December 1996
Precious Brothers and Sisters,
We pray that you are preparing yourself for March 3, armed with the mighty Word of God, a new song in your heart, filled with the testimony of Jesus on your lips. We are going to the gates of hell this year and they have no choice but to be lifted up so that the King of Glory may enter in. March 3, 1997 marks the embarkation of a major new offensive to take back the land our enemy has stolen.
"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them...stand against the whole land - against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you, declares the Lord." Jer 1:17-19
NEW GOSPEL TRACT
Enclosed, please find our latest Gospel tract. It is an awesome evangelistic tool which will be powerfully used as we bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gates of our local high schools. That's right! We are bringing the big pictures of Baby Malachi and thousands of pieces of literature to the very place where God was expelled in 1962. (Engel vs. Vitale 1962).
We are calling each one of you to join us as we advance against gates which were abandoned long ago by the Church of Jesus Christ. We will be armed with the big signs of Baby Malachi, Gospel tracts, abstinence literature, and the love of Jesus in our hearts. We will be on the public sidewalks in front of the school sharing with the kids, their teachers, and parents who stop by. Rest assured, the parents will stop by.
We did this in Dallas the entire month of October 1996 with amazing results. We went to five different high schools in the Metroplex, staying at one for a week and a half. We handed out thousands of pieces of literature and shared the Gospel with hundreds of kids. We brought pastors and youth pastors with us. It was a powerful witness and encouragement for Christian teenagers in the school and a tremendous evangelistic opportunity for those who have not met Christ.
Trish Thomsen of Colorado Springs, Colorado asked us how to bring more people out to the gates where children are being killed. Evidently the number of Christians faithfully standing in the gap at local abortion mills in her town was dwindling and, in a city filled with major Christian ministries, there remained only a few left.
Trish, your letter is reminiscent of many others we have received lately. We have good news for you! God has showed us what He would have us do. We are mounting a major offensive against the "gates of hell". No longer will we remain simply a safety net at abortion mills, though we will never abandon that post. We are going to run to the "exposed places" (Neh 4:13) and rebuild the walls. There is not a place more exposed to satan's attack on Almighty God than the government school system.
NEW FRIENDS JOINING US IN BATTLE
During our high school campaign in October, we picked up thirty-five new sidewalk counselors. People we never knew and never solicited were asking if they could take a stand with us. Pastors joined with us and brought their youth pastors with them to reach out to the kids. The local media went into a feeding frenzy and letters to the editor were written by the score. The high school itself was abuzz with talk about Jesus, abortion, and those crazy Christians outside. Home schoolers joined with us and passed out literature to their friends. It was awesome!
New life was breathed into our ministry and a fire ignited in our hearts to take the Gospel to the gates. "...Go and stand at the gate of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at the other gates of Jerusalem." (Jer 17:19)
"Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and proclaim this message..." (Jer 7:1-8)
When we become convinced of the power of God's Word to change lives and nations, we become a formidable foe to an enemy who does everything in his power to convince us otherwise. When theology becomes biography at the gates of government schools, God shows up. It is our duty; no, it is our privilege to speak it and live it at the gates.
One amazing miracle of our new offensive strategy is that the police have become our fast friends. They protect us from wild-eyed school administrators who are convinced they own not only our kids but the public sidewalks as well.
AFA ATTORNEYS JOIN "GOING TO THE GATES"
Attorneys for the American Family Association have assured us that they will come to our aid and fight any unconstitutional city ordinance or injunction that seeks to remove the Christian witness from public sidewalks. They have already filed suit in federal court against the city of Plano, Texas seeking injunctive relief for Mark Gabriel to continue his public proclamation. Praise God!
You can be very effective with five people. Three to hold the large Baby Malachi signs and two to hand out literature and share the Gospel. We arrive at the school approximately one half hour before school begins, standing by the parking lots or places where school busses drop kids off, or we arrive one half hour before school dismisses.
The "Going to the Gates" campaign will begin on March 3, 1997 and continue through the month of May or until school ends. You will make new friends and find new and old enemies. The move from a defensive strategy to an offensive campaign is nothing less than exhilarating:
There will be a renewed desire to share the Gospel.
There will be many kids won to Christ.
There will be an influx of new people.
There will be new motivation for pastors.
There will be shock in the media.
There will be the outrage of antagonistic parents.
There will be the praise of parents who love Jesus.
There will be inquiring questions from the kids.
There will be kids encouraged to stand for Christ.
There will be kids encouraged to remain chaste.
There will be the satisfaction of biblical obedience.
There will be collective courage, knowing other brothers and sisters are doing the same.
There will be father's hearts turned to their children.
There will be an understanding that abortion is murder.
We are asking that every single person on this mailing list be involved. We assure you that your efforts will be used mightily by Almighty God. It is up to you and I to tell the truth about the horror of child killing and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. This is not an option but a divine MUST.
We have spoken with pro-life leaders throughout the country and they have agreed, to a man, that this is what God is calling us to do. The leaders are ready to enter the fray and now we are looking to you. Will you join with us on this glorious adventure with Jesus? Begin planning now. Ask us for a "Going to the Gates" packet.
TO ORDER LARGE PICTURES AND GOSPEL TRACT
BABY MALACHI (21 Week Old aborted baby found in Dallas, Texas) Call Chet Kilgore (414)4958459.
BABY JEREMIAH (beautiful picture of live baby) Call Tom Raddell (216)999-9500.
"THE CLINIC" (a Gospel tract) Call Operation Rescue (214)348-8866.
A GREAT LITTLE HERO IS HOME WITH OUR LORD
Many of you are aware of the valiant fight of Michael David Haley, son of Mike and Sherron Haley, had with cancer. Little Michael went to be with our living Lord on December 12, 1996. His words to his mom, "Mom, I'm the most blessed boy in all the world!" Goodnight for now, Michael David. We will see you in the morning.
Mike and Sherron Haley
1508 Vernon Rd.
Ardmore, OK 73401-3606MORE TRAVESTY IN THE COURTS OF NEW YORK
Eight precious saints are still in jail in Buffalo, New York because they laid their own lives down during the Spring of Life so that others might live. God bless them!
Rev. Michael Warren, a father of six children and a Teacher in a Christian School, and Mary Beth Powley, a mother of two and the wife of our great friend Blair Powley, were both handcuffed and put in jail without bond December 12, 1996 for passing out tracts at the Genesee County Hospital in Rochester, New York. City Court Judge Marjorie Byrnes sentenced Mike to the maximum of 90 days in jail and sentenced Mary Beth to 30 days in jail. Miss Byrnes then issued a one year order of protection for the hospital. She determined that the Genesee Hospital must be protected from those who love the sick, the dying, and the preborn. God help us as we begin this new year striving to live out Your Gospel!
In Christian love,
Flip Benham
Director
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 17-22 -- OPERATION JOHN THE BAPTIST (Pat Mahoney 540-373-8099)
March 3-? -- GOING TO THE GATES
March 27-30 -- HOLY WEEK
July 13-19 -- NATIONAL EVENT (Dayton, Ohio)