  I tried reaching Outreach Ministry again to see if Central would be interested in adopting a day or participating in any way, big or small.  I called and emailed.  Edwin delivered a packet to the church.  He was told no one from Outreach was in that day so he left the packet with the secretary.  I also gave a packet to my Circle of Pearls leader Cheryl Gribble, whom I adore greatly, to deliver to Anna, Director of Community Outreach, and, to my knowledge, she did.  Still, I received no response.

Flip Benham, the director of Operation Save America, left a voicemail message for you to call him back to discuss our efforts for Sunday the 7th.  Once again, no one ever returned the call.

So on Sunday, Feb. 7th we came to Central Church of God by the direction of our Father in Heaven to simply ask believers of this church to join us in the battle against murder of the innocent and stand up for the oppressed.  Since the leaders of this church were unwilling to help us, the precious lambs were our next step.

I would have expected the treatment we received from a secular group, but never from our own Christian family.  Naively, I truly believed we’d hand out the brochures with no problems and then go to our normal 10:30 service.  I was so wrong.  I don’t believe you feel an obligation to help and it could be from your lack of knowledge about the subject, so please allow me to educate you.

Abortion is legal in all 9 months of pregnancy.  There have been an estimated 50 million babies killed in America since abortion became legal in 1973.  Abortion is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States.  About 23% of all pregnancies end in abortion in the United States and an estimated 43% of all women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old.  Protection of the mother’s life accounts for only 0.2% of all abortions.  Statistics show that over 86% of women having abortions consider themselves “Christians”.  

Many women have died from “legal” abortions and others have suffered from heavy bleeding, depression, infection, sepsis, damage to the cervix, infertility, breast cancer, scarring of the uterine lining, perforation of the uterus, and damage to the internal organs.  But even more severe, they suffer from the death of a child.  That which they thought would make them free makes them slaves to inconsolable guilt and the constant accusing of the devil.  Repentance is their only hope. 

In 2006, the most recent year with available statistics, there were 4,665 Mecklenburg County residents who had abortions and 12, 488 abortion occurrences.  That’s a lot of babies killed in such close proximity to Central Church.  Are you so sure we don’t have some responsibility here to love our neighbor? 

There have been a documented 2,168 babies saved and 26 abortion workers left the abortion industry through the efforts of the 40 Days for Life Campaign since it began in the fall of 2004.  There have been over 531 confirmed babies saved in the past 15 months here in Charlotte since there has been a constant present at the abortion mills.  Countless abortion clinics have shut down through the efforts of simple Christians living out their faith in the streets.  Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson left the industry after 8 years with the mill.  She contributes this partly to 40 Days for Life. She’s now involved with the Coalition for Life group that constantly has members out on the sidewalks praying in front of Planned Parenthood. 

Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe from the infamous Roe v Wade case that made abortion legal, left the industry and came to Christ through passionate “pro-life” Christians who unashamedly lived out their faith.  There are many more testimonies from both women and men who have heard the Gospel out in the streets and chose life.  It’s breathtaking what God will do when people simply show up.

We were told in the meeting by your administrative pastors that this just isn’t a “viable ministry”.  How is witnessing to women getting ready to enter a killing mill to destroy their life inside of them not a viable ministry?  God called us to go out to the ends of the earth and preach the Gospel.  Do abortion clinics not fall under that category?  Jesus came for the sick.  It’s time to leave the four walls of the church and go out to the sick.  Pastor, there are countless women arriving at these clinics daily that are sick and in need of Jesus, and if we aren’t there to tell them the Truth, no one will. 

Helping crisis pregnancy centers and donating to maternity homes is wonderful.  Adopting children is vital, but this does not exclude the church from its duty of standing in the gap for these babies and women.  Prayer is the best defense we have, and yes, prayer can be done at home in our closet, but we are still called to go.  This is why Central sends saints to China, and saints to the prisons and jail, and saints to Haiti for the relief efforts, but saints are needed right here in Charlotte within just 4 miles of this church.  You mentioned once that you wanted a church full of bulldogs to grab on to Jesus and not let go.  That’s what we want too.  We know Central is a Godly church.  I know there are pro-life Christians longing to get involved, but they just don’t know how.  I was approached by one in my Circle of Pearls meeting once.  Unless someone tells them how to get involved, they’ll never know.  We want to help turn Sunday Christians into bulldogs.  Pastor, you had two bulldogs in your congregation, but you’ve now banished us.

It is our duty as Christians to love our neighbor.  Our neighbors are being killed less than 4 miles from the church.  Blood cries out from the streets.  Whether you like it or not you are now involved.  You have been given a choice.  I am asking you to reconsider your position.  We, at Central Church of God, can no longer take a passive stance toward abortion by pretending these two abortion mills don’t exist.  As you have preached, blood is indeed coursing down the corridors of our streets, workplaces, and schools.  Bloodshed does indeed touch bloodshed.  We are reaping what we have sown.  We have shed blood in the womb we will reap blood in the streets.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves – ensure justice for those being crushed. Proverbs 31:8 

Pastor Livingston, God is calling you to deliver those who are drawn toward death and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.  If you say, “Surely we did not know this?” does He who weighs the heart not consider it?  He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?  And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?  Proverbs 24:11-12

I must say this has been the hardest letter I have ever had to write.  Though you don’t know me, I love both you and Sandra with a Christian love, and I love Central Church of God and am seeking God’s help to understand what has just happened to us.  This letter has been difficult to write because of the anguish my soul feels at the response of our church toward the least of these.  It’s been difficult because I want to be sure you hear the voices from these poor babies being ripped to shreds in their mothers wombs. 

God has lifted you up, and you are his ordained messenger.  I am but a lowly servant with nothing to boast, but God has called me to deliver this message to you, and He has called you on many occasions to deal with this issue.  Time is up.  It’s time to take a stand for Truth. 

I am asking you to repent and be obedient to God concerning this issue.  I believe you’ve done 99% of what God has called you to do, but it’s no longer feasible to sit idly by while little children die in your own back yard.  This is not an issue that we can just put behind us.  God has set before us life and death.  He has asked us to choose life.  Please join us in the streets to be a witness for Almighty God, for if the Church won’t stand up for the unborn, who will?

- An open rebuke is better than hidden love.  Proverbs 27:5

Kristin Wilson