Pastor Arrested

Pastor Mark Holick • 7/7/2007

Sunday, June 24th, 2007 at a "gay pride" event in Wichita, KS, Pastor Mark Holick and 28 Saints from Spirit One Christian Center, who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, went to witness to the truth and grace of the Lord Jesus, to pass out flyers and pray at this event.  Following is Pastor Mark's report:
A few days earlier, I had met with top levels of the Wichita Police Department (WPD) to let them know we were coming and to work out an amiable situation.  I was told, "THE SIDEWALK IS YOUR FRIEND."  Upon arriving we began to set up.  Immediately I was approached by the WPD and told that we could not go into the park (a public park, mind you,  where everyone else, except the Christians, was allowed in).  We were told that we could not be on the sidewalk on that side of the street, but that we could go to the other side of the street.  In other words, one side of the street is open to Christians, but the public park and the public sidewalk next to the park is not.  Lets call it what it is, a CFZ and CFZ - A Christian Free Zone and a Constitutionally Free Zone.  I was arrested approximately four minutes after arriving.  It is obvious that the Wichita Police Department did not keep their word and that they wanted to arrest as quickly as possible.  The First Amendment (freedoms inherent with God - given by God) was cast aside like so much garbage.  
Why?
The years of sin by we the Church:
1. Sins of omission
2. Sins of silence (the exact opposite of Mk. 16:15, IS. 58:1, & Ro. 1:16)
3. Sins of wanting to be popular more than principled
4. Sins of supporting silent churches
5. Sins of wanting comfort more than confrontation and controversy, (neither the prophets, Jesus, or the apostles could avoid confrontation and controversy) ...
These years of sin have allowed Isaiah 3:9 to become true for us:
"The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves."
The sin is "coming out" further and further and the Church is now being pushed further and further back inside the four walls of the church building.  We are the ones that are seen as "the trouble makers."  The police arrest the Christians and allow all manner of perversion to flaunt itself in the streets of Wichita.  And we the Church...well... I'm not sure we care...
Pastor Mark Holick's Response to Wichita Eagle Articles
Articles written about Pastor Mark's arrest on trespassing charges fail to disclose certain vital facts.  Regrettably, the articles also report falsehoods as fact.  Here are the article links and his response.
Eagle articles:
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/story/105744.html
http://www.kansas.com/213/story/109755.html
With reference to "Pastor faces trespassing charges," Friday, June 29th, 2007
The appearance to me is that you felt that the previous arrests for saving babies
lives was the story. It seems that more incriminating evidence towards me was your goal.
Certainly that element is in play as is any truth. I have no problem with that.
However, to avoid even the slightest mention of the violation of First Amendment
rights, (which should be equal and applicable to all American's whether liberal or conservative at least to express our/that position), was a huge omission. I would think, especially as a reporter, regardless of one's liberal or conservative beliefs, that would be of utmost relevance and importance.
Also, to neglect to mention that:
1. The arrest took place on a PUBLIC sidewalk outside a PUBLIC park.
2. That what you quoted the police as saying was the reason for the arrest was vastly different from the first report to the second one. Wouldn't the inconsistency be substantially relevant?
3. The fact that we were not allowed to enter the park (or even the sidewalk) because the people who cry loudest for tolerance are, in fact,
 the most intolerant of all.
FALSE REPORTS
1.The Eagle reported that Sgt. Stull said I was arrested for "refusing to leave the festival." I did not attend the "festival." In order to attend, one had to purchase a $5.00 button which I did not do. I was arrested while standing on the public sidewalk only 4-5 feet from the public street.
2. Channel 3 falsely reported that they had "witnesses" who said that I was blocking people. I did not block or hinder anyone from entering or leaving at any time. In addition, the entry way to the park was probably 10-15 feet wide at both ends.  In fact, I was arrested very shortly (maybe 4 minutes) after arriving.
3. We were not "protesting." We were there to witness to the truth of the Lord Jesus and to show love to our homosexual and lesbian neighbors. Anyone who truly loves someone that is involved in a self-destructive behavior will confront them in love so that they may choose life instead of death.
A FEW FACTS:
78% of homosexuals are affected by STDs (20). Rueda, E. "The Homosexual Network." Old Greenwich, Conn., The Devin Adair Company, 1982, p. 53.
The median age of death of homosexuals is 42 (only 9% live past age 65). This drops to 39 if the cause of death is AIDS. The median age of death of a married heterosexual man is 75 (8). Fields, Dr. E. "Is Homosexual Activity Normal?" Marietta, GA.
Homosexual and lesbians make up 1-3% of the population and account for 43% of all AIDS cases.