Guidelines For Talking With Law Enforcement Officers

Hi everyone,

I hope this list will provide help to those who are involved in open air ministry, as to how to interact with law enforcement officers.

Guidelines For Talking With Law Enforcement Officers

• Study your legal rights and any local laws relating to your activities.
• Have a good Christian lawyer. I suggest Thomas More Law Center, Center For Religious Expression, or Alliance Defending Freedom. Our family ministry uses Center For Religious Expression for legal help related to free speech issues. We are very blessed by their work.
• If a confrontation from law enforcement occurs, assert your rights, and be bold, yet respectful. Never raise your voice to an officer.
• Carry with you local laws relating to street preaching and free speech. If you have ever had trouble with law enforcement in the past and have any information from lawyers regarding what activities are allowed, take that information with you.
• If you think you may have trouble with law enforcement in a certain location, put your lawyer's phone number as a contact in your phone so that you have quick access to legal help.
• When you know you have the right to engage in your activities, defend that right. If you think that you may be in the wrong, comply with the officer's request and contact a lawyer to obtain information about the situation and what activities are allowed.
• If the police arrive always take either video or audio recording of all communication if possible. This may prove helpful in the future if any legal action ensues. Recording all activities on the street can be useful but if that is not an option for you make sure you record at least any interaction with law enforcement.
• Have a list of “Questions for police officers” ready to use if the need arises. Below is a list of sample questions:

“What is your name and rank in the police department?”

(This can be helpful in the future so that you know who you talked to.)

“What law am I breaking?”

(If you are not breaking a law then law enforcement has no authority to tell you to stop your activities.)

“Is there a way I can continue my activities while obeying the law?”

(If you can make a minor adjustment and continue your activities, you can do so, you can always contact a lawyer later.)

“Will I be arrested or cited if I do not comply with your requests?”

(If this answer is “no” then feel free to continue your preaching. Police can make suggestions but if those do not carry the force of law then they are merely suggestions.)

“What is the best way for my lawyers to contact you?”

• Always ask the officer questions so that you can fully understand what is being said and what is being asked of you.
• If you believe that your rights are being taken away and are planning to take legal action against the officer, tell them so. Say something like, “Sir/Ma'am I believe you are unjustly infringing on my Constitutional rights and I will seek legal action against you.”
• If you have trouble with an officer acting unjustly, consider contacting the chief of police or other supervisors to explain the issue with which you are dealing. I have had success with this in the past. When an officer acted unjustly, I contacted the police department and they started an internal investigation and we were able to avoid going to court. Yet the officer was still held accountable for his actions. This approach may not work but you can always try.

With love in the Lord,
Virginia

A Call To The Portland Maine Chief Of Police

Hi everyone,
This is a letter I wrote about abortion to the Portland Maine Chief of Police.

"Hello Chief Malloch,
I know we have corresponded in the past but I would like to give an introduction. I serve with Pro-Life Missionaries of Maine and at certain times of the year I minister on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood, at 443 Congress Street, ministering to lost souls and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. We seek to do this in a manner that is lawful, as we believe in obeying the authorities God has placed over us, so far as they do not command us to disobey our God.

As a Christian I believe in the value of human life from conception to natural death. Every human being at the point of fertilization is a person, endowed with the right to life by their Creator God in whose image they are created.

I would like to appeal to you as a magistrate in the city of Portland to do justice for all people who fall under your protection. Everyday in our country, more than 3,000 children are murdered by abortion. Almost every Friday, in your city, babies, human beings, persons you are supposed to protect, are literally torn limb from limb. D&E abortions, which are performed in your city, are a gruesome act of murder, against children. If anyone else was murdered by these means, it would be called inhumane, however when this is done to a child in the womb, it is called "healthcare" or a "woman's right". This is evil and must be stopped.

As a magistrate who has sworn to uphold the constitution, you have a duty to protect life. I am aware that many people today believe that an errant court decision from 45 years ago, is binding law over our country. The issue is that Roe v. Wade is not law. The Supreme Court cannot make laws, and when they rule against the constitution and say that murder is acceptable, they must not be obeyed but rather ignored. An example is Dred Scott. It was not overturned, it was ignored.

You have a duty to enforce justice. You may say that you are neutral as regards abortion but there is no neutrality. Either you are for life or you are for death. You have authority in this city, and with that authority comes rights and a duty. (See lessermagistrate.com) Because of your position of authority, if you stand by doing nothing, after now being told that children are being murdered in your city, you are complicit to the murder of children, you are neglecting your oath to protect human life, and you are perverting justice.

I plead with you as an ambassador of Jesus Christ to do everything within your power to stop the murder of the innocent which takes place under your watch. Do not provide security for those who murder the unborn. Please use your position to call on higher magistrates to abolish abortion. Please do not enforce laws which provide special protections for abortionists, or those which seek to limit the freedoms of those who plead for the lives of children.

I urge you to stand up for justice, use your power to protect life, not stand complicit to murder, and do all you can to end abortion now.

Babies are being murdered in your city, what will you do to stop it?

Sincerely,
Virginia Cowperthwaite"

Pro-Life, Abolition, New York, And Apathetic Professing Christians Who Remain Silent.

Hi everyone,
I have a lot to cover as I have not yet written about the March For Life or the new murderous laws of New York, so let's get started.

First let's cover what is called the "Pro-Life" movement.
 I serve with Pro-Life Missionaries of Maine, however I am not merely pro-life, I am an abortion abolitionist. That means that I am not content with merely putting regulations on the murder of unborn children by abortion, such as a heartbeat bill. While we can rejoice that some baby's lives are saved because of these bills, other babies are still being murdered. I believe that abortion is murder, and must be abolished from the point of conception forward. I am also one who believes that abortionists should be punished as murderers as well as any other person who pays for the murder of a child, such as the mother. To be clear, most women who have abortions are not victims contrary to what others may believe. I know that some women may be forced to have an abortion against their will, however in the vast majority of circumstances, the mother is not innocent, she herself is a murderer.

Overall the pro-life movement is a failure. Yes, some babies have been saved, but when your main focus is not preaching the Gospel of Christ, when you call women who murder their children victims instead of murderers, and you fail to call abortion what it really is, the murder of children, when you treat abortion as a "choice", "option", or "decision" instead of murder, when you start sounding so much like Planned Parenthood that people think that your material is pro-choice, and when you actually call yourself pro-choice, you have failed.

What we need is for Christians to realize that the Gospel is what changes people's hearts, and that the Gospel is the answer to abortion. No more, trying to coax women into our clinics so that we can tell them that there are "choices" other than having an abortion while not actually telling them that abortion is wrong, or that they are enemies of God who deserve Hell because of their sins against a Holy God and not sharing the hope that is found in Jesus Christ for those who repent and turn to Him in faith. No, stop playing games with them and tell them the truth. Abortion is murder, murder is against the law of God and they need to repent and turn to Christ.  If you actually believe that abortion is murder, treat it as such. Call for the complete abolition of abortion, NOW! Don't ask legislators if you can make protections for some babies while not protecting other children created in the image of God who may not have a heartbeat yet.

Many, many people gathered in Washington D.C. recently to March for Life. Many Roman Catholics and people who follow other false religions, can say they are pro-life, however, we should not let non-believers lead the way in pleading for the lives of those who are being killed. As Christians, we have the true Gospel which can change the hearts and minds of mothers, so that they do not desire to kill their children. We also have a command to preach this Gospel, and a command to rescue those who are being taken away to death, (Proverbs 24:11.) The Church of Jesus Christ should be standing up to defend the voiceless. Yet the Church in America is largely apathetic and silent about abortion, but I will write about that more later.

Now on to New York. New York State has now allowed non-physicians to perform abortions, have allowed murder of children up to the third trimester of pregnancy, and taken away rights for children born alive after an abortion. And the response of many people to this decision, was celebration. What a wicked country we live in! The governor of New York even ordered for a pink light to be lit on the World Trade Center to celebrate this evil. Ironically, listed on the 9/11 memorial are the names of 11 unborn children, who lost their lives on 9/11. Now the World Trade Center is lit up to celebrate the "right" to kill others just like them.

Another thing, why are people outraged at this new law that allows abortion up to the third trimester? Abortion is no less murder at conception than it is in the third trimester. If you are outraged at the murder of children, you should have been outraged for a long time now. Abortion has been around for a long, long time. 3,000 babies have been murdered every day in our country, we should be calling out for justice for them as well. It should not take this new law to awaken Christians to the truth. They should have been fighting against abortion a long time ago.

In response to the State's decision, brother Jon Speed from the "Babies Are Murdered Here" film, who also lives in New York, closed his bookstore and put up a sign which said that this was a day of mourning in New York State and that they would not collect sales tax for a tyrannical government who murders babies, they would resume regular business the next day collecting sales tax under duress. He finished by saying, END ABORTION NOW. Some well known people picked up on the story and the story was shared thousands of times of Facebook. Mr. Speed also appeared on Fox News. We need more people who are willing to stand up like Jon did and make a peaceful protest to the unjust rulers who protect the murder of children. If you are ever looking for some books, may I suggest Jon Speed the Book Scout. 

Now I move on to something else that is irritating: apathetic and silent professing Christians. Christians need to wake up to reality, children are being murdered in our country, the pro-life movement is not doing what needs to be done to abolish abortion, and many professing Christians are sitting in Church pews not willing to say anything!
Where is the public outcry from Christians, demanding justice for the pre-born?
Where are all the Christians who care enough about their fellow image bearers that they will stand up against our culture and demand that this murder be stopped?
Where are those who will be brave enough to call abortion what it is and show others that we cannot play games with this and need to treat it like the grievous evil that it is?
Where are those who will realize that the pro-life movement, is failing in this fight?
Where are those who realize that the Gospel is the only answer?
Where are those who actually believe that abortion is murder and are willing to treat it as such?
Who is willing to be different than most other professing Christians in America and actually open their mouth and say something instead of sitting by silent, while your neighbors whom you are commanded to love are being slaughtered?

In our country, abortion is a sin that is accepted by many people as permissible if not celebrated as wonderful. It may continue to spread, and the Church of Jesus Christ needs to get out of their cozy, comfortable pews and take the Gospel outside of the walls of their buildings, and confront the culture. They should be on the frontlines of the battle to fight against this.

In our country and around the world, those who stand up and proclaim the name of Christ will be persecuted. If you go out to the abortion mills with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yes, you may be laughed at, mocked, cursed, you may have someone say they wish you had been aborted, you may be spit on, or possibly physically assaulted, but you know what, God is sovereign, and He will give us the strength to endure when we are persecuted for righteousness' sake. We have a command from our Master, let us obey that call and leave the details to Him.

There are still Christians around the country who are willing to stand up and follow the commands of their Lord, and plead for the lives of the unborn, they are serving on the frontlines of this battle. Jon Barros, Patte Smith, Rusty Thomas, Jon Speed, Jeff Durbin, Donna Hebert, there are many. I challenge you to pray for them as they serve, and follow their example.

What can you do to help abolish abortion?

With love in the Lord,
Virginia

Jeremiah Thomas, A Letter To His Generation And His Wish

Hi everyone,
I do not know how many of you have heard of Jeremiah Thomas. Those in abortion ministry may have heard of his father Rusty Thomas from Operation Rescue/Operation Save America. (OSA) Jeremiah was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and passed away in August. After he was diagnosed, the Make-A-Wish foundation contacted him. Jeremiah's wish was to speak to Governor Greg Abbott of the State of Texas about ending abortion in his State. Governor Abbott told Jeremiah that that is what they would be pursuing in the next legislative session and that his wish had been granted. Jeremiah did not see the fulfillment of his wish before he died. Now a new initiative has been started called "Jeremiah's Wish" and there is a petition for Governor Abbott to keep his promise to Jeremiah.

The Republican Party of Texas re-adopted this plank to its platform: “We call upon the Texas Legislature to enact legislation stopping the murder of unborn children and to ignore and refuse to enforce any and all federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and court rulings that would deprive an unborn child of the right to life.”

The legislative session in which Governor Abbott said they would be pursuing the outlaw of abortion altogether in Texas, starts today.  I call upon all Christians to sign this petition and do all you can to help abolish the murder of unborn children in our country.

Something for young people to do, whether you live in Texas or elsewhere. Below is a poster that OSA has posted. I would like to challenge all Christian young people to take part in this. Even if you do not think you do well on camera or are afraid of it. Believe me, standing staring at a camera to make the video was not a strong suit of mine. However, I wanted to do it so I did. Get over the fear. This may be easier said then done. My video on Youtube appears at the bottom of this post.

Before Jeremiah died he wrote a letter to his generation. Here is a link to it. Jeremiah Thomas Letter To His Generation

Even in his short life Jeremiah fought for the abolition of abortion. At 16 he could preach both in Church and at the abortion mill. God used him in a powerful way. May we all strive to use our lives to glorify God and advance His Kingdom. May those of us who are of Jeremiah's Generation use the days of our youth to grow in our relationship with God and the building of His Kingdom. Let us throw off the expectations of our culture, that we can be foolish and immature simply because we are in our teenage years,  and look to the standard of God's Word. We are not exempt from being held accountable for our actions, we still are commanded to preach the Gospel, rescue those who are being taken away to death, and studying to show ourselves approved. 

May the people of God rise up, and storm the gates of Hell in Jesus' name!

With love in the Lord,

Virginia

Some Recommended Materials

Hi everyone,
These are some materials I recommend for either personal learning or to go through with others.

The Unity Of The Bible
This is an amazing sermon by Dr. James White at Apologia Church. For those who do not know, Dr. White is the director of Alpha and Omega ministries and recently joined Apologia Church.

The Sermon That Shocked Everyone. Unforgettable ending!
This is another sermon. Jeff Durbin preached this about the Gospel and ministry and abortion ministry. As the title suggests, the ending is great and you do not want to miss it.

Pastor Confronts Local Government
Jeff Durbin and other Christians from Apologia Church went before the Phoenix City counsel and urged them to end abortion. This is brother Durbin's speech.

180 movie
This is a short film from Ray Comfort on abortion. For those who are not involved in abortion ministry, you may want to watch this film before watching Babies Are Murdered Here linked below.

Babies Are Murdered Here
This is a good wake up call to those in the Church who are not involved in abortion ministry and a good reminder of what is actually taking place for those who are.

This Is Why
These are short videos featuring Zachary Conover on why abortion is still legal.

James White on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Jehovah's witnesses.
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints
Jehovah's Witnesses

Dr. White's book "Letters To A Mormon Elder" is also good.

Be About The Cure
This is a very good sermon by Sye Ten Bruggencate which challenges us to focus on the Gospel rather than on winning arguments with unbelievers.

How To Answer The Fool
This is one of brother Sye's movies, which includes excerpts from a debate, talks on the college campus and teaching. It is a very good film on presuppositional apologetics.

Epic Debate Over God's Existence
For those who are into debates, this is Sye Ten Bruggencate, Jeff Durbin and Paul Viggiano debating 3 professing atheists.

The Refining Reason Debate: Matt Dillahunty and Sye Ten Bruggencate

Debating Dillahunty
This is Sye's documentary of the debate with Matt Dillahunty.

Hopefully these resources help you as you seek to learn more about the Bible, ministry and apologetics.
Love in the Lord,
Virginia

Courting, Dating, And Purity, Revisited

Hi everyone,
I know have written a post about courting, dating and purity, before but I think the subject is so so important that even Christians can benefit from looking at this issue again, checking ourselves to make certain that we are striving to glorify God in all of our lives, including our relationships with potential suitors.

I have seen how twisted our culture's view of dating and marriage is, and sadly the world's views on dating often pollute relationships between Christians. Secular culture has no basis for morality in their worldview and choose to do what they believe is "fun", throwing purity out the window, and ruining people's lives in the process. It is rare for fathers to protect their daughters from young men. Young adults protecting their purity is rare. This is what the world does. You may think Christians are doing better but I believe that even Christians can fall into dangerous and destructive habits in the area of relationships.

One issue is being too physically intimate with someone of the opposite gender before marriage. I understand that people who like each other want to touch each other. I assume most young adult females desire to have the physical touch of a male, and vice versa. However, the physical desire to have the touch of someone of another gender, must be brought under control and it is not something that should be satisfied by your "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" .

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

Romans 13:13-14

Physical touching beyond the limits of a mere friendship with someone of the opposite sex, must be kept to the correct confines, family and marriage. I am totally okay with a girl holding her father's hand or arm, or hugging and kissing her father and mother, in a manner that is pure. However constantly holding hands, sitting on the lap of, or hanging off of a young man, feeds a desire for physical intimacy that can lead to further contact which can lead to sin. While it may not always lead to sin it is a temptation that should be avoided.

I am one who believes in the biblical command of a holy kiss and I will hug friends who are males. However if a holy kiss is practiced by a person, the manner in which they kiss someone that they are in a relationship with, must not be different than the way they would greet another person of the opposite gender. A manner of greeting people should also not be more intimate with someone of the opposite gender, then with a person of the same gender. We must make sure that we act in manner that is pure toward all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

While the Bible does not say "you shall not hold hands" any physical touching between young adults can cause great temptation. Romans talks about not putting a stumbling block in the way of a brother. When a young woman or man is in a relationship with another person, it is extremely dangerous to excite sensual desires. The act itself may not be sinful but it can be unwise and dangerous. One touch can lead to another touch and soon you may find that you have gone farther than you thought you would or what is appropriate.

In relationships we must also guard our emotions. Saying things to someone you are dating and courting that you think would be inappropriate to say to another person, should be avoided. Such as saying "I love you." That is fine to say. We are to love those who are in the body of Christ, as brothers and sisters in the Lord. However, it is different if the only person you say "I love you" to, is someone you are in a relationship with.

When you are in a courtship, you are preparing yourself for marriage and seeking to make sure that the person you are courting is the one that God has for you to marry. You should always treat each other with all purity as a brother or sister in Christ. (If you are Christian and the person you are courting or dating is not your brother or sister in Christ, I have one piece of advice, stop courting/dating them.) When a young man shows interest in a young woman, that excites a girl's emotions. The young man, the girl's parents, and the girl herself, must be very careful to protect the girl's emotions. One way to not excite thoughts for someone of the opposite gender is to guard your mind from things can lead to inappropriate thoughts. Do not read romance stories or watch a lot of movies with false romances. Do not talk with your friends about how "cute" a person is. In our culture people put too much focus on looks. Talking about how a person looks can lead to sensual desires for a person that we should be treating with all purity.

If a man really cares about a girl he is in a relationship with, he will look out for her future even if he does not marry her. He will seek to guard her in any way he can, and protect her heart from wrong feelings. He will be fiercely protective of her, and protect her from other men who would try to treat her inappropriately, not just because he thinks she is "his" but because he cares for her well being and loves her with all purity. Any brother in Christ who really loves his Christian sisters should try to protect a girl from a man who is treating her in an inappropriate way. The man should also have a good relationship with a girl's father who is her primary protector.

Make sure that even if you are courting a person, your life does not revolve around the other person to the extent that you would be lost if for some reason the relationship must end. Our primary goal in life should be seeking to glorify God. Make sure that you do not give your heart away to a person prematurely. If for some reason you do not marry the person you are courting, have you already given them your heart, your emotions, or your body?

A young man should honor a young woman with all purity as a sister in Christ, a young woman should honor a young man as a brother in Christ.

"Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity."

1 Timothy 5:1-2

Part of what a young woman should do in order to honor her brothers and to avoid putting a stumbling block in front of them, is dressing modestly. I do not say that every woman needs to wear dresses as I do in order to be modest. The Bible does not say that women must wear dresses, that is a personal decision. However, dressing in tight pants and shirts which show off every part of your body is inappropriate. It is a man's job not to lust after a woman. It is woman's job to make sure she is not dressing in a way to purposefully show off her body to men, thus leading them to lust after her. A man should be attracted to a woman because of her character and her love for the Lord, not because of what she looks like. 

The most important thing that we can do in a relationship is to strive to follow biblical principals, to glorify God, and to help our brothers and sisters in Christ to grow in their relationship with God. If you are in a relationship try asking yourself these questions:

"Is the way I act around this person and the way I treat this person, glorifying to God?"

"Am I seeking to build this person up as a brother/sister in Christ, or am I in this relationship to satisfy fleshly desires?"

"Am I tempting this person to sin and putting a stumbling block in their path by the way I act?"

"Am I concerned about protecting the other person's emotions or am I arousing their emotions in a dangerous way?"

Think about this; if you do not marry the person you are courting or dating, will the way you have treated them harm a future relationship they may have?

Your purity is precious. Exciting emotions and sensual desire is dangerous. Glorify God in your relationships.

With love in the Lord,

Virginia

God's Double Agent And Persecuted Christians

Hi everyone,
Recently our family read the book "God's Double Agent" by Bob Fu. This book is the amazing true story of a Chinese Christian. He was a "double agent" being a Christian and preacher in the underground house church and a teacher at a communist school. He spent two months in a Chinese prison for his faith. He had secret agents watching him. He and his wife had to escape from China because... well, you will just have to read the book to figure out why he had to do that.

Brother Fu now lives in the United States where he is founder and president of China Aid.

I had the privilege of meeting Brother Fu, last month at a conference we attended. We also had the privilege to have the Lord's Supper with him. We should honor such brothers in the faith, who have endured even prison for the sake of Jesus Christ.

For more information about our persecuted brothers and sisters, please visit China Aid and Voice Of the Martyrs. 

Visit www.vomadvance.com to find a Voice Of The Martyrs conference near you, where you can learn more about what our brothers and sisters go through as they strive to serve God in their countries.

This is a very good song which was written by Gilbert Hovsepian, a Christian from the Middle East whose father was a martyr. "Send Me Out"
This is another song entitled "I Forgive You" also written by Gilbert. He wrote it to those who killed his father. Gilbert himself was also persecuted for his faith. May Gilbert's testimony of forgiveness serve as an example to all of us. May we love those who persecute us, pray for them, and realize that apart from the saving grace of God, we too would still be dead in our sins hating God.

I realize I said that we should love those who persecute us, implying that we will be persecuted. Some may object but this is the teaching of Scripture.

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"

2 Timothy 3:12

"Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."

John 15:20

One thing that is to be considered is this: Are you following Jesus Christ in such a way that the world identifies you with him, and thus hates you because you are so closely acquainted with the God they hate, whose Word they despise? If not, then examine yourself and beg God to conform you more to the image of His Son. 

May we all seek to be so close to Christ that the world knows that we love Him, and that we are willing to lay down our lives for His sake, and let that be the thing that makes them hate us and persecute us.

Christians around the world are sitting in prison, being tortured and killed for their faith in Christ. These are your brothers and sisters. Will you let them suffer in silence? Will you let them serve alone? 

Pray for your brothers and sisters, pray for their persecutors, pray that God's kingdom would expand through persecution.

"the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church" 

~Tertullian

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body."

Hebrews 13:3

With love in the Lord,

Virginia