T’was four days before Christmas, and all
throughout the town, Granitonians were busy, scurrying around. The
streets were cold, the lights dim and the smell in the air was
deathly grim. Proclaimers in their coats, donning their winter
wrap, had just settled down for a long stand in the gap.
"It’s A Wonderful Night" being played out in the
courtroom of Granite City Hall as a good showing of proclaimers
turned out in support of their 1st amendment right of
free speech in order to stand in Granite City, IL, home to the
largest child-killing mill and show the truth of what is being
done in darkness within their fine city.
We gathered for group prayer before we went into the meeting
room, a couple attending the meeting for another concern asked to
join us for prayer. Mayor Ron Selph opened the meeting in prayer.
A Granite City Lutheran pastor, Reverend David Fielding, addressed
the council on behalf of those of the pro-life persuasion whose
rights may be jeopardized by objections leveled against the
graphic nature of signs that are occasionally employed. He spoke
in defense of their rights and asked for their fair treatment.
"A day may be coming in Granite City that the activities of
sincere adherents of the pro-life position may be curtailed by an
attempt to pass ordinances enacted against them. I am grateful for
our nations Bill of Rights which guarantees the freedom of
speech for them, as for all Americans. Such freedom, of course,
includes various forms of expression, whether newspaper articles,
radio and television coverage, employment of posters and pictures,
unrestricted pulpits, lawful assemblies, etc. This issue has
become critical because of the availability of abortion in our
community. I simply ask this noble body to consider partisans on
both sides of this issue be accorded fair and equal treatment
regarding the freedom of speech, without curtailment and
restraint, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment of
our nation's Constitution."
Another life-long Granitonian, Robert Edwards, spoke on behalf
of the Small Victories ministry beginning with naming at least
eight of the babies saved from Hope(less) abortion mill and
adopted to Christian families. He questioned the Mayor’s earlier
newspaper statement that equated protestor’s graphic signs
portraying dismembered babies to pornography. He added that what
is offensive in Granite City, Illinois, is the fact that
approximately 200,000 abortions have been performed since this
abortion mill opened its doors and offending and damaging children
and that offends Christ. He reminded the council of the story of
King Herod who murdered lil boys two years and younger and
encouraged the Mayor to rid its fine city of this abomination.
Matthew 2:16-18 "When Herod realized that he had been
outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill
all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old
and under" This drew applause from those in
attendance.
The Mayor then took the floor and announced that city
government has no control over the abortion clinic and that he is
pro-life and wants this abortion mill closed but unfortunately has
no authority to close it. (Psalm 115:8
" Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who
trust in them.") Mayor Selph then stated we have a
1st amendment right to protest and admires our efforts,
but interjected that graphic signs do not belong at the middle
school or the pediatricians office, which they are not. Evidently,
erroneous complaints have been reported to the police and Mayor of
where these signs are seen. But, if the mayor is pro-life then why
would he want to hide the truth that a serial-killer is at large
within this community? The mayor then tabled any further
discussions or actions on the graphic signs and wished us a Merry
Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
We sat till the end of the council meeting and then gathered in
the hallway and ended with a group prayer thanking the Lord for
prevailing: We weren’t expelled from Granite City, Illinois and
our graphic signs weren’t banned, in fact the issue was tabled.
We picked up the proclaiming line and moved it two blocks down
from City Hall in front of the Hope(less) abortion mill where the
same proclaimers have been on the death watch of approximately
10,635 lil boys and girls during the 2004 killing season.
Unfortunately, midnight abortions were underway where we saw the
demise of approximately 39 babies this bitterly, cold night and
the rescue of one baby’s life from the jaws of this beast. We
prayed and concluded that with the Lord’s interceding and the
proclaimers efforts, this past year, 337 babies on death-row at
the Hope(less) death camp were granted a stay-of-execution and
would be celebrating their first Christmas.
It is a wonderful night... for Life!
Be encouraged~ Angela