Hi everyone.
As you know Mike Stockwell and Mike Overd went back to court on Monday. Sadly things did not go as well for their case as it did for Adrian Clark and Don Cairns. On Tuesday they received the verdict that they were guilty. They have both been fined 2,016 pounds. Their case is in appeal. If they do have to pay the fine I will post the pages where you can donate to help with the fines. But since it is in appeal it may be that they end up not having to pay it at all. What were they found guilty for? Preaching the Gospel that is the only one able to save? The world has now come to a point where they will punish the truth. Will the Christians give in and bow to their demands to stop preaching? Or will the Christians hold their ground and obey the command of their Savior?
Mike, Mike, Adrian and Don have been persecuted for their faith in England but it probably will not be long before the same happens here in the United States of America. Will most american Christians realize something has changed in this nation if it becomes illegal to preach on the streets? Sadly most of them do not go out on the streets even now when we have the freedom to do so. Will Christians have to change anything if and when it becomes illegal to share our faith freely in the public square? If we are already not sharing the Gospel because it is uncomfortable or awkward to do so we may not have to deal with persecution because we have already neglected our duty even before the world said it was illegal. If we stop sharing the Gospel because one person was offended by it, how much more willing would we be to stop if we faced imprisonment, fines and maybe even death?
This is the spiritual fight that I mentioned last week. Mike and Mike were preaching the Gospel and the world is trying to silence their message and say that they are not speaking the truth. As Mike Overd said in an interview after his court case, he will continue to preach and he will probably be out this week. He will not let the world stop him from obeying his Lord and Savior. While I have not spoken to Mike Stockwell since the court's verdict, I am sure he will be doing the same! May we look to the example of these men as they continue to proclaim Christ and His Gospel among much opposition.
Mike and Mike got in trouble and were charged with Public Disorder and Religiously Aggravated Speech. Because they preached the Gospel, they were charged by the court of England as if they had committed some crime. Those who faithfully proclaim the Gospel are under attack. Will we continue to battle against the lies of the world as they fight against the truth of the kingdom of God?
Please watch this video from the arrest of Mike Overd. Street preacher arrested. He was wearing a body camera which comes in useful for video evidence when needed. As you can see in the video the actions of the Police are very disturbing. Mike falls to the ground and cries out in pain. The officer tells Mike to "get up". And in another picture you see why Mike says that his arm was hurt. The way the officer was holding his arm I bet was not the proper way to treat someone that is under arrest that was not resisting. Mike was just preaching the Gospel and yet the officer and the court treat him as a criminal.
The prosecutor, Ian Jackson said "publicly quoting parts of the King James Bible in modern Britain should be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter". *
Now quoting parts of the Bible should be considered abusive and a criminal matter? The world is fighting against God, His Gospel, Kingdom, and Word. Will we stand up and fight back with the truth? The prosecutor also said, "To say to someone that Jesus is the only God is not a matter of truth. To the extent that they are saying that the only way to God is through Jesus, that cannot be a truth." *
Actually Mr. Jackson, it is the truth. Whether you like it or not. What you say about this claim does not change whether it is true or not. God says what it true and it is not up to man's fallible thinking to judge whether it is true or not.
As I was sitting here earlier this week (not being patient!) Jimmy Hamilton was posting updates from the court room. The group was singing, the men were also reported to be singing in their cells when they were arrested. The prosecutor told them to stop. I wonder if their singing was convicting to him? Please pray that God would grant repentance and faith to Ian Jackson.
Prayer
Please be praying for John Barros. He is a full-time minister outside the abortion mill in Orlando, Florida. He has been out there doing abortion ministry for 16 years and he said that this is the worst week that he has seen. There is a sale going on for 50% off abortions. Disgusting! There are many women there and the abortion mill is letting women go before they should after the abortions, there are so many of them. Women are there who have had a shot to murder the baby but they are coming back and are in labor but they are going to be delivering a dead baby. You may be able to talk to these women but it must be hard after the baby has died. You know that you can talk to the women and share the Gospel with them but you also know that the baby has already died. Please pray for him as he ministers to these women. Pray that they will realize the error of their ways and turn to Christ in repentance and faith to be forgiven.
Pray for Mike and Mike as they continue to go through the appeal process in court. Pray that the appeal would go through so that they will not be unjustly punished further.
With love in the Lord,
Virginia.
*Christian concern
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