The American Church Under The Israeli Flag
TO STOP WAR, IGNORE YOUR CONGRESSMAN, PICKET A CHURCH
     By Editor

Project Strait Gate paid a visit to “Calvary Community Church” of Phoenix, Arizona, demonstrating for peace and justice. There some 7000 members are said to attend five weekly services. Project Strait Gate demonstrated to the attendees of three of these services on Sunday morning November 17, 2002. Thirteen men and women in church attire participated. A devotional service was provided during a break.

The Strait Gate mission focuses on the attendees. Demonstrators face inwardly toward the Church from perimeter public walks and easements, challenging members to examine its pro-war policy in view of morality and obedience to Christ. The question, "Is this truly a pro-life church" was asked often. The congregation members who came out to talk to volunteers think they are pro-life, but most admit the church favors war. 

Project Strait Gate visits only churches that do not oppose war with Iraq or Palestine. Usually these polices have been publicly proclaimed either in literature or from the pulpit, but sometimes the information comes from structured hierarchy, such as the Southern Baptist Convention. 

Project Strait Gate makes no accusations, only raising questions of conscience. If the war boots fits, take them off and throw them away. Free, factual literature was offered. 

Large Black On Yellow Signs Read:

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
DEMAND PEACE
IRAQ? WWJD? (All the kids know this means What Would Jesus Do)
CHOOSE LIFE, NOT WAR.
PROJECT STRAIT GATE, WWW.WHTT.ORG 480 947 3329
(Some demonstrators brought their own signs)

DEMONSTRATORS LEGALLY OCCUPIED PUBLIC PROPERTY AND EASEMENTS ONLY

CALVARY CHURCH'S RESPONSE:

Unlike a previous outing where Strait Gate volunteers were all greeted individually by the Southern Baptist pastor and invited to his service, Calvary Community Church showed that they deeply resented our presence and did everything short of assault to get Project Strait Gate to leave. 

* Church officials claimed as their own what appeared to be public access right of ways to be church property and demanded demonstrators leave on threat of arrest;

*Church personnel caused large commercial vehicles to be parked crossways in front of sign-holders deliberately blocking the line of sight to church attendees;

* Church personnel caused drivers to force demonstrators, including women holding signs, off the public right of way with the hoods and bumpers of vehicles;

* Church personnel claimed to the police the Church owned what was really a public easement where demonstrators were standing, and demanded that they leave. The Church's story proved to be false upon later examination of public records.

*Church officials refused to allow demonstrators to put down their signs and peacefully attend the worship service. When one late-comer dressed in shirt tie coat and hat decided not to demonstrate but to attend services instead, he was summarily removed from the service by a uniformed policeman under threat of arrest;

CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH FLEW A LARGE NATIONAL FLAG OF ISRAEL ON THE LONE FLAGPOLE ON THE PROPERTY DURING THE ENTIRE MORNING. NO OTHER FLAG ADORNED THE CHURCH PROPERTY. SEE IT FOR YOURSELF

START YOUR LOCAL PROJECT STRAIT GATE: 

What better time than the birth of The Prince of Peace to demand peace, and ask that churches Demand Peace. You will find everything you need to know on the Project Strait Gate Website.