Threatened

We've heard for years about the persecuted church. Believers who meet in secret, in fear for their lives, their families and their livelihoods. I don't know if any Christians are persecuted here, but now I know what it is like to be threatened.

Our church had a revival scheduled for June. It's three days of concentrated messages, singing, commitment and recommitment. Our speaker backed out about 4 weeks before the event.

Through the persuasion of one of our pastors, we convinced a very popular speaker and seminary president to be the featured speaker for the Revival. He has been on network television, has debated religious leaders from over a dozen religions and is a former Muslim.

The first thing we noticed was the bomb sniffing dogs. Then we spotted the body guards. One of the computers in the sound booth was converted to watch all of the security cameras. There were guards posted at the doors of the children's wing and in the stairwells and that was just the security that we could see. The local police was there and so was the FBI. Our own Navy Seals and other high-ranking military officers were organized and dispatched throughout the church. There were guards on the stage with the speaker. They walked his family members to the bathroom. Can you imagine fearing to go to the bathroom alone? There was even more security that I won't mention because it wouldn't be security if everyone knew about it.

I don't know why this man has been threatened, but I suspect it is due to his outspoken criticism of Islam. Whoever has threatened him and his family has been taken seriously. He is quite frank about the evil intent of Islam and of many Muslims to eradicate Israel and to kill Americans.

But this is America. The land of free speech and free religion. Living in a military town, we are well aware of the cost of our freedom. I want you all to know that this liberty is precious and costly and sometimes threatened. Celebrate the fourth of July with all of your heart and pray for our nation to remain free.