REPENT
AMERICA REPORT 5/12/03
REPENT, v. To sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation
of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government,
and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.
This report will update you on the recent evangelistic work
of REPENT AMERICA. Our ministry is located in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, the birthplace of America, and strives to
be in the full will of God and to adhere entirely to the
teachings of the Bible. We have a passion for the lost to
be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. As
Christians, we know there is a literal hell where the unsaved
will burn for all eternity, therefore, we act upon this
Truth without reservation.
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Equality Forum (formerly Pridefest America) was held in
Philadelphia from April 28 to May 4, 2003. Therefore, this
particular report addresses our ministry work at several
of these gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered events.
Each year, this organization holds a week-long event in
Philadelphia to promote and advocate the acceptance of homosexuality
and other alternative lifestyles.
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4/X/03 Lansdowne, PA-- On this date, I preached in the center
of my town. It was a blessing! Shortly after arriving, a
few police officers approached me to ask what I was doing.
They were kind to me as I explained to them that I was there
to preach the Word of God. A Sergeant told me he was a Christian
and wrote his church’s information on an index card.
He handed it to me and invited me to come to the Sunday
service. During my time there, many people shouted “Praise
the Lord!” from their vehicle windows, while some
came up to me and encouraged me to continue preaching. I
preached for about 2 hours in the center of town.
When I arrived back at my home, the officer who told me
he was a Christian showed up at my front door and said he
would like to talk with me. I invited him in and he shared
his testimony with me. He told me that his conversion happened
7 years ago while traveling in his police cruiser listening
to the radio program “Unshackled”. In his conviction,
he pulled the car over, repented, and became saved. At my
home, we read from the Bible, and he encouraged me to continue
preaching. Before leaving, he told me that as long as he
is on duty I will have no problems in proclaiming the Word
of God in Lansdowne.
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4/9/03 Upper Darby, PA & Philadelphia, PA-- All across
America the National Day of Silence was celebrated by many
high schools, colleges, and universities, etc. This event
occurs once a year where those who support or practice the
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgendered lifestyle remain
silent all day to advocate its’ acceptance. Mark Diener,
Joseph Christian, Randall Beckman, Linda Beckman, Nancy
Major, Christine Major, Susan Startzell, Arlene Elshinaway,
and myself presented the Truth about homosexuality in front
of Upper Darby High School in the morning and at the University
of Pennsylvania in the afternoon. We had several banners,
which read “Know the God of the Bible” and “Homosexuality
is sin, Christ can set you free!”. In addition, we
distributed hundreds of the Wisconsin Christians United
tracts called “What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality”.
Within minutes of our arrival at the Upper Darby High School
that morning about 4 to 5 police cars arrived. Several police
officers moved in on us and told us that we cannot be there.
Speaking to the designated officer, I went through the usual
explanation of it being our constitutional right to exercise
free speech and that the sidewalk is public property. After
our discussion, they rescinded and left us to freely proclaim
the Word of God to the high school students, faculty, and
others passing by. We had meaningful discussions with some
of these students, two lesbians debated homosexuality with
us, several students came out to do an on-camera interview,
and a woman from her car was so excited to see us that she
thanked the Lord aloud.
In the afternoon, we traveled to the University of Pennsylvania.
During our time there, we continued in our efforts to preach
the Word of God. The students at this university were much
less receptive to the things of God than the students at
the high school. Further years of study in the wisdom of
this world has certainly hardened their hearts against God’s
Truth.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with
God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of
the wise, that they are vain.” 1 Corinthians 3:19-20
Hear more about evangelistic efforts on the National Day
of Silence,
http://www.theheartofthematteronline.com/archive.asp?archiveID=725
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4/24/03 Philadelphia, PA-- In Center City a group of more
than 200 gay, lesbian, and other sexually perverse protesters
gathered near Senator Santorum’s office to condemn
him for his comments made in an Associated Press interview.
Joseph Christian, Susan Startzell, and myself were present
to preach the Truth about sodomy and to support the comments
that Santorum made in reference to the U.S. Supreme Court
case Lawrence v. Texas that is currently challenging a Texas
anti-sodomy law. Santorum stated, “If the Supreme
Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within
your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the
right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you the
right to adultery. You have the right to anything.”
As soon as we arrived at the protest, I placed my wooden
chair in the medium strip facing the protesters. Then, I
stood upon the chair and held the Christian flag high. Almost
immediately, the crowd across the street turned, surrounded
me, and began chanting and taking pictures. During the protest,
the supporters of sodomy were kissing and engaging in obscene
sexual acts. They chanted, “Racist, sexist, anti-gay,
Rick Santorum go away.” They also called him all kinds
of other things, such as a white supremist, bigot, and stupid,
etc. Many of the protestors blocked traffic by standing
in the street and sitting on vehicles traveling down Broad
Street. We had some good discussions with a select few,
while the rest of the protestors heard the Word of God preached.
The Daily Pennsylvanian, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philadelphia
Inquirer newspapers covered this protest. The Daily Pennsylvanian
did a front page story and included a photo and statement
from our ministry.
To view the article copy and paste the following URL into
your address bar:
www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/04/25/3ea90c1ed38b3?
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4/29/03 Philadelphia, PA-- The Equality Forum (formerly
Pridefest America) held it’s National Religious Colloquy
in Center City Philadelphia at the Prince Music Theater.
This gathering of religious people was to further the promotion
that sodomy and homosexual behavior is “of God”.
“For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall
turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
I open-air preached outside the theater for several hours.
The Equality Forum’s website included a photograph
of me preaching outside the theater, which can be viewed
at: http://www.equalityforum.com/gallery/religious.cfm
While preaching some boys stopped by while riding their
bikes and asked to talk with me. They agreed that homosexuality
is wrong and this opened up a good discussion of who is
to say what’s right or wrong. I asked them if
they ever had broken one of God’s commandments. After
going through some ofthe commandments they agreed that they
were guilty of breaking them. I then shared the gospel with
them.
In addition, I spoke to a gay man and asked him about his
thoughts on pedophilia. He told me that there is nothing
wrong with men having sex with children as long as both
parties are consenting. I asked him this on two different
occasions during my conversation with him. Each time he
assured me that there is nothing wrong with pedophilia.
While answering questions from a Jewish woman, another gay
man listened to me and told me he knew that homosexuality
is wrong. He said that at 47 he was tired of the gay lifestyle.
He told me about all of his struggles and said that he would
seek help from someone he knew who left the lifestyle. I
also referred him to HarvestUSA, a Philadelphia based ministry,
assisting those who desire to overcome the sin of homosexuality.
While talking with him, I saw that he was holding a video
under his arm. I knew that it was pornography and he acknowledged
that it was. He knew that he shouldn’t watch it and
he assured em that he would take it back. He told me that
he really would like a wife and a family, but his desires
are still for men. It seemed that he was familiar with scripture
and really desired freedom from the bondage he was in. I
ask that you pray for this man.
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5/4/03 Philadelphia, PA-- On this date, Joseph Christian,
Susan Startzell, Linda Beckman, Nancy Major, Arlene Elshinaway,
and myself went to preach the Truth at the “SundayOUT”
event in Center City Philadelphia. This was the closing
event to the week-long gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
celebration held by Equality Forum.
While there we held up the Word of God on several banners,
did open-air preaching, passed out “What the Bible
Really Says About Homosexuality” tracts, and as a
light we invaded the darkness. Quite honestly, it was probably
one of the most perverse gatherings that I have ever been
able to witness at. Men kissing men passionately, woman
and woman doing the same, drag queens parading around, along
with other obscene acts that I care not to mention in this
report. We evangelized near their main stage, across the
street from a gay bar called “Woody’s”.
On a number of occasions the crowd chanted various sayings,
everything from calling us “haters” to KKK members.
The Civil Affairs unit of the Philadelphia Police Department
was there to protect us. Some of the officers were afraid
that a riot would break out and asked us on several occasions
when we planned on leaving. We appreciated their concern
for us and their protection. As I preached, a police officer
stood on either side of me. When someone would touch me,
they ordered the person to remove their hands from me. Many
screamed at the police officers to remove us from event.
Sam Katz, the 2004 Philadelphia Republican mayoral candidate,
used this event to gain support for himself. He even lowered
himself to allow the sexually perverse to put stickers on
his suit that read, “Butch” amongst other deviant
things. As he passed by me, I addressed him by name and
called him to repentance. He appeared to be speechless as
his security guards rushed him by me.
When we decided to leave, many police officers escorted
us through the raging crowds who were chanting, jeering,
and screaming obscenities and hateful remarks. As the police
continued to escort us down Chestnut Street towards our
vehicles, a large group of people from the event followed
us while chanting “Gay Pride God!”
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We were blessed to serve the Lord on the frontline within
the last month, and are indeed thankful to our King for
such opportunities. This report is an overview of significant
occurrences within our evangelistic work and does not include
details of our daily witness for Christ and ongoing stand
for righteousness. We refuse to remain silent as Satan invades
our communities, rather, we have declared war against the
enemy.