GROVEPORT — After fifty years in existence, the City of Groveport decided this past year to ban the sale of “faith-based” items at its annual Apple Butter Day festival. The city’s secular approach to control commerce did not last very long. A legal challenge by one of the seventy vendors challenging the censorship eventually upset the applecart.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) reported the situation developed when Jake and Jan Seabaugh, who had had booths at previous events, decided not to participate this year because the city banned the sale of “faith-based items.” Their products include wood carvings and stained glass, including items with religious themes like crosses, doves, a Star of David, and carved signs with the words “Peace, Believe, Love.”
The City of Groveport rescinded their prohibition of faith-based items displayed at the city’s Apple Butter Day Festival. (Photo courtesy of Unsplash)
In a letter to the city, FIRE explained the First Amendment protects the expression of religious and nonreligious views alike.
“The Supreme Court has addressed this sort of scenario more than once. In Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia, the court held that a public university violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech by denying a religious student magazine access to the same funding resources made available to secular student-run publications. As the court stated, the ‘government must abstain from regulating speech when the specific motivating ideology or the opinion or perspective of the speaker is the rationale for the restriction,’” FIRE reported.
Apple Butter Day is advertised as a family-oriented, non-commercial community event. All items sold or displayed must be handmade. No commercial items are permitted. Because of the nature and the spirit of the Apple Butter Day festival, preference is given to vendors whose products are crafts using old-fashioned or primitive technique.
“Although the application deadline has passed, the city will allow these groups to vend at the festival tomorrow if they so choose. The law director also confirmed the city will initiate a formal review of the vendor policy, including the other unconstitutional restriction on ‘socially offensive language.’”
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
FIRE reported, “To Groveport’s credit, the city’s law director called FIRE today and confirmed the city will allow the sale of faith-based items at tomorrow’s festival. The city also reached out to Jake Seabaugh, as well as a church and a religious organization that had previously reserved booths at Apple Butter Day, to notify them of the policy change. Although the application deadline has passed, the city will allow these groups to vend at the festival tomorrow if they so choose. The law director also confirmed the city will initiate a formal review of the vendor policy, including the other unconstitutional restriction on ‘socially offensive language.’”
City officials initially called for the ban by claiming it was needed to avoid “endorsing” religion.
But that reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of the First Amendment, the FIRE explained. “The Supreme Court most recently reaffirmed this principle in Shurtleff v. City of Boston. There, the court held that Boston violated the First Amendment when it denied the plaintiff permission to fly the Christian flag on a city plaza, as the city regularly allowed other outside groups to hold ceremonies and events at the plaza where they could fly flags of their choosing on city flagpoles,” the Foundation reported.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says inActs Twenty-Two, “And as they bound Paul with thongs, he said to the centurion who stood by, ‘Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
Area clergy publicly support police immunity in 2021, stand with Sheriff & his dept. vehicles that have national motto (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
BELLVILLE — As a compromise with local clergy and law enforcement, Bellville Village Council decided last week to temporarily freeze any marijuana business startups from coming to the Village for six months. Outside the purview of the public, planning for a recreational marijuana dispensary had been in the works at the Interstate 71/ Ohio 97 interchange. Faith leaders are now trying to nip the proposal in the bud before the business has a chance to be approved.
Although the landowner of the proposed dispensary says he wants to provide cannabis for recreational purposes and as treatment for military veterans, research to date does not support cannabis as an effective treatment for Post-Tramautic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The drug can actually be harmful according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Either way, several local veterans agree the dispensary will not be good for the community.
Pastors Matt Merendino and Chad Hayes attended the Bellville Village Council meeting January 9th and presented a clergy letter from sixty-six lead clergy opposing a proposed marijuana dispensary. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor and veteran Chad Hayes disagrees with marijuana as a viable treatment. “They can say all they want about treatment for veterans, but we need to take the moral high ground: legalizing marijuana is a breach in national security. This drug is making us less vigilant as a people. In the big picture, this is a war on America and its culture, that is why they are trying to decriminalize all drugs. We cannot follow the Pied Piper down this path.”
Pastor Hayes served as a Marine and hosts at his church Reformers Unanimous, a Bible-based, addiction recovery program, designed to rescue and restore those in addictive behaviors. Hayes was also one of the clergy who presented a clergy correspondence signed by sixty-six faith leaders at Village Council January 9th. The correspondence called for a commercial ban on marijuana.
Bellville Pastor Matt O’Harra, who served in the National Guard, is also one of the clergy co-signers of the letter opposing a dispensary. “While there may be other additional medical benefits that we are not aware of, I have serious concerns over the recreational usage of this drug,” he says.
A systematic evidence-based review of more than 10,700 scientific studies conducted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine found verifiable benefits of marijuana for only two disorders, chronic pain and the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Researchers found wide disparities between patient claims and physician-verified therapeutic benefits.
“They can say all they want about treatment for veterans, but we need to take the moral high ground: legalizing marijuana is a breach in national security. This drug is making us less vigilant as a people. In the big picture, this is a war on America and its culture, that is why they are trying to decriminalize all drugs. We cannot follow the Pied Piper down this path.”
Pastor Chad Hayes
The cannabis company that wants to come to Bellville has more than thirty products. Standard Wellness sells products that include: cannabis-infused gummies, cannabis chocolate bars, cannabis caramel bars, discreet vaping products, and distillate syringes. The company has several strains of marijuana plants it derives its products from, including Sour Diesel, Death Star, Killer Queen and Durban Poison, which has THC content between 15-25%. In 2019, the company recalled one of its products due to contamination concerns. Three years later, Standard Wellness was sued by the State of Ohio for non-compliance to Ohio Pharmacy Board requirements.
Citizens who attended the January 9th Village Council meeting warned that not only will impressionable youth be negatively impacted by a marijuana dispensary, there will also be a need for more police officers to address unruly behavior associated with marijuana use. They warned recruitment and retention of police officers will plummet as police morale sours.
Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus believes the dispensary can bring more tax revenue for law enforcement. “We have been struggling to pay our officers higher wages and increase our police department staffing,” she said. “We currently only have five full time officers for 24/7 coverage.”
Joining the other faith leaders is Bellville Pastor Mark Dettmer, who also serves as a police chaplain. “We regularly see individual liberties infringed when marijuana-users accidentally injure or kill people on the roadways, or when marijuana-users sometimes display violent and irrational behavior. Several years ago, it was heartbreaking when a Morrow County deputy was almost killed after neighbors had him investigate a marijuana plantation during a property dispute. We need to consider the dangerous working environment we are putting our law enforcement into.”
Pictured at an October press conference of over one hundred-forty lead clergy, Pastor Steve Brennemen, former Morrow County Sheriff, shared about one of his deputies almost dying after being shot by a marijuana grower. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon wrote to Village Council that he stands firmly against recreational marijuana. METRICH Project Director Keith Porch also told Council in a letter he submitted that “You should not place revenue over the security and sanctity of the family.” He cited Colorado as a classic example of the failed policy of marijuana legalization.
During the January 9th meeting, Bellville Village Council approved an emergency draft resolution stating, “It is our community’s best interests to prevent unacceptable threats and risks to the health of our citizens, especially children, to prevent dangers in the workplace and unacceptable challenges and costs to employers, to prevent roadways from becoming more dangerous and to help prevent significant new, unfunded costs to Ohio’s public social services.”
Pastor Robert Kurtz , serves as chaplain with the Sheriff’s Department. Besides riding along with deputies on duty, his duties include counseling police officers and also families dealing with homicide and suicide. In a previous news story he commented, “There are many dangerous challenges that confront law enforcement officers in our streets today. I think the public forgets police officers are human beings too. Nationally, there were forty-five police officers from different racial backgrounds last year who were shot and killed in the line of duty.
“My observation is, with the legalization of so many illicit drugs, it is creating the atmosphere for violence and that is why we are seeing these combustible conditions.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says inProverbs Chapter 1, “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, ‘How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”
View video on the problem of marijuana produced by Prager U below(5 minutes)
BELLVILLE — With the passage of State Issue 2, the Marijuana Industry in Ohio is expanding into localities, and in some cases, disguised in camouflage. At the admonition of local faith leaders, Bellville Village Council voted 5-1 Tuesday night for a moratorium prohibiting marijuana businesses from coming into the village. After calls to put brakes on a dispensary, Councilman Jason Guilliams made a motion to approve a resolution inside the village prohibiting recreational and/or medical marijuana for six months. Justin Enix was the lone dissenting vote.
Originally the Village Planning Commission was supposed to vote December 28th whether to allow a new recreational marijuana dispensary at the Interstate 71/Ohio 97 interchange. That is until the public found out.
Faith leaders contend proposed marijuana dispensary will sabotage drug-free efforts at Clear Fork Schools they advocatedfor in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“As community partners, we regret that very little information about this highly-consequential project was released to the public, Pastor Chad Hayes told Village Council. “To our knowledge, no village official reached out to faith leaders about this plan.”
Scant information has been posted on the Bellville Village website regarding the proposed marijuana dispensary. The only mention is from the July 11th, 2023 council meeting minutes. “Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus questioned what the Village’s position would be on interest in being the potential location of a medical marijuana dispensary, an inquiry she received from Barrett Thomas,” the minutes said.
In a correspondence given by clergy to Village Council, the clergymen wrote, “There is no question the local faith community consistently opposes the use of the Schedule 1 narcotic marijuana. This past election cycle saw lead clergy from over one hundred-forty congregations publicly oppose the legalization of “recreational” marijuana. Last year, one hundred-ten clergy sent a letter electronically to every mayor in Richland County, including Bellville, opposing recreational marijuana. Lastly, in March of 2017, a clergy letter opposing “medical” marijuana, an addictive drug with no FDA approval, was also sent to every mayor in Richland County, including Bellville.” The letter went on to say, “If approved by the Village, this marijuana business will come to steal, kill and destroy.”
“As local stakeholders and lead clergymen from sixty-six congregations, we publicly value human life and oppose harmful substances that jeopardize public health and safety,” Pastor Matt Merendino, one of the clergy co-signers told Council. “Therefore, we are calling on Bellville Village Council to pass emergency legislation banning all businesses involving the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of marijuana located in the Clear Fork Valley area that will ultimately poison our local culture.”
“We are calling on Bellville Village Council to pass emergency legislation banning all businesses involving the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of marijuana located in the Clear Fork Valley area that will ultimately poison our local culture.”
Local clergy letter
Pastor Matt Merendino told council he has seen students access marijuana illegally using someone else’s marijuana card. He also shared with Village Council that thirteen clergy in 2013 advocated for the implementation of a random drug testing program for students involved in extra-curricular activities in Clear Fork Valley Schools. “This program, which was approved by the School Board at the clergy’s request, was designed to protect the health and safety of young people and prepare them for the workforce where drug-free work cultures exist.
“We believe the injection of more marijuana into our community, a drug associated with mental illness, would undermine this drug testing program,” Merendino said. “As a result, the approval of a commercial marijuana business would inflame an illicit drug culture leading to a spike in emergency room visits similar to 2016, when twenty-four young people were hospitalized for ingesting THC-laced candy. This ill-fated concert event, entitled ‘The Last Weekend on Earth,’ took place at Ohio Dreams outside the Village of Butler, attracting national news outlets, and bringing shame to our region.”
Brandy Marquette, Executive Director with Community Action for Capable Youth (CACY) wrote a letter to Bellville Village Council pointing out that since medical marijuana sales began in Ohio in 2019, accidental poisonings have significantly increased. “I urge Council to carefully consider the potential consequences and the possible long-term impact on children and teens. At a time when Ohio is experiencing a mental health crisis, violence on the rise, and a record number of drug overdoses, we are deeply worried that a dispensary may increase drug availability,” she wrote.
Proposed marijuana dispensary (highlighted in yellow) is adjacent to Burger King near the Interstate 71/Ohio 97 interchange. (Photo courtesy of Richland County Auditor’s website)
Benjamin Mutti gave Village Council a draft emergency resolution which Council later voted on. Based from Senator Mark Romanchuck’s Senate Resolution 216, Mutti touched on the economic ramifications, calling marijuana a ‘lawless industry that collides with lawful societies,’ and that other states that legalized marijuana ten years prior demonstrate this.
“This dispensary will have a ripple effect on the economy and law enforcement. A smaller workforce will result when drug tests show up dirty. Employers will either leave the area or go automated. Ultimately, we will need more police officers to address unruly behavior from marijuana use, but recruitment and retention of police officers will plummet as police morale sours. It very well could be like the Wild West when the cartels move in.”
Local law enforcement officials submitted letters to Council and also do not want marijuana coming to Richland County. Sheriff Steve Sheldon wrote, “With over forty years experience in law enforcement, I believe this type of facility would negatively impact the Village of Bellville and surrounding areas.” METRICH Project Director Keith Porch wrote, “I am against bringing a recreational marijuana manufacturing facility to the area. We are a community of children and families and at some point, revenue should not be placed above maintaining the security and sanctity of our families.”
Citizens also chimed in during public comment. Bob Gunther and Art Lowe both gave their disapproval of the dispensary. Darrell Banks reminded Council that Richland County was one of the counties that voted against the marijuana issue 2 and said marijuana will negatively impact public safety on the roadways. Reverend Mike Stine opposed the dispensary saying “all things may be lawful, but not all things are beneficial.” Sixty-year resident, Jim Haring, owner of a nearby proposed four-hundred housing unit development, also objected to marijuana in the community. Citizen Steve McKinley believes if the Village approves the marijuana dispensary after the six-month moratorium, it will be pardoning misbehavior. “For my career in law, I have observed recreational marijuana to typically be associated with human failure. It is often times why kids are neglected by their impaired parents and also one of the main drivers for delinquent behavior.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in John Chapter Ten, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
BELLVILLE — More than two billion people from one hundred-sixty nations consider Christmas to be an important date on the calendar. In fact, sixty-five percent of Americans, according to one study, said Christmas should be more about Jesus. The study also revealed that while those two-thirds may want more Christ in Christmas, most could not adequately give the details of Jesus’ birth story.
This season, some people are making sure the real reason for the season is not forgotten.
Clear Fork Alliance Church hosted a “Experience Bethlehem” tour this month. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
For three days, the Clear Fork Alliance Church hosted a twenty-minute guided tour re-enacting life in Bethlehem during the time of Christ’s birth. Attendees got to live the Christmas story, experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem, sample food, see soldiers arrest beggars in the streets, hear angels sing, smell the animals near the manger, and follow the star to the manger.
“This is one of the outreaches we have in our community to remind them to keep Christ in Christmas,” says Cindy Merrin, one of the event coordinators. “He is the reason for the season. Close to twelve hundred people attended our event which was over a three-day period. We have had visitors come from Cleveland and Columbus. Last year people came from Kentucky and North Carolina to see.”
Merrin spent Sunday afternoon guiding tour groups through ten scenes from the Bible. The church has made the event a tradition, putting on the event every year since 2000. The idea came from an outdoor tour at a church in Fremont, Ohio.
“They totally transformed our gym and made it a whole new world. It is really cool to watch the little kids go through the gym and their eyes open up because they are like, they have heard these stories, but this is what it looks like. They just get so excited about it.”
Kaitlyn Marett
Visitors can register with the census taker, receive a free bag of gold coins, and spend them at Bethlehem’s various shops. Fifteen vendors make up the Bethlehem village square, including booths with a blacksmith, carpenter, jeweler, leather maker, llamas and sheep.
Cindy Ruckman of McFarland’s Llama Farm donated her llama, two sheep and two chickens for the event.
Kaitlyn Marett said her favorite part of the event is what comes next, when guests are free to roam through the replica village of Bethlehem. “They totally transform our gym and make it a whole new world,” she said. “It is really cool to watch the little kids go through it and their eyes open up because they have heard these stories, but this is what it looks like. They just get so excited about it.”
“Experience Bethlehem” recounts the birth of Christ. Joseph & Mary are depicted in this scene. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Lead pastor Matt Merendino manned the olive and grape stand alongside his wife, Missy. He said the event benefits the community as well as the church. “I love doing Bethlehem. It brings the whole church together,” he said. “It’s fun to be together and to serve together. I think people remember they like each other and they like hanging out with each other.”
While “Experience Bethlehem” occurred December 8th thru the 10th, people can still experience the Christmas story in North Central Ohio. “Come Let Us Adore Him,” is a free tour of the life of Jesus at BibleWalk between December 23rd thru December 30th 10 AM-4 PM. The museum is closed on December 24th and 25th.
BibleWalk in Mansfield is Ohio’s only wax museum. It has a sixty-minute journey into the life, death, resurrection, ascension and ends with Christ seated on His Throne at “The Great White Throne Judgement.” This tour also features twenty-five separate narrated scenes of Jesus Christ’s life from the Bible, and also one of Madame Tussaud’s famous Last Supper re-creations.
The Christmas tours at these churches are the antithesis of the tours at the Ohio State Reformatory, which is just down the street from BibleWalk. While OSR glorifies death, these church tours proclaim life and carry a more memorable message: resurrection from the dead.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Luke Chapter Two, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
View the slideshow belowof local guided toursrecounting the birth of Christ.
BibleWalk has a sixty-minute journey into the life, death, resurrection, & ascension of Christ.
Visitors experience what Bethlehem was like at time of Christ. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“Experience Bethlehem” recounts the birth of Christ. The fulfillment of prophecy is depicted in this scene. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Visitors experience what Bethlehem was like at time of Christ. Llamas and sheep add to the intrigue. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“Experience Bethlehem” recounts the birth of Christ. Angels talking to shepherds are depicted in this scene. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Visitors experience what Bethlehem was like at time of Christ. A dreidel shop adds to the intrigue. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“Experience Bethlehem” recounts the birth of Christ. King Herod is depicted in this scene. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
BibleWalk has a sixty-minute journey into the life, death, resurrection, & ascension of Christ.
Visitors experience what Bethlehem was like at time of Christ. Pastor Matt Merendino and his wife add their vineyard products to the intrigue. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“Experience Bethlehem” recounts the birth of Christ. A Roman soldier is depicted in this scene. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“Experience Bethlehem” recounts the birth of Christ. Joseph & Mary are depicted in this scene. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clear Fork Alliance recently hosted an “Experience Bethlehem” tour that was open to the public. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene on West High in Mount Gilead, Ohio has been has been ongoing holiday tradition, circa 1999. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — The separation of church and state continues to erode. Although never mentioned in the Constitution, the deep-rooted ‘Lemon Test‘ had been exerted by courts to censor religious speech on public spaces. But at the end of this past Supreme Court session, the High Court cancelled this restriction, which could impact generations.
“Cities, states, schools, and other public places are free once more to display Christmas nativities, Hannukah menorahs, and other symbols of religious Holy Days,” says Mat Staver, Chairman and Founder of The Liberty Counsel. “The Court finally struck down the judicial activist decision known as Lemon v. Kurtzman that had been used to attack Christian values, symbols, faith, and principles for fifty-one years. This is a resounding win for both Free Speech and Free Exercise of Religion.”
Menorah display at Marshall Park in Ontario, Ohio has been ongoing holiday display tradition since 2021. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
In May of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 against the City of Boston when it unlawfully allowed fifty different flags to fly in its city plaza, but prevented the Christian flag from being flown. This past year, the Supreme Court cited the Shurtleff v. Boston case when it determined the Bremerton School District violated Coach Joe Kennedy’s First Amendment rights, saying prayers amounted to private speech and could not be restricted by the school district.
Since 2021, Staver’s Liberty Counsel law firm has won all nine of its cases it has argued or briefed before the Supreme Court. Staver believes there is a crucial difference between government endorsement of religion and private speech.
“Censoring religious viewpoints in a public forum where secular viewpoints are permitted is unconstitutional. Praise God for a High Court that has reversed the errors of previous “activist” judges and Justices! The Supreme Court has restored the First Amendment, preserving the right to religious freedom and speech,” exclaims Staver.
“As a result of our work overturning this Lemon, we are free to celebrate Christmas. Antireligious entities can no longer force the censorship of Nativity scenes, Menorahs or other symbols of religious holy days.
Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel
The Court stated that the City of Boston violated the Constitution by censoring Camp Constitution’s private flag in a public forum open to “all applicants” merely because the application referred to it as a “Christian flag.” Contrary to the City of Boston’s position that flying the Christian flag violated the Establishment Clause, the Supreme Court ruled that censoring the Christian flag was, in fact, religious viewpoint discrimination and violated the First Amendment.
Besides triggering review of local and state government flag-flying policies nationwide, the Shurtleff v. Boston decision was cited in the 6-3 SCOTUS ruling in favor of high school football coach Joe Kennedy, who was fired for silently praying on the field after games.
Building on the 9-0 win in Shurtleff, the Supreme Court overturned the draconian precedent going back to the 1971 case known as Lemon v. Kurtzman. The so-called “Lemon Test” had been used to censor religious words, symbols, images, and displays. The Shurtleff decision combined with the Coach Kennedy ruling was the nail in the coffin for the Lemon Test, setting a new standard that provides greater protections for Christian viewpoints.
Nativity scene at Central Park in Mansfield, Ohio has been ongoing holiday display tradition since 2019. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
With victories involving the Bladensburg Peace Cross, the Christian flag, and Coach Kennedy, the First Amendment is not going away anytime soon; much to the chagrin of Big Tech and Deep State operatives.
“As a result of our work overturning this Lemon, we are free to celebrate Christmas, says Mat Staver. “Antireligious entities can no longer force the censorship of Nativity scenes, Menorahs or other symbols of religious holy days.”
Religious displays on public spaces abound in the Buckeye Bible Belt; communities not exercising their First Amendment rights are the exception. Looks like political correctness will have to sit on the sidelines for this one.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Psalm Nineteen, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”
View slideshow below of religious displays on public spacesin North Central Ohio.
Nativity scene at Bicentennial Park in Ashland has been ongoing holiday display tradition since 2022. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene on Bellville, Ohio Public Square has been ongoing holiday tradition; circa 1963. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Menorah display at Fredericktown, Ohio Municipal Hall, inaugural holiday display in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene at Fredericktown, Ohio Public Square has been ongoing holiday display tradition, circa 1974. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Menorah display at Community Park in Lexington, Ohio has been ongoing tradition since 2021. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity display at Central Park in Loudonville, Ohio has been ongoing holiday display tradition. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene at Malabar Farm State Park near Lucas, Ohio has been ongoing holiday tradition since 1976. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene at Mount Vernon, Ohio Public Square has been ongoing holiday display tradition; circa 2017. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Ten Commandment display at Norwalk, Ohio City Hall; circa 1957. (Photo courtesy screenshot)
Nativity scene at Willard Park in Ohio has been ongoing tradition for Willard Festival of Lights since 2019. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Ricky Branham)
Nativity scene at Willard Park in Ohio has been ongoing tradition for Willard Festival of Lights since 2019. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Ricky Branham)
Nativity scene at Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio has been ongoing holiday tradition since 2019. (Photo courtesy screenshot)
Nativity scene on West Main in Shelby, Ohio has been ongoing holiday tradition; circa 1963. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Menorah display on West Main in Shelby inaugural holiday display in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene on East Main in Shiloh, Ohio has been ongoing holiday tradition; circa 1984. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene at Central Park in Mansfield, Ohio has been ongoing holiday display tradition since 2019. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Menorah display at Marshall Park in Ontario, Ohio has been ongoing holiday display tradition since 2021.(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Nativity scene on West High in Mount Gilead, Ohio has been has been ongoing holiday display tradition, circa 1999. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Those at the Grand Menorah Lighting take steps to ensure their lampstand is not removed from Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — Municipal officials in Bethlehem, Israel recently announced there will be no holiday display at Manger Square this year as an “act of solidarity” to Gaza. This cancellation comes in response to Israel’s retaliation against Hamas after the October 7th massacre. During the unwarranted attack, Hamas terrorists murdered fourteen hundred Israelis and kidnapped over two hundred-forty. While universities across the nation spew their hatred towards the Jewish State, communities in the Midwest are displaying their solidarity for Israel in their public spaces.
Amie Mutti is a faith-based advocate for Israel and part of an effort to display menorahs on municipal property during the Hannukah season. This year menorahs are being displayed on civic property in four area communities.
As mainstream media and university faculty oppose the Jewish State, communities across North Central Ohio display menorahs on civic property. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“There is currently a campaign going on for non-Jews to show their support for the Jewish people and to stand against anti-Semitism,” says Mutti. “By placing a hannukiah (menorah) in their windows they are showing their solidarity for Israel. I am proud that our surrounding communities have taken this one step further by placing hannukiahs in their public spaces for Hannukah.”
Mutti believes that no matter how dark things get, in the end the light will always prevail. With civic approval, menorahs have been placed for the first time in Fredericktown near municipal hall, and in Shelby, near the Gazebo and Gamble’s Millstone. These two area displays join two other Hannukuh holiday displays at municipal parks in Ontario and Lexington.
“There is currently a campaign going on for non-Jews to show their support for the Jewish people and to stand against anti-Semitism. By placing a hannukiah (menorah) in their windows they are showing their solidarity for Israel. I am proud that our surrounding communities have taken this a step further by placing hannukiahs in their public spaces.”
Amie Mutti
Area support for the Jewish State has been ongoing. In 2019, the Richland County Board of Commissioners began investing in Israel bonds. Earlier this year, nine area mayors and three boards of county commissioners gave formal proclamations recognizing the seventy-fifth anniversary of the rebirth of Israel. Just last month, lead clergymen representing one hundred fifty-five congregations gave a joint statement at the Sar Shalom Center condemning the October 7th Black Sabbath attack by Hamas terrorists. The clergymen also supported Israel’s absolute right to exist and to defend itself.
Saturday evening one of the clergy cosigners of the joint statement, Rabbi William Hallbrook, held a Hannukuh banquet at his synagogue. During the event, he discussed the rising tide of anti-Semitism around the world since the October 7th massacre. The same hatred can now be seen in the United States.
Rabbi Hallbrook showed his congregation a photograph taken in 1931 by a rabbi’s wife from Kiel, Germany. The chilling picture depicts in the foreground, a hannukiah in a window of her home. Behind it is a flag of a swastika prominently displayed across the street outside the adjacent Nazi headquarters. At that time, most Jews after the rise of the Nazis, pulled their curtains shut during Hannukuh so their hannukiah (menorah) could not be seen from the street.
Faith leaders participate in campaign to show solidarity with Israel by placing menorahs on public spaces. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“The point can be made that there are similarities between the modern U.S. and to Germany before World War Two,” the Rabbi comments. “In a time when Germany’s Jews were being subjected to increasing hostility, the hannukiah this rabbi’s wife displayed became an act of defiance to commemorate Hannukah. She was determined to show she and her husband were not afraid. When the photograph was discovered in 1974, Rosi Posner had written on the back of the picture, ‘just as the Nazi flag says Judaism will die, so the light (of the hannukiah) says it will live forever.’”
Rabbi Hallbrook adds, “We are to be the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket; but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible saysin Revelations Chapter Two, “Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
This menorah display at the Fredericktown Municipal Hall is one of four menorah displays in North Central Ohio. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
This year marks the first recorded menorah display on Shelby city property. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Rain subsided in Ontario for the Grand Menorah lighting at Sar Shalom Center Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Forty attended Ontario’s third annual menorah lighting at Marshall Park. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
After challenging his congregation with the Rosi Posner story, Rabbi Hallbrook lit a Hannukiah (menorah) outside along the Lincoln Highway. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The Fredericktown square has both a nativity scene (left) and a menorah display. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Saturday evening, Rabbi William Hallbrook shared about Rosi Posner’s 1931 photograph of her Hannukiah (menorah) displayed in her window across the street from a Nazi headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Rosi Posner’s photograph of the candlestick marking the festival of Hannukah was taken in their Kiel home. (Photo courtesy of Nava Gilo/Yad Vashem)
This year marks the first recorded menorah display on Fredericktown village property. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
People gathered in Ontario Thursday on the first night of Hannukah. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
In 2021, the Ontario City Council President supported Ontario’s first religious display (the menorah), calling Richland County “a faith-based county.” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
As mainstream media and university faculty oppose the Jewish State, communities across North Central Ohio display menorahs on civic property. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The Village of Lexington had a menorah display at Community Park for its third year. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
After challenging his congregation with the Rosi Posner story, Rabbi Hallbrook lit a Hannukiah (menorah) outside along the Lincoln Highway. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Faith leaders participate in campaign to show solidarity with Israel by placing menorahs on public spaces. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
As mainstream media and university faculty oppose the Jewish State, communities across North Central Ohio display menorahs on civic property. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Those at the Grand Menorah Lighting take steps to ensure their lampstand is not removed from Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
In 2023, Rabbi William Hallbrook and 155 lead clergy call Oct. 7th massacre, 'Israel's 911' with human depravity of 'the highest magnitude.' (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
ONTARIO –The world became a darker place October 7th, 2023. “The Black Sabbath Massacre” became the biggest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Gazan Jihadists slaughtered over fourteen hundred Israelis, and abducted another two hundred-forty. In one of the most pressure-packed periods in the history of the globe, Ohio faith leaders went on record Tuesday night and vocalized their strong support for Israel. ‘Never again’ is right now.
“While the Church as a whole remained largely silent during the Holocaust, as leading clergymen from one hundred-fifty-five diverse congregations across the Buckeye Bible Belt, we publicly stand in solidarity with the Nation of Israel and corporately condemn the anti-Semitic atrocities perpetrated by Hamas,” Pastor J.C. Church declared at the Israel rally. “From Pharaoh, to Hamman, to Hitler to Hamas, Israel has continually been targeted for being GOD’s chosen people.”
Lead clergymen declaring support for Israel, Pictured L to R: Reverend El Akuchie, Pastor J.C. Church, Rabbi William Hallbrook, & Bishop Anthony Cooper. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Prior to the clergy joint statement, several quotes on the tragedy of silence were recited by a ten year-old student to the gathering. Each seat at the ‘Night for Israel’ event had posters depicting the faces of innocent civilians abducted from Israel into the Gaza Strip by Hamas. The posters served as reminders to attendees that each hostage is watching their response to evil. “This surprise attack is ‘Israel’s 911,” commented Rabbi William Halbrook. “It is human depravity of the highest magnitude.”
“There was no justification for the use of brutal acts of terrorism by Hamas to target Israeli and Palestinian civilians. We believe each murder and brutal act by Hamas during the October 7th massacre constitutes as an act of genocide.”
The clergy statement went on to describe the foreign terrorist organization Hamas, which assumed administrative control over the Gaza Strip after winning the 2006 legislative elections. “Hamas has a charter stating ‘Israel will exist until Islam obliterates it.’ Further, Hamas leaders say they love death as much as the Jews love life and incentivizes terrorism by paying families of suicide bombers four times the average income. They regularly use their citizens as human shields to protect military operations, and have wide support of their citizens, even supporting the use of terrorism against Israeli civilians,” the clergy wrote.
“We unequivocally agree Israel has the absolute right to exist and to defend itself, which includes taking measures to eliminate its foes. We pray for the safe release of every hostage held captive by the terrorist group Hamas. We corporately pray for GOD to comfort and strengthen His chosen people and to help those impacted by October 7th’s “Black Sabbath Massacre” to find healing and hope in the midst of devastation.”
Ohio clergy joint statement
Unfortunately, opponents of Israel have effectively used media to attempt to rewrite Israel’s history. “Israel is the only Jewish state in the world,” said Reverend El Akuchie, another spokesmen at Tuesday’s assembly. “Israel has been commonly mislabeled an ‘apartheid’ despite having ten elected Arab members currently serving in the Knesset, and despite being surrounded by twenty-two Islamic Arab states that threaten its existence, stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Jewish history in the land goes back to before the tenth century B.C.,” he said. To address misnomers about the State of Israel, Apologetics handouts were provided to attendees of the event.
“We unequivocally agree Israel has the absolute right to exist and to defend itself, which includes taking measures to eliminate its foes,” said Pastor J.C. Church. “We pray for the safe release of every hostage held captive by the terrorist group Hamas. We corporately pray for GOD to comfort and strengthen His chosen people and to help those impacted by the “Black Sabbath Massacre” to find healing and hope in the midst of devastation.”
Reverend El Akuchie added, “The Bible clearly gives justification for war by civic governments to protect its sovereignty and defend its citizens found in Romans 13. And Psalms 97 goes further saying to ‘Hate evil those who love the LORD.”
In addition to Mansfield City Councilman Rev. Akuchie, elected officials attending the event included State Representative Marilyn John, Richland County Commissioners: Cliff Mears, Darrell Banks, and Tony Vero, Sheriff Steve Sheldon, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, and Judges Steve McKinley, Beth Owens, and Mike Kemerer.
Local civic officials watch interview of Israeli war veteran near Lebanon border. Pictured from L to R: Tony Vero, Mike Kemerer, Cliff Mears, & Steve Sheldon. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The region has a reputation of support for the Jewish State. Clergy co-signers of the joint statement have congregations located in twenty-two counties throughout Ohio. Counties with the most congregations represented include Richland, Crawford, Ashland, Trumbull, Wayne, Knox, Morrow, Huron, and Stark Counties. Earlier this year on ‘Jerusalem Day,’ faith leaders encouraged state lawmakers to formally recognize Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel. A large number of mayors and several Boards of County Commissioners also recognized the seventy-fifth anniversary of the rebirth of Israel.
The ‘Night for Israel’ event raised $7,000, with donations going to David Rubin’s Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund. The former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel has visited Ontario several times. Those in attendance also saw a boots on the ground interview of Dr. Eldad Keynan from Northern Israel. The war hero discussed the attitudes of the Israeli people and the issues they are contending with.
The archaic atrocities committed October 7th were nothing short of medieval. Pastor J.C. Church believes Scripture sums it up best. “When King David and Israel’s army were surrounded in front and to the rear, David’s commander, Joab told his partner in command, ‘Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our GOD; and may the LORD do what seems good to him.’”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Psalm 120,“My soul has long dwelt too long with him that hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”
View slideshow by Frontlines Ohio of “Night for Israel” event in Ontario on Tuesday evening.
Over one hundred-forty attended Tuesday’s “A Night for Israel” event at Ontario Sar Shalom Center. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Rev. El Akuchie noted that Hamas regularly misuses its people as human shields. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Local ten year old reads quote saying ‘to be silent is to speak.’ (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
This digital sign supporting Israel on U.S. 30 in Mansfield is seen by 32,000 motorists daily. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor J.C. Church says faith leaders cannot be silent in the midst of genocidal crimes by Hamas. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Event organizers gave out fifty “Stand with Israel’ yard signs to attendees. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
In 2023, a “Night for Israel’ event in Ontario, Ohio raised $7,000 of donations for Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Local churches like this one on Ohio Route 4 outside Bucyrus recognize the importance of Israel in Bible prophecy. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Rabbi William Hallbrook challenges audience, “Will you stand w/Israel in the hard times?” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor J.C. Church says “We believe Israel has the absolute right to exist and defend itself.” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Rabbi William Hallbrook said a diverse group of faith leaders from 22 counties and different denominations stand with Israel. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Local churches like this one on Lex Springmill Road outside Ontario recognize the importance of Israel in Bible prophecy. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Tragedy in Israel unites lead clergymen from over one hundred-fifty congregations in Ohio. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
‘Night for Israel’ event raised $7,000 for Israel Shiloh Children’s Fund to treat terrorist victims. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Local churches like this one on Walker Lake Road outside Mansfield recognize the importance of Israel in Bible prophecy. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Local civic officials watch interview of Israeli veteran near Lebanon border. Pictured from L to R: Tony Vero, Mike Kemerer, Cliff Mears, & Steve Sheldon. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Lead clergymen declaring support for Nation of Israel, Pictured L to R: Rev. El Akuchie, Pastor J.C. Church, Rabbi William Hallbrook, & Bishop Anthony Cooper. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
In 2023, Rabbi William Hallbrook and 155 lead clergy call Oct. 7th massacre, ‘Israel’s 911’ with human depravity of ‘the highest magnitude.’ (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
View video produced by Frontlines Ohioof clergy joint statement during the “Night for Israel” event in Ontario on Tuesday evening. (Duration 9 min.)
CRESTLINE — October 13th was designated by Hamas leaders as a ‘Global Day of Rage.’ The declaration came after Israeli attacks on Gaza that stemmed from Hamas’ massacre of over one thousand Jewish civilians. Many in the civilized world turned a deaf ear to the Day of Rage, including one Ohio community on the ‘other side of the tracks.’
Hamas has called for the eradication of Israel. As demonstrations of rage against the Jewish State were occurring in public squares Friday the 13th, believers chose to gather together in solidarity for Israel at the Crestline Village Gazebo. Crestline is known for being a hub for major railways, and it became a hub for prayer Friday evening.
On the so-called “Day of Rage,” local believers chose to gather together in solidarity for Israel at the Crestline Gazebo. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“This is a great opportunity to show our solidarity with the Nation of Israel,” says Rabbi Bob Bauer. “It is crucial for individuals of all Bible- believing congregations to come together in prayer and show support for Israel. Hamas is a terrorist group and is trying to wipe Israel off the map. This is our time to corporately and publicly overcome evil with good.”
Prayers from the Book of Psalms were given by those in attendance and were in stark contrast to the flag burning and death chants of Hamas protesters in their day of rage.
“We pray O merciful and gracious GOD, abundant in love and compassion. Save us from rage and from wrath. If we are without righteousness or good deeds, remember Your covenant with our ancestors and remember our daily affirmation,” the group of fifty prayed.
“It is crucial for individuals of all Bible- believing congregations to come together in prayer and show support for Israel. Hamas is a terrorist group and is trying to wipe Israel off the map. This is our time to corporately and publicly overcome evil with good.”
Rabbi Bob Bauer, Beit El Elyon
The Rabbi from Beit El Elyon in Crestline believes that while Israel is six thousand miles away from Ohio, an attack on Israel is an attack on his Biblical values and Judeo-Christian heritage. “The Bible instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to seek its prosperity. We are family. An attack on Israel is an attack on us.”
The Hamas attack on October 7th in Israel sparked the worst conflict in the region in fifty years and has been called Israel’s 911. Law enforcement agencies across the nation said they were stepping up their security presence around synagogues and other places of worship. Bauer’s synagogue is located adjacent to the Crestline Police Station and the congregation also has a trained security force.
Rabbi Bob Bauer (Second from left) says the Bible promises that although the nations will surround and try to destroy it, Israel will be victorious in the end. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“We are not worried about the enemies of Israel, it is Hamas that should be worried. The Bible is clear that Israel is the apple of GOD’s eye. It is these moments of tragedy that are uniting Bible believers together. The following week nearby Trinity Lutheran Church hosted a prayer vigil to stand with Israel. Our community is coming together.”
The Village of Crestline has a record of support for the Nation of Israel. In a proclamation observing Israel’s seventy-fifth anniversary from May 2023, Crestline Mayor Linda Horning-Pitt wrote, “The desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of Israel is an outgrowth of the historic kingdom of Israel established in the land of Israel three thousand years ago with the City of Jerusalem as its capital.”
Now if only Arabs could recognize this.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible saysin Genesis Fifteen, “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”
Rabbi Bob Bauer says the Bible promises that although the nations will surround and try to destroy it, Israel will be victorious in the end. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Crestline Mayor Linda Horning-Pitt with Rabbi Bob Bauer and Israel proclamation in May 2023. (Submitted photo)
On the so-called “Day of Rage,” local believers chose to gather together in solidarity for Israel at the Crestline Gazebo. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Crestline Mayor proclamation recognizing 75th anniversary of modern Israel. (Submitted photo)
On the so-called “Day of Rage,” local believers chose to gather together in solidarity for Israel at the Crestline Gazebo. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
75th Anniversary of Israel cake at celebration in Crestline, Ohio. (Submitted photo)
Pastor Robert Kurtz encourages Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — Even after the passage of Issue 2, Marijuana remains a controversial issue. After religious, business, and civic leaders staunchly opposed ‘recreational’ Marijuana legalization, the election results showed their efforts came up short. With fifty-seven percent of Ohio voters supporting Marijuana, Governor Mike DeWine declared that the ‘People have spoken,’ and that he intends to give the voters what they want.
But lawmakers still have the authority to overrule the vote. The question is, how important to lawmakers is the next generation?
Clergymen representing 142 congregations held a press conference encouraging Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 to prevent legalization of ‘Recreational’ Marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“Quite frankly, we are in this mess when they (Ohio lawmakers) went against the will of the voters and legalized Cannabis, an addictive Schedule 1 narcotic, for medical purposes, says Pastor J.C. Church, one of over one hundred-forty lead clergymen who held a press conference opposing Issue 2.
“Ironically the people spoke loud and clear in 2015 when sixty-five percent of Ohioans flat out rejected Marijuana. Despite that, state lawmakers rejected the election outcome when SEVEN MONTHS later, the Legislature and Governor still legalized Marijuana for ‘medicinal purposes.’ They ignored the voters. “
The recently-approved Issue 2 is a citizen-initiated statute and is subject to change. Conservatives in the Legislature who remain opposed to legalizing ‘recreational’ Marijuana are free to make tweaks to the law or even repeal it. Republicans hold supermajorities in both the House (67-32) and Senate (26-7). Senate President Matt Huffman, (R-Lima), and House Speaker Jason Stephens, (R-Kitts Hill), will be meeting with DeWine to discuss possible changes to the law before the measure is scheduled to go into effect December 7th.
“What the people have clearly told us is they want legal marijuana in Ohio,” says DeWine. “We are going to see that they have that, but we have also got to live up to our responsibility to all the people in the State of Ohio, whether they voted for it or voted against it. We want to do that in a very responsible way, and respectful way. And we should do it the Ohio way.”
“We will not bow down to the Cannabis Cartel that is trying to join the state government…The State Legislature went against the will of the voters in 2015 and opened Pandora’s Box by legalizing ‘medical’ Marijuana. So to be fair, we want them to repeal this dangerous Issue 2 Marijuana initiative- period.”
Pastor J.C. Church
Pastor Church asserts, “We will not bow down to the Cannabis Cartel that is trying to join the state government. Most everyone who voted for Governor DeWine’s second and last term knew he ran on a platform opposing Marijuana and he still got re-elected in a landslide. Why not respect the 2022 election outcome? Why does the government always have to stoop to the lowest common denominator when it comes to social issues? We need leaders with backbone who stand for principals. That is creates real legacy.”
In the 2015 Ohio General Election, Issue 3 would have legalized both ‘medical’ and ‘recreational’ uses for Marijuana. The measure would have allowed commercial-scale production and sale of cannabis at ten locations. The cannabis measure failed with just thirty-five percent of voters supporting. Then-Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a ballot measure that would have put legalized ‘medical’ Marijuana before voters.
Based on a poll, the General Assembly passed a ‘Medical’ Marijuana legalization bill and Governor John Kasich signed it in June 2016. The biased polling was conducted by Quinnipiac University, a liberal arts college based in the blue state of Connecticut where Marijuana possession was decriminalized in 2011. Quinnipiac University has been a pioneer for the Marijuana movement. Most of its favorable polling on Marijuana is done in battleground states where policy is easily influenced.
2023 General Election results for Issue 2. The ballot initiative won by a 57-43 % margin. (Graphic courtesy of CNN Politics)
The new controversial law will allow adults twenty-one and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to grow plants at home. According to National Poison Data System data, cases of children younger than age six who ingested edibles have increased exponentially since 2017. Besides clear moral objections, business and manufacturing organizations are also concerned about its impact on workplace and traffic safety. However, some in the debate have selective memories.
“I cannot believe in 2023 we are actually talking about elected officials not respecting the will of the voters and not respecting the outcome of an election,” Tom Haren, Spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said on Tuesday. Absurdly, that is exactly what happened to conservative Ohio voters in 2015. Now, eight years later with a client base established, a cannabis market share and cannabis addiction has increased.
Faith leader J.C. Church adds, “The State Legislature went against the will of the voters in 2015 and opened Pandora’s Box by legalizing ‘medical’ Marijuana. So to be fair, we want them to repeal the Issue 2 Marijuana initiative, period.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs Twenty-Nine, “The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
COLUMBUS — Following this week’s passage of Issue 1, twenty-six Ohio legislators issued a joint statement announcing they will be introducing legislation to address Issue 1 debacle. The joint legislative statement says Issue 1 failed to mention any laws that would be required to be repealed.
On Wednesday, State Legislators said Issue 1 was vaguely written in order to deceive the public into passing it. As a result, enacting Issue 1 into law requires deciphering ambiguous intent. “Issue 1 does not repeal a single Ohio law; in fact, it does not even mention one,” commented Representative Bill Dean (R-Xenia). “This initiative is too vague and ambiguous to change anything.”
26 Ohio Legislators will be seeking to remove jurisdiction from the judiciary over the ambiguous ballot initiative.
Pointing to millions of dollars from billionaires outside America that helped fund Issue 1, Representative Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) stated, “Foreign billionaires don’t get to make Ohio laws. This is foreign election interference and it will not stand.”
“If foreign money can be used to buy elections, what’s to stop the Chinese from funding a forced-abortion amendment next?” asked Faith2Action President Janet Folger Porter. “Our children are not for sale to the highest bidder on a ballot initiative.”
Janet Porter was instrumental behind the passage of Ohio’s Woman’s Right to Know Law, Parental Consent, Fetal Homicide, Partial Birth Abortion Ban, and the Heartbeat Law. Porter continued,“The Supreme Court in Dobbs established that this is for elected representatives to decide. Just as Missouri legislators negated a stem cell ballot initiative in 2006, we will do likewise.”
“Just as we wouldn’t reinstate slavery by a popular vote, the inalienable right to life cannot be infringed, no matter how much foreign money was spent on false and misleading ads,”said former State Representative Candice Keller, a joint sponsor of Ohio’s Heartbeat Law.
“If foreign money can be used to buy elections, what’s to stop the Chinese from funding a forced-abortion amendment next? The Supreme Court in Dobbs established that this is for elected representatives to decide. Just as Missouri legislators negated a stem cell ballot initiative in 2006, we will do likewise. Our children are not for sale to the highest bidder on a ballot initiative.
Janet Porter, Faith2Action
Constitutional Attorney Andy Schlafly, son of the renowned Phyllis Schlafly stated,“Issue 1 violates the right to elect representatives to decide fundamental issues. Ballot initiatives cannot infringe on the inalienable right to life, and the legislature should withdraw jurisdiction from the courts to prevent misapplication of Issue 1 against life.”
State Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) stated, “We will continue to be a voice for every child in their mother’s womb who cannot speak for themselves.” Representative Beth Lear (R-Galena) adds, “No amendment can overturn the God given rights with which we were born.”
Last year Michigan voters approved a similar change to their state constitution. A recent Michigan poll conducted by the Marketing Resource Group clearly shows “voter’s remorse” for those who supported Proposal 3, the deceptive Michigan amendment similar to Ohio’s Issue 1. It revealed sixty percent of voters who said they voted “Yes” on their amendment last fall, support Parental Consent despite voting for the amendment that stripped parents of it.
2023 General Election results for Issue 1.The ballot initiative won by a 56-43% margin. (Graphic courtesy of CNN Politics)
The poll also showed sixty-five percent of Proposal 3 supporters agree with the twenty-four-hour waiting period to provide women with informed consent, something the amendment for which they voted repealed. In addition, the poll revealed ninety-seven percent of Proposal 3 supporters want abortion facilities to be licensed and inspected by the state to ensure basic public health and sanitation standards, despite voting for the amendment to repeal them.
“Why did people vote for an amendment diametrically opposed to their beliefs? They were deceived, just like in Ohio, where confusing ads intentionally hid and deliberately lied about what the amendment would do,”stated Porter.
To prevent mischief by pro-abortion courts with Issue 1, Ohio legislators will utilize a procedure successfully used in the past. They will seek to remove jurisdiction from the judiciary over the ambiguous ballot initiative. The Ohio legislature alone will consider what, if any, modifications to make to existing laws based on public hearings and input from legal experts on both sides.
“We will withdraw jurisdiction from the courts so that they cannot misapply Issue 1 for the benefit of the abortion industry,” said Representative Gross.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in First Corinthians Fifteen, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.“
SHELBY — Should the Shelby School Board ignore the Ohio State Board of Education and Ohio Attorney General when it comes to proposed changes to Title IX? Should the local school board contradict the original plain language and undermine the very protections for female students Title IX sought to provide? Shelby voters will decide November 7th on the direction they want their schools to go.
There is no doubt some educators are ‘using the bathroom’ to bring woke ideologies to indoctrinate children, but faith leaders think the safety and privacy of students, especially female students, is no laughing matter. A group of pastors recently released an open letter with public endorsements.
Pastor Rick Lewis is running for Shelby School Board for this coming November 7th general election. Lewis and the Shelby Christian Ministerial Association donated framed posters this past Spring to display in every classroom. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The clergy wrote, “Local school boards are vital in shaping the future of our communities. On the 2023 General Election ballot, four candidates are running for two of the five seats for Shelby School Board. Those candidates on the ballot include Rick Lewis, Heather Braun, Carl Ridenour, and Brad Ream.
“Based on his Biblical worldview, our strong conviction as forty-eight lead clergymen from diverse backgrounds is that Pastor Rick Lewis will best serve as School Board Member for Shelby City Schools in the upcoming November 7th, 2023 General Election. Pastor Lewis’ record demonstrates he will be a strong proponent of faith, family, and freedom.
“Presently Shelby City Schools are listed on the Indoctrination Site Map compiled by Protect Ohio Children. Specifically, Shelby City Schools promotes homosexual and bisexual behaviors. With that being said, it is our role as overseers over our congregations and community to ‘shepherd the sheep.’ While our congregations may not be located inside Shelby School District, we may have Shelby households attending our congregations. Proverbs 3:27 says “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”
“Rick Lewis would be a tremendous asset and addition to the Shelby board. He has been caring for the needs of families and ministering to the youth in the Shelby community for many years. Rick has high standards and believes that the schools in Shelby deserve the very best on all levels!”
Pastor Ben Gregg
“Rick Lewis would be a tremendous asset and addition to the Shelby board, says Plymouth Pastor, Ben Gregg. “In the forty years I have known Rick, I have observed that he has always had a heart for Shelby and a passion to serve others. Whether it is as a faithful pastor or realtor in the area, he is an effective communicator and can be counted on to get to the root of issues, and offer real solutions. Though Rick has not served on the school board before, he has been caring for the needs of families and ministering to the youth in the Shelby community for many years. Rick has high standards and believes that the schools in Shelby deserve the very best on all levels!
Pastor Rick Lewis has served as Senior Pastor of Shelby Connect Church for twenty-two years. He also works in real estate with Haring Realty and is a member of the Mansfield Board of Realtors.
A number of the clergy are also supporting local realtor and conservative Heather Braun for the second school board seat. On her website, Braun comments, “In our culture, I strongly believe kids are exposed to too much, too soon. Sexual topics are being introduced very early to young ones, and I do not see evidence that it benefits them in any way. I would like to ensure this stays out of our schools by keeping topics intended for the family at home. Teachers and parents should be a supportive team with full transparency.”
Biological restrooms or gender identity restrooms are on the ballot November 7th in Shelby City Schools. Faith leaders believe Reverend Rick Lewis and Heather Braun will bring stability to the district.
The two other school board candidates have publicly gone on record with their philosophies. Brad Ream does not believe Christians should determine policy in public schools and supports the separation of church and state. Carl Ridenour supports allowing men to use girls’ restrooms and girls’ shower facilities.
Ganges Pastor Kevin Evans says, “There are two board seats up for election. I hope Shelby voters cast their support for both Rick Lewis and Heather Braun. My prayers and efforts have been to see they both get elected. Shelby’s School Board policy pertaining to bathroom facilities based on gender identity is contrary to their biological sex and is nothing short of promoting gender dysphoria. They are constructing a gender house of cards-that is going to come tumbling down-and it cannot happen soon enough.”
The Shelby Christian Ministerial Association (SCMA) and Shelby Mayor Steve Schag have both endorsed Rick Lewis and Heather Braun for Shelby City School Board. In a statement released by Shelby Pastor Brad Gentille, He stated, “On behalf of SCMA, please thoughtfully consider supporting the schools and families of this wonderful city by electing Heather Braun and Rick Lewis. A vote for Braun/Lewis is a vote that represents Biblical Christian values.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible saysin Proverbs Fourteen, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
View the video produced by the Young American Foundation below of the Shelby City Board of Education ‘Meet the Candidates Night’ from last week.(Duration 1 hour)
SHELBY — For some time now, it has been known that the Shelby School District no longer ‘follows the science.’ Under Tim Tarvin’s leadership, the School Administration’s lips were sealed when it came to providing information pertaining to sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI) issues. While the district recently changed Superintendents, the District has tried to sweep the issue under the rug, and watchdog groups are taking note.
Protect Children Ohio Coalition, an organization tracking public schools that indoctrinate students with Critical Race Theory and SOGI ideology, has Shelby Schools on its watch list. One local pastor who believes genders are based on biology, is grateful for their assistance.
Pastor Doug Tackett calling for the resignation of Superintendent Tim Tarvin at a Shelby School Board meeting. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“We welcome the coalition’s efforts. As faith leaders, we believe in protecting children from those who would destroy their innocence and exploit them for their own purposes,” says Pastor Kevin Evans, head of the Shelby Ministerial Alliance. “On the whole, parents are the best protectors of children and have the natural right and duty for the care.” Evans’ group was instrumental in a letter sent to school officials in 2022.
Unfortunately, Shelby Schools never notified parents that students of the opposite biological gender had been given permission to use any restroom of their choice. While the district will not say, it is believed the school restroom policy changed in 2021.
That year, a Shelby female student had an encounter with a boy entering the girls’ restroom. According to a family member requesting anonymity, the student started a petition opposing gender identity restrooms but was later disciplined. After that incident, the honor roll student decided to leave Shelby Schools and transfer to Buckeye Central Schools.
In April of 2022, City Councilman Nate Martin addressed the School Board on its pronouns policy and lack of parent notification. It is believed that one of the district’s teachers resigned over the district’s unofficial pronoun policy.
“We believe in protecting children from those who would destroy their innocence and exploit them for their own purposes. On the whole, parents are the best protectors of children and have the natural right and duty for the care.”
Pastor Kevin Evans
In response to public information requests by Frontlines Ohio, Tim Tarvin stated the ‘district does not make transgender determinations or classifications.’ Previously Tarvin told the Mansfield News Journal that there were “Ten students at the high school and one at Pioneer Career & Technology Center that identify as transgender and that the school district has had kids who identify as transgender for six years.”
The father of one of the transgender students publicly stated during at a 2023 school board meeting that Shelby Schools never disclosed to him that his son had formally ‘changed genders’ until one year later when an incident involving his son occurred in a school female restroom.
The trade secret for many public school districts is to not answer public information requests pertaining to sexual orientation/gender identity issues. For example, Beth Lykins, the Shelby Schools Public Records Officer, would not answer if male students would be sleeping in the same rooms as female students for the April 1st-6th Disney band field trip.
Lykins’ response to numerous inquiries by Frontlines Ohio was, “The above is not a public records request – a record held by a public office that is stored on a fixed medium and created, received or sent under the jurisdiction of a public office and documents the organization functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities.”
Lead clergymen from over one hundred area congregations sent a letter to the Shelby School Board objecting to its policies on sexual orientation & gender identity. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The Ohio State Board of Education declares its emphatic support for the original meaning of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to be a historical and continuing pillar in upholding the rights and opportunities of women and girls, the U.S. Supreme Court also weighs in. The High Court has determined specifically the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right of parents to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children.
Refusing to listen to the Ohio State Board of Education’s guidance, School Board President Lorie White received criticism for her ‘woke policies’ regarding female restrooms and shower facilities. As a result, after sixteen years on the Shelby School Board, White will not be running for re-election. White quickly followed Tarvin’s exit from School Administration.
While Ex-Superintendent Tim Tarvin did not respect families in the district nor their values, (i.e. safety of females) at least he was friendly to his own family. Under Tarvin’s leadership the district in April 2021 auctioned off as a pair, two of its three-acre properties, Dowds & Auburn Elementary schools for the minimum bid of $25,000 to Core Community Church. Appraised at $1.1 million, the Auburn building alone was 37,892 square feet. The lead pastor at the church happened to be Tarvin’s son-in- law.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible saysIsaiah Five, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO– On November 7th, Ohioans will decide if they want to reject legalizing Marijuana for recreational purposes. Ohio clergy are doing their best to make sure the Buckeye State does not join the Wild West. Recently over one hundred-forty clergymen joined forces to publicly stand against Issue 2. If Ohioans vote Yes, clergy say their state will be on a collision course with crime and addiction.
The clergy believe saying otherwise is only smoke in mirrors.
Thursday evening a truck filled with one ton of Marijuana collided into the gates of a Southern California police station. The driver claims he had been shot. (Photo courtesy screenshot from ABC 7 Eyewitness News)
If Ohioans want a glimpse of what legalized recreational Marijuana will bring, they can look to California. In 2016 California voters legalized Marijuana, legalizing the restricted growth, consumption, and transportation of the mind-altering drug. Since then, the state has been runover by drug cartels, runaway hospitalizations, and traffic accidents have run wild. Law enforcement routinely see this, sometimes even on their doorstep.
On Thursday two people were arrested after their U-Haul truck filled with approximately 2,000 pounds of Marijuana crashed into the gates of a police station in Sierra Madre, California. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the driver reported that he was shot somewhere in the Temple City area before driving over to Sierra Madre, where the apparent crash happened.
Both the driver and passenger of the U-Haul were arrested for possession of narcotics. The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment and on Friday morning was being questioned at the sheriff’s station in Temple City. This incident comes as no surprise. The timing of the incident could make it a harbinger for Ohioans as they vote next week.
“If Ohio follows in the footsteps of California for Issue 2 and legalizes Marijuana, our state will be going the wrong way. The Buckeye State will find itself on a collision course with a gateway drug associated with lawlessness, addiction, and adverse health effects. Passage of Issue 2 will ultimately assist in driving our state’s culture off a cliff.”
Pastor Steve Brenneman
“If Ohio follows in the footsteps of California for Issue 2 and legalizes Marijuana, our state will be going the wrong way,” says Ohio Pastor Steve Brenneman. “The Buckeye State will find itself on a collision course with a gateway drug associated with lawlessness, addiction, and adverse health effects. Passage of Issue 2 will ultimately assist in driving our state’s culture off a cliff.”
Brenneman, a former Sheriff, was one of four Ohio faith leaders with law enforcement backgrounds publicly opposing Issue 2’s Marijuana legalization. In the clergy press conference from October 4th, the clergymen pointed to the West Coast to describe the dangers of legalization. The pastors said that not only does Marijuana negatively impact the judgement of its users, it also adversely impacts the executive functions of the brain.
“The American Automobile Association took ten years of data from Washington State which legalized Recreational Marijuana in 2012. They found the percentage of THC-Positive drivers doubled after recreational use was legalized, and fatal crashes involving drivers who tested positive for Marijuana also increased two-fold.”
Clergymen representing 142 congregations are warning Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 to prevent legalization of Recreational Marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“With thirty-four years in law enforcement, eleven as Sheriff, I have seen first hand the devastating effects of Marijuana and how it has torn families apart. Marijuana will not release people from the problems of life, it will add to them. The only thing that will release depressed people from their problems is Jesus Christ.”
“In 2015, Ohioans overwhelmingly opposed the legalization of Recreational Marijuana,” the clergy said. “Now this Fall on Tuesday, November 7th, we encourage Ohioans to do the same and “VOTE NO” on Issue 2. Do not let the Buckeye State get lost in the weeds.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible saysin Titus Two, “Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…”
View video below of clergy press conference from October 4th, 2023. Faith leaders from 142 congregations are urging Ohioans to “VOTE NO” on Issue 2 Marijuana.
The most salient question in America today is, are we becoming a police state? The Biden regime’s brutal and unprecedented political persecution of ordinary Americans is hitting the big screen. The main message of this documentary film: They are not just coming after Donald Trump-they are coming after all of us. Are you next? (Movie is not rated)
Filmmaker and conservative activist Dinesh D’Souza has collaborated with Dan Bongino in a chilling new film called “Police State.” This film exposes a heartless federal law enforcement system that is implementing a two-tiered justice system in America.
“Police State” will be shown exclusively in theaters on Monday, October 23rd and Wednesday, October 25th. Tickets sold only at policestatefilm.net Virtual premiere will be on Friday, October 27th.
“Police State” is a movie that I never wanted to make, because I never wanted America to get to a point where a movie like this needed to be made,” says D’Souza. “I feel like the animal that alerts the herd to approaching danger, so we can take precautionary steps before it’s too late.”
Cameo appearances by former Chief of Staff Kash Patel, Congressman Jim Jordan, Talk show host Dan Bongino, Pro-Life activist Mark Houck, and others discuss how the government is dismantling the basic First Amendment rights of conservative Americans. Telling citizens they cannot not attend church on Sunday mornings or threatening citizens with fifteen years of prison for peacefully assembling have now become commonplace.
“Police State” is a scary film. Not because I have made a horror film using the techniques of cinematography, but it is because America is becoming a scary place to live. It is amazing to see how far we have come in a bad way in just a few years. It has been a free fall in terms of protecting our liberties.”
Dinesh D’Souza
The film highlights how the FBI has shifted its focus from Islamic terrorism to so-called “domestic extremism.” With all the key elements of the police state now apparent in the United States, it is difficult today to say with a straight face that America is still a free society.
“Police State” is a scary film,” says D’Souza. “Not because I have made a horror film using the techniques of cinematography, but it is because America is becoming a scary place to live. It is amazing to see how far we have come in a bad way in just a few years. It has been a free fall in terms of protecting our liberties.”
“Police State” will be shown exclusively in theaters on Monday, October 23rd and Wednesday, October 25th. Tickets sold only at policestatefilm.net Virtual premiere will be on Friday, October 27th.
“Police State” will be shown exclusively in theaters on Monday, October 23rd and Wednesday, October 25th. Tickets sold only at policestatefilm.net The virtual premiere will be on Friday, October 27th.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says inProverbs Twenty-Two, “Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.”
View the movie trailer for “Police State” produced by D’Souza Media LLC below(3:16 minutes)
MANSFIELD — Following August special elections, a group of faith leaders sent a letter to the Richland County Board of Elections thanking them for using paper ballots as the primary method of voting. The clergy noted that voter fraud exists in all forms, whether with voting machines or paper ballots. They say, paper ballots counted locally by hand presents less opportunity for fraud since eyes from both sides do the counting. The clergy are not alone in their thinking.
A poll conducted by American Family News based in Tupelo, Mississippi found people prefer paper ballots. Over eighty percent out of almost eighteen hundred people participating in the survey say they feel more confident using paper ballots for voting instead of using electronic ballot machines and tabulators.
Survey conducted by American Family News
Pastor Les Farley, one of the clergy who sent the letter to the Board of Elections, commented, “Either by hook or by crook, domestic and foreign actors are targeting our elections. We need to be wise about using any electronic system, especially considering the U.S. government agencies have already been hacked at least seven times in 2023 alone.”
This past summer a bombshell report was released exposing vulnerabilities of electronic voting machines.
The clergy wrote in the letter to the Board of Elections, “This past summer the courts finally unsealed a report from twelve months ago by cybersecurity analyst J. Alex Halderman. The report confirmed votes can be altered in Dominion ICX voting machines by malware and that Dominion software can be hacked. Even federal cybersecurity officials have verified there are software vulnerabilities in certain ballot-marking devices made by Dominion Voting Systems.
“Either by hook or by crook, domestic and foreign actors are targeting our elections. We need to be wise about using any electronic system, especially considering the U.S. government agencies have already been hacked at least seven times in 2023 alone.”
Pastor Les Farley
“As lead clergymen from eighty congregations, we do not pretend to be experts in cybersecurity or voting technology,” said Pastor Chad Hayes. “However, when issues of morality and election integrity are at play, we get involved.”
Ten independent cybersecurity experts prior to the 2020 elections found a number of Dominion Voting Systems’ voting machines to be connected online, leaving the voting system at risk. In the NBC News report, Dominion admitted they put modems in some of their tabulators and scanners. Those modems connect to cell phone networks, which in turn, connect to the Internet.
The Ohio clergy say the Republic’s days are numbered if citizens are not actively participating in the election process.
Pastor J.C. Church pointed out, “Looking at some counties and leaders who have gone back to paper ballots for the primary voting method, eyes from both sides do the counting, which gives us more peace about the process.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs Eleven, “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.”
Pastor Dave Rentzel says if Issue 1 passes with a majority vote, existing laws on the books involving abortion, parental consent, and protection of minors will be considered legally invalid. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — On November 7th, Ohioans will decide on Issue 1, whether to “VOTE NO” to defend the life and liberty of parents and children, or whether to enshrine arbitrary and undefined ‘reproductive decisions’ into Ohio’s Constitution. Faith leaders are stepping up and warning voters that Issue 1 will not only include unlimited abortion. They say it will also forcefully convert Ohioans to conform to gender insanity, and thus deserves your ‘NO VOTE.’
According to the language of Issue 1, the proposed right to be authorized into the Constitution is: “Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.” Clergymen across the state are saying this could dangerously impact every aspect of the nuclear family and not just involve the abortion issue.
Clergy representing over one hundred seventy congregations held a press conference at Richland Pregnancy Services on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“As lead clergymen from one hundred seventy-one congregations, we believe the language of Issue 1 is deceptively vague and detrimental to the basic, inalienable, and GOD-given rights of parents and children,” said Pastor Dave Rentzel, one of the clergy spokesmen during a press conference at Richland Pregnancy Services on Wednesday.
Pastor Bobby Edwards, another co-signer of a clergy joint statement commented, “Because of the indistinct language describing ‘reproductive decisions,’ Issue 1 will impose a blank check of abuses to occur on Ohio children including but not limited to: gender-selective abortions, trans-surgeries on minors, castration of children’s sexual organs, harvesting of body parts, and even cloning. In other words, Issue 1 will allow child abuse to exponentially increase while simultaneously causing the influence of parents to decrease.”
The clergy say Issue 1 will enshrine the special right to kill an already existing human-being living in his or her mother’s womb. Drafted by the billion-dollar Planned Parenthood organization, the faith leaders say this radical pro-abortion constitutional amendment will permit the abortion/murder of unborn babies throughout all nine months of pregnancy, even after heartbeat detection and after an unborn baby can feel pain.
“Unfortunately, an approved constitutional amendment is much harder to reverse than laws which can be changed with each legislative session. If this wicked Issue 1 passes, the Ohio Legislature will not be able to modify or regulate this language. Further, this diabolical language cannot be challenged in Ohio’s Supreme Court since the Court is obligated by law to abide by the State Constitution as approved by the voters of the state.”
Pastor Kevin Evans
“The Ohio faith community has consistently advocated for the sanctity of life and also advocated for moral clarity regarding childhood sexuality,” said Pastor Kevin Evans. “With the mandate from GOD, we will not be silent on issues affecting our culture.”
The language of Issue 1 also says “Abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability.” Fetal viability would be determined by the subjective opinion of an abortionist doctor treating the pregnant woman. Abortion-providers like Planned Parenthood, who make a killing off the murder of children in the womb, will be protected because they can claim exclusive authority by defining viability and avoid any form of liability for terminating the lives of babies.
Pastor Evans warned, “Unfortunately, an approved constitutional amendment is much harder to reverse than laws which can be changed with each legislative session. If this wicked Issue 1 passes, the Ohio Legislature will not be able to modify or regulate this language. Further, this diabolical language cannot be challenged in Ohio’s Supreme Court since the Court is obligated by law to abide by the State Constitution as approved by the voters of the state.”
Clergymen from twenty-three counties signed a joint statement stating their opposition to Issue 1. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The clergy contend that Issue 1 is so unpopular, it would never pass the regular lawmaking process in the Ohio Legislature that has a conservative majority. That process would involve hearings, extended debate, witnesses, documentation, questions and counter-questions, and amendments. That is why Planned Parenthood is trying to to deceive voters by making Issue 1 appear as just an abortion provision.
“Voters need to see the language of Issue 1 and “VOTE NO,” says Pastor Rentzel. “The devil really is in the details.”
Clergy co-signers of the joint statement have congregations located in twenty-three counties throughout Ohio. Counties with the most congregations represented: Richland (100), Crawford (12), Ashland (9), Trumbull (8), Wayne (8), Knox (6), Huron (4), Morrow (4), Stark (4).
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Matthew Chapter Eighteen, “But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
View the Frontlines Ohio video belowof the clergy press conference on Issue 1 from Wednesday, October 18th at Richland Pregnancy Services. (Duration 24 minutes)
View the slideshow belowof the clergy press conference on Issue 1 from Wednesday, October 18th at Richland Pregnancy Services.
Pastor Bobby Edwards says Issue 1 will allow child abuse to exponentially increase while simultaneously causing the influence of parents to decrease. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergy contend Issue 1 will bring gender-selective abortions, trans-surgeries on minors, castration of children’s sexual organs, harvesting of body parts, and even cloning. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Kevin Evans asks, “Can we with a clear conscience legitimize an outcome that results in the demise of a child?” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
171 Ohio clergymen are urging Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 1. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergy representing over one hundred seventy congregations held a press conference at Richland Pregnancy Services on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Dave Rentzel says if Issue 1 passes with a majority vote, existing laws on the books involving abortion, parental consent, and protection of minors will be considered legally invalid. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Kevin Evans asks, “Can we with a clear conscience legitimize an outcome that results in the demise of a child?” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergy representing over one hundred seventy congregations held a press conference at Richland Pregnancy Services on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergy contend Issue 1 will bring gender-selective abortions, trans-surgeries on minors, castration of children’s sexual organs, harvesting of body parts, and even cloning. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
171 Ohio clergymen are urging Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 1. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergy representing over one hundred seventy congregations held a press conference at Richland Pregnancy Services on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Dave Rentzel says if Issue 1 passes with a majority vote, existing laws on the books involving abortion, parental consent, and protection of minors will be considered legally invalid. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Kevin Evans asks, “Can we with a clear conscience legitimize an outcome that results in the demise of a child?” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergymen representing 142 congregations are warning Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 to prevent legalization of Recreational Marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
MANSFIELD –Four pastors with law enforcement backgrounds are warning that Recreational Marijuana is addictive, habit-forming, and will adversely impact self-control. Not only will legalizing the psychoactive drug make it easier for organized crime to operate, a large group of faith leaders say there will be even greater repercussions to the culture if Issue 2 passes.
“As key stakeholders representing one hundred forty-two diverse congregations from twenty counties, we support vibrant communities, and believe legalization of Recreational Marijuana will radically disrupt the health and safety of our culture,” says Elder Moe Hill, former highway patrolman now faith leader.
Elder Moe Hill encourages Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 to prevent legalization of Recreational Marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“As the general public becomes desensitized to drug abuse, the next generation ultimately will become desensitized to right and wrong. GOD has provided many helpful medicines which come from trees and plants, but the Bible plainly states there was one tree in the Garden which was forbidden to eat from. In other words, there are natural products that can be toxic, including Marijuana” Elder Hill said at a press conference.
According to an open letter signed by lead clergymen from around the state, the rap sheet on cannabis is long. “For over fifty-years the federal government has classified Marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance because of its high potential for abuse. Whether it is flying a plane, driving a car, or navigating life, Marijuana decimates a person’s self-control. It cognitively impairs its users by reducing reaction time, decreasing the ability to focus, and increasing risk-taking behavior. And if that is not enough, this illicit drug, which is more potent than ever, alters the user’s mind and is associated with Schizophrenia and insomnia,” the clergy said.
Pastor Joseph Yerger added, “As the Bible says in Proverbs 25, ‘Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.”
“We support vibrant communities, and believe legalization of Recreational Marijuana will radically disrupt the health and safety of our culture. In 2015, Ohioans overwhelmingly opposed the legalization of Recreational Marijuana. Now this Fall on Tuesday November 7th, we encourage Ohioans to do the same and “VOTE NO” on Issue 2. Do not let the Buckeye State get lost in the weeds.”
Elder Moe Hill
One Morrow County Sheriff’s Deputy almost lost his life in 2010 when uncovering a clandestine Marijuana-growing operation. Irrationally guarding his 1,700 Marijuana plants, a psychotic landowner shot Detective Brandon Moore four times. Shane Roush was later convicted for attempted murder and felonious assault.
Pastor Steve Brenneman commented, “Issue 2 is bad for Ohio. I was Sheriff when Deputy Brandon Moore was shot and I was at the scene. With thirty-four years in law enforcement, eleven as Sheriff, I have seen first hand the devastating effects of Marijuana and how it has torn families apart. Marijuana will not release people from the problems of life, it will add to them. The only thing that will release depressed people from their problems is Jesus Christ.”
The clergy also cited in their open letter a recent case where one Cuyahoga County teenager, smoking Marijuana, intentionally drove her car 100 mph into a wall, killing her boyfriend and acquaintance. She was convicted of four counts of murder this past summer.
Pastor Robert Kurtz says not only does Marijuana negatively impact the judgement of its users, it also adversely impacts the executive functions of the brain, decreasing reaction time.
Pastor Steve Brenneman shares about his experience combatting Marijauna as Morrow County Sheriff. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
“The American Automobile Association took ten years of data from Washington State which legalized Recreational Marijuana in 2012. They found the percentage of THC-Positive drivers doubled after recreational use was legalized, and fatal crashes involving drivers who tested positive for Marijuana also increased two-fold.”
The Ohio faith community has consistently led the way in providing drug treatment ministries and opposing the use of Marijuana. In 2017, Richland County clergymen representing seventy congregations successfully prevented the harvesting and dispensing of Marijuana. In 2022, lead clergymen representing one-hundred-ten congregations from nine different counties publicly opposed the state legalization of Recreational Marijuana.
Listed clergy co-signers have congregations located in 20 counties throughout Ohio. Counties with the most congregations represented included: Richland (82), Ashland (9), Crawford (9), Trumbull (9), Wayne (7), Huron (4), Stark (4), Knox (3), Morrow (3).
“In 2015, Ohioans overwhelmingly opposed the legalization of Recreational Marijuana,” says Elder Hill. “Now this Fall on Tuesday, November 7th, we encourage Ohioans to do the same and “VOTE NO” on Issue 2. Do not let the Buckeye State get lost in the weeds.”
The Bottom Line:
“The Bible says in Luke Chapter Six, “Every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.”
View the slideshow below from Frontlines Ohio of the clergy press conference from Wednesday, October 4th opposing Issue 2 Recreational Marijuana.
Clergymen representing 142 congregations are warning Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 to prevent legalization of Recreational Marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Joseph Yerger leads in closing prayer at clergy press conference on Issue 2. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Robert Kurtz encourages Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Steve Brenneman shares about his experience combatting Marijauna as Morrow County Sheriff. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Elder Moe Hill encourages Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
A clergy press conference on Issue 2 was held at Mansfield Baptist Temple on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Joseph Yerger leads in closing prayer at clergy press conference on Issue 2. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Steve Brenneman shares about his experience combatting Marijauna as Morrow County Sheriff. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Robert Kurtz encourages Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Elder Moe Hill encourages Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Pastor Steve Brenneman shares about his experience combatting Marijauna as Morrow County Sheriff. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Clergymen representing 142 congregations are warning Ohioans to VOTE NO on Issue 2 to prevent legalization of Recreational Marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
View the video below from Frontlines Ohio of the clergy press conference from Wednesday, October 4th opposing Issue 2 Recreational Marijuana. (Video 22 min.)
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom. When it comes to religious freedom, the DOJ appears to be asleep at the wheel and faith leaders are making a round trip.
Several clergy representing over one hundred congregations gave Congressman Jim Jordan a prayer proclamation last month stating they pray GOD will help the Judiciary Committee Chairman bring accountability to a weaponized Justice Department. They cited out of 125 cases of pro-abortion terrorism on churches and pregnancy resource centers, the DOJ has produced only 4 indictments from these incidents. The cases continue to mount.
Several North Central Ohio clergy met with Rep. Jim Jordan in August to voice concerns over the two- tiered system of justice, including misapplication of the FACE Act. Two area churches have been vandalized with perpetrators receiving no federal charges. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Eleven days following the meeting with Congressman Jim Jordan, a Shelby church in Richland County was vandalized to the tune of nearly $12,000 in damages. While the attack on the church has been publicized and is a federal offense, no suspect has been charged, and a federal investigation has yet to be initiated.
In 1994, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act was enacted to protect both reproductive health services and houses of religious worship equally. Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher says the FACE Act law appears to be ambiguous.
“It is sad that we have these circumstances (vandalism at houses of worship). It seems any person with knowledge could begin or initiate a conversation with a federal investigative agency; typically it usually involves an aggrieved party reaching out.”
“However, in this instance 18 USC 247(g) states ‘no prosecution of any offense described in this section shall be undertaken by the United States except upon the certification in writing of the Attorney General or his designee that in his judgment a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.’ Based on this provision, I am not certain where to point houses of worship, other than in the direction of their respective federal legislative representative.”
“After the vandalism incident last month, our young people have been raising the roof during our nightly revival services. We have seen at least thirteen people commit their lives to Christ and yesterday we had some more baptisms. It seems that as more crimes are committed against churches, the more relevant the Body of Christ becomes in reaching the next generation.”
Pastor Hank Webb
18 U.S. Code § 247 refers to Damage to religious property and the obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. The law says, ‘Whoever intentionally defaces, damages, or destroys any religious real property, because of the religious character of that property, or attempts to do so; or intentionally obstructs, by force or threat of force, including by threat of force against religious real property, or any person in that person’s free exercise of religious beliefs, shall be punished.
The federal law also says, “if damage to or destruction of property results from the acts committed in violation of this section, exceeds $5,000, a fine in accordance with this title, imprisonment can occur for not more than three years.”
Belmont 96 Church in Shelby was not the only house of worship that has been vandalized with damages exceeding $5,000. Christ the King Church in nearby Knox County sustained extensive damages in an incident the Wednesday prior to Resurrection Day in 2022.
According to a Family Research Council report, Ohio has had the second most acts of hostility towards churches for the first quarter of 2023. (Graphic courtesy of FRC)
Pastor Lucian Baker’s Fredericktown church was attacked by a South Carolina man just days before the church’s biggest Sunday of the year. Gary T. Jackson, age 34, walked two days to get to the church and did $53,000 worth of damages. He was only charged with a fifth degree felony and served 320 days in jail with a $1,320 fine. Though the incident was sixteen months ago, the church has never been contacted by the FBI or Justice Department. Church surveillance cameras caught footage of the man and local news carried the story.
Both clergymen are chaplains with the Sheriff’s Department, both have an armed volunteer security team, and both are co-signers of the prayer proclamation for Rep. Jim Jordan. Neither have been contacted by the FBI or Justice Department after federal offenses against their church buildings occurred.
Pastor Hank Webb of Belmont 96 Church maintains the Church consists of people and not bricks and mortar. “After the vandalism incident last month, our young people have been raising the roof during our nightly revival services. We have seen at least thirteen people commit their lives to Christ and yesterday we had some more baptisms. It seems as more crimes are committed against churches, the more relevant the Body of Christ becomes in reaching the next generation.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible saysin Psalm Twenty, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember and trust in the Name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright.”
View the video below of the Ohio clergy meeting with Rep. Jim Jordan
