Volume 16 Issue 7 - July 2001

OSA Wichita Update July 15-21

"Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ’Surely we did not know this,‘ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?" Prov. 24:11,12

As you can probably surmise by the new format, we are no longer in Waco. We have officially taken up temporary residence in the city of Wichita. Flip Benham, our national director of Operation Save America, has sent us in to help prepare the way of the Lord for the Summer of Mercy 10th Anniversary Renewal event.

Sparks are flying, the battle is raging, the Lord is blessing and we are pressing on. The following article was written by a Kingdom Leadership Institute graduate concerning the impact thus far.

"Last week, Pastor Rusty Thomas poured his life into us during the Kingdom Leadership Institute. He diligently taught and challenged about 35 youth to constantly study, meditate on, trust in, and act upon the Bible--God’s Holy Word. We learned much about the importance of knowing history and apologetics, aligning our entire worldview with the Bible, becoming men and women of God, turning from the world, fulfilling our destiny, and sacrificing our lives for others.

On Friday, June 22nd, after the last KLI session, all the teens and sponsors headed out to Tiller’s abortion mill. Little did we know that Rusty Thomas would practice what he preached right there. You see, God had been calling Rusty to pick up his own cross and follow in Jesus’ steps. Rusty checked it with Scripture, bathed it in prayer, and then re-checked it with Flip, Pastor Tim, and his wife.

Rusty was blocking no one's access to the abortion mill when he walked on to Tiller’s parking lot, knelt down, and began to silently read his Bible. Dozens of teenagers watched, weeping, as the detachment of Wichita police present on-site descended upon Rusty. For the heinous crime of laying down his life in obedience to the Lord Jesus’ calling, Rusty was arrested.

We stood at the very gates of hell and cried out to God for forgiveness--because it is our fault that America has become a land where murderers are protected and Christians are jailed. Led by Flip and others, we asked God to make us men and women of courage and destiny . . . to fulfill the purpose for which Jesus had called us . . . to take on the devil and take him out, in Jesus’ mighty name.

As we prayed and sang by the gate at Tiller’s drive, two women observed us and would not go in to have their babies killed! Praise Jesus! However, 35 other baby boys and girls were torn up and trashed that day--an exact match to the 35 teens who were present to intercede for them at the gates of hell.

At the Friday night rally, the teens who had gone through the KLI that week with Rusty (and some parents and other adults) raised more than enough to bond Rusty out of jail. It was awesome to see my generation digging into their purses and wallets to bless this man of God rather than to blow the money on cool (but immodest) clothes, junk food, or filthy movies! Saturday morning at 1 AM, Rusty was bonded out of jail. During the brief time Rusty was in the Sedgwick County Jail, he was able to witness to all 10 cellmates. Three of them knelt in prayer with him to receive Jesus as Lord!!!

The Word of God cannot be bound or chained!

The group of KLIers went to Tiller’s again on Saturday morning. What a joy it was to have Rusty out of jail and encouraging the gentle warriors at the gates of hell! Pro-abortion escorts stood by, listening, as Flip and Rusty preached and reminded us that the battle is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers (Eph 6). We prayed that God would work mightily in revenging all disobedience when our obedience would be fulfilled (2 Cor 10:4-6).

While we sang and prayed, sidewalk counselors spoke to a couple who decided to spare their baby’s life.

"O God, You are an awesome God and worthy to be praised! Many are Your wonderful works, and my soul knows that full well."

Emancipation Proclamation

Flip and I collaborated on what we believe is a God-ordained idea. We are leading a Jesus Is The Standard March and an Emancipation Proclamation Rally during the OSA event. It will encompass the seat of authority in Wichita. Our holy purpose will be to march, sing, and proclaim the Crown-Rights of King Jesus to the powers that be.

At the conclusion of the march, we will conduct an official Emancipation Proclamation ceremony for the unborn. It is based upon the historical model signed by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War that decreed all slaves were forever set free in America.

The history that led up to inspiring President Lincoln to pen this treasured document is quite interesting and revealing. There were two prominent dynamics, more then any other that were primarily responsible for its creation. First off, when Lincoln was elected President he never really intended to emancipate the slaves. In fact, there was not much he could do legally. However, he did eventually draft it under the authority of emergency war powers.

What is interesting, he waited until 1863 before he finally utilized that authority. He then describes his motivation for the famous Proclamation in these solemn words, "On many a defeated field there was a voice louder than the thundering of a cannon. It was the voice of God, crying, ’Let My People Go!’ We were all very slow in realizing it was God’s voice, but after many it was God’s voice, but after many humiliating defeats the nation came to believe it as a great and solemn command. Great multitudes begged and prayed that I might answer God’s voice by signing the Emancipation Proclamation, and I did it, believing we never should be successful in the great struggle unless the God of Battles has been on our side."

President Lincoln was in a quandary. He couldn’t comprehend why the North experienced defeat after embarrassing defeat though they had the South outgunned, out- manned, and more resources. One of the main reasons came down to the fact that all the best Generals fought for the South instead of the North. In fact, President Lincoln first approached Robert E. Lee to lead the Union Army. But after much prayer and contemplation Robert E. Lee could not bring himself to lift his sword against his beloved Virginia.

It is clear from President Lincoln’s statement that each defeat increased the voice of God. It thundered louder than a cannon. It pierced our bloodied, troubled, and war-torn nation with a commanding cry, "Let My People Go!" It was this pitiful, tragic predicament that aroused the Church of Jesus Christ and her pastors to urge President Lincoln to further action to free the slaves and obey the voice of the Lord. In fact, there was one memorable letter that was sent by 3,050 New England pastors that spanned over 200 ft.

Senator Charles Sumner thanked the concerned clergy with these powerful words that desperately need to be heeded today, "In the days of the Revolution, John Adams, yearning for Independence, said, ‘Let the pulpits thunder against oppression, and the pulpits thundered. The time has come for them to thunder again.’"

Truer words were never spoken. The burning question that remains is, does the Church in America perceive that same demand today? Do we have eyes to see the remedial judgments and terrible signs that our Holy God is sending against us to chastise us? Can we hear the voice of God through the slaughter of innocent babies and the perversion of the homosexual agenda that is crying against America, "LET MY CHILDREN GO!" Do we have the spiritual and moral resolve to thunder from our pulpits against this choking oppression and hold our civil leaders accountable to the Lordship of Christ and His Holy Laws?

In response to these pointed questions, Operation Save America has come to Wichita to thunder against the oppression of child-killing and to issue another Emancipation Proclamation. We are calling upon the local pastors to sign it and send it to President George W. Bush. What he does with it is between him and our Lord. Regardless of his response, our demand that will not be denied before Heaven is all unborn babies conceived in America will now and forever more be set free to live in Jesus‘ Holy Name! The following is the Proclamation. Please pray that the Lord will use it to deliver the innocent from the hands of the wicked. (Psalms 82:1-4)

We the Pastors of the city of Wichita and Elders in the gates of our city and of our nation do hereby declare on this 16th day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand and one, that all children, from conception forward, are human beings. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

In regard to these children, our government has been in overt rebellion against the Law of Almighty God since January 22, 1973. Our Supreme Court of the United States of America declared that children in their mother’s wombs were not fully human and therefore not entitled to the full protection of the laws of our land. Because of this open rebellion and blatant disregard for the Law of God and for life, our nation is suffering under the remedial judgments of God Himself. Blood is coursing down the corridors of our schools, work places, and streets. Because we have not hated bloodshed, bloodshed is now pursuing us. (Ezekiel 35:6).

We, the Pastors and Elders of the city of Wichita, do hereby this day hold the Supreme Court of the United States of America in contempt of the court of Almighty God. We hold it in contempt of the lives of the children it was sworn to protect. We hold it in contempt of the Court before whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

By virtue of the power and authority vested in us as Pastors and Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ, we declare that the lives of all children (born and unborn) are sacred to God and worthy of our defense. We with one voice decree, the unborn child shall now and forever more be set free to live in America. They shall be welcomed in life and protected by law. Upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, we invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

We enjoin our brothers and sisters in Wichita to join us in this noble endeavor to speak for those children who cannot speak for themselves.

Done in the city of Wichita, this 16th day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand and one.

-Pastors of the city of Wichita

A HIGHER GOAL

This is a speech that Rachel McGlade delivered May 18th at her home school graduation ceremony before graduates, family, and friends. Rachel has been home schooled since kindergarten. She is also another KLI graduate to the glory of God!

I was recently asked to share with you my ambitions and goals in life. To be honest, it has not been an easy task. To put into words and summarize what the Lord has deposited in my heart through experiences is not a simple thing to do. However, I will do my best.

I decided that I would need to first give you a little background into the garden of my life where the roots of my goals and ambitions have come forth. There are two people that come to my mind who have had tremendous impact on my life: Mom and Dad - my precious parents. They have been the primary gardeners. They've been so faithful in being my teachers, my friends, and Godly examples. They have poured out their lives for my brothers and I, teaching us all they know about the Lord. They have prayed that we will hit the mark that He has set before us, hoping that we will go even farther than they in our walk with Him.

Many of you are probably aware that my family and I have been actively involved in the ministry of saving unborn babies. We have given hope and alternatives to the mothers and fathers who have been caught up in the deceptive web of abortion. I can remember going to the local abortion clinic ever since I was a little girl. Even though I was young, I knew the importance of us being there - to be able to stand in the gap for the little ones - even lay my life down. Proverbs 24:11 says, "Recall those who are being unjustly sentenced to death, and those who are staggering towards slaughter, Oh, hold them back." That verse was instilled in me at a young age and will remain on my heart forever.

Our family has traveled all around this nation for the past twelve years and has witnessed the horror of abortion. We have seen the lifeless bodies of the aborted babies who have been discarded; we have seen the broken men and women who have been hurt indescribably. I was there when they arrested my parents and others for being witnesses for the gospel of Christ. I have experienced prison myself. I have seen first hand what happens when a nation turns her back on a Holy God. Murder and rebellion is in the heart, and the blood of the innocent flows in our streets. (Hosea 4:2) Justice is far from her.

Now, my brothers and I are older and a new generation has begun. I am witnessing them being examples to their children in leading their little ones to the very gates of darkness. This is a goal that I will strive to teach my children as well. We have been taught that children are blessings - gift from the Creator of all life. That they are, "Arrows in the hand of a warrior, blessed if the man whose quiver is full of them."

So many times throughout the years, people would come up to us saying, "It must be so dangerous to be out there." Yes, we were threatened by arrest and even by HRS coming to take us away from our parents because of their stand. And yes, it wasn't always easy. But, I'm here to tell you today that when the Lord calls you to serve Him and to go wherever He wants you to go, that there's no safer place to be - no matter where it is.

As it says in the twenty-third Psalm, "In the midst of my enemies, You, oh Lord, prepare a banquet table for me." Can you believe it? When we're surrounded by our enemies, that is the very place where the Lord feeds us! I've felt His peace that passes all understanding when circumstances were impossible. I've seen His hand of deliverance when the enemy threatened to overtake us. I've experienced His provision when all hope seemed to be gone.

With these experiences planted into the garden of my life by Almighty God, I know that with His help, I will not lose heart when I see the potentially frightening circumstances around me. But instead that I will have the courage to press on in spite of my enemies. As God's people, we must not turn back when we hear the raging battle. We must run toward the roar of the lion, using the spiritual weapons He has given to all of us through His Word and Spirit to advocate His kingdom.

We can't be like the children of Ephraim who the Bible speaks of in Psalm 78 saying, "Though they were armed and carrying bows, yet they turned back in the day of battle." You see, they had the knowledge of who God was, yet they didn't serve Him. They saw the battle, yet they didn't fight.

I have come to realize that to be effective in the Kingdom of God, one must really have to die to oneself… As Paul says, we must "die daily." I have to admit though my flesh definitely does not want that to be one of my highlighted goals. In fact, it would be so nice to just forego that whole dying to self part. However, I know that I have been bought with a precious price - the blood of God's own son.

As God's bride we are all called to be overcomers. We are to overcome fear, temptations and the one who was defeated at the Cross. The Father is looking for that pure and spotless bride to present to His Son on that wedding day. He has called us to be His ambassadors to this world. The only fear that we need is the fear of the Lord, for that's the beginning of wisdom. And my life is not my own, but is His. My goals have to be His goals - my ambitions have to be His ambitions.

My main goal and prayer is that I will always be in the Lord's will. Since He's so faithful, I know that He'll correct me whenever I get off track because His love endures forever. And no matter how scary or impossible the situation may appear with my eyes, I know that the Ultimate Gardener will complete the good work that he has begun in me and in all of us who trust Him with our lives and futures.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, the tenders and protectors of my garden - my life, for your examples of love and faithfulness to God. Thank you, my wonderful brothers (though at times they seemed like a trial) and my faithful friends for being my support as I stumbled and grew - thank you for standing strong in Christ. Thank you, most of all, Lord Jesus for allowing me to be Yours and for being with me every step of the way as I press on toward the ultimate "goal" - of life everlasting with you. It is my prayer that The Father will someday say, "Well done, my good and faithful daughter, my beloved "

IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE

Rusty Lee Thomas