God Goes Back To
School
:
TRUTH 101 caught at GRANITE CITY HIGH SCHOOL
Written by Angela Michael as reported by Marti
Allen
This is our first series of "God goes back to school"
campaign that is being implemented across our nation through the
direct actions of gentle Christians who stand for the gospel of
Jesus Christ in a time when our nation and its children are lying
under the moral rubble of a doomed culture.
The Godly heritage that our once great country was founded on,
and former generations raised upon, has now turned to a garden of
weeds. Our youth is starving and dwindling among the barren land.
Is it any wonder why we see so many young adults and teenagers
going into this Mecca-of-the Midwest in abortion-on-demand in
Granite City, IL to get rid of the problem?!
The seed of the serpent is at war with the seed of the woman.
That is the problem! This is the battle. Abortion is one of its
most horrible manifestations. The devil is robbing, killing, and
destroying God’s heritage, Psalms 127, while we sit by trying to
educate, negotiate, buy off, or be compassionate with God’s
sworn enemy. We have done everything but fight the devil and his
lies with the Word of God, until now..
On Friday October 15th, the truth once again came
under attack as two proclaimers stood outside of the local
abortionist’s, Yogendra Shah’s, Ob/Gyn office in Granite City.
It was time for the high school and middle school students to see
the truth of abortion.
Two signs were held. The first was a sign reading "Please
pray for the abortionist that works here" and the second was
a "Choice is Abortion" sign that displays a picture of
the severed head of a third trimester murder victim. As the
students walked across the street after school, some looked away
from the sign, some became upset, but most were curious and began
to ask questions. They wanted to know the truth about abortion. We
gave them answers, and asked them to discuss this with their
parents over the weekend. Many of the girls made statements like,
"Oh my gosh! I could never do that to my baby!"
Unfortunately, many of the parents were offended by the truth,
and the Granite City police were called. The first officer arrived
as the high school students were gathered around the abortion sign
asking questions. He yelled out his window, "Keep that sign
moving or I will confiscate it!" We told the kids that we
needed to abide by the law, and move the sign. Some followed to
get more information. The officer parked in the restaurant parking
lot behind where we stood.
After many of the students were gone, one young teenager came
up to the sign and began marking on it with a permanent marker. We
recognized her as one who we had spoken to about Jesus in front of
the Hope(less) Clinic a few weeks earlier. She was very angry with
God about some deaths in her family. She began to yell at us, and
when we said, "I know you" she walked over to the
officer to make her complaint about the sign.
The officer agreed with the girls, but told them about our
first amendment rights, and the girls left in anger. What message
did our police officer send our children? "It is OK to
vandalize the property of those with whom you do not agree,
especially if it is the property of a pro-lifer." Ironically,
although we would not have pressed charges against the teens, the
"criminal damage to private property" was done to the
same pro-lifer who only the day before was ruled guilty of the
same crime for drawing little crosses on the public curb with a
crab apple. (That damage washed away with the rain!)
But when we walked over to the officer Lt. Ray Takmajian’s
car to show him the damage that was done to our property, he
yelled that we needed to get back on the sidewalk or be arrested.
We said we wanted to talk to him about the damage, and he simply
said, "You have sunk to an all time low." He would not
come and hear our complaint, and he left without ever speaking
with us.
Justice? Sure, if your local police officer agrees with what
you are doing. And as far as delivering the truth is concerned, it
was apparent that the children wanted to know it, but the parents
were outraged that they might have to tell them.
God, on the other hand, already had His perfect plan in place.
On Monday, October 18, 2004, proclaimers answered God’s call
to deliver the Good News to the high school and middle school
students in Granite City. The morning began with cold rain and
wind, but by afternoon pleasant temperatures and dry air had moved
in.
On the previous Friday, prolifers went to proclaim in front of
the office of Yogendra Shah, the local abortionist, whose medical
office is directly across the street from the schools. As the
students came out of the school and across the street, they were
appalled in seeing the truth of abortion, and were curiously
seeking more information about this atrocity in their home town.
Many parents were upset, though, and the police were called.
Any pro-life advocate who has been called to hold the gruesome
truth signs knows that this is not really a pleasant experience.
But when we are faithful to what God gives us to do, He is
faithful to do what is His to do. Friday afternoon it became
apparent that we were to go back to school on Monday.
Six pro-lifers stood, again with two signs. One read,
"Pray for the abortionist that works here" and the other
was titled, "Babies are Beautiful" and had pictures of
sweet live babies. This time only a few parents scoffed at us, but
most smiled and waved as Rainbow the clown was greeting everyone
with a friendly wave and blowing kisses. One woman asked if this
was our way of making up for the "ugly signs" at the
Labor Day parade, but we informed her that we were
there to deliver the Good News. She took a New Testament Bible
and a blessing. Other parents were open to receive the brochures
and information being passed out as they waited in their cars for
their children. No police were called this day.
As the children came out of the school, most were reaching out
to receive the New Testaments, some stopping to look at the
pictures of the babies. "This is the way Jesus wants to see
the babies," we told them. One student expressed his anger
with us about the sign being held on Friday, and we agreed with
him. "Yes, that makes us angry, too. And it makes Jesus angry
that any child could be treated that way." Another student
tossed the New Testament on the wet
ground, and a parent lovingly picked it up, wiped it off, and
returned it to us to give to someone else. God showed us the young
girl who needed to receive it.
The Truth was delivered. Revelations 3:19-20 "Those
whom I love, I rebuke and disipline".
Because what God sets out to do, He will see to
completion….even in Granite City!
Be encouraged ~Angela