April 1996
Precious Saints of the One True King,
WE HAVE MOVED! NEW PHONE NUMBER 972-494-5316
"And this is the condemnation; that light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." Jn 3:19
Many of you have asked about our move. After one year of being located next to "A Choice for Women" abortion mill, we have been forced by court order to relocate. Many children have been saved from abortion because faithful sidewalk counselors have been there to give mom's a real choice. Seven employees have quit the mill this past year and three of them have given their hearts to Christ. Miss Norma McCorvey is one of the three. We have never had to pay a penny's worth of rent for this office space. We tell you this so that you can see the hand of Almighty God at work in the simple lives of people who are learning to love and trust Him more and more.
The abortion industry is defenseless against the Gospel of Christ!
We are winning this battle on the streets! The courts are the last bastion of hope for the enemy. He has nowhere else to turn where he can censor the truth. Unfortunately for him, and blessed be the Name of Jesus, our children are soon going to be the judges in these courts and righteousness and justice will once again be dispensed from the courtrooms in America.
SUPRISING NEWS
This may seem like a contradiction in terms, but I come to you bearing good news from a federal judge. Judge Robert Potter of North Carolina has overturned the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances law! Not only did he rule it invalid and unconstitutional, he signed an injunction against the federal government and the Attorney General forbidding them from enforcing it.
Would you believe that we received this miraculous news while over 150 Christians were gathered in front of a Chicago abortion mill. Fifteen precious saints were arrested as they laid their lives down at the very gates of hell. They had come to Chicago during Holy Week from across the country to lift up the name of Jesus at the places that need to hear about Him most. They knew the risks of following Christ's command to love the least of His children by rescuing them from death. They were fully aware that they could be fined, sued, and sentenced for up to six months in jail under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) law. A dozen policemen were lined up and the paddy wagon was ready to haul these Christians off as "enemies of the state" because their first allegiance was to King Jesus.
We fought FACE before it was passed. Many groups have fought it since. None of our efforts have been successful. On April 3, 1996 these Christians were saying with their bodies, "I must obey God rather than man". One who sat in front of that doorway had spent countless hours in the courtroom defending rescuers. Today, he was risking his career as an attorney in order to serve Christ like those he defended had done.
At the very moment these precious saints laid their lives down in front of the abortion mill door, God dramatically sent us the incredible news of the judge's decision. It was like a scene out of movie! Not only were they free from the threat of FACE, but the police forgot to have these gentle warriors sign their arrest tickets. They were set free after only a few hours in jail and charged with no crime. But the best news of all is that four children and their mothers were saved from abortion that day. Oh, the simplicity of the Gospel lived out!
The whole week was like this, as we held church in the streets during the day and praised God during rallies in the evenings. Did you know that this is the third Holy Week in a row that we've seen God's hand move dramatically? In 1994, in Birmingham, Alabama, circuit-riding abortionist Tommy Tucker was exposed for the pathetic creature he was and 29 days later he lost his medical license. His mill was closed permanently. In 1995, in New Orleans, every abortion mill in the city was shut down. Not one child was killed in the womb that week and there was not one killing in the streets of the murder capital of our nation. Major Robertson of the New Orleans Police Department declared Holy Week 1995 the most peaceful week New Orleans had experienced in over four and a half years.
CHICAGO - JESUS IS ALIVE
Now in 1996, in Chicago, God sent word that our prayers and sacrifices had not gone unnoticed. He demonstrated once again that He rules over kings and judges!
Holy Week 1996 began with a news conference on Monday. Joe Scheidler, Pastor Kirk Heldreth (head of Operation Rescue Chicago), Rev. Pat Mahoney and I declared that the plight of the babies and their moms will not be swept under the rugs of the two major political party's conventions this summer. We are planning activities to remind both the Republicans (in San Diego) and the Democrats (in Chicago) that they cannot ignore the deaths of millions of preborn children as they nominate presidential candidates to represent their views.
The media was on hand throughout this Holy Week, and cynically reported that Holy Week was a series of scripted events to prepare for the Republican and Democratic National Convention to be held in August. They got it half right! Holy Week in Chicago was a scripted event, BUT not scripted by man. It was the hand of Almighty God using the foolish things of this world to bring to naught the things that are.
Eight times that week we were in front of abortion mills to honor God. Two abortion mills closed Friday and Saturday because Christians were on the streets. At least 10 mothers changed their minds and their children are alive today. A total of fourteen people trusted Jesus as their Savior and King! Included was a seven year old boy, a curious observer on the street, and a man who had intended to commit suicide the very day Rusty Thomas led him to the Lord. Over 200 of us visited the Daily Herald Newspaper, which had refused to run a paid ad that detailed (without pictures) the partial birth abortion legislation, and asked them to TELL THE TRUTH. The truth is such a difficult thing for the media to dispense.
Loyola University Law School was taken to task because the administration posted a listing for students to volunteer to assist the N.O.W. in a lawsuit against Joe Scheidler and hundreds of pro-lifers. Some courageous Loyola law students joined our group of over 300 and thanked us for being there. They said they were going to keep up the fight! Church on the street is hard to beat.
We introduced the students to Miss Norma McCorvey and reminded them of the wonderful work Jesus had done in her life. Many students and faculty came to the windows of the school to see this precious woman who is doing everything she can to undo the horror of Roe v. Wade.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD CONFRONTED
Planned Parenthood saw Christian moms and dads and their teens gather in front of it's downtown mill. The teenagers shared their desire to honor their Creator by saving themselves for the mate He had for them. One by one they declared their commitment to Christ and His design for their lives. One young person declared, "Planned Parenthood should stop handing out condoms and start handing out the Word of God!"
The over thirty policeman standing at the doors of PP snickered when they heard the fist halting words of our teens. But, as the testimonies continued, one could see a very marked change in the countenance of the hardened Chicago policeman. They began listening intently. No more snickers. No more bantering back and forth. They were touched by the courage and principle of these teens. One could plainly see that they wanted their kids to be just like the ones they were listening to. It was an awesome moment.
SARAH
On Good Friday, on one of downtown Chicago's busiest streets in front of a killing center, a memorial service was held for Sarah, a tiny child who lost her life to abortion. She was approximately 18-20 weeks old, precious and perfect, the victim of "choice". Approximately 400 Christians became her family as we grieved her death and for the death of millions like her. It was obvious that the Chicago police officers, on duty in the "back row" of the service, were moved too as they viewed her little body.
Many of us wept, and rededicated ourselves to help little ones like her. Some gave way to grief as four teens carried little Sarah past a long blue line of policeman. Chicago's finest were witnesses to the reality of abortion. Then something extraordinary happened!
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy..." The wonderful praise and worship team of Gordon Peterson's church from Minneapolis/St. Paul broke out in joyous song. "JESUS IS ALIVE!" This church of over 400 people in the streets of Chicago began to praise and worship as never before. Joe Scheidler and Tim Murphy actually began tapping their feet. We knew without a doubt that little Sarah was doing right well now. She was alive because Jesus is alive! The hope of the resurrection was never more real. The Chicago police department was beside itself. There were smiles on the faces of almost every man and woman on the force. They had never seen anything like this before nor had we. God moved and He wants to do it again!
SAN DIEGO
Do you believe that our God will ignore the brutal murder of millions of His children? Do you believe that our God will honor a nation that does not honor or even acknowledge Him? If your answer is no, then plan on joining us in San Diego this August 9 through 16 to lift up JESUS AS THE STANDARD, and remind the Republican Party of its heritage to stand for the weak; those declared "non-persons."
The 1996 presidential election will be a watershed event in our nation's history. Our mandate is to make clear to those in authority that where a person stands on abortion reveals more about his fitness to govern than any tax plan could. If people are expendable; if the "unwanted" can be eliminated for any reason; if the old can be euthanized - then no economic plan or political veteran of thirty years can save our country from destruction. Almighty God will not be mocked! We will be there to declare that "there is another king, one called JESUS!"
Will you join us in San Diego to challenge the Republican Party to unashamedly stand for King Jesus and His principles and defend those who cannot defend themselves. We were born for a time such as this. Let us run hard the race marked out for us!
COUNTER SUIT
On April 4, 1996 the American Family Association launched a counter suit against the state of Connecticut and the federal government. Both state and federal governments have filed FACE charges against Carmen E. F. Vazquez a dynamic Christian mother who has faithfully represented Jesus to hundreds of mothers in crisis pregnancy situations. Over 350 babies have been saved through this ministry. Pray for AFA attorneys Bruce Green and Steve Crampton.
In Christian love,
Flip Benham
Director
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Republican National Convention - August 9-16, 1996 in San Diego, CA. Rescue Leaders from across the nation will join in lifting up our Lord Jesus Christ as the Standard for America.
Pastors for Life - May 3-6, 1996 in Greenville, South Carolina
City of Refuge - May 9-12, 1996 in Cleveland, Ohio
THE NORMA MCCORVEY STORY
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Mt 5:16
GREAT NEWS -- Dan Donehey and associates have put together a 29 minute video on the life of Miss Norma. Phil Keaggy wrote the music for Miss Norma's poem "Empty Playgrounds"
God Himself is overturning Roe v. Wade in this nation. We must have eyes to see!
For a non-tax deductible gift of $30 or more we will send you this video. It is a powerful witnessing tool.