February 1998 Newsletter

TRAGIC KINGDOM CONFRONTED

Almost 100 gentle warriors flew the first sortie into Walt Disney's tragic kingdom in Orlando, Florida this past Christmas with the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our desire was to bring the Gospel to every gate for which the enemy of our Lord is contending. We began at Barnes & Noble in Melbourne, Florida where we exposed the horrible truth of child pornography being sold at these stores. Many folks turned away after seeing the literature and signs we were holding. One mother and her four daughters, on their way into the store, were shocked when they saw the incredibly lude pictures. They joined with us in taking a stand for Jesus and His children. The only problem was that they did not know Jesus personally as Savior. The next evening during our rally at Christian Life Family Church, this family gave its heart to Christ.

Armed with bibles, Gospel tracts, large signs, and an unrelenting desire to represent the heart of God, we moved into a world that is rapidly becoming enemy territory - DISNEY WORLD. We had courageous men to lead us into the battle and rightly divide God's Word. A hearty thank you and amen to David Lackey, Pastor Luther Laite, Rev. Johnny Hunter, Meredith Rainey, Rusty Thomas, Barbara Bell, Pat McEwen, Scott Heldreth and the praise and worship band from Chicago. You were awesome as you stood for our risen King!

Theology became biography at the gates of Disney as we passed out literally thousands of pieces of literature. For two days gentle Christians kept pounding the gates of Disney with the Gospel truth proclaiming, "There is another King, One called Jesus! His Kingdom is the one true eternal Kingdom!" The media had not seen anything like this before, so it was big news in Florida. Someone was actually taking on the golden idol with the big round head and big round ears and overcoming it by the blood of the lamb.

Our brothers and sisters at the American Family Association helped us greatly to fight the good fight. They gave us 15,000 entitled tracts "Twenty Reasons To Boycott Disney". They provided legal counsel for the three of us who were arrested for passing out literature on the public highways. They made 40 terriffic 4 x 4 signs with clever sayings like: "CHOOSE JESUS OVER MICKEY”, “NO MOUSE AT MY HOUSE”, “DISNEY PROMOTES HOMSEXUALITY”, etc. They have helped us not only in word but in deed.

DATES FOR NATIONAL EVENT MOVED UP TO MAY 31 - JUNE 7 With the counsel of many we believe God would have us move the dates for our national event to May 31 - June 7. We know that these dates may be difficult for some because of kids in school, but we beseech you to make the sacrifice and join us in Orlando, Florida. We will be confronting the enemy at every gate where he is building strongholds.

OPERATION PUSH BACK

"Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame." Ps 44: 5-7.

This is our Scriptural mandate. It is through God and His mighty Name that we will "Push Back" our enemies. We will allow our theology to become biography at the gates of the four abortion mills in Orlando. We will be going to the gates of abortion mills in surrounding areas. We will be going to the gates of Barnes & Noble Bookstores that sell child pornography. We will be going to the gates of Walt Disney's "tragic kingdom" with a message that there is a true Kingdom and another King whose name is Jesus. We will go to every gate where the enemy is shaking his fist in the face of Almighty God.

We believe without a shadow of a doubt that as we contend with our Lord's enemies at the gates, they cannot prevail. Our weapons never change. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of r their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Rev 12:11.

WE ARE LOSING SOME BATTLES, BUT ----

Though we are losing battles in the courtrooms and legislatures of this land, we are winning the war for the lives of preborn children in the streets. Just this month we received notice that another judgment has been levied against us. Operation Rescue was found guilty of enabling another abortionist, Norman Tompkins of Dallas, to stop killing children. Norman was the abortionist who testified before the United States Congress on national TV during the spring of 1993 concerning the abortion industry's desperate attempt to legislate the Gospel of Jesus Christ off the streets. His deceptive testimony helped F.A.C.E. (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) become law.

Federal District Judge Jeff Kaplan rendered a $1.1 million judgment against Operation Rescue and a $170,000 judgment against me personally. Our heinous crime was that we spoke the truth to Norman Tompkins in love. We reminded him at his practice, at his home, at his church, and at his college that Jesus loves him very much and wants him to stop killing babies. After ten months of constant exposure to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mr. Tompkins did stop killing babies and is now living in Greenville, Texas. He has not, however, given his heart to Christ. Please pray for him and his precious wife.

The point of the incredible lawsuits brought against us by unscrupulous attorneys and organizations is not to collect money. They know we don't have any. They want to send a message, LOUD and CLEAR, to you: "If you dare to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gates I am ruling over, I'll take you and your family for everything you have!"

I'll bet you’re real scared now. This enemy may bruise our heel, but we are promised that we will crush his head.

"Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked...God will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin...All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what He has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him." Ps 64.

WE ARE WINNING THE WAR

With their own tongues, our enemies are acknowledging the mighty works of Almighty God:
1. "Unless drastic changes are made, American women will lose their right to abortion and the Supreme Court won't be the cause of it." Barbara Radford (NAF), 1991.
2. "Abortion opponents will achieve their goal without ever having to overturn Roe v. Wade." Kate Michelman (NARAL), 1997.
3. "America's capacity to provide abortion is rapidly shrinking." David Grimes, abortionist, 1990.
4. "Between 1988 and 1992, abortion rates decreased in 36 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the country as a whole." Guttmacher, 1994.
5. "Hate and harrassment clearly inhibit women from access to abortion. It is more difficult now to get an abortion than it was five years ago." Gloria Feldt (PPFA), 1997.
6. "Twenty percent of women who want an abortion can't get one because there is not a provider in their area...this really impedes women's legal rights." Vicki Saporta (NAF), 1997.
Looking forward to seeing you at the gates, I remain
Your brother in Christ,
Flip Benham
Director

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE GATES:

GOD IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL March 3 - June 1998

GOING TO THE GATES OF THE CHURCH March 1998

NATIONAL RESCUE EVENT May 31 - June 7, 1998

"Operation Push Back" will begin in Orlando, Florida. We are taking the Gospel to every gate where our enemy is taking ground. We will crush his head by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony, and not loving our own lives so much as to shrink from death.