This is the first in a small series of articles that will expose to the light the darkness of witchcraft and Satanism in Amarillo.

I have known about weird things going on at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship building at 4900 Cornell for a long time. As far back as the early 80′s when I was an agnostic, I heard about strange happenings there. My first ex-wife’s (there are three ex-wives BTW) mother had several friends that attended there. One of them openly admitted to being a warlock. Most of them were nature worshipping pagans. Witchcraft is a practice. It is an offshoot of an earth based religion. Wicca is a pagan religion. Witchcraft is a practice that emanated from these false religious practices. There are many Wiccans that attend the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Shortly after Repent Amarillo made the news here locally, I got a phone call from a local pastor who had a church near the Unitarian Universalist. He told me that when they were cleaning the church late on some evenings they would see a procession of people dressed in black robes with lit tiki torches going into the Unitarian Universalist building. It creeped out his congregation. Shortly thereafter, he told me that many members of his congregation became seriously ill. He believed that the nearby Unitarian Universalist and the evil rites being practiced there were directly responsible. He asked our group to come and lay hands on his church and pray for his congregation. We did. We annointed his church with oil and prayed for the safety of his congregation. We also laid hands on the Unitarian Universalist building and prayed to break the demonic connection from that place and we claimed the ground for the kingdom of God. The mysterious illnesses went away.
When I was still unsaved and married to ex-wife #3, and by this time a Deist, I attended the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for nearly a year. My ex-wife and I were not saved and were searching for God and this was a misguided stop along the way. She is now saved as well. During this period I learned a lot about the pagans and witches that attended there. I even ate at one of their houses. In a worldly sense they were all very nice people, just leaning heavily to the liberal side of politics. They were not at all happy that I was a Rush Limbuagh fan and we had many political discussions. Even though I was not saved at the time I was a staunch political conservative.
During this time period I personally witnessed pagan ceremonies performed in the building. I also learned there were witchcraft/pagan ceremonies being performed there after normal service hours and some were conducted at the Peace Farm on U.S. Highway 60 near Pantex. The leadership of the local peace movement was centered at the Unitarian Universalist as well.
So, naturally, when Repent Amarillo was began we put the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on the prayer map. After we started the ministry we confronted the darkness of witchcraft on two separate occaisions during actual witchcraft ceremonies. One was on Samhain (Pagan holiday) of 2009. We prayed out loud while approx. 20-25 witches stood in a circle wearing black robes outside of the building. They were trying to contact the dead. Our prayer unnerved them and they never finished the rite. Some of them literally ran back into the building. It is absolutely true what the scriptures said about Christians putting the ungodly to flight. One of them, dressed as a vampire, even bowed to us as the group fled in a sort of recognition of God’s victory over the darkness. We later witnessed to that young man for nearly an hour.
In 2010 we did nearly the same thing with identical results (minus the bowing). The darkness does indeed flee the light. If you have ever wondered where the headquarters of witchcraft in Amarillo is located, well, now you know. So, please continue to pray for the salvation of lost souls there and pray against the demonic rites they practice there. More later.

There was a pivotal moment in free speech yesterday in the 19th Circuit Court in Dearborn, Michigan. I was blessed by the Lord to play a small part in this large battle for our constitutional rights. I was also blessed to witness it unfold in its entirety.

Dr Terry Jones of Gainesville Florida invited us in Repent Amarillo to participate in a small rally in front of the largest Islamic mosque in North America. There were only going to be six of us participating. That was the plan. But the will of God is what happens when men are busy planning other things.

The message in front of the mosque was only going to be about opposing radical Islam, Jihad, and Sharia law in America. Apparently, that message is too radical to speak in front of a mosque.

The six person jury was to determine if that message was a deliberate attempt to incite violence and breach the peace. The prosecutor argued three main points;

1. That this speech was a deliberate attempt to incite violence.
2. That this was going to cost the city money for security. And
3. The rally would create a traffic hazard around the mosque.

The defense argued well ,without attorneys, that they had vigorously denied they were going to burn a Quran or do anything else that would be provacative. Pastor Wayne Sapp pointed out that Police Chief Haddad had put in the original complaint (page 4 part 11) that his investigation had determined that Dr. Jones intended to burn a Quran in front of the mosque. When questioned about where this information originated that he had “uncovered”in his investigation, he admitted under oath that it only came from his imagination. No evidence was ever presented to the court that indicated there would ever be a breach of the peace on the part of the defendants. The prosecution had to rely on the speculation that there would be a breach of the peace by the unknown number of counter-protesters that would show up (or might not show up) Counter protests had already been set up at several other locations around the city. The rally was scheduled to happen between 5 PM and 8PM local time. Friday prayers at the mosque ended at 3 PM, two hours before the rally was scheduled. This was pre-arranged to prevent the traffic congestion.

So, with no evidence to prove an attempt to breach of the peace on the part of the defendants and the mosque being closed and there being no risk to a disruption to their services, that left only one issue on the table. Money. The city of Dearborn estimated it would cost them $46,000 for security for six people to stand in front of a closed mosque.

My testimony for the defense was to affirm that nothing was ever communicated to me that anything provacative would be done. After I testified, a Rabbi from Los Angeles also testified to the same thing.

The prosecution made a disturbing claim regarding the Quran. The lead prosecutor made more than one reference to the Quran stating that burning it was so offensive because that book “was worth a thousand lives”. He repeated that about three times during the course of the trial. It was one of the most anti-constitutional statements I have ever heard uttered from a supposed American.

One woman was ejected from the courtroom for vocalizing her disgust at Dr. Jones calling terrorists killing UN workers in Afghanistan, “idiots”. Several warnings were given by the judge for minor things like laughter from the audience. He did a fine job of keeping order.

In the end, the jurors found against Dr. Jones and Pastor Sapp. The prosecution asked for $25,000 each for bond and a five year restriction from the mosque. The judge ordered $1 each and three years resriction from the mosque and any adjacent property. Violation of this could result in the bond being raised up to $50,000 each and 93 days in jail.

In essence, Dr. Jones and Pastor Sapp were brought by police car from the airport and straight to court where they were found guilty of inciting a breach of the peace at a closed mosque that they never even had the chance to look at, much less stand in front of. They were convicted and ultimately jailed for doing nothing.

I was standing right next to them when the ACLU handed them a brief supporting their fight for free speech. This will be appealed. Lawsuits will be filed. But this was a pivotal moment in free speech. Could anyone, just a few years ago, have ever concieved that you could get off an airplane here in America and be taken straight to trial, convicted, and jailed without ever doing anything actually illegal?

After Dr. Jones and Pastor Sapp were taken to jail I was mobbed by dozens of reporters and several protestors. Those protestors were absolute hypocrites. They were using their free speech to protest us using ours. Is this what our country is coming to? We are worse off than I thought.

On Good Friday 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins. On Good Friday in 2011 two Americans were crucified for sins they had not even yet committed. And the Constitution was crucified with them.

May God have mercy on us all.

Pastor David Grisham

It had been a tradition for quite some time. The Tascosa High School choir would say a prayer before each concert and sing a Christian song every Friday. That tradition is now coming to an end. A complaint was filed with an atheist activist group called Freedom From Religion Foundation. The complaint was most like filed by a former student who graduated last year. I suppose he waited until he had graduated because he lacked the courage to face his classmates after he betrayed them. Kind of like Judas betraying Jesus in the hours of darkness.

The tradition, however, is over as the AISD has decided to put a stop to the practice because of the threatening letter received from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. AISD is also portaying cowardice in this matter. One cowardly complaint. One threatening letter ( not even an actual lawsuit). One cowardly atheist offended and numerous Christian students must be silenced? Folks, God is watching. Jesus said, “Fear not.” That was a commandment,by the way.

Our schools are becoming the temples of atheism and godless humanism. The teachers are being used as the priests. The principals as bishops,and the U.S. Dept of education as the Vatican. God is being forced out because Satan hates the competition. Thank God for the bravery of a few remaining teachers and administrators. Here in Amarillo, AISD has always been exceptionally courageous in these matters. There have been very few of the problems that have plagued the school districts in more liberal parts of the country. I suppose this is coming to an end?

God tests the church. Here is wisdom; God is testing the churches here in Amarillo. Are you truly serving God? Will you defend your own children from this onslaught? Or will you abandon them with your silence? Church, what will you do about this? Your choice, choose wisely.

In the summer of 2009 the Spirit of the Lord led our team to preach on Polk Street one Saturday night. It was a night like any other night preaching on the streets of Amarillo at bars. Some were hearing what we had to say. Some were not hearing us. Others were angry that we were even out there. A typical night of street witnessing.

After a while, I noticed a man standing on the curb alone. He was just kind of staring into space. I walked over and introduced myself. He said his name was Brian. The Holy Spirit put it on my heart to witness to Brian.

I told Brian that he looked like he had just lost his best friend. He just nodded a little and from this moment on he did not speak much. He did not have to. I told him that the Lord loved him in spite of his failings in the world. I told him that I too used to seek after the things of the world, the lusts of fun and flesh, as my means to find that something to fill the longings of my heart. I told him that I made a fruitless effort to fill a hole in myself that never seemed to be satisfied. I asked him if he believed if anyone truly loved, really loved him. His answer was a tear rolling down his cheek. I told him that all my life all I ever really wanted was to have someone who did not want something from me but just would love me. Truly love me. Someone who could see past my failings and my fears and look into my soul and truly love me, for me. And no other reason. Someone that would think that I was enough. Just me. I asked him if he thought that anyone he could ever party with or meet at one of those bars could ever really love him like that. He gently shook his head and wept.

I told him that I never felt a love like that until I came to know Jesus Christ. I asked him if he thought there was even anyone in his life that he thought would die for him. He quietly said, “no”. I told him about how Jesus loved him enough to leave everything. How Christ not only didn’t want to take anything he had but was willing to leave everything He had in heaven and come to this awful world and suffer and die for him. That Jesus was someone who would never leave him. Never stop loving him. All Brian had to do was to repent of his sins. To give up the lusts of the world. The false imitation of love, and accept Christ, the true love that he was seeking.

Brian accepted Jesus Christ that night with tears streaming down his face and he gently sobbed while we prayed. By the time we were through, we were both weeping. He hugged me tightly when he thanked me and gave the only smile I ever saw from him as he got into his car and drove home.

It gets tough sometimes being on the streets. Preaching so often to people who have no interest in what we are saying. So many ignore our pleadings on behalf of Christ. So many curse us. So many excuses for backsliding. It can sometimes feel overwhelming and discouraging. But when those feelings come over me I think back to Brian. I think back to Yohan. I think back to Jacob. I think back to Jared. I think back to Brittany. I think back to all the faces of those who I’ve wept with, prayed with, and spoken with who have accepted Jesus Christ in some of the worst places the Devil has to offer. Jesus left the 99 to find the one. And so do we. So, every night we go to the streets I pray. I pray that this night will be the night I see the next “Tears of Brian.”

Ac 13:6
Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
11 “And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

This Christmas day I find myself reflecting on the birth of our Savior. I find myself thinking on God’s word and what was meant by our Father by ” Peace On Earth”.Everyone from the man on the street to the movie stars of Hollywood to the leaders of nations has cussed, discussed, plead for, struggled for, hoped for, sought for, fought for, negotiated for, and spoken for world peace. What is “world peace” and can it even be achieved?

The scriptures say that there will be no peace on this earth separate from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. There is a very simple reason for this. True peace is not the lack of conflict between men but the lack of conflict between men and God. Those who do not serve God will not fulfill God’s commandment;

Mr 12:30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment”And if they do not love the Lord with all their heart they will not have the heart to fulfill the second commandment;

Mr 12:31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”If they do not obey the first, they will not obey the second. If they do not obey the second, there will never be peace on earth. Peace on earth is impossible without Christ.

God has given us the solution to human conflict and that solution is the person of Christ Jesus. There is only one “roadmap to peace” and it is the path with Jesus. Jesus, however, knew that this path to peace would first bring conflict. He knew that we would have to spiritually fight to get it. He said, Mt 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” The sword being the word of God. Jesus is the living word. Again, it leads back to Jesus.

The birth of Christ gave us the chance to be reconciled to God the Father so that we might use Christ crucified to reach sinners to bring them to peace with God by the Prince of peace. Then the saints would be of one accord and would be at peace with one another in Him. This is supposed to spread throughout the world. A world of saints in Christ is a world at peace. Once we love the Lord with all our hearts we will love our neighbors as ourselves and there is peace.

But the scriptures say that world peace will never happen until Christ’s return. Again, it goes back to Jesus. We, as the saints, are ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom ( 2 Cor. 5:20). Until He returns we are here to negotiate the peace on behalf of the kingdom of light to all those in the kingdom of darkness who wish to accept God’s mercy through Christ for their surrender in this spiritual war. We are giving those in the kingdom of darkness the chance to surrender.

What is the first thing that a kingdom or nation does just prior to the outbreak of open hostilities in war? That kingdom or nation withdraws it ambassadors. It brings its people home and out of the line of fire. That is the rapture! The rapture is God’s withdrawal of His negotiations for peace through His church and makes way for His attack and victory over the kingdom of darkness. The Lord has never lost a battle and this one will be no exception. It is inevitable and as unchangeable as history. For prophecy is history written in advance.

Who will lead this victorious charge of the Light Brigade? None other than Jesus Christ Himself. Again, it goes back to Jesus. This Christmas season, we celebrate the beginning of this victory but we live in the last days and are very near to the end. I cannot help but look forward to this end as I reflect on its beginning. There will be peace on earth just as the word prophetically spoke it. But the only ones who will ever get to live in that peace will be those who surrender themselves to the Prince of Peace and serve Him as king.Do you want world peace? If so, then you want Jesus Christ. Your choice. Choose wisely.

Pastor David Grisham
Director: Repent Amarillo