Exposing the Village it Takes Tiller to Kill a Child An Account From Wichita, KS

 
October 29, 2001

Exposing the Village it Takes Tiller to Kill a Child - An Account From Wichita, KS 

OSA-Wichita Pickets the Exploration Place over its acceptance of funding by infamous abortionist George Tiller.

"Have nothing to do with the barren unprofitable deeds of darkness, but, instead of that, set your faces against them." (Ephesians 5:11, Weymouth New Testament translation)

Last weekend Flip Benham was in Wichita just as a recent discovery at Wichita's Exploration Place was heating up near a flash point. Early this month we became aware of George and Jeannie Tiller's financial support of the Exploration Place. If this were not enough, this science education center for children and families displays the name of "George and Jeanne Tiller" on both a founding contributors plaque and an annual contributors plaque. Pastor Daniel Thompson had sent a letter October 6 expressing his shock at this. The October 15 response by Dr. Al DeSena attempting to justify accepting blood money and stating their intent to continue taking all financial contributions with no questions asked shocks everyone who reads it more.

Saturday morning (October 26) after praying at Tiller's closed (for the day - his usual habit when Flip or Rusty come to Wichita) abortion mill from 6:30 to 9 AM, a group of 54 Christians picketed the Exploration Place at 300 N. McLean Boulevard. Spread out over a couple of blocks Christians held signs stating "Funded by Abortion - Boycott Exploration Place" and words to that effect -- exposing George and Jeannie Tiller's blood money connection to the science center for families and children.

When we first arrived, Wichita Police were called and they tried to tell us we were violating a city ordinance ("Interfering with a lawful business") by picketing with signs and handing out boycott literature. It was bizarre and laughable! Sandi Boehr and a few others insisted that the officers show a copy of this ordinance. They finally did because no one was leaving. Sandi read the statute along with the officers. It was abundantly clear that the ordinance (a pro-abortion Wichita clinic access law I am very familiar with) forbids "sitting in front of an entrance," "deliberately laying down in a driveway," and or "blocking or interfering with access in or out of a lawful business." We were obviously doing none of these things.

No apology but the shame-faced police officers then told us we could continue picketing on public property but with a sermon about staying up on the curb and then left. The officer in charge said in a parting shot, "We will be right back if we are called." We saw them no more.

Over the portable PA system, a number of young Christian men preached Jesus as Lord and spoke on the importance of teaching moral integrity to our children, especially by public example. King Jesus was proclaimed as the Standard of righteousness to which we are all held accountable to. Others handed out literature to the few people entering the Exploration Place containing the evidence of its acceptance of blood money from local abortionist George Tiller. The simple message to the community was this:

We thought you might want to know what we recently discovered about this place for families and children. Is it not ironic that a place dedicated to the education of children and families is supported by money from a local abortionist who earns that money by destroying the lives of children and families? Do you find this hypocritical? We certainly do!

Is this the type of moral ethic we ought to be educating our children with, hypocrisy?

We believe that once you are aware of Exploration Place's acceptance of support from money obtained by killing children, you too may wish to consider how and where you spend your money.

Within the first hour at least 7 families decided to leave without entering. One family traveling from Nebraska saw the signs and literature on Exploration Place accepting blood money from a local abortionist. Their response was: "We don't support this at all!" The family left. Likewise 2 families from Missouri left without going in after making similar statements.

Another family had their turn signal on for the Exploration Place but after reading signs for 2 blocks slowed down then turned off their turn signal and drove on. This would be repeated over the 3 hours that Christians were there. One man with his son was so full of anger at us that he just wanted to argue.

One Christian encouraged him, "Come on Pop. Be a good father and set a good example for your son by teaching him hypocrisy is wrong." He said, "Get out of my face," but no one was approaching him. He was approaching different Christians clear out by the street but found nothing but love and a stand for what is right. Finally after 10 minutes of this, this angry dad took his son and drove away without ever going in also.

Two more families had traveled to Wichita from Missouri to visit our community including the famous Exploration Place. As soon as they saw the signs and the small tract with the president of the Exploration Place's intent to continue accepting financial contributions from notorious abortionist George Tiller, they too left without going in.

Several Christians were on the center median in McLean and handed literature out to motorists as they drove by. Cars would slow down and some even stopped to share their outrage over this immoral and unethical decision by the Exploration Place to accept funding from the abortion industry. Almost all cars passing by honked in approval of a boycott after reading the signs.

Meanwhile inside the Exploration Place, employees were buzzing and people were talking. Many conversations were about the large number of phone calls coming in from Wichita citizens Saturday morning about the Exploration Place accepting money from George and Jeanie Tiller. Citizens are asking, "Is this true, that you take money from Dr. Tiller the abortionist?"

It is clear the Exploration Place board of directors is completely out of step with the community by accepting contributions from the abortion industry. Some things are self-evident that they are simply wrong. Any spin the Exploration Place board of directors or the Wichita Eagle tries to put on this will fail to their hurt. As God declared through the prophet:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." (Isaiah 5:20)

This picket was not a one-time event but merely the start of a campaign. The few Christians I've spoken with so far since in several churches are shocked, disappointed and outraged at the Exploration Place for accepting money from a businessman who earns his money entirely by destroying children and families. A committee is being formed to coordinate regular pickets for the future. Press releases will announce this shocking news to Christian media -- Christian radio, newspapers and newsletters will inform churches.

It is highly inappropriate for the Exploration Place, a statewide tourist attraction to willfully accept regular financial contributions from a man who brutally murders innocent children. Consider the contradictions in mission of Exploration Place and their acceptance of such dubious sources of funding.

In one of its brochures we read, "Exploration Place...is one of Kansas' most beloved family institutions..." On one of their exhibits we find these words: "Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven."

If this pro-family mission and the acceptance of the profits gained from destroying the hands, feet, bodies and heads of innocent baby boys and girls along with the lives of their would have been families is not the worst form of hypocrisy, I don't know what hypocrisy is.

Full copies of Daniel Thompson's letter and the response by Dr. De Sena are available at the OSA house in Wichita and are posted on this web site both below and in the Streets section under Wichita, Kansas in the October 22nd "Heartland Heartbeat" (a weekly pro-life email update: the official newsletter of Operation Save America - Wichita). This disturbing discovery about the Exploration Place's policy goes far beyond Operation Save America and even the churches for even unbelievers left Saturday after learning that the center was funded by abortion. For our part as the Christian community, we have just 3 simple requests of Exploration Place.

1. Return all founding and annual contributions that have been made under the name of "George and Jeanne Tiller".

2. Remove their names from both plaques listing annual and founding contributors located inside the building.

3. Pass a board resolution refusing to accept any contributions from abortion providers.

Our hope and prayer is that the board will act to keep one of Wichita's most prized endeavors as an example of moral integrity to the children of our community, state and all those who travel to Wichita to visit this huge science center. Nevertheless, we will not remain silent about this evil for to CONSENT to remain neutral and silent about this deadly hypocrisy really means, "To find acceptable, to approve of, to be pleased with, and to willingly be a part of" it.

Though it takes a village to kill a child - a nation to kill 45 million, the simplicity of the gospel is that the Church can raise its voice and stop the killing. Let the innocent blood be removed from the bricks in the Exploration Place and let the innocent blood forever be cleansed from its daily operation support base. Let Jesus be our Standard and righteousness and moral integrity be established in our communities across America.

Stay tuned...

Stephen Mashburn

Below, an excerpt from the Heartland Heartbeat & OSA-Wichita, a preface by OSA-Wichita, Pastor Daniel Thompson's email to the Exploration Place, the response from Exploration Place president, Dr. Al DeSena, followed by the reasons we as Christians must take a public stand against blatant evil in our community (another excerpt from the "Heartland Heartbeat" email update for Wichita. This latter is a MUST read!

"When thou sawest a thief, then thou consented with him..." Psalms 50:2

The word "consented" in the Hebrew language means:

• "To find acceptable..."
• "To approve of..."
• "To be pleased with..."
• "To willingly be a apart of..."

Email from Pastor Daniel Thompson, Dir. OSA-Wichita:

October 6, 2002

Dear Dr. De Sena,

I was shocked when I entered Exploration Place today and read the name "George Tiller" on the plaque of annual donors displayed at the entrance. I was even more shocked when I saw his name on another plaque listing him as a contributing founder.

You may or may not know that George Tiller of the Women's Health Care Clinic is a local abortionist with a national reputation. He brutally and deliberately murders children while in their mother's womb from conception until the child is near full term. It is estimated that he has exterminated over 100,000 children in his lengthy career here in Wichita, and the amount of pain and suffering he has caused mothers and fathers and this community is beyond measure. The fact that Exploration Place willingly accepts his financial contributions is reprehensible. The Exploration Place was created for the benefit of children and families throughout the state of Kansas. As your brochure describes, "Exploration Place...is one of Kansas' most beloved family institutions...". On the walls of one of your exhibits it reads: "Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven". To be funded by a man that destroys children and families is a gross contradiction and smacks of the worst kind of hypocrisy.

In order to maintain moral integrity with the community and remain one our cities most prized endeavors, we request you take the following actions:

1. Return all founding and annual contributions that have been made under the name of "George and Jeanne Tiller".
2. Remove their names from both plaques listing contributors located inside the building.
3. Pass a board resolution refusing to accept any contributions from abortion providers.

I do believe that many throughout the state will share my thoughts about the disturbing relationship between George Tiller and Exploration Place. I am confident that now that this has been brought to your attention, you will take immediate action.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Please respond as soon as possible.

Pastor Daniel Thompson
Operation Save America - Wichita 316-612-3500

Pastor Mark Holick
Operation Save America - Wichita 316-612-3500

Letter of response Daniel received from the Exploration Place

Exploration Place
300 N. McLean Boulevard
Wichita, KS 67203
316-263-3373 Fax: 316-263-4545
www.exploration.org

October 15, 2002

Pastor Daniel Thompson
Operation Save America - Wichita
523 S. Elypco St.
Wichita, KS 67218

Dear Pastor Thompson;

Thank you for your recent visit and correspondence in regard to Exploration Place donors. We appreciate your taking time the time to share your thoughts and concerns with us.

Exploration Place is a private, non-profit creative learning center with an open policy accepting all financial donations. We welcome financial contributions from those who support the mission and activities of the center and who ask nothing of us in return. Our receipt of contributions does not imply our explicit or implicit endorsement of the products, services, or activities of any donor.

For us to investigate, question, or make judgments regarding the line of work, business, mission, personal or moral integrity of donors who wish to support the services and resources that Exploration Place provides the community would be inappropriate. This is especially true as it applies to contributions from individuals. For this reason we accept all legal financial contributions.

Thank you again for taking the time to write and sharing with us what I know are your heartfelt concerns.

Sincerely,

Al DeSena, Ph.D.
President

cc: Al Higdon, Chairman of the Board

OSA-Wichita Response in truth and action expounded

Although the Exploration Place feels it cannot make any type of moral judgments concerning who it will accept it's operating capital from, we as Christians can and should make those moral judgments about the places we will support. Jesus tells us "...judge righteous judgment". That means judge fairly, honestly, without bias or hypocrisy. He does not tell us to cast way our judgment, but to make sure our judgment is based upon truth.

We at Operation Save America - Wichita are asking Christians throughout the state of Kansas to BOYCOTT EXPLORATION PLACE. Abortion will not end in our cities until the citizens sever entirely their relationships with those who are guilty of "consenting with a thief", in other words, those who support or benefit directly or indirectly from the industry of killing children. We as Christians have a responsibility to be light in our city. People need to know that Exploration Place is being funded by the murder of children. Then, once they know, let them decide for themselves what they will do.

Jesus, speaking of hypocrisy, said "For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed: neither hid that shall not be known."

The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Ephesus: "But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light" Eph 5:13 AMP

Future pickets of Exploration Place will be announced by OSA-Wichita... 316-612-3500