Midi from: Heartland/Park/1286

          TEENS 4 JESUS MAGAZINE

          June 1999 Issue

          ONE MAN TAKES HIS TORCH TO WASHINGTON D.C.

          Littleton, CO ~ ~ ~ May 24, 1999
          As you read this, out on the hot, lonely highways of Tennessee, a tired 26 year-old young man is carrying a torch on a thousand-mile running and bicycling trek to Washington DC. His name is Johnathan Mathew Wright, and he is putting everything he's got on the line to help bring awareness to the need for God in our nation's schools. Johnathan's story is typical of so many young people in our time. He came from a broken home in South Carolina. He grew up never knowing his real dad, and by the time he was a teenager, he was a candidate for Juvenile Court. His former pastor, Rev. James Jones of Christ Centered Ministries in Columbia, SC, (KARDJO@aol.com) once told me that if Johnathan hadn't received Christ, he would have been a prime candidate for playing the role of a shooter in the present drama of carnage we are all witnesses to in our nation's schools. On Saturday afternoon April 24, Johnathan was sitting with his wife watching a funeral on TV at his home in Louisiana. This was no ordinary funeral. A young 17 year old High School student from Columbine H. S. named Rachel Scott was being eulogized. She had died four days earlier in a hail of gunfire, and as the fourth and fatal bullet was about to be fired into her, she gave faithful testimony of her faith in God. Her final gift to the world, as her blood soaked the earth, was the words; "Yes, I believe in God!!" She joined thirteen others that day in a bloody massacre that shook the world to it's foundations. As Johnathan watched the funeral, he later said he felt as if God were talking to him. He had a Christian testimony, and attended his local church, but his life up to that point was unfulfilling. He said that when the call came through the television to "Take up the torch that has fallen from the hand of these young martyrs!," he leaped to his feet along with many thousands of people around the world. He said he felt as if something had gone into him, and he KNEW for the first time in his life that he had a VISION to follow.

          As he prayed and sought the Lord, he came to the conviction that he was to take a torch across one thousand miles of America to Washington DC and seek out those leaders who would listen to his plea to allow freedom of religious expression to once again flow in our land and in our nation's public schools. He's out there now. He's carrying a torch for you and me. He told me tonight that he is constantly fighting a battle against discouragement. He needs our prayers right now. Maybe right now you are tempted to think; "What good will one young man carrying a torch to Washington, DC do?" I'll tell you one thing. He's one of the most courageous young men I've ever known, and unless I'm totally wrong, his act of sacrifice is going to inspire many to take up their own torches and run their race! Maybe some will join him out there on the highway. Maybe some will run into Washington with him. He's sort-of like a modern Forest Gump, (without the dumb part) and I know the angels are cheering him on with every mile! Here's what I would ask you to do... Pray and intercede for Johnathan. Visit his web site and fill out a visitor's form. The address is: www.1000miles4.org (This is critically important, for he will bring your responses to those leaders he meets in Washington. The more there are.... well.... you know how politicians are... :-) Write him some email!! Call his contact person in Louisiana and send words of encouragement to him! 318-343-0203 Pray that he will be given the media recognition he deserves, and that the Christian community will make his story widely known. This is ONE young man that is trying to make a difference in the only way he could think of. I admire him for this. I hope you do too. He's going to be in Asheville, North Carolina this Wednesday, and will be passing through Richmond, Virginia on about the 31st of the month. Forward this email far and wide. If you know anyone in the media, secular or Christian, send this to them. Let's make his painful journey as fruitful as it possibly can be. He has such a love of young people, and such a burden for this generation!

          Lovingly with a thankful heart,
          Pastor Bruce Porter Email Pastor Porter

          www.TorchGrab.org

          or www.1000miles4.org

          My Mother received the above letter from Annie's Email Encouragers.

          Click HERE to read our Memorial to Columbine High School Students

          Please join the TEENS 4 JESUS mailing list, by entering your e-mail address.

        Carman wrote the words best in this song.

        AMERICA AGAIN

        George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
        Samuel Adams, First Chief Justice John Jay;
        Names synonymous with the spirit of our country
        Founding fathers of the U.S.A.

        Over 200 years ago they shook off the chains of tyranny
        from Great Britain By divine call.
        Citing 27 biblical violations they wrote the Declaration of Indendence with liberty and justice for all.

        But something happened since Jefferson
        called the Bible the cornerstone.
        For American liberty then put it in our schools as a light.
        Or since "Give me liberty or give me death". Patrick Henry said
        Our country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

        We eliminated God from the equation of American life
        Thus eliminating the reason this nation first began.
        From beyond the grave I hear the voices of our founding fathers plead
        You need God in America again.

        Of the 55 men who formed the Constitution
        Fifty-two were active members of their church
        Founding fathers like Noah Webster who wrote the first dictionary
        Could literally quote the Bible chapter and verse.

        James Madison said, "We've staked our future on our ability to follow
        The Ten Commandments with all our heart."
        These men believed you couldn't even call yourself an American
        If you subvert the Word of God.

        In his farewell address, Washington said, "You can't have
        National morality apart from religious principle," and it's true
        'Cause right now we have nearly 150,000 kids carrying guns
        To these war zones we call public schools.

        In the 40's and 50's student problems were chewing gum and talking
        In the '90's, rape and murder are the trend.
        The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade
        Is PUT GOD IN AMERICA AGAIN.

        The only hope for America is JESUS.
        The only hope for our country is Him.
        If we repent of our ways stand firm and say
        We need God in America again.

        Abe Lincoln said, "The Philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation
        will be the philosophy of the government of the next".
        So when you eliminate the Word of God from the classroom and politics
        You eliminate the nation that Word protects.
        America is now number one in teen pregnancy and violent crime.
        Number one in illiteracy, drug use, and divorce.
        Everyday a new holocaust of 5,000 unborn die.
        While pornography floods our streets like open sewers.

        America's dead and dying hand is on the threshold of the Church.
        While the spirit of Sodom and Gormorrah vex us all,
        When it gets to the point where people would rather
        Come out of the closet than clean it
        It's the sign that the judgement of God is gonna fall.

        If there's ever been a time to rise up Church, it's now,
        And as the blood bought saints of the living God proclaim
        That it's time to sound the alarm from
        the Church house to the White House.
        And say, "We want God in America again."

        I believe it's time for America to stand up and proclaim
        That one nation under God is our demand.
        And send this evil lifestyle back to Satan where it came from
        And let the Word of God revive our dying land.

        For Jesus Christ is coming back again in all His glory
        And every eye shall see Him on that day.
        That's why a new anointing of God's power's coming on us
        To boldly tell the world you must be saved.

        Because astrology won't save you, your horoscope won't save you.
        The Bible says these things are all a farce.
        If you're born again you don't need to look to the stars for your answers.
        'Cause you can look to the very One who made those stars.

        History tells us time and time again
        To live like there's no God makes you a fool.
        If you want to see kids live right
        Stop handing out condoms and start handing out the Word of God in schools.

        The only hope for America is Jesus
        The only hope for our country is Him.
        If we repent of our ways
        Stand firm and say
        We need God in America again.

        The only hope for America is Jesus
        The only hope for our country is Him.
        If we repent ofour ways
        Stand firm and say
        We need God in America again.

        We need God in America
        God in America
        God in America again.

        CARMAN - THE STANDARD

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