| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"desertphile@hot mail. com Desertphile, American Patriot" |
| Date: |
04 Mar 2005 12:26:06 PM |
| Object: |
Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
By Ken Walker
Feb 28, 2005
WICHITA, Kan. (BP)--The capture of an alleged serial killer in
Wichita, Kan., has generated a flood of national news coverage,
including a Feb. 27 Associated Press report that the suspect had
confessed to some of the killings.
However, while most reports have focused on the crimes and
residents' reactions, the arrest had spiritual significance for
members of the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association.
Less than seven weeks earlier, the association sponsored a
noon-hour meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita to pray
that "BTK" would be captured. Despite an ice storm, the Jan. 11
gathering attracted about 150 people.
Immanuel's pastor, Terry Fox, said the news prompted a flood of
congratulatory phone calls and considerable excitement among the
church's members.
[ROTFL!!! --- desertphile]
The community "has seen what can happen because of prayer," Fox
said. "It's just been neat to receive the kind of phone calls from
people who have been calling."
Fox also noted, "I don't think Immanuel will ever be the same.
There's going to be a huge momentum to pray more. It's taught our
church a lesson ... that when God's people join together there's
incredible power in prayer.... Members are saying, 'Pastor, God
really heard us,' and that prayer has helped capture BTK."
Pat Bullock, director of missions for the Heart of Kansas
association, expressed similar delight over an answer to prayer in
a relatively short time.
"We put God out on a limb and I believe that's what He wants us to
do," Bullock said. "I felt it was a little risky to do, but I
still believe with all my heart that when I pray things happen all
around the world. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be
praying."
Although earlier reports had tied the killer to eight murders,
police said they had linked two other deaths to the suspect,
Dennis Rader, 59, a resident of nearby Park City and a longtime
member of Christ Lutheran Church there.
In a press release issued Feb. 26, the pastor of Christ Lutheran
said Rader had held leadership positions over the course of
approximately 30 years as a member.
"We are all concerned for Dennis Rader and his family," Pastor
Michael Clark said. "We lift up our prayers in support of all of
them. The members of Christ Lutheran Church are in a state of
shock and bewilderment about the turn of events that have unfolded
this week."
In its Feb. 28 online edition, the Wichita Eagle reported that
members of Rader's family were devastated and had gone to a
secluded location in another state. The Eagle also said Rader's
bail had been set at $10 million.
BTK -- an acronym for bind, torture, kill -- reportedly killed his
first eight victims between 1974 and 1986. The assailant
resurfaced a year ago when he sent the first in a series of
letters to police and the news media.
Since last March, a spokesperson for the Wichita police said they
had received 5,000 tips and leads from the public.
The week before Rader's arrest, Wichita police announced that the
FBI's behavioral analysis unit had confirmed two of the recent
letters as authentic communications from the serial killer. One
was a letter mailed last October. The other came from a package
located in a park last December by a Wichita resident. Lt. Ken
Landwehr, who heads the city's BTK task force, said the package
contained the driver's license belonging to a female victim that
BTK had taken from the crime scene.
Fox acknowledged that some Immanuel members wondered what would
happen if the church took a visible prayer role and BTK either
killed again or wasn't caught.
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
The outcome has raised an awareness of the need for the church to
be a light in the community, the pastor said. When he got involved
in the prayer effort, some members questioned the necessity, he
said.
"The difference with this [issue] is there's no history of it,"
Fox said. "There's no background of [pastors] preaching on Sunday
morning, calling on a serial killer to either surrender or be
found. I think it tread new water and was somewhat of a gamble.
"But I felt God leading me to do it, to have the meeting at my
church and to lead out on it. Looking back, it was an incredible
thing to do. I think it will be very well-perceived in the
community that the church got involved in this."
Fox formerly was a pastor for 10 years in Corpus Christi, Texas,
and a chaplain for the sheriff's department. Even though he was a
volunteer there, Fox completed courses at the police training
academy and said he spent about 30 hours a week working with the
department.
That experience gave him more sensitivity to issues facing the
Wichita police, who Fox said faced severe criticism for failing to
capture the killer for so long.
The pastor said he knew the police were struggling and because of
his background in law enforcement realized they needed support.
Fox said he knew all along that the inability to catch the killer
was an indication of spiritual warfare.
"Good police work is important but warfare was involved and I felt
like we needed to tackle that issue," Fox said. "They can do a lot
of good things but most of the offices have no understanding of
spiritual warfare.
"We felt like Satan had just blinded the police department from
being able to capture this guy. It had been a 30-year
investigation. When we realized the police needed support, that's
when we stepped up to the plate."
Since mid-January, Bullock said he had continually reminded
pastors and various individuals in the association to continue
praying about BTK's capture.
The noon-hour prayer meeting at Immanuel generated nothing but
positive feedback even though many are not accustomed to praying
about social heartaches, the director of missions said.
When about 35 associational members gather March 1 for a weekly
pastors' meeting, Bullock expects the alleged serial killer's
arrest to be the main topic of discussion.
"It is exciting to us that we stepped out on a limb and called on
the Lord," Bullock said. "Everywhere we went [recently], people
were so appreciative the church got involved."
---
http://lastliberal.org
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"Be of good cheer: We'll live to ***** on the graves of our enemies." --
Edward Abbey
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| User: "jwk" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
08 Mar 2005 09:34:35 AM |
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Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
By Ken Walker
Feb 28, 2005
WICHITA, Kan. (BP)--The capture of an alleged serial killer in
Wichita, Kan., has generated a flood of national news coverage,
including a Feb. 27 Associated Press report that the suspect had
confessed to some of the killings.
However, while most reports have focused on the crimes and
residents' reactions, the arrest had spiritual significance for
members of the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association.
Less than seven weeks earlier, the association sponsored a
noon-hour meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita to pray
that "BTK" would be captured. Despite an ice storm, the Jan. 11
gathering attracted about 150 people.
[snip]
Well where the hell have they been for the last 30 years? Too busy to
pray for five minutes? Think of all the lives they could have saved if
they had just gotten off their duffs and done this when the guy started
his spree.
jwk
<yes, that was sarcasm>
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| User: "Tukla Ratte" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
04 Mar 2005 12:40:03 PM |
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Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
< snip >
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
Yeah, he did such a good job answering the victims' prayers.
< snip >
--
Tukla, Eater of Theists, Squeaker of Chew Toys
Official Mascot of Alt.Atheism, aa 1347
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
08 Mar 2005 09:19:57 AM |
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On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:40:03 -0600, Tukla Ratte
<tukla_ratte@tukla.net> wrote:
Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
< snip >
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
Yeah, he did such a good job answering the victims' prayers.
Like 'he' did those in the Nazi death camps and the Tsunami victims.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
04 Mar 2005 06:45:04 PM |
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On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:40:03 -0600, Tukla Ratte
<tukla_ratte@tukla.net> wrote:
Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
Less than seven weeks earlier, the association sponsored a
noon-hour meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita to pray
that "BTK" would be captured. Despite an ice storm, the Jan. 11
gathering attracted about 150 people.
< snip >
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
"Reverend Fox!"
"Whaaa...who...?"
"This here is the Lord God...creator of the universe...host of
hosts..etc..etc!"
"Yes Lord?
"I want you to get a posse together and meet me at the church in
downtown Wichita at high noon...we're going after the serial killer
BTK."
"But Lord..."
"Gird up your loins Fox!
'I want every man armed with a loaded prayer book and ready to stand
his ground.
'You ain't paying me enough to do this alone."
Yeah, he did such a good job answering the victims' prayers.
This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read.
God summons these people to pray so that He can stop a serial killer.
It boggles the mind.
atheist@home#1554
< snip >
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| User: "Godfrey" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
04 Mar 2005 08:03:29 PM |
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On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 00:45:04 GMT, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:40:03 -0600, Tukla Ratte
<tukla_ratte@tukla.net> wrote:
Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
Less than seven weeks earlier, the association sponsored a
noon-hour meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita to pray
that "BTK" would be captured. Despite an ice storm, the Jan. 11
gathering attracted about 150 people.
< snip >
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
"Reverend Fox!"
"Whaaa...who...?"
"This here is the Lord God...creator of the universe...host of
hosts..etc..etc!"
"Yes Lord?
"I want you to get a posse together and meet me at the church in
downtown Wichita at high noon...we're going after the serial killer
BTK."
"But Lord..."
"Gird up your loins Fox!
'I want every man armed with a loaded prayer book and ready to stand
his ground.
'You ain't paying me enough to do this alone."
Yeah, he did such a good job answering the victims' prayers.
This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read.
God summons these people to pray so that He can stop a serial killer.
It boggles the mind.
Agreed- although I feel compelled to point out that some minds are
more easily boggled than others. These people appear to have been
born brain-boggled.
-Godfrey
"Faith is not a justification, but an admission that
there is no justification. If there are rational
reasons to believe something, then "faith" is
superfluous. If there are no rational reasons to
believe something, then continued belief is, by
definition, irrational."
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
07 Mar 2005 02:36:00 PM |
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On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 02:03:29 GMT, Godfrey <no@address.provided> wrote:
On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 00:45:04 GMT, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:40:03 -0600, Tukla Ratte
<tukla_ratte@tukla.net> wrote:
Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
Less than seven weeks earlier, the association sponsored a
noon-hour meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita to pray
that "BTK" would be captured. Despite an ice storm, the Jan. 11
gathering attracted about 150 people.
< snip >
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
"Reverend Fox!"
"Whaaa...who...?"
"This here is the Lord God...creator of the universe...host of
hosts..etc..etc!"
"Yes Lord?
"I want you to get a posse together and meet me at the church in
downtown Wichita at high noon...we're going after the serial killer
BTK."
"But Lord..."
"Gird up your loins Fox!
'I want every man armed with a loaded prayer book and ready to stand
his ground.
'You ain't paying me enough to do this alone."
Yeah, he did such a good job answering the victims' prayers.
This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read.
God summons these people to pray so that He can stop a serial killer.
It boggles the mind.
Agreed- although I feel compelled to point out that some minds are
more easily boggled than others. These people appear to have been
born brain-boggled.
This sort of thing gives me the willies.
They are terribly distorted in their thinking.
It has to be a form of insanity.
atheist@home#1554
-Godfrey
"Faith is not a justification, but an admission that
there is no justification. If there are rational
reasons to believe something, then "faith" is
superfluous. If there are no rational reasons to
believe something, then continued belief is, by
definition, irrational."
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Prayer nabbed Christian serial killer |
08 Mar 2005 09:20:50 AM |
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On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 00:45:04 GMT, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:40:03 -0600, Tukla Ratte
<tukla_ratte@tukla.net> wrote:
Desertphile, American Patriot wrote:
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20239
Alleged serial killer's arrest: Churches' prayers played a part
Less than seven weeks earlier, the association sponsored a
noon-hour meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita to pray
that "BTK" would be captured. Despite an ice storm, the Jan. 11
gathering attracted about 150 people.
< snip >
However, Fox said despite the risk he is certain that God called
Immanuel to host the prayer meeting. And now, members are
"absolutely convinced" that God answers prayer, he said.
"Reverend Fox!"
"Whaaa...who...?"
"This here is the Lord God...creator of the universe...host of
hosts..etc..etc!"
"Yes Lord?
"I want you to get a posse together and meet me at the church in
downtown Wichita at high noon...we're going after the serial killer
BTK."
"But Lord..."
"Gird up your loins Fox!
'I want every man armed with a loaded prayer book and ready to stand
his ground.
'You ain't paying me enough to do this alone."
Yeah, he did such a good job answering the victims' prayers.
This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read.
God summons these people to pray so that He can stop a serial killer.
It boggles the mind.
Which is why it ensnares the mindless.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
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