January 1998 Newsletter

WELCOME TO THE GENTLE REVOLUTION

"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: 5-6.

You are witnessing the beginning of "Operation Push Back". We are going to contend with our Lord's enemy at every gate where he is advancing. We know that when we bring Jesus to the gates, the gates must be lifted up that the King of Glory may enter in. We are bringing Jesus back into the equation.

GOING TO THE GATES

The kids at Liberty University responded in large numbers to an altar call challenging them to allow their theology to become biography at the gates of hell. At 6 a.m. on Monday morning November 10, 1997 they came to the E.C. Glass High School with the high praises of God in their hearts and His testimony in their mouths. That morning five E.C. Glass students surrendered their lives to Christ. Whenever Almighty God is brought to the gates He does exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or imagine. All we need to do is bring Him there.

It was exhilarating to watch the kids living out their faith for Jesus. They were awesome as they sang, prayed, preached, and witnessed for their Lord.

When we do this, however, we should expect great resistance. The faith that got Daniel out of the lion's den also got him in there in the first place. Over 30 Lynchburg policemen, several dressed in SWAT jumpsuits, were on hand to make sure no laws were broken. The media had a field day as we filled the front pages of the Lynchburg News and Advance and were covered by every TV and radio news station in the city. The whole scenario was a ridiculous overreaction by an enemy that fears any encroachment on his territory.

For this heinous crime of Gospel activity, John Reyes, a Liberty student and organizer of the "God Is Going Back to School" event, was indicted by a grand jury in Lynchburg with three misdemeanor counts: criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and demonstrating without a permit. I was charged with the same. It seems the city of Lynchburg, especially the administrators of the high school, want to send a message to anyone who would dare attempt to "invade" E.C. Glass with the Gospel again.

What Would Jesus Do?

TEXAS TRUTH TOUR (Going to the Gates)

Saints from across the State of Texas took the horrible truth about child killing to several cities, universities, high schools, and one military base this past November. For one week these gentle warriors took the graphic truth of abortion and the wonderful news of the Gospel to touch the lives of literally thousands of people. More than many sermons, these "living parables" advanced the kingdom of Christ against the the gates of hell. Several babies were saved, many new friends were made, a couple of abortion mills closed down for the day, Jesus was lifted up, and several came to know Him as Savior. Future tours are now being planned:

West Texas Truth Tour - April 1998
Rio Grande Valley Truth Tour - February 1998
Dorothy Boyette (Lubbock) 806-798-2350 Jim & Debbie Locander (San Antonio) 830-980-3240

THEOLOGY MUST BECOME BIOGRAPHY (Going to the Gates)

If we have learned anything from the wonderful Christmas story, it is that the Word of God became flesh. God did not save us by staying in His heavenly sanctuary and praying that we would somehow find our way to Him. He clothed Himself in flesh (theology became biography - the Word became flesh) and dwelt for awhile among us to show us the way back home. He came to us as a little baby through the womb of His mother Mary. This should forever shut the mouths of those who question the value of preborn children in our Father's eyes.

It was the incarnation - God coming to us - that brought and bought our salvation. This is how Almighty God works. If we desire to see Him touch the world through our lives, it is going to be because we have died to ourselves and allowed His life to be incarnated in us to reconcile others through us.

In light of the violence that is erupting in the local high schools across our nation, God is calling those who have eyes to see to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gates. We must bring the Word of God that brought us life, to the gates of hell and allow it to bring life there.

This requires faith! The violence that is savaging our children in the streets and in the schools cannot be abated by anything less than a TRUE Gospel revival. No government program can save us from our enemy because our problem is not with him. Our problem is not with bad karma or bad circumstances or a bad environment. Our problem is with Almighty God Himself!

BARNES AND NOBLE (Going to the Gates)

Segments Taken from a newsletter by Kristene O'Dell
Shall we rejoice and sing praises over the birth of Christ and spread His goodwill among men, yet close our eyes to the massacre of innocents by abortion and the massacre of innocence being sold in our mainstream bookstores? Jock Sturges' books were just the eye-openers God was using to reveal how prevalent child pornography is becoming in our communities.

Similar books by David Hamilton and Sally Mann dredge even deeper into the depths of moral deparavity. Children, in their hands, have become mere sexual toys to be used to satisfy pedophilic lust. What has happened to us that we would allow God's precious children to be exploited in this way?

Barnes and Noble and all of the major bookstores (Borders Book & Music Co., B. Dalton, Book Stop, and others are carrying these same books) have arrogantly refused every Godly appeal to remove the child pornography from their shelves. This blatant pro-homosexual, anti-God, anti-child philosophy is hiding itself under the cloak of what is legal.

Dealing with prosecutors across the country concerning this issue has revealed a lack of moral courage to fight this battle on a legal level. A fatalistic attitude permeates the system: "What do you expect me to do about this? - My hands are tied" In a telling statement issued by the Richland County Prosecutor's Office in Ontario, Ohio, prosecutor Jerry Ault said, "It is not our job to take a moral stance. It is our job to take a legal stance."

This is utter moral surrender, Jerry. At one time it was legal to kill Jews in Nazi Germany. It was this very same moral cowardice that allowed the enemy to kill over 7 million Jews, Gypsies, and handicapped.

THE SUPREME COURT January 22-25 (Going to the Gates)

Plans are coming together for our confrontation with the Supreme Court of the United States of America. This Court has come to the erroneous conclusion that it is God. Since January 22, 1973 it has believed that it determine when life begins and when it ends. We will be taking issue with this foolish idea and reminding the court that it is not supreme. There is another court before whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (For more information see below)

TRAGIC KINGDOM TOUR Dec 27-30 (Going to the Gates)

ORN Director Arrested on Trumped Up Charges at Disney

By the time you receive this letter we will have already taken the Gospel of Christ to Disney World in Orlando. We want you to know that, after meeting with Tim Wildmon of the American Family Association, he and the brothers and sisters of AFA have decided to join with us in allowing our theology to become biography at the gates of Disney. They have asked us to be a part of a national day in early June to confront Disney's radical homosexual agenda.

THE APRIL PROJECT April '98 (Going to the Gates)

This is a project sponsored by John Beasley the chairman of Freedom to Learn. The April Project asks us to go to our local school boards in April and inform them that the Supreme Court has changed its mind about abortion education. That's right! The plight of the unborn and the women hurt by abortion can be shared in every schoolhouse in America. This is an awesome way to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gates of the local school board.

For your participation packet, write to:
Freedom to Learn
P.O. Box 511231
Punta Gorda, FL 33951-1231

Looking forward to seeing you at the gates,
I remain Your brother in Christ,
Flip Benham
Director

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE GATES:

WHO DECIDES - Washington D.C. Jan 22 - 25, 1998 Reservations can be made at the Best Western - Arlington 1-800-426-6886 under the names Christian Defense Coalition or Operation Rescue. All evening rallies will be held at the Holiday Inn on Capitol Hill. For more information, call 540-373-8099 or 972-494-5316.

GOD IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL (nationwide) March 3 - June 1998

GOD IS GOING BACK TO CHURCH (nationwide) March 1998

NATIONAL RESCUE EVENT July 12 - 18, 1998