'Let your light shine before men'

By Angela Wittman

"But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him..." (Acts 7:55-58, KJV)


Dear Friends,

Do you long to be a Christian like the early disciples? Is it in your heart to give your all for God and you don't know quite where to start? Perhaps you have a desire to serve and you need a little direction? Then let me point you to the One who has created good works for you to walk into.

The One I am referring to is despised by the world and He was crucified. He has warned us that we will be hated as He is hated.

So, dear friends, let us soberly and prayerfully count the cost to follow Jesus Christ.

A young man in Pennsylvania has counted the cost to follow Christ and he is boldly preaching the Gospel in his community. His name is Michael Marcavage and he is experiencing persecution for reading the Word of God at a borough council meeting in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.

The city "fathers" tried to prohibit Michael from reading the Bible at their July 21, 2004, meeting during the public comment period in which he was disrespectfully and roughly removed from the meeting because they do not want to hear what God has to say about homosexuality. ( I have to wonder if stoning Christians will be next on their agenda.) They not only think they can thumb their noses at God, but they also believe they are above the law and can violate one's God given and Constitutionally secured right to free speech.

Here are some excerpts from an article that as published in the Philadelphia Gay News on July 29, 2004:

"Marcavage says he attended the July 21 borough-council meeting to speak during the public-comment period about published statements by Lee, which Marcavage believes could encourage more gays to move into Lansdowne. Marcavage says he doesn't want to force gay people out of Lansdowne, but he doesn't want to encourage them to move there, either. The borough has about 11,000 residents. A few minutes into Marcavage's presentation, when he began to read from the Bible, Council President Norman Council temporarily adjourned the meeting, Marcavage says. ..While Marcavage continued to read from the Bible, he allegedly was dragged out of the meeting room by Police Chief Daniel J. Kortan, Jr. and allegedly hit on his left shoulder by Borgman...

Marcavage also expressed concern about his alleged treatment by Kortan. "Chief Kortan forcibly pulled me from the meeting room, threw me into an elevator, and shoved me against its back wall," Marcavage said. "When I asked him about my civil rights, he came in my face and said, 'F--k your civil rights.'"

Lansdowne Mayor Jayne Young says she'll leave the meeting room if Marcavage speaks during another public-comment period. "Yes, I will leave the room," Young told PGN. "I don't want to give the impression that I'm endorsing anything he says, or learning anything from him."'

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Dear friends, we need to stand with Michael and oppose this harassment of a young man who is trying to warn others of the dangers of homosexuality. Please join me as I speak against this unacceptable behavior of the Lansdowne council members by contacting the Lansdowne council members and the local newspaper (contact information can be found at http://www.repentamerica.com/ ).

To encourage Michael during this time of duress, please contact him at repent@repentamerica.com . After all, he has counted the cost to follow Christ and he has not turned back. We would do well to follow his example.

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Published 2004.