Wichita pastor Mark Holick is defending himself in municipal court after being hauled off public property near a mosque while handing out Christian literature.
"I asked [the arresting officer], 'What am I being charged with?' -- and he wouldn't answer me."
UPDATE 9/1/11: Pastor fined $300 plus 1 year probation and ordered to stay 1,000 feet away from mosque
UPDATE 11/22/10: Church supports pastor in court - "Wichita gives Islam 'Most Favored Religion Status'"
-- From "Spirit One pastor arrested outside Wichita Islamic Society" By Chris Durden, KWCH TV12 Eyewitness News (Wichita) 8/30/10
Pastor Mark Holick of Spirit One Christian Center says he was arrested for handing out "packets that included the Gospel of John and the Book of Romans in English and Arabic, a DVD with testimonies of former Islamists who have come to the Lord."
Holick says Wichita police arrived and asked him and about a dozen other people to move farther away from the [Islamic Society of Wichita] building. Holick says he was then arrested for "loitering and failing to disperse."
In an email, Holick says his group was peaceful and he was exercising his First Amendment rights on the sidewalk.
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From "Wichita-area religious leaders strive for tolerance" by Deb Gruver, The Wichita Eagle 9/12/10
On Friday at the Islamic Society of Wichita, the pastor of Spirit One Christian Center, Mark Holick, and others held up white signs with red lettering that said "Islam is a lie. Jesus is the truth" and passed out copies of the Gospel of John and book of Romans in English and Arabic.
Wichita police stood ready to respond.
Officers had arrested Holick just two weeks before at the same place, taking him to jail on a charge of loitering that he believes violated his First Amendment rights. Holick said it was his right to religious freedom to preach outside the mosque. He said his faith called him to testify.
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From "Pastor on trial for witnessing to Muslims" by Russ Jones, OneNewsNow.com 11/19/2010
A pastor in Wichita, Kansas, heads to court today to defend himself against charges involving his efforts to witness for Christ outside a mosque.
The Kansas pastor, who was ultimately charged with loitering and failure to disburse, is no stranger to controversy. In 2009 he won a $10,000 judgment after the City of Wichita admitted it had violated his civil rights when he was arrested for witnessing on a public city sidewalk during a homosexual event at a nearby park.
"It's really good for Christians to see what has really happened to our court system," he shares, "because if you haven't gone through it before, you really have no idea what it has become. But I think it's going to be good at trial, regardless of the verdict."
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From "Minister Arrested for Addressing Muslims on Public Sidewalk" By Paul L. Williams, Ph.D. 9/9/10
Pastor Holick and fourteen other Christians, including two additional senior ministers, did not step foot inside the mosque – - but merely attempted to engage Muslims in dialogue on a public sidewalk as they left the building.
The police allege that the pastor and his followers were blocking a driveway.
Mr. Holick denies this charge by saying: “Of course we never did do that. There would be no reason for us to block vehicles — and they probably have no idea how much I like all of my organs and bones perfectly in the position they’re in right now.”
Previously, Mr. Holick captured headlines by positing this message on the marquee of the Spirit One Christian Center: “America, we have a Muslim president. This is a sin against the Lord.”
Last year, the fiery pastor was taken into custody by the Wichita police for communicating his religious views to gays and lesbians at a homosexual festival that was held in a public park
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
