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| Storming the Gates of Hell: 28th Roe Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio |
|
January 19-21, 2001
Storming the Gates of Hell: 28th Roe Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio
The glory of our Lord swept across the city of Cleveland as the saints in that city were joined by gentle warriors from across the country to bring the Church of Jesus Christ to the gates of hell. Yes, theology became biography in the streets of Cleveland January 19-22, 2001. We began early Friday morning at Case Western Reserve University bringing the graphic truth of abortion to the very doorstep of this liberal institution. Keith Tucci and Team Redeem were with us as we were greeted by masked pro-aborts attempting to surround us and halt the Gospel presentation.
Though we were frozen on the outside, our hearts were filled with the Holy fire and passion from our Lord as we began witnessing to those who initially hated us. Their masks never physically came off the four days they followed us to every site, but the masks covering their wounded hearts began to be unloosed. John Reyes witnessed boldly for our Lord, and God gave him favor as many conversations were begun by those sworn to stop us. They carried a huge banner emblazoned with the words, "Let's throw the right-wing Christians to the lions." John and several others loved them even more. Friendships were begun between those who hated Christ and those who love Him and, as we left Cleveland on Monday afternoon, there was a promise that they would see us in Wichita. Pray that Jesus will continue the ministry begun in their hearts.
Tom Raddell and Mary Ellen Urmin, the dynamic duo of Greater Cleveland Life Link, prepared the way for us. They made it easy to do battle at the gates of hell. Thank God for them and for their vision. Forty pastors attended a Pastors luncheon where Keith and I were privileged to speak. There we confronted them with the guilt regarding the shedding of innocent blood and our responsibility to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We reminded them that we cannot wait for our new President to do the job that has been given to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Saturday morning 125 gentle warriors brought heaven to the gates of hell on Shaker Boulevard. There are two abortion mills on that street. One baby was saved. The pastors who joined us saw - many for the first time - the battle for what it really is: the police, the masked pro-aborts, the death chants, the turmoil, the conflict between two seeds; the praying, singing, proclaiming saints, and the very presence of Jesus. It was awesome as Tom Raddell preached amid the ranting and ravings of the pro-aborts about the need to repair the altar of the Lord and tear down the false altars of abortion, the homosexual agenda, tolerance, ad nauseum. He gave us Elijah's call to the people of his day, "…How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." I Kings 18:21. He then gave us stones - a message written upon each one - with which to begin the rebuilding of our Lord's altar right at the false altar of these abortion mills. It was a tremendous Scripture lesson. Never have I heard better preaching than on the streets of our cities as Christians are engaged in the battle.
Sunday morning we preached two services and ten precious sinners surrendered their hearts to Christ. More than one hundred men committed themselves to daily bible reading and to repairing the altar of the Lord in their homes, city, and nation. That afternoon we were involved in a citywide memorial service remembering those who have been slaughtered by abortion. Over 800 people attended.
Monday, at noon, on the 28th Memorial of Roe v. Wade, we turned the Gospel of Christ loose in the city of Cleveland. We had a magnificent sound system with six huge speakers placed in Public Square which is right in the middle of the city. We let the Gospel rip! The sound reverberated off the walls of the buildings and was almost overwhelming. Kristene sang, the elders preached, testimonies were shared, the babies were given a voice, and God was glorified.
We brought large graphic signs and put them up on both sides of the stage. They depicted the Jewish holocaust, a lynching, and aborted babies. The expressions on the faces of those who passed by gave evidence of exactly how effective these signs are. One black man, who had just been released from prison the week before, wept and wept as he saw the pictures of the babies. John Reyes ministered to him and prayed for him.
Hundreds of kids from neighboring schools were bussed into the city to join us as we remembered that one third of their generation had been slaughtered by the lie of abortion. Several students spoke eloquently for the lives of their fallen brethren. With hundreds of people in the streets, the media, the police, the anarchist pro-aborts trying to disrupt the service - we were a sight to behold. One pastor asked me if the pro-aborts had ever actually stopped a memorial service. "They have tried many times," I replied, "but the Gospel of Christ cannot be stopped!"
So many old friends journeyed with us to Cleveland: Bob and Bonnie Behn, Keith Tucci, Team Redeem, John Reyes, Kristene and Weston O'Dell, John Wesley Thompson. What a glorious time we had and how sad it was to leave. But we assured each other that we would be together again to finish a little something that the Holy Spirit began almost 10 years ago in Wichita, Kansas.
Flip Benham
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Pro-aborts in need of a Savior
