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Nativity scenes take center stage across Buckeye Bible Belt (SLIDESHOW)

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NORTH CENTRAL OHIO –When secular groups try to silence religious expression during the Christmas season, it is no “silent night” inside the Buckeye Bible Belt. Often times when religious displays are threatened, communities come together in solidarity and religious faith springs to action.

Last year the anti-religious group Freedom for Religion Foundation threatened to file a lawsuit against the City of Dover, Ohio for its nativity scene on city property. After moving the nativity scene to an obscure sight in 2018, the City of Dover has now decided to return the nativity scene back to the public square.

The nativity scene in Mount Gilead has been present for over twenty years. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

One Judge who is no stranger to religious displays on public property, the Honorable James DeWeese, says nativity scenes help place the emphasis of Christmas on the worship of Christ rather than on secular materialism.

“Christmas has been historically one of the most celebrated holidays of the American people. I am grateful for nativity displays. From the beginning, our founders insisted on the importance of the faith of the American people to the future of our nation.  Our first president, George Washington, wrote in his farewell address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” 

Judge DeWeese was not aware of all the public square nativity scenes in North Central Ohio. These can be seen in: Shelby, Shiloh, Bellville, Crestline, Mount Gilead, and Malabar Farm State Park. A live nativity has also been planned in Savannah. In fact, several new displays have been erected this year.

“Christmas has been historically one of the most celebrated holidays of the American people. I am grateful for nativity displays. From the beginning, our founders insisted on the importance of the faith of the American people to the future of our nation.”

Honorable Judge James DeWeese

The Thomas More Society is co-sponsoring nativity displays on twenty-seven State Capitol grounds around the country including this year, its first at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. The Chicago-based law firm defends and equips Americans to exercise religious faith by private citizens in the public square.

A nativity scene will also be located at the public square in the City of Mansfield this year; the first recorded nativity at Central Park since 1962 according to Sherman Room Librarian Jayson Schlechty of the Mansfield-Richland County Public Library.

According to Mr. Schlechty, “Live nativities and religious dramas were put on by the Mansfield Council of Churches and the Mansfield Retail Merchants Association in 1962 ‘as a meaningful interlude from the commercial aspects of the Christmas season for downtown shoppers.'”

Reverend Paul Lintern, coordinator of the Southside Christian nativity scene display. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

Not only have nativity scenes multiplied on public squares, they have multiplied inside churches. A creative display of more than six-hundred nativity sets is open to the public at Southside Christian Church the first three Sundays in December, between 2:00-4:00 PM. Located at 2055 Middle-Bellville in Mansfield, the display includes nativities from forty-eight different nations.

In 2015, the Pines Christian Church, at 6775 State Route 42 outside Mount Gilead, Ohio broke the Guinness World Record for the largest display of nativity scenes with 2,300 unique displays. The Pines Christian Church was built on the site of the former Pines Restaurant owned by Fred Hope, brother of the famous comedian Bob Hope, also a nativity scene enthusiast.

“Christmas’ story of blessing is truly reflected in the nativity displays set up in so many communities throughout our land,” Judge DeWeese commented. Religion still remains a key component of culture for now.

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in Proverbs Chapter One, “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech.”

View the slideshow below of nativity scenes throughout North Central Ohio.

  • Nativity scene on Ohio Statehouse grounds sponsored by the Thomas More Society (Photo courtesy of Thomas More Society)
  • Nativity scene at Malabar Farm State Park that has been ongoing tradition since 1976 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Nativity scene at Southside Christian Church (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Nativity scene in Shiloh, Ohio public square that has been holiday tradition for over 27 years (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Shelby has nativity scene on public grounds in 2019(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Mansfield Ohio nativity scene beside Central Park Gazebo in center of Richland County Seat (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • The nativity scene in Mount Gilead has been present for over twenty years. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Rev. Lintern with one of his nativity scenes from forty-eight nations. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Bellville has nativity scene at public square in 2021 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Reverend Paul Lintern hosts nativity scene display in his church at Southside Christian (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
  • Mansfield has first nativity scene display at Central Park in fifty-eight years in 2019 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

See related articles:

Atheist group fails in bid to bully Ohio town over nativity scene
Leaders applaud landmark Supreme Court decision preserving Peace Cross Memorial (VIDEO)

County Treasurer redeems himself with purchase of Israeli bonds

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MANSFIELD — Richland County clergy thought they could take their County Treasurer’s word to the bank. After reminding him of his obligations, the Treasurer finally put his money where his mouth was.

In 2017, leading clergymen from forty different local congregations wrote a letter requesting County Treasurer Bart Hamilton and the County Investment Advisory Board take a proactive approach to combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction (BDS) Movement opposing Israel by purchasing bonds from the Jewish state. All was well or so the clergy thought.

After changing the county’s thirty-year old investment policy and formally passing a motion to invest in Israeli bonds on November of 2017, Treasurer Bart Hamilton lost interest in the Israeli bond request.

After being called into question by Benjamin Mutti, Coordinator with the Richland Community Prayer Network, Treasurer Hamilton wrote an email on November 6, 2019 to Mutti, saying “I don’t feel that this is a good investment for a small county like Richland.  This investment is designed more for individuals of faith and churches. “

Following a Frontlines Ohio news story uncovering the development, the Treasurer decided to keep his commitment to the clergy.

November 22nd County Treasurer Bart Hamilton wrote Mutti back, reporting: “After meeting with my investment advisors at the County Treasurers Conference last week, I have opened an account with the dealer for Israeli bonds and have placed an order for $200,000 in a two-year note for purchase on December 1st, 2019.”

“After meeting with my investment advisors at the County Treasurers Conference last week, I have opened an account with the dealer for Israeli bonds and have placed an order for $200,000 in a two-year note for purchase on December 1st, 2019.”

Richland County Treasurer Bart Hamilton

The forty clergy who approached Treasurer Hamilton about investing in Israeli bonds believe that money can talk.

The pastors are convinced when the government observes states and counties investing in Israeli bonds, the foreign policy of the American federal government can be influenced in favor of Israel.

In the letter the clergy quoted a Bible verse stating, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be as well.”

This past October, Bonds President & CEO Israel Maimon announced that Israel bond sales in the U.S. crossed the $1 billion mark, making 2019 the seventh consecutive year the $1 billion milestone has been exceeded.

Consequently, over the past three years of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Embassy has finally been moved to Jeruslaem, Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights has been recognized, and settlements in Judea and Samaria are no longer considered illegal by the U.S. government.

Mr. Mutti paid a compliment to the County Treasurer.

“We are thankful that Mr. Hamilton has kept his commitment to investing in Israeli Bonds. We appreciate Mr. Hamilton and the Commimssioner Board’s dilligent work to revive our county’s financial status. Without question we expect good yields for Richland County from these bonds and anticipate Washington D.C. will take notice of our local pledge to the Nation of Israel.”

Related articles:

County Treasurer reneges on promise to clergy involving Israeli bonds (VIDEO)
40 clergy see immediate returns after Richland County invests in Israeli bonds (VIDEO)
Local leaders support Trump recognition of Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli land (VIDEO)

Knox County clergy call out atheist group for bullying football coach (VIDEO)

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HOWARD — A Wisconsin atheist group is threatening another rural high school by attempting to silence the First Amendment rights of a football coach. But a group of area clergy on the field have made an ‘extra point’ saying attempts to prohibit free exercise of religion is premature.

Last week, the Freedom from Religion Foundation sent a letter to East Knox High School claiming it is illegal for public school athletic coaches to participate in students’ prayers because it violates the “Establishment Clause.” While the group’s bark is known to be worse than its bite, the jury is still out with President Trump’s transformation of the federal judiciary underway.

Reverend J. C. Church
(Submitted photo)

Several pastors believe the “Free Exercise Clause” of the First Amendment is finally gaining ground on the establishment clause that has led to the judiciary’s past hostility toward religion.

“I believe our nation is going through a spiritual awakening,” says Pastor J.C. Church of Victory in Truth Ministries. “Elections have consequences and the tide is turning. We need to continue appointing judges for the next generation that interpret the Constitution based on the original intent of our Founding Fathers.”

According to Pastor Aaron Boggs of Fredericktown Freewill Baptist, he says “there is no doubt the Founding Fathers designed the government based on Christian principles that do not prohibit the free exercise of religion.”

FFRF has made its living on the premise of “separation of church and state,” a phrase that does not exist in the Constitution nor the Bill of Rights.

Reverend Aaron Boggs
(Submitted photo)

The group has demonstrated hostility for religion losing several high-profile cases involving the Pledge of Allegience, and the “In GOD We Trust” motto on American currency. In Ohio the FFRF has been highly ineffective, even losing a case in 2013 when it actually opposed the construction of a Holocaust Memorial at the Statehouse.

East Knox Superintendent Steve Larcomb received a letter from the angry group on November 27th regarding the involvement of Varsity Head Football Coach Cody Rees. Larcomb declined to comment on whether the district planned to take action in response to the allegations.

In calling the East Knox coaching staff’s actions “unconstitutional,” FFRF cited several U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000), which ruled student-led prayer over the loudspeaker before football games was unconstitutional.

However, just two weeks ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed a lower court decision supporting Cambridge Christian School’s position stating that it was constitutional to pray over the loudspeaker before the kickoff for state high school football games.

Pastor Dave Jones of Millwood Church of Christ commented on the track record and legacy of FFRF.

Reverend Dave Jone
(Photo from church website)

“Since groups like FFRF have declared war on faith-based influence in culture, tragedies like school shootings, suicides and societal drug addiction have not decreased, they have increased. Clearly FFRF does not represent the best interests of East Knox schools, we are in a cultural crisis.”

Church commented,”It is ironic that whenever there is a national calamity or a school shooting, the public instinctively prays for wisdom and protection. This issue on religious freedom is about good and evil.”

Pastor Jones observes “Our community (East Knox) has a strong faith tradition. This is seen in the number of people that pray following the games. It is not a school prayer or even a team prayer because there are so many members of our community on the field to pray. It really is community prayer.”

“Our community (East Knox) has a strong faith tradition. This is seen in the number of people that pray following the games. It is not a school prayer or even a team prayer because there are so many members of our community on the field to pray. It really is community prayer.

Pastor Dave JOnes
Millwood Church of Christ

Boggs says in the last seven high school football games he has attended this season, he has seen student athletes praying on the field after each game.

“Recently I was at a playoff game between Harvest Prep and Newark Catholic where they prayed after the game. What was striking to me was the good sportsmanship and respect for the referees I saw during the game. Looking at the message boards on this story, even atheists are realizing FFRF is going too far trying to impose their form of religion on our school district. “

Pastor Joe Beran of Berlin and Batemantown United Methodist churches makes the point that faith-based people should not be treated as sub-citizens.

Reverend Joe Beran
(Submitted photo)

“We need to ask the question, how is it that the Federal Judiciary allows Congress to have an opening prayer every session, but a high school is forbidden to allow a football coach to pray with his team? What is good for the goose should be good for the gander. There is an inconsistency here. Both of my congregations will be watching closely and praying about this.”

FFRF called for the district to take action before the next state semifinal game, so that coaches would not organize another prayer circle afterwards. For what that was worth, after the game, the East Knox coaching staff participated in the community prayer once again.

View the video below of the state championship-bound Lucas Cubs praying the LORD’s Prayer after their victory in the semi-finals last weekend. The prayer begins at 1:34 into the video.

Related articles:

Guest Column: Athletic fields are not ‘End Zone’ of religious liberty (VIDEO)
Tax-exempt threats on churches persist despite FFRF’s church parsonage defeat (VIDEO)

150 Clergy declare 2019 as “Year of the Bible” in North Central Ohio (VIDEO)

The Bottom Line:

Acts 5 says the Sanhedrin called the apostles in and had them flogged. They they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. When the apostles left, they rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”

Banquet unveils new chapter for Richland Pregnancy Services (VIDEO)

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MANSFIELD — Community family centers are not only saving the lives of babies across the nation, they are now changing the culture. Richland Pregnancy Services (RPS) recently announced it is developing key strategic partnerships to execute this very plan.

Amanda Clark, Executive Director of Richland Pregnancy Services recently reported during a fall banquet her vision to have RPS’ short-term parachurch role complimenting local long term community churches.

Keynote speaker Jeffrey Dean with RPS Executive Director Amanda Clark.
(Photo courtesy of Jessica Green)

“What separates our ministry from a social-service agency is that we do not just give out diapers and formula, we also walk with moms and dads the first two years of their parenting journey. We want everything we do to be for God’s glory and mentoring our clients is a big part of this strategy,” Clark told the five hundred in attendance on November 14th.

“What separates our ministry from a social-service agency is that we do not just give out diapers and formula, we also walk with moms and dads the first two years of their parenting journey. We want everything we do to be for God’s glory and mentoring our clients is a big part of this strategy,”

Amanda Clark
Richland Pregnancy Services

In Clark’s report, she discussed new partnerships will launch key outreaches.

RPS will embark on a new partnership with Richland County Juvenile Detention Center to discuss healthy life choices with troubled youth. RPS will also be collaborating with Galion City Health Department to better serve its STD/STI clients that tests positive from its satallite location at Mansfield-OSU. In addition, an association with Little Buckeye Children Museum is in the works to reach out to more fathers in Richland County.

Last but not least, RPS is opening a new satellite office at Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center to complement its primary location at1560 West Fourth Street and its Mansfield-OSU location.

Elected officals attending the Richland Pregnancy Services fall banquet. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Clark)

Elected officials attending the banquet included County Commissioners Marilyn John, Tony Vero, and Darrell Banks, City Councilmen Cliff Mears and David Fallquette, County Prosecutor Gary Bishop, and Township Trustee Bob Entenmann.

Keynote speaker Jeffrey Dean warned the crowd that America is in a spiritual war and that multi=tasking is critical. Dean talked about the account in the Bible of the woman at the well.

“The Samaritan woman went to the well to get water to meet her physical need. She was not looking for Jesus, but she had an encounter with Him and Jesus revealed the truth about her life. In the same way many clients coming to RPS also have an opportunity to meet Jesus while having their immediate physical needs met.”

Keynote speaker Jeffrey Dean. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Green) Click on the image above to view RPS client testimony shown the evening of the banquet.

Dean is a best-selling inspirational speaker, author, and teacher who is devoted to making families strong. Over his twenty-five year career, Jeffrey has spoken to more than 4 million people at churches, universities, prisons and schools. Jeffrey has held positions on the Strategic Stakeholders Committee for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Advisory Board of National Abstinence Clearinghouse and Youth for Christ

According to emcee Scott Saunders from 90.7 FM WVMC, RPS has served 1,300 clients so far this year.

Related article:

Richland Pregnancy Services to host 5K walk/run on Saturday (VIDEO)

The Bottom Line:

Matthew 19 says, “And Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”

Guest Column: Why the Pilgrims abandoned common ownership for private property

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The first few years of Plymouth colony were fraught with hardship and hunger. Economics had a lot to do with it. Next year at this time, Americans will mark the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower in 1620 and the subsequent founding of the Plymouth colony by English Separatists we know as the Pilgrims. They, of course, became the mothers and fathers of the first Thanksgiving.

The first few years of the settlement were fraught with hardship and hunger. Four centuries later, they also provide us with one of history’s most decisive verdicts on the critical importance of private property. We should never forget that the Plymouth colony was headed straight for oblivion under a communal, socialist plan but saved itself when it embraced something very different.

Lawrence Reed
(Photo courtesy of Foundation of Economic Education)

In the diary of the colony’s first governor, William Bradford, we can read about the settlers’ initial arrangement: Land was held in common. Crops were brought to a common storehouse and distributed equally. For two years, every person had to work for everybody else (the community), not for themselves as individuals or families. Did they live happily ever after in this socialist utopia?

Hardly. The “common property” approach killed off about half the settlers. Governor Bradford recorded in his diary that everybody was happy to claim their equal share of production, but production only shrank. Slackers showed up late for work in the fields, and the hard workers resented it. It’s called “human nature.”

The disincentives of the socialist scheme bred impoverishment and conflict until, facing starvation and extinction, Bradford altered the system. He divided common property into private plots, and the new owners could produce what they wanted and then keep or trade it freely.

Communal socialist failure was transformed into private property/capitalist success, something that’s happened so often historically it’s almost monotonous. The “people over profits” mentality produced fewer people until profit—earned as a result of one’s care for his own property and his desire for improvement—saved the people.

Over the centuries, socialism has crash-landed into lamentable bits and pieces too many times to keep count—no matter what shade of it you pick: central planning, welfare statism, or government ownership of the means of production. Then some measure of free markets and private property turned the wreckage into progress. I know of no instance in history when the reverse was true—that is, when free markets and private property produced a disaster that was cured by socialism. None.

Plymouth Rock (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

A few of the many examples that echo the Pilgrims’ experience include Germany after World War II, Hong Kong after Japanese occupation, New Zealand in the 1980s, Scandinavia in recent decades, and even Lenin’s New Economic Policy of the 1920s.

Two hundred years after the Pilgrims, the Scottish cotton magnate Robert Owen thought he’d give socialism another spin, this time in New Harmony, Indiana. There he established a community he hoped would transcend such “evils” as individualism and self-interest. Everybody would be economically equal in an altruistic, fairy-tale society. It collapsed utterly within just two years, just like all the other “Owenite” communes it briefly inspired. Fortunately, because Owen didn’t have guns and armies to glue it together, people just walked away from New Harmony in disgust. They learned from socialism, even if today’s socialists don’t. You can read all about it in this splendid 1976 article by Melvin D. Barger, “Robert Owen: The Wooly Minded Cotton Spinner.”

Socialism flops even when it’s the “pretend” or “voluntary” variety. Imagine the odds against it succeeding when it’s compulsory! The use of force prolongs the agony but doesn’t breed any less bitterness, resentment, or decline. It magnifies the calamity, in fact.

Consider this as you feast at the Thanksgiving table this week: The people who raised the turkey didn’t do so because they wanted to help you out. The others who grew the cranberries and the yams didn’t go to the trouble and expense out of some altruistic impulse or because of some nebulous “sharing” fantasy.

Sacrificial rituals, even if they make you feel good, rarely bake a bigger pie. Charity is laudable, and I engage in it, too, but it’s not an engine of production or prosperity. For that, you need profit, incentive, and private property.

Sacrificial rituals, even if they make you feel good, rarely bake a bigger pie. Charity is laudable, and I engage in it, too, but it’s not an engine of production or prosperity. For that, you need profit, incentive, and private property.

Lawrence Reed
Foundation of Economic Education

In North Korea and Venezuela, socialist regimes work to see that almost nobody makes a profit or owns a private business. There won’t be anything like widespread Thanksgiving dinners in either country this week, and that’s no coincidence. I wonder if that lesson is still taught in schools these days; polls that suggest young people are attracted to socialism suggest maybe it isn’t.

I’ll be offering gratitude for more than just good food on Thanksgiving Day. I’m going to give a prayerful thanks for private property and the profit motive that has made abundance possible. When God instilled a measure of peaceful, productive self-interest into the human mind, he knew what he was doing.

Lawrence W. Reed is a member of the Foundation of Economic Education (FEE), President Ermeritus, Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Ambassador for Global Liberty. FEE’s mission is to inspire, educate, and connect future leaders with the economic, ethical, and legal principles of a free society.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Faith leaders stand behind Trump policy change recognizing Judea & Samaria (VIDEO)

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NORTH CENTRAL OHIO- In a stinging rebuke of both Barack Obama and the European Union, last week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy, declaring Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria as “not illegal.” Several Ohio leaders are ecstatic over the Trump Administration’s shift concerning the area known as the “cradle of Jewish civilization.”

“The President’s change in policy is great and sends a strong statement to the world,” says Reverend Jim Garrett, Lead Pastor of Ontario Christian Fellowship.

Pastor Jim Garrett pictured with wife Cheri visiting the Garden Tomb last week.
(Photo courtesy of OCF Facebook)

“Last week we were part of a group touring Jericho inside the West Bank. I believe this new policy has the potential to unify Palestinians with Jews and not alienate them. In my opinion, the big secret mainstream media conceals is the cooperation taking place right now between Jews and Palestinian Christians.”

Israeli leadership is also excited about the reversal in U.S. Middle East policy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not mince words.

“This policy reflects a historical truth that the Jewish people are not foreign colonialists in Judea and Samaria. In fact, we are called Jews because we are the people of Judea.”

“This policy reflects a historical truth – that the Jewish people are not foreign colonialists in Judea and Samaria. In fact, we are called Jews because we are the people of Judea.”

Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu

Conversley, a November European Court of Justice’s verdict requires EU member states to place distinct labels on Jewish-made exports from Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

According to Secretary of State Pompeo, not only are Israeli settlements not illegal, they are arguably more justified than civilian settlements built in other disputed territories.

“The unsupported allegation that Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria are illegal was the basis for the 2016 United Nations (U.N.) Security Council Resolution 2334,” stated Pompeo during the announcement.

Following U.N. Resolution 2334, over one hundred north central Ohio clergy sent an apology letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu to reconcile for the U.S. Federal government’s inaptitude.

Pro-Israel organization Christians United for Israel has six million members in the United States and is one of the leading Christian grassroots movements in the nation. Its State Director Ed Douglas, of Chardon Ohio, released a statement by CUFI:

“The revocation of the Hansell memorandum is the latest in the Trump administration’s consistent and considerable support for our ally Israel. We are grateful to President Trump for treating Israel like an ally and respecting the will of the Israeli people as expressed by their elected government.

“America’s new position concerning Israel is a one hundred-eighty degree reversal of the Obama administration’s position on the settlements. If the U.S. is to be a loyal and true friend to Israel, we cannot seek to impose our will upon the Jewish state,” Douglas shared.  “We must honor the Jewish state’s sovereign right to make decisions on matters of war and peace, free of international interference.”

Each year CUFI brings hundreds of pastors to Israel on Pastor Leadership Tours. These intensive learning tours turn clergy merely sympathetic to Israel to committed pro-Israeli activists.

View the C-Span video below of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement regarding the Trump Administation’s reversal on foreign policy towards the West Bank.

See related articles:

Clergy sound off on Trump’s historic Jerusalem recognition declaration (VIDEO)
Local leaders support Trump recognition of Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli land (VIDEO)
103 Ohio clergy send apology letter to Israeli Prime Minister

Ministers join forces with City to distribute turkeys to families

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MANSFIELD — While the area has experienced a cornacopia of blessings this past year, blessings are not only meant to be received, but also given say area pastors. Thursday morning clergy from five local churches partnered with City Police and Fire Departments to distribute two hundred turkeys to area households in need.

Mansfield Mayor Timothy Theaker coordinated the endeavor thru help of an anonymous company seeking to bring smiles to families for Thanksgiving. Five pastors distributed twenty turkeys each while personnel from the police and fire departments each distributed fifty.

Pastors picking up turkeys from anonymous donor. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

One of the participating clergy said the turkeys could not have come at a better time.

“We gave out all twenty (turkeys) this past weekend,” said Pastor Dave Guild of Mansfield Foursquare. “I had a veteran randomly call me two hours before I was supposed to pick up the turkeys. He needed meal assistance for the holiday season and I just happended to be able to help him.”

Reverend Guild’s congregation has a food distribution ministry during the summer and fall. Regarding the Mayor’s request for help he commented, “This was a great opportunity for people to think of who they can bless; it causes a chain reaction of people thinking about others. We have a mail carrier in our congregation who knew of someone on his route he could give a turkey to.”

The past two years, Reverend Randy Randy Raynes of Mansfield Fellowship Baptist and Reverend Mark Cobb of Providence Baptist have both participated in the turkey distribution. Raynes says the local faith community has a reputation of being mission oriented and city officials are aware of this.

Pastors pictured L to R: Randy Raynes, Aaron Williams, Dave Guild, and Russell Stanford. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

“The Richland Community Prayer Network found that not only did area churches provide valuable support ministries to the local community between the years of 2014-2017, our goodwill ambassador churches also supported missions to an astounding ninety-three different nations around the globe. This was during a time period when our area was the seventh most economically-challenged metropolitan region in the nation.”

Lead Pastor Aaron William’s of Maddox Memorial COGIC hosted a community service the night before the turkey distribution to address grief many experience during the holiday season.

“People need healing from grief and food can help draw people together to foster relationships. GOD needs to be the center of those relationships and free turkey meals can certainly be a magnet to reconciliation and deliverance that can take place. It is love in action.”

‘I think there is a benefit of the church working together with the city because there wouldn’t be a church without the city, and there wouldn’t be much of a city without the church. We should be working hand in hand.”

Pastor Russell Stanford
ALl Believers in Christ

Pastor Russell Stanford of All Believers in Christ commented, ‘I think there is a benefit of the church working together with the city because there wouldn’t be a church without the city, and there wouldn’t be much of a city without the church. We should be working hand in hand.”

See related article:

Area clergy team up to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys

Shelby revival fire comes to fire station for Thanksgiving (SLIDESHOW)

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SHELBY– The City of Shelby is not taking anything for granted. One year ago the city opened a new state-of-the-art fire station with a baptism by fire. That day the station was dedicated after a local entrepreneur foot the bill for the entire facility.

Sunday night the community gathered at the station for a Thanksgiving service, this time to count its blessings. Shelby City Fire Chief Mike Thompson says he has never heard of a fire station hosting a community Thanksgiving service before.

Shelby clergy with Fire Dept for prayer service in 2019 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

“The City of Shelby has a lot to be thankful for. Grant Milliron paid for this entire fire station. Mr. Milliron is a religious man and he told us the LORD had laid it on his heart to bless the community with this fire station.”

According to the Fire Chief, this year no fatalities associated to fires occurred in Shelby and surrounding Jackson and Sharon Townships.

“In 2018, the department made 1,770 runs and responded to forty-seven fires, including 13 house fires. There were also 1,227 emergency medical service calls,” says Thompson.

In response to the faithful service of the department, a core group of ten pastors from the Shelby Ministerial Association decided to coordinate the Thanksgiving event and bless the fire department staff.

“We decided to give all 27 employees fifty dollar gift certificates to Outback Steakhouse to enjoy with their families,” says Association President, Pastor Kevin Evans.

Sunday evening’s Community Thanksgiving Service. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

During the service, keynote speaker Chaplain Dan Gates described how he keeps a department pager on his person to pray for the fire department whenever they get called to action. With emergencies like the recent floods and this past spring’s tornado, Gates called the firemen “indispensible servants in Shelby.”

“Your sirens signal that help is on the way,” Gates said.

Several songs were sung by those in attendance including “We Gather Together,” and “Give Thanks.”

According to Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley, “It was great to participate in tonight’s service celebrating the work of the Shelby Fire Department. Their work in rescuing those in danger provides an image of GOD’s work of redemption.”

Trailblazer Grant Milliron may not have envisioned the fire station he paid for serving as the location of a community Thanksgiving service.

Ironically, it was Milliron who read from Psalms 118 at last year’s dedication: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” He later emphatically stated “I want everybody to know, this fire station is dedicated to the Heavenly Father-He was the master of this project.”

Businessman Grant Milliron at the November 16, 2018 fire station dedication ceremony.
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

That day Milliron explained to the crowd seated in the packed garage bays, “I have four things I try to accomplish each day. First, how can I serve the LORD? Then how can I serve my family? And how can I serve my company? Lastly, how can I serve my community?”

Shelby Mayor Reverend Steve Schag noted that when Grant and GOD get together, great things happen.

Schag commented with tongue in cheek, “We as a people must never forget the phrase ‘Paid in full.'” The audience applauded the pinpoint accuracy of the statement with its spiritual undertones.

One year later the applause was for the fire department and to Heaven.

Chief Thompson adds, “It was great seeing the different church denominations come together tonight. We are grateful for the generous gift by the ministerial association which was not expected. It really was a wonderful evening,”

View the slideshow below

The Bottom Line:

Ephesians 6 says, “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Guest Column: Chick-fil-A orders values to go (AUDIO)

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If the last twenty-four hours have proven anything about Chick-fil-A, it’s this: It was never about the chicken. For millions of Americans, there was a much deeper significance behind every decision to pull in the parking lot and walk through those doors. It wasn’t about the menu. It wasn’t even about the service. It was that every time someone ate there, they were making a cultural statement. Chick-fil-A was a business, yes. But it was also a giant rebuttal of everything the bullies stood for. Until it wasn’t.

Tony Perkins (Photo courtesy of Family Research Council)

Maybe that’s why people are in such denial. They don’t want to believe that the place where they felt at home, the place they’d put on a pedestal and invested so much personal capital, betrayed them.

Deep down, I think we all want to explain away Chick-fil-A’s decision. It’s a lot easier than the alternative, which is accepting and grieving the fact that this company — a brave holdout for so many years — is running away from the people and principles that made them who they are.

Pushing that under the rug may feel better in the short-term, but it’s not an option for anyone who understands the long-term implications of waving a white flag on God’s truth. For us, this isn’t a gray area. The decision to desert these groups is a radical departure from biblical teaching.

Now, some of you might argue that walking away from the Salvation Army or Fellowship of Christian Athletes isn’t an endorsement of an LGBT agenda. But it is exactly that. And here’s why. Chick-fil-A didn’t just switch their giving practices, they broadcasted it. They made a conscious choice to draw attention to this very public divorce from two Bible-believing charities. And then, in a calculated move, announced their support was going to an organization that, on its website, openly and proudly supports everything about the LGBT community.

“Their defense is that they haven’t changed anything,” Governor Mike Huckabee told listeners on Tuesday’s “Washington Watch,” but, “I’m just going to be blunt,” he said. “That’s not honest. Because when you turn from Salvation Army and you go to organizations like Covenant House, you’ve made a big statement about who you want your friends to be, who you are willing to affiliate with, and what your priorities are.”

This isn’t about loving and serving the people who identify as LGBT, which the Salvation Army has done — and we’re all called to do. This is about affirming the LGBT identity and the politics that go with it. Those are two very different things. As Christians, we’re called to love — not affirm. God didn’t celebrate our sin, He loved us enough to save us from it. And that’s the difference here.

Romans Chapter Twelve warns us not to “conform to the pattern of this world — but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This kind of capitulation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow and gradual erosion. When Jesus told us to pick up our cross and follow Him, He said “daily.” That’s a struggle for anyone, let alone Christians under constant attack.

Standing for truth in the face of withering criticism isn’t easy, especially not for one of the biggest targets of the Left. I’m sure the executives at Chick-fil-A were sick of being ostracized by the rest of the corporate class. “I would bet money,” Rod Dreher wrote, “that this is not about markets, but about its executive leadership class getting tired of… being stink-eyed by fellow rich and upper middle-class peers…”

But the road to man’s acceptance is always paved with compromise. “Chick-fil-A made a huge mistake thinking they can appease these people,” Huckabee said, “because they can’t. You and I both know — because we’ve been in this battle now for a long time… the Left will never be satisfied until we’re completely out of business. And if Chick-fil-A believes that the Left is now going to start patronizing Chick-fil-A and saying wonderful things about them, they’ve got to be kidding. It’s not going to happen.” Sometimes it takes learning this lesson the hard way: When Christians put the praise of man over the glory of God, they earn neither — and hurt a whole lot of people in the process.

Of course, one of the saddest parts of this is that Chick-fil-A didn’t just compromise their witness. They dragged thousands of godly men and women into the pit with them — owners, employees, and franchisees who never signed up for this. They’re the ones the company abandoned.

“I think a lot of the managers of local Chick-fil-A are also deeply hurt, because these are good people….most of the time they’re very committed Christian people who really buy into the philosophy of Mr. Truett Cathy, the founder who built his business unapologetically on Christian principles….I don’t think Mr. Truett Cathy would have surrendered like this.”

Governor Mike Huckabee

“I think a lot of the managers of local Chick-fil-A are also deeply hurt, because these are good people,” Mike said somberly. “They have to work really hard to be a manager of a Chick-fil-A… They have an opportunity to do well financially if they manage one effectively. But most of the time they’re very committed Christian people who really buy into the philosophy of Mr. Truett Cathy, the founder… who built his business unapologetically on Christian principles. He served everyone and always said, ‘We’ll take any customer, and we’ll treat them with dignity and respect.’ And they’ve done that. But I don’t think he would have surrendered.”

It’s called the narrow road for a reason. Only a few find it, Scripture says. And maybe Chick-fil-A will find it again. As believers, we can pray that management sees the light and returns to the values that inspired us. But it takes courage in this culture to own up to a mistake of this magnitude. Courage I’m not sure the leadership at Chick-fil-A has.

Originally published in Tony Perkins’ Washington Update, which is written with the aid of Family Research Council senior writers.

Listen to Washington Watch below for the show with Governor Mike Huckabee discussing Chick fil-A.

https://soundcloud.com/family-research-council/mike-huckabee

Guest Column: Athletic fields are not ‘End Zone’ of religious liberty (VIDEO)

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It should come as no surprise to find religion mixed with sports in America. From Tim Tebow’s famous Bible verse eye paint, to teams huddled in prayer at the 50-yard line after games, American athletes and other members of the sports community routinely live out their faith—before, during, and after games.

One such special moment took place a couple of weeks ago, when two high school players knelt right in the middle of the gridiron to pray.

Jorge Gomez
(Photo courtesy of First Liberty Institute)

After a grueling game in which Sherman High School triumphed over West Mesquite High 56-27, Sherman senior Gage Smith took a knee, locked hands with his opponent Ty Jordan and prayed for his mother, who is battling cancer.

It’s no surprise that a display of sportsmanship and sympathy like this one quickly went viral in the digital world, as it is without a doubt a uniquely touching moment.

Sadly, the enemies of religious freedom oftentimes fail to see the beauty in these emotive expressions of faith. When you survey the national landscape, you’ll increasingly find anti-faith activists and the zealots of the woke cancel culture doing whatever they can to stop student athletes, coaches and sports figures in the community from living out their faith.

They’ve mangled the Constitution’s original intent so badly that for them the football field has somehow become the “end zone” of religious liberty:

  • Recently, the Freedom from Religion Foundation threatened legal action against the coaching staff at Cameron High School in Missouri, just because students voluntarily joined the coaches to huddle at the 50-yard line for post-game prayer.
  • On the west coast, Coach Kennedy was fired from his coaching job at Bremerton High School in Washington because he kneeled in a private, silent prayer on the field after each of his games.
  • At Waldron High School in Arkansas, Pastor Konnor McKay was accused of illegal activity because he was invited by his local community to give a pep talk at a regional summer football camp.
  • For years, First Liberty Institute successfully defended the Kountze cheerleaders in Texas, who were banned by school officials from displaying inspirational Bible verses in their run-through banners.
  • Just last week, First Liberty Institute won a critical victory for Cambridge Christian School in Florida, whose football players were barred by government bureaucrats from praying over the loudspeaker at their state championship game.

But even at a time when our opponents are launching rampant attacks, it’s clear that people are not afraid to put their faith into practice on the field.

On the contrary, we see more and more Americans living it out boldly and openly.

We saw this happen with the two opposing players from Texas who set their rivalry aside to pray together…and we’ve seen more expressions of faith by sports figures all throughout the country:

“Rants like “Just play, don’t pray!” simply don’t score any points. What keeps the playing field level for religious freedom—and for all Americans—is the playbook we call the U.S. Constitution.”

JOrge Gomez
FIrst LIberty Institute

Rants like “Just play, don’t pray!” simply don’t score any points. What keeps the playing field level for religious freedom—and for all Americans—is the playbook we call the U.S. Constitution.

And of course, those who push the anti-religion agenda can’t ignore that First Liberty Institute has a championship legal team of its own. And our winning record speaks for itself.

If you’re ever told not to express your faith on the field, make sure you have First Liberty’s top-notch legal team on your side to defend your rights.

Jorge Gomez is a senior writer and content strategist for First Liberty Institute.

View the video below from “Fox and Friends” regarding Freedom from Religion Foundation’s efforts to censor a pastor from doing a motivational talk to his high school alumnus football team.

Ohio school religious liberties one step closer despite destractors stretching truth (VIDEO)

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COLUMBUS – When secular progressives are not in control, the distortion of facts is one of the oldest tricks in their book. Now they are hitting the books once again, this time involving religious freedom of students in public schools.

Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives passed the Student Religious Liberties Act (HB 164), sponsored by Rep. Timothy Ginter, (R-Salem) with a bi-partisan vote of 61-31. Republicans hold a 61-38 majority.

Sponsor Rep. Timothy Ginter
(Photo courtesy of Ohio Legislative Directory)

“Children should feel safe to freely express their Christian beliefs in public schools,” said Aaron Baer, President of Citizens for Community Values. “HB 164 ensures all students are not discriminated against in public schools for merely living out their faith.”

After the lopsided vote, a misleading headline by the Cleveland Plain Dealer read: “Ohio lawmakers clear bill allowing students to turn in inaccurate work in name of religion – second anti-science bill in a week.” Several other news sources picked up where the Plain Dealer left off, including WKRC, Fox News, and the Washington Examiner.

Baer set the record straight after unfounded claims were probagated by mainstream media regarding HB 164.

“The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), along with the House Minority Leadership are trying to persuade people into believing that this bill is ‘anti-science.’ To be blunt, someone making this claim has to be illiterate to believe such a thing.”

“If they had done their own research, they would have seen that ten other states have passed nearly identical bills to HB 164. Even further, there has never been an incident where students were allowed to turn in inaccurate work in the name of religion.”

“If the media, ACLU, or House Democratic Leadership had done their own research, they would have seen that ten other states have passed nearly identical bills to HB 164. There has never been an incident where students were allowed to turn in inaccurate work in the name of religion.”

Aaron Baer
Citizens for Community Values

The Ohio House has passed this bill twice before in previous General Assemblies, and this ‘concern’ has never been raised before last week.

“Anyone who values diversity and religious freedom for all students should support HB 164; we look forward to an honest debate about this bill in the Senate. This attack by liberals on HB 164 just demonstrates the need for this bill to become law in our public schools,” says Baer.

One of the false claims by the Plain Dealer reported HB 164 would allow students to submit inaccurate classwork “in the name of religion.”

According to Baer, if a class is being tested on the Theory of Evolution, all students, regardless of their religious beliefs, must demonstrate an understanding of the Theory of Evolution.

Aaron Baer
(Photo courtesy of CCV)

“Under HB 164, A Christian or Jewish student would still not be allowed to say “my religious texts teach me that the world is 6,000 years old, so I don’t have to answer this question.”

What HB 164 would allow, for example, is if students are assigned to write a book report on any book of their choosing, they cannot be penalized for picking a religious text, as long as they fulfill the requirements of the assignment.

“Some students may pick J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Other students may choose to write their book report on The Book of Job from the Bible,” Baer points out. “If the student writes the book report in a way that fulfills all the requirements of the assignment, HB 164 ensures that the student who picked the Book of Job cannot be penalized merely for picking a religious text.”

CCV has provided a fact sheet debunking misnomers pedalled by secular opponents of the First Ammendment.

The CCV President went on to say “Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford) is continuing to show his strong leadership and care for Ohio’s children and religious freedom. HB 164 comes at a critical time in the culture and protects the right of Christian and non-Christian students alike to freely exercise their faith.”

View the video below by the Liberty Counsel discussing the passage of similiar legislation protecting First Amendment religious freedom for students in Mississippi in 2013.

County Treasurer reneges on promise to clergy involving Israeli bonds (VIDEO)

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MANSFIELD — State lawmakers have outlawed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction Movement, (BDS) in Ohio, but according to one faith-based Israeli advocate, the Richland County Treasurer’s office needs to get with the program.

Last year, media outlets from Latin America to the Holy Land reported on the pro-Israeli advocacy of Richland County clergy including their county’s investment of Israeli bonds. A closer look reveals the County Treasurer actually divested in Israeli bonds.

“Last week In a written follow-up to my inquiry, Treasurer Bart Hamilton told me his office never invested in Israeli bonds nor did it have an interest in doing so” says Benjamin Mutti of the Richland Community Prayer Network.

Benjamin Mutti at Ohio Statehouse. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

After receiving requests from forty leading clergy and from Baptists for Israel, Democrat Treasurer Bart Hamilton agreed to go thru the lengthy process of updating a thirty-year-old county investment policy with assistance from the County Prosecutor, allowing for foreign investments. Hamilton also researched the prospectus, and eventually recommended the investment of up to $200,000 in Israeli bonds to the County Investment Board in November 2017.

When the motion passed, Hamilton stated he would “let United American United Capital know about the investment after the county policy was approved by the State.” Except Bart Hamilton never did tell the investment management company to invest in the bonds.

Now after a recent revelation, Hamilton said he never intended to invest in Israeli bonds.

“Hamilton’s actions gives the appearance this whole thing was a setup. Apparently he never intended the clergy to follow up on his investment activities. The question is, was he trying to pull the wool over the clergy’s eyes?”

Benjamin Mutti
Richland COmmunity Prayer Network

“Hamilton’s actions gives the appearance this whole thing was a setup ,” says Mutti. “Apparently he never intended the clergy to follow up on his investment activities. The question is, was he trying to pull the wool over the clergy’s eyes?”

The embattled County Treasurer is in the last year of his term. Hamilton ran unopposed in 2016.

On November 6, 2019 Hamilton wrote in an email to Mutti, “I don’t feel that this is a good investment for a small county like Richland.  This investment is designed more for individuals of faith and churches. “

On the other hand, on November 17, 2017 Hamilton wrote Mutti, “… We will need to send the (approved) policy to everyone we invest with for them to read, sign the acknowledgement, and send it back to us.  That will probably take a couple of weeks to get everyone’s forms back…then we can do a trade for the Israeli bonds.  They are available for trades on the 1st and the 15th of each month so we will do it at our earliest available time … ”

For perspective.the yield for Israeli bonds is generally higher than American bonds of the same term.

According to Fitch Ratings, “Israel benefits from high financing flexiblity. It has deep and liquid local markets, good access to international capital markets, an active diaspora bond program, and U.S. government guarantees in the event of market disruption.” In summary, Fitch affirms Israel at A+ with the outlook as “stable.”

Rabbi William Hallbrook at Sar Shalom Center. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

According to Rabbi William Hallbrook, one of the clergy requesting Richland County investment in Israeli bonds, “This whole thing would go away if he (Hamilton) would just invest in the Israeli bonds like he originally recommended. I think the clergy would be willing to forgive him.”

Additionally, the State of Ohio became the largest holder of Israeli bonds for a government entity in the world when State Treasurer Josh Mandel purchased a record $ 61 million dollars’ worth of Israeli bonds. The State Treasurer’s office underscores the fact that ninety-five state, municipal, and public employee pension funds and treasury funds have invested in Israeli bonds, including: Cuyahoga ,Franklin, and  Summit counties.

For moe information on Israeli bonds, click on the video below.

Related article:

40 clergy see immediate returns after Richland County invests in Israeli bonds (VIDEO)

Tea Party leader coming to Galion to discuss 2020 election (VIDEO)

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GALION — From Citizen to Patriot (FCTP) is sponsoring “Keeping America Forever Free,” a public forum featuring Tom Zawistowski, a conservative activist and leader in national and state politics.  Zawistowski is involved with the “We the People Convention,” the “Ohio Liberty Coalition” and the “ Portage County Tea Party.”

Accroding to Greg Jevnikar, one of the FCTP leaders, the event will take place  at 6 pm on Thursday, November 21st, 2019 at the Grace Point Church Activity Center, located at 683 Portland Way North State Route 598 just south of U.S. Route 30 in Galion. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. 

Tom Zawistowski (Submitted photo)

Zawistowski, is a Ohio conservative leader, and I-Heart radio personality. He will present a frank assessment of where the nation presently stands culturally and politically. He will also identify and explore the challenges the country faces. Some action steps will be provided on what citizens can do to defend constitutional liberties going into the pivotal 2020 election year.

“Our nation must decide if it wants the prosperity of capitalism that serves the people or if it wants the dictatorship of socialism that serves the government,” says Jevnikar.

“This is an important event for North Central Ohio going into the next election cycle. Tom is a dynamic speaker and will keep conservative voters up-to-date on upcoming national and state election developments.”

Join fellow patriots for a night of fellowship, light refreshments, and a powerful presentation calling conservatives to action.

Donations will be accepted at the event for FCTP’s Constitution Project which involves distributing pocket size U.S. Constitutions to county residents.

For more information, contact Jim at 419-468-5116 or contact Greg at 419-468-4679 (text, call) or email gregjaye@earthlink.net

View the video below to learn more about the choice the nation faces in the upcoming 2020 election.

Related article:

Public forum discusses the cure for Fatherless society (AUDIO)

Ontario welcomes Israeli general to North Central Ohio (VIDEO)

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ONTARIO — Recently retired Major General and former Knesset Member Eyal Ben-Reuven received applause and a warm reception from North Central Ohio. Last week Sar Shalom Center hosted the highly-decorated officer of the Israeli Defense Forces with open arms for a “Stand for Israel” event.

“I am deeply humbled to stand here today,” the Major General said. “If one would imagine where an Israeli would feel welcomed, protected and loved, it is in Mansfield. You are making a strong statement in Israel.”

Major General and former Knesset Member Eyal Ben-Reuven
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

The Major General shared about his unforgettable night in the midst of the 1973 Yom Kippor War when his platoon sustained heavy losses and Mr. Ben-Reuven was alone and surrounded. After somehow eluding the Egyptian commandos, he was able to rescue one of his injured soldiers and escape. Later in the war Mr. Ben Reuven discovered his tank would fight alongside his father’s tank on the northern front in the Golan Heights.

Before introducing the war hero, one of the event organizers, Benjamin Mutti, made several comments about the tight relationship between Israel and Ohio. He also read a formal correspondence.

Mr. Mutti mentioned the uncanny parallels between Israel and Ohio. “Since Ohio became the largest investor of Israeli bonds in the world for a government entity, Ohio has seen a dramatic increase in business startups, following in the footsteps of Israel which is known as “The startup nation. While I am not here tonight to talk about investing in Israeli bonds, I am here tonight to talk about investing in Israeli lives.”

General recognizes Rabbi Hallbrook with award.
(Photo courtesy of
Frontlines Ohio)

Mr. Mutti went on to talk about the Israeli Leadership Institute and read a formal welcome letter from Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson who was out of town the night of the event.

In his letter to the Major General, the Mayor noted that in 2016, the 200th Red Horse Squadron of the Mansfield National Guard served as the project lead for the construction of four multi-purpose buildings in Israel providing permanent operational exercise space for U.S. and Israeli military forces participating in joint military exercises. 

Mayor Hutchinson went on to say that the bond between the two freedom-loving nations is inseparable. He said, “While I am not able to meet you in person, I want to take time to express my warm greetings to you.  On behalf of the City of Ontario, I thank you for your visit and want to let you know that you and your family are always welcome in Ontario.”

“As a resolution is presented to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal and undivided capital by Ohio, I salute Ohio for your support to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital and for standing strong with us.”

Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven

In his closing remarks, General Ben-Reuven added “As a resolution is presented to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal and undivided capital by Ohio, I salute Ohio for your support to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital and for standing strong with us.”

General Ben-Reuven now serves on staff with the Israeli Leadership Institute (ILI).

Eeki Elner, Director and Founder of the ILI recalls “I had seen the General before on TV and was waiting for him to retire so we could ask him to join our leadership team, and he did without hesitation.”

General Ben-Reuven with Benjamin & Amie Mutti (Photo courtesy of
Frontlines Ohio)

Based in Sderot, Israel, the ILI has a unique method of training leaders and will begin giving leadership seminars and workshops to corporations, law enforcement and possibly even the FBI regarding cyber warfare and homeland security.

“We all have a privilege tonight to bless Israel,” said Mr. Elner. “Genesis 12:3 says ‘I will bless those who will bless Israel.’ Your partnership with Israeli Leadership Institute means a lot to us as we develop tomorrow’s leaders in the Holy Land.”

View the video below to the “Stand for Israel” event in its entirety.

See related articles:

Israeli war hero coming to speak in Ontario Nov. 9th (VIDEO)
Israel Deputy Speaker thanks North Central Ohio for support (SLIDESHOW)(VIDEO)
Ohio Heartland Zionism showcased at Statehouse in support of Jerusalem (VIDEO)

Handwriting is on the wall for nation if borders not secured say clergy (VIDEO)

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NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — Some in the faith community are sitting on the fence over whether building a wall on the southern border is morally right . One denomination has actually revolted against the rule of law by declaring themselves a “sanctuary denomination” for illegal immigrants.

Following a recent immigration raid, two North Central Ohio pastors are speaking out about how the Bible justifies goverments securing their borders.

This past fall, forty-six illegal immigrants from ten nations were arrested in Ohio and Michigan by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . A former County Sheriff -turned-Pastor stands up for the operation and believes national security must be a priority. During his term as Morrow County Sheriff, Steve Brenneman’s department housed illegal immigrants.

Rev. Steve Brennemen beside the American Embassy in Jerusalem. The Mount Gilead Pastor was in Israel this past Fall. (Photo courtesy of Steve Brennemen)

“I certainly support the efforts of our border agents.,” says Pastor Brenneman of Awakening Christian Center. “In my experience, I have observed a major drug epidemic originating from across the border. No doubt a security wall can prevent entry of illicit drugs. The illegal detainees we housed had committed serious offenses fueling the addiction crisis and endangering many lives.”

This past Fall Brenneman went to Israel which utilizes several security fences on its borders.

“We saw the effectiveness of the Israeli security fence and military outposts along the West Bank border. They are reporting that Illegal immigration has been reduced by over ninety percent, and that the area has seen less terrorist attacks. Consequently, last year the Israeli tourism industry had its best year.”

Israel is one of a growing list of nations that are constructing security walls along their borders to reduce crime, to lower the threat of infections disease, and curtail human trafficking.

Mansfield area Pastor Chad Hayes pictured in front of his portrait as a U.S. Marine.
(Photo courtesy of Chad Hayes)

“I believe immigration should be viewed politcally and spiritually,” says Pastor Chad Hayes of Caeserea Baptist outside Mansfield. “From a political perspective, America is a nation of laws, and we should allow persons already applying for citizenship and going thru the screening process to gain entrance first.

Before serving as pastor, Hayes served in the Marines with combat deployment in Iraq.

“Certainly I am sensitive to civilians seeking asylum since many are fleeing countries without religisous freedom. However, this still does not negate our government’s primary responsiblity of preventing terrorists from gaining entrance.”

“When we as a nation are killing babies and promoting sexual immorality of all kinds, we are crossing a line that GOD never intended us to cross. When we go beyond the boundaries of GOD’s Word, it will spell trouble for our nation. ”

REverend Chad Hayes
Caeserea Baptist

Both pastors agree the breakdown in national borders is symbolic of the breakdown of moral boundaries in the country.

“When we as a nation are killing babies and promoting sexual immoraity of all kinds, we are crossing a line that GOD never intended us to cross. When we go beyond the boundaries of GOD’s Word, it will spell trouble,” says Hayes.

“GOD is not against building walls. In the Bible GOD instructed Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem as they were coming back from their exhile. If we as a nation respect the boundaries of GOD”s Word, perhaps America will once again be secure and experience His blessings.”

View the Fox News report below discussing how many nations around the world utilize security walls to protect its citizens.

The Bottom Line:

John 10 says, ” “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.”

Israeli war hero coming to speak in Ontario Nov. 9th (VIDEO)

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ONTARIO — A highly-decorated Israeli war hero from the 1973 Yom Kippur War will be coming next week to North Central Ohio to share his experiences on persevering leadership.

Retired Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven will be the featured speaker at a “Stand for Israel” event set for this coming Saturday evening, 7 pm on November 9th. The free event is open to the public and will take place at the Sar Shalom Center at 2510 West Fourth Street in Ontario; doors will open at 6:30 PM. During the event, a free will offering will be given to the Israeli Leadership Institute.

Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven
(Photo courtesy of main.knesset.gov.il)

North Central Ohio has received international prominence for it support of the Israeli nation. Last year the featured speaker was the Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, Mr. Hilik Bar.

Ben-Reuven was elected to the Knesset serving as a legislator for one term (2015-2019).

In a message to Frontlines Ohio, Ben Reuven commented, “As tension grows with Iran building its presence closer and closer to Israeli borders, I find great encouragement in the love and support of Israel’s friends in North Central Ohio.”

During his 35-year career in the Israeli Defense Forces, IDF, Eyal Ben-Reuven served as commander of various fighting units, rising to the position of Chief of Staff of the Field Corps of the Israeli military. During the Yom Kippur War, Ben-Reuven became known as one of Israel’s greatest examples of bravery and courage.

“As tension grows with Iran building its presence closer and closer to Israeli borders, I find great encouragement in the love and support of Israel’s friends in North Central Ohio.”

Israeli Major General (Retired)
Eyal Ben-Reuven

Ben-Reuven’s platoon was completely wiped out after a surprise attack leaving him the only survivor. Surrounded by more than four hundred Egyptian Commando fighters and under complete darkness, he managed to find his way out of the battlefield. During his retreat, he rescued a severely wounded Israeli soldier, carrying him for miles to an Israeli outpost.

Founder of the Israeli Leadership Institute, Eeki Elner speaking in Ontario last year.
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

Ben-Reuven accepted the invitation to join The Israel Leadership Institute (ILI) becoming one of its leading instructors. Accompanying Ben Reuven will be Eeki Elner, Founder of the ILI.

This past Friday Elner witnessed a rocket attack by the Islamic Jihad on Sderot, Israel, Elner’s hometown and location of the ILI.

“We continue to stand against enemies that want to annihilate Israel,” said Elner to Frontlines Ohio. “We are stronger when we know that you (Ohioans) stand with us. I invite all who have a warm spot for Israel in their hearts and love for GOD to join us for this event on November 9th.”

Ben Reuven will also be speaking the next morning on November 10th in Bucyrus, Ohio at Victory in Truth Ministries and the evening in Hamilton, Ohio at Princeton Pike Church of GOD.

Supporting Israel is a great deal for the United States and the morally-right thing to do. Watch U.S. Air Force General Chuck Wald of Prager University in the video below discuss why this is in the best interests of America.

See related article:

Israel Deputy Speaker thanks North Central Ohio for support (SLIDESHOW)(VIDEO)

24 clergy endorse conservative Mansfield candidates for city offices (VIDEO)

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MANSFIELD — In a new season where federal agencies are not hostile to religious freedom, an opportunistic group of religious leaders are supporting four candidates in key mayoral and council races. Local clergy are saying that the future of the City of Mansfield is hanging in the balance with November 5th elections just around the corner.

Reverend El Akuchie, Coordinator of the Richland Community Prayer Network, along with a group of pastors say that clergy are not only responsible for their congregations, they are also responsible for their community.

Mansfield Mayor Timothy Theaker (center) with two endorsing clergy: (L to R) Rev. Finnegan and Rev. Allen in Spring 2019 press conference.
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

“The Bible clearly shows that believers have a dual-citizenship in Heaven and on Earth. We are to render under Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto GOD’s what is GOD’s. Therefore pastors not only have an obligation to their congregations, they also have a civic duty to engage their government. As stewards of our community, we are encouraging believers to show up at the polls this coming Tuesday and vote Biblical values.”

In a joint-statement released to Frontlines Ohio, twenty-four pastors are publicly endorsing four conservative candidates running for office.

“We believe Mayor Timothy Theaker, both Councilmen Cliff Mears and David Falquette, and Gerald Strouth, are all qualified candidates in their respective races. If elected as city officials, it is our opinion these four will best represent faith, family, and freedom, based on their responses to the Frontlines Ohio candidate survey.”

“We believe Mayor Timothy Theaker, both Councilmen Cliff Mears and David Falquette, and Gerald Strouth, are all qualified candidates in their respective races. If elected as city officials, it is our opinion these four will best represent faith, family, and freedom, based on their responses to the Frontlines Ohio candidate survey.”

Clergy joint statement

The incumbent Theaker is running for his last term as Mayor. Councilman Mears is running for City Council President, and Councilman Falquette for Councilman-at-Large. Strouth is running for the first time for Fourth Ward City Councilman.

Pastors in north central Ohio have taken an active role on election issues recently. Twenty-four Richland County pastors endorsed a conservative candidate in the 2016 Ohio Presidential Primary. Last year several clergy publicly supported a police-fire department levy renewal.

Last month area pastors recognized the efforts of law enforcement. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

Since 2008, a Christian-based law firm, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), has been encouraging pastors to engage critically-important political issues from the pulpit, including elections. Pulpit Freedom Sunday was a movement started by ADF with the goal of having the Johnson Amendment declared unconstitutional, thereby removing the ability of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to censor what a pastor can say from the pulpit.

Thousands of sermons addressing political issues and candidates were recorded by churches and sent to the IRS with the intent that the IRS would respond by stripping a church of its tax-exempt status. The IRS never did challenge a congregation since it knew it was a gross violation of the First Amendment. In 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to temporarily halt the Johnson Amendment from being enforced.

View the Family Research Council video below to learn more about the Johnson Amendment and religious freedom in the pulpit.

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in Psalms 119 that GOD’s Word, is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.”


See related articles:

Frontlines Ohio candidate survey results for key Mansfield city races (VIDEO)
Area clergy vocal of their support for Mansfield police & fire safety services levy
24 Richland County clergy endorse Ted Cruz for 2016 presidential primary

Frontlines Ohio endorses incumbent Tim Theaker for Mansfield Mayor

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MANSFIELD — Voters will be deciding Tuesday, November 5th who the next Mayor of Mansfield will be. Citizens will get a chance to confirm their support of Mayor Tim Theaker’s management in getting the city out of fiscal emergency, or they will take a chance on new leadership. The editorial board of Frontlines Ohio is convinced on which direction it thinks the city should take.

Tim Theaker says he “goes to work every day to make Mansfield a better place for all of the city, where people want to live, work, worship, play, and raise a family.”  Accruing a rainy day fund for the city, being frugal with taxpayer dollars, and cutting government red tape is helping do just that.

Mayor Tim Theaker (pictured in center) during ribbon-cutting of new local church.’
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

Over Theaker’s eight years as Mayor, the city has had urban blight reduced with eight-hundred of the 2,500 vacant buildings in the city demolished. Land ownership has been enhanced with a new land bank.

During Theaker’s tenure, local economic conditions appear to be on the upswing. Unemployment in the Mansfield metropolitan area has  dropped from 14.4% in January 2010 to 4.4% in August 2019. Mansfield is also very affordable, with a cost of living 7.5% lower than the national average. And the real median family income in Mansfield has skyrocketed (+12.31%) outpacing national (+8.17%) and state (+7.84%) growth incomes over the last three years.

Mayor Tim Theaker (seated far right) meeting with local religious leaders.
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

The case could be made that Tim Theaker has worked more closely with the faith community than any mayor in the two-hundred year history of the City. He has partnered with the faith community, issuing formal proclamations for Pornography Awareness Week, Gambling Awareness Month, Religious Freedom Day, Global Forgiveness Day, Clergy Appreciation Month, and National Day of Prayer. If there is a faith-based cause, Theaker’s door has been open.

The case could be made that Tim Theaker has worked more closely with the faith community than any mayor in the two-hundred year history of the City.

During Theaker’s term, police and fire departments for the first time had the national motto “In GOD we trust” displayed on their vehicles. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why the Safety Services levy was able to secure clergy support and win handily last spring.

Mayor Tim Theaker with faith leaders and Safety Services Director at recent clergy press conference. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)

With clergy and police on the same page under Theaker’s administration, Police Chief Ken Coontz last year cited crime rates dropping for the third year in a row. He also reported unprecedented church involvement in civic involvement for the last several years. With the City of Mansfield on a rebound, Frontlines Ohio believes the city will be in better hands with Tim Theaker as its next mayor.

See related articles:

http://frontlinesohio.com/index.php/2019/10/23/__trashed-5
Mansfield Mayor gives optimistic report at clergy meeting
Ohio clergy to NY media outlet: ‘Who made you judge over us?’
Community embraces idea of Chick fil-A coming to Mansfield (VIDEO)
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