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WCU
ACTION HIGHLIGHTS
A
John-Kerry-Provided Opportunity
A
Small Town, a Big Name Politician, a Lesbian Coffee Shop, and Us
Farmers'
Market Preaching
Second
Saturday Ministry
Multitudes
of Young People Get the Gospel
Some
Recent Feedback from Outside Wisconsin
December
3, 2004
"O love the
Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful,
and plentifully rewardeth the
proud doer."
Psalm 31:23
Dear Friends,
As you might expect, I receive many anonymous letters, phone calls, and
e-mails from the various groups who are angered by the ministry of WCU and
the church which I pastor, Pilgrims Covenant. Recently, a Mazo Beach
"naturist" wrote me the following:
Hey Ralph! How many
years have you been demonstrating . . . oh, excuse me . . . witnessing
at Mazo? No victory yet? Awww . . . let me get out the crying towel for
ya. You pathetic, prejudiced, narrow-minded LOSER. We will fight and
oppose you till the Wisconsin River runs dry, bud.
This letter is actually
one of the more polite ones which I have received from the Mazo Beach
nudists, many of whom claim to be Christian and further claim that God has
shown Himself to be on their side because the beach is still open!
Since the spring of
1999, WCU has
been fighting the tax-funded
nudity which takes place on the Department of Natural Resources beach near
Mazomanie, Wisconsin. We have literally petitioned; we have lit dropped;
we have picketed the homes and offices of culpable officials; and we have
agitated for elected state officials to do what the unelected DNR
officials will not do--end the nudity, lewdness, and danger of Mazo Beach.
Of course, more than anything else, we have, on multiple occasions every
summer, demonstrated, picketed, and preached on the beach's upper parking
lot and its mile-long walk to the nude beach. That walkway has a second
parking lot at its end by the beach and used to be a driveway. In 1999, I
led forty Christian men in blocking access to the nude beach by blockading
that driveway for an entire day. This brought the beach to the public's
attention through the media coverage of both the blockade and my
subsequent trial for leading it. It also resulted in the DNR shutting off
the mile-long drive and parking lot at its end to public vehicular use,
thus cutting beach parking space in half. This was a serious setback for
the Mazo "naturists."
Since 1999, due to WCU's
ongoing efforts, the frequency of children being taken to the beach by
perverts has dropped exponentially. We have also confronted thousands of
beach goers, including young people, with God's law and grace. In
addition, the Lord has been pleased to use our stand at Mazo to block the
nudists' stated goal of spreading public nudity across our state. Last,
but not least, and most importantly, we have simply been faithful to
expose the unfruitful works of darkness which take place at Mazo Beach.
But in the minds of the selfish, instant-gratification, lawless perverts,
we are still losers. So be it. Next summer, by God's grace and with the
help of many of you, we intend to intensify our "losing" effort.
In the meantime, I have
it on good authority that some legislators will be making another attempt
to shut down the nudity at Mazo Beach and preclude any future Mazo beaches
from springing up. Last legislative session, we provided packets of
information on Mazo to a large number of legislators and state officials.
These packets documented the back-room deals which carved out a
reservation for naked perverts with our tax dollars. We also included,
among many other things, a history of criminal activity of many sordid
sorts at the beach along with pictures of children being led there, in
some cases literally by dirty old men with cameras. This packet was
accompanied by a letter from me refuting the ridiculous argument that
"public nudity in and of itself is not unlawful." I also warned
state officials that sooner or later, a person who as a child was sexually
abused at Mazo Beach will bring a massive lawsuit against those officials
who created and enabled the open-air "adult entertainment
center" at which he was raped along the Wisconsin River. Please
continue to pray that the nudity at Mazo Beach will be put to an end soon,
and please get ready to join us next beach season as we redouble our
efforts on behalf of our Lord, our children, the Mazo Beach children, and
true law.
On another front,
sometime after January 1, the state legislature will again be called upon
to pass an important amendment to our state constitution. The measure
(which has been passed once, must be passed again, and then put to a
public vote) will ban any recognition of sodomite marriage in our state
and place the issue out of reach of activist state judges. Appropriately
and critically, it also bans so-called civil unions. A rose by any other
name smells as sweet, and sodomite "marriage" by any other name
is just as evil and destructive. WCU's contribution to passing that
important measure into law will be to continue to do what God has called
us to do. I have maintained and continue to maintain that critical to
rolling back the sodomite tide is the winning of hearts and minds. It is
the door-to-door, street-by-street, heart-by-heart battle that must be
waged if Sodom's heirs are to be thwarted and pushed back, legislatively
and legally. This is an exceedingly important contest.
On the east coast and
west coast, the sodomite brownshirts are increasingly threatening even the
right of Christians to preach the gospel. For instance, in October of this
year, eleven Christians who were merely holding gospel banners and
witnessing on the public sidewalk at a "gay pride" event in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were arrested and charged with three felonies
and five misdemeanors each, including "ethnic
intimidation." I know those individuals who are facing over forty
years in jail; in fact, they were handing out our WCU
tracts when they were arrested.
Believe me, they are fine people who were simply sharing the gospel. Such
homo-tyranny is the result of trusting in the "tender mercies of the
wicked" and assuming that all sodomites are simply confused, hurt
lambs in need of a little TLC when in reality the majority are
"reprobate . . . implacable, unmerciful" (Romans 1:28-32) wolves
who will not rest until they can do what they want, to whom they want,
when they want, and where they want with no interference, criticism, or
preaching from anyone. I know that language may sound harsh, but the
reality which we face is harsh. Lest anyone think otherwise, please
understand that we do share the gospel with sodomites. In fact, every
piece of literature which we distribute has the gospel written in it or a
gospel tract inserted in it. We preach the gospel at sodomite events. We
do not go to hurl unbiblical invectives and breathe threats. We pray for
those sodomites who may yet repent and be saved. But we have no intention
of taking anything other than a biblical stand on this issue, and we
certainly have no intention of representing sodomy as less abominable than
the Bible describes it and thus demeaning the precious blood of Jesus who
can make even the foulest clean.
By the way, among the
other blessings which came out of our ministry efforts lately was a call
from Beloit, Wisconsin. A Catholic lady angered by our brochure Homosexuality:
The Truth spoke with me for
over thirty minutes. She listened intently to my gospel presentation. In
the end, she asked me if I could find her a church that teaches the Bible
and, to that end, gave me her address. We have provided her with a
fundamentalist church in her area and also sent her a comprehensive gospel
tract with the church information.
But to get back to an
important point, it is critical that we continue to lay down a foundation
of truth across our state. No victory can be achieved without such a
foundation. Every week, WCU literature complete with the gospel is being
placed on the doors of homes, churches, and businesses in our state. We
continue to do other public ministry such as pickets, gospel tract
distribution, and street preaching. In short, we are foundation builders.
It is what we are called to be; it is what we desire to be; and it is what
we intend to continue to be, with God's help. With your help, we will
continue to slug it out in the trenches and will be thankful for those who
do necessary work elsewhere. But here I must point out something. There
are quite a number of ministries and individuals who work to educate the
Christian community and work in the legislature; but we are the ground
pounders, the grunts of this war. It is not as if the vast majority of
Christians were falling over themselves to join us on the frontline.
Therefore, we do both appreciate and need your support to keep us equipped
and doing this essential work.
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"My husband asked me to
write you and thank you for the literature drop (on homosexuality)
here in Cudahy! We've been praying for our neighbors for quite
some time."
—Cudahy, Wisconsin |
We also continue to do a
monthly, pro-life picket in a different town every month; and we do gospel
outreaches. We do the pro-life picket to give Christians an opportunity to
take a public stand against abortion without having to do it alongside
unbelievers, such as Roman Catholics. I have been outspoken against such
ecumenical ministry; and so I feel that it is my duty to provide an
alternative, other than our church's weekly Planned Parenthood picket. The
church which I pastor, Pilgrims Covenant, engages in much open-air
evangelism and gospel tract distribution. However, I have also felt the
need to use WCU in other parts of the state for that same purpose. In the
Lord's timing, I am hoping to eventually have Pilgrims Covenant Church
take over WCU's ministry. This would simplify things for me. I also feel
it is always best to have ministry directed by and under the authority of
a local church, even if the ministry is statewide. WCU has many important
ministry projects planned for this winter, most of which I do not want to
speak about in a public newsletter. We are also in the process of
drastically revamping our WCU web site. Sometime after the first of the
year, the new, greatly expanded site should be up and running. Our site
has many visitors from the general public, due to our constant lit
dropping of brochures with our web site address on them. So this too is an
important ministry. Once the new site is online, we also hope to resume
the popular, eye-opening Homo-Fascist
Watch, which has been
temporarily set to the side.
Speaking of the
Internet, I would like to strongly encourage you to listen to "The
Heart of the Matter" program at www.TheHeartoftheMatterOnline.com
or otherwise subscribe to it on cassette or
CD. This program, which is a ministry of WCU, deals with issues which you
will not hear elsewhere. It has been a real encouragement to many and a
catalyst to bring together like-minded Christians from around the world.
If you have suggestions for shows or have news which you think listeners
should hear, feel free to contact
me. I would appreciate your help
in making this program even more beneficial to Christians everywhere. In
this compromised, ecumenical day, it is almost impossible to get
uncompromised truth out on mainstream Christian radio. That is why we need
and will increasingly need alternative information sources such as "The
Heart of the Matter."
In closing, I want you
to know that we deeply appreciate each of you. While we strive first to be
true to the Lord in all things and please Him, the support of our ministry
from people like you provides extra incentive for us to strive to do all
things well. We have come a great distance together; may the Lord give us
the strength to stay faithful until the end.
Serving the Lamb of God
And the Lion of Judah,
Pastor Ralph Ovadal
P.S. If you have not yet
done so, I would strongly urge you to get a copy of my book More
Than These: A Call for Reformation.
It is now available for a gift of just $10. Back
to top.
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WCU
ACTION HIGHLIGHTS
September 24—December 2, 2004 |
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Salt and Light in Sun Prairie |
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WCU lit dropped with
either Homosexuality:
The Truth or What
the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality
and, in some cases, also picketed in the following towns and cities: Pewaukee, Madison, Brodhead,
Princeton, Orfordville, East Troy, Footville, Sun Prairie, Cross Plains,
Harmony Grove, Potosi, Tennyson, Dousman, Hazel Green, Belmont, and
Janesville.
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WCU handed out literature at the following
schools: UW-Milwaukee,
UW-Platteville, Orfordville High School, Benton High School, and Hazel
Green High School.
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WCU literature was also distributed by others in
the following localities:
Milwaukee, East Troy, Bay View, and Cudahy, Wisconsin; Duchesne, Utah;
Phoenixville and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (both "pride"
events). Back
to top.
A
John-Kerry-Provided Opportunity
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Helping John Kerry
and Co.
prepare for an upcoming debate |
On September 28, WCU
took up positions at the entrance to a Spring Green, Wisconsin resort
where presidential candidate John Kerry was resting and preparing for an
upcoming debate. We displayed a large sign reading, "John Kerry:
Pro-Abort, Pro-Homo, Anti-USA." We also had a large picture of a
murdered unborn baby; a sign reading, "Homosexuality is sin";
and gospel signs. During our long vigil, we talked with a number of people
who were glad to see us, although John Kerry's staff members were not
among them. In fact, several of his staff swerved vehicles at us. We also
were blessed to show our signs to multiple bus loads of government school
children attending a play at the nearby outdoor theatre. We witnessed to
the young people both coming and going. Apparently, our message got
through as some of the kids waved and gave a thumbs-up while others cursed
and threw things at us, including a full bottle of pop. After the resort
picket, we set up our signs at a highway intersection in Spring Green.
Following that, we visited the "Unofficial Democratic Campaign
Headquarters," which was in a large, artsy coffee shop/restaurant
featuring a large porch crowded full of liberal elites. We set up our
signs and began to preach loudly enough for the porch-sitters and their
friends inside to hear. Predictably, we stirred up a hornet's nest. In
spite of curses, threats, blaring music, and hostile police, we kept
preaching; and our audience, including passersby, kept hearing. All in
all, our time in Spring Green was very worthwhile. Back
to top.
A
Small Town, a Big Name Politician,
a Lesbian Coffee Shop, and Us
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A warm WCU welcome
in Evansville |
On October 16, we
gathered in front of a reportedly lesbian-owned coffee shop in Evansville,
Wisconsin. The event was a Democratic fundraiser featuring a raft of
liberal politicians including Congresslesbian Tammy Baldwin and openly
sodomite State Rep. Mark Pocan. Since we were on hand plenty early, we
were able to witness to virtually everyone who came to the crowded event,
including the two politicians just mentioned. We handed out the WCU tract What
the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality.
Our signs included a five-foot-high one bearing the headline
"Homosexuality: What the Bible Says" and then a list of biblical
terms and citations. The bottom of the sign had the statement "Repent
and turn to Christ!" We also held other signs dealing with
homosexuality and the gospel.
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Together again:
Pastor
Ovadal sharing the gospel
with Tammy Baldwin |
The response was
hostile, threatening, and--in one case--physical. We were told that what
we were doing was disgusting and hateful and should be outlawed. Police
were called to cleanse the sidewalk and town of our presence but to no
avail as the officer was very professional. Early on, one lesbian arriving
for the event stopped to harangue us. When she realized that she was
talking to yours truly, she threw her hands skyward, screaming,
"Great God, help us! He's in our town!"; went running to her
car; and drove frantically away. By the grace of God, I was able to walk a
long distance with Rep. Baldwin when she arrived and witness to her as her
driver parked well down the street from the coffee shop. When Baldwin
resurfaced after the event, I preached her back to her car. I have shared
the gospel with Tammy up-close and personal more times than I can count,
including once backstage after a television debate which I did with her. I
am not giving up hope that someday Tammy might yet be saved. Mike Foht was
also able to spend some quality time preaching to the hard-hearted
sodomite Rep. Mark Pocan as he was leaving the coffee shop. Suffice it to
say, the little town of Evansville had plenty to think about when the dust
settled on October 16. Back
to top.
Farmers'
Market Preaching
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Preaching from the
steps of the
Dane County Courthouse |
A good-sized contingent
with WCU went out to the farmers' market in Madison on October 9 to
preach, hand out gospel
tracts, and hold gospel banners.
The Ovadals were stranded in Pennsylvania with car trouble and did not
make it but were able to lit drop some gospel tracts in Telford and
Sellersville, Pennsylvania. However, things went well in Madison with
thousands hearing and reading the Word of God.
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Sharing the gospel
with some young men in Madison |
On November 3, WCU went
back to the farmers' market for the last time this year, thus giving
visiting Ulster Pastor Ian Brown a chance to preach to Americans. During
our ministry, a woman police officer made unsuccessful, tepid efforts to
silence our witness. As we took turns preaching, government workers in the
Madison Municipal Building took to slamming windows up and down in their
rage. Meanwhile, a listener on the street level went slightly and somewhat
violently mad for a short time; but at the same time, we had some
encouraging interactions as well. All in all, things went smoothly, and
the Word of God went out with power. Back
to top.
Second
Saturday Ministry
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Part of our
pro-life lineup in Ft. Atkinson |
November 13 found WCU
ministering in three different towns. We began the day by lit dropping
homes in Lake Mills with our gospel
tract. Then we moved on to an
anti-homosexuality picket in Watertown. The traffic there was heavy, and
the response was far more positive than negative. We are sure that such
pickets frame the issue by imparting much needed truth and, further, put
courage in the hearts of many to take a stronger stand against the
machinations of New Sodom. As usual, the frustration of our opponents for
that very reason surfaced, this time in the form of a very large, violent
woman who spent quite some time informing us via screaming that we are
"stupid, intolerant, mindless, evil . . ." and, of course,
"unchristian." I was told that this lady's pastor is light years
different from me--the hateful, ignorant fundamentalist. Before she took
her leave of us, the wonderfully tolerant ambassador of the intelligent,
sensitive, and enlightened portion of our nation also managed to tell a
seventy-year-old woman with us to shut up and threatened her with
violence.
After Watertown, we
headed over to Fort Atkinson and did a pro-life picket along a highway on
the edge of town. We had several kind people stop to thank us for our
efforts which we trust also pleased the Lord. Back
to top.
Multitudes
of Young People Get the Gospel
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Handing out gospel
tracts at the
WIAA Boys Football Championships |
On November 19, WCU held
a gospel banner and passed out gospel
tracts to the teeming hordes of
young people attending the Class A Boys State Football Championships. All
together, approximately four thousand tracts were given out. The police
were friendly, and the only real trouble we had was from government school
teachers chaperoning bus loads of students. One teacher was so frantic to
keep the spiritually needy, impressionable, young people from getting
gospel tracts that he used his body in an attempt to block us off from the
kids. At one point, he began grabbing and forcefully shoving one of our
young men! But his evil efforts were to no avail as the ones whom he was
trying to "protect" reached with eager hands for tracts. We
trust that some of the seed which we sowed fell into good ground and will
bring forth "fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some
thirtyfold." It is such a privilege to share with the unsaved the
gospel that saved us. It is, in fact, a duty. Back
to top.
Some
Recent Feedback from Outside Wisconsin
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"Both my son and myself are regular listeners to your daily 'Heart
of the Matter' radio broadcast,
and do enjoy the programme format very much." --England
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"Yesterday I received your book [More
Than These] and I couldn't
stop until I read it through. The second [book] I posted through to my
sister in Spain. . . . Thank the Lord for your faithful ministry, your
faithful web-site, your faithful books." --Scotland
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"I met a man in downtown Warsaw last week that heard me on your radio
program! He was from Louisiana
of all places! He was in Eastern Poland doing some mission work and came
over to Warsaw just to look me up!" --American Missionary in Poland
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"I am writing this letter to you concerning a paper I found entitled:
Homosexuality:
The Truth. I am in full
support of all the information printed in the pamphlet. . . . I am a
believer in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. I live in Canada . . . I would
like to get and distribute the pamphlet The
Truth. . . . I thank you for
the courage to print The
Truth. May God bless
you." --Saskatchewan, Canada
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"I would like to thank you so much for writing your book More
Than These. . . . The little
group of Christians who meet here are so grateful to you all. Our eyes
have been well and truly opened. Thank you again." --England
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"I've been a regular listener to 'The
Heart of the Matter' for the
last six months. I've greatly enjoyed Pastor Ovadal's strong stand for
Christ and Christian principles." --Cincinnati, Ohio
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"May the Lord continue to bless you all for the furtherance of the
gospel in these tragic days." --Pennsylvania
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"Please send us your newsletter to help keep us informed of your
actions." --Ontario, Canada
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