COUP D'ETAT IN OHIO?

This article was published originally in the November-Decemter 2005 issue of the
The Columbus Free Press. Following this article, in a separate blog , is the membership of the Ohio Reformation board as announced at the launch. That is followed in separate blogs by transcripts of each speakers comments in order of appearance.

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In April when I wrote "An Evening with Rod Parsley" for the Free Press, I noted that guest speaker former UN ambassador and presidential candidate Alan Keyes hinted to an audience of several thousand at Parsley's World Harvest Church that Ohio, with Parsley's guidance, would soon be an experiment, inspiration and model for Christian Nationalists throughout the country. Unfortunately, that section of my article was cut due to space considerations. (The whole piece can be found below along with transcripts from the event. Keyes' hints have now been made flesh with Parsley's new socio-political redemption project, Reformation Ohio.

Launched from the south steps of the Statehouse on October 14 before a crowd of about 1000, Reformation Ohio is touted by Parsley as a bold 4-year plan for Ohio's spiritual, moral, and political redemption, authored by God, envisioned through Parsley, and operated by his hand-picked crew of activists, ministries, politicians, and private businesses. It will be funded by an initial donation of $10 million from RO's controversial mega ministry partner Impact World Tours/Youth With a Mission reportedly making RO the largest evangelical effort in any state in US history.

Officially, Reformation Ohio will stage a four-pronged program: present the Gospel to one million Ohioans resulting in at least 100,000 saves for Jesus; serve the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized Ohioans "of character;" and to register 400,000 new voters who supposedly out of gratitude, reciprocity, or disposition will pull the Christian Nationalist line and help break secular power within the state. From the slick youth-manipulating propaganda – bladers, extreme sports, "culturally appropriate music and art" – shown on the Jumbotron at the rally, it is clear that despite the "spiritual" garnish the real meat isn't spiritual but political. "Ohio is the pivotal state in the heart of America" the narrator of the promo informs. "A swing state whose tilts and leanings determine the course of our nation." Reformation Ohio is meant to tilt Ohio into the Biblical American camp, especially for the 2008 election.

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, greeted as a hero for his opposition to abortion and same sex marriage, agrees. Speaking towards the end of the rally, the gubernatorial hopeful preached, "We understand that it is time to stand up, time to speak up, time to pay up, and we refuse to give up or back up or shut up."

Reformation Ohio and Rod Parsley, who calls himself a non-partisan Christocrat, were braced and embraced at the launch by prominent Republicans. Ohio Rep. Linda Reidelbach (R-21), a member of RO's board and reportedly on Blackwell's short list for Lt. Governor, presented Parsley with a commendation from the Ohio House in appreciation of spiritual revival. Ohio Sen. Jim Jordan (R-12) oddly referred to his university town, Madison, WI as "Communistville" and could barely contain his enthusiasm for Parsley's Biblical "David Attitude" towards contemporary immorality. Longtime Parsley pal Cong. Walter "Freedom Fries" Jones (R-NC) claimed that never as today has there been such an assault from the "extreme left" on American Christian-Judaic values. Finally, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KN), who endorsed Blackwell for governor the day of the rally, and seemed to be on a pre-presidential fishng trip, gave a short sermon comparing Parsley to British anti-slavery reformer William Wilberforce.


ADDENDA: On October 21, Mark Anderson, international director of Impact World Tours denied that his organization was donating $10 million to Reformation Ohio. Anderson told the Dispatch that he wouldn't mind giving $10 million if he had it, but the orgaization doesn't. He said that Impact World Tours is committed only to having volunteers pay their own way to make appearances and speak at Reformation Ohio events over the next four years. He "guestimated" that $10 million might be the cost of putting on all the events in state that Reformation Ohio plans. At the same time, Rod Parsley declined to disclose sources of funding or the amount received, saying the Reformation Ohio board hadn't yet decided on a disclosure policy.

Information on YRAM partnerships is here. Mark Anderson

The Apologetics Index has information on Impact World Tours/YRAM's own questionable activities.

REFORMATION OHIO, OCTOBER 14, 2005; SEN SAM BROWNBACK

REFORMATION OHIO LAUNCH
OHIO STATEHOUSE
OCTOBER 14, 2005
US SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK (R-Kan) and CLOSING
unofficial transcript

ROD PARSLEY:
I think you can tell that United States Congressman is not one who believes we have to check our citizenship at the door of our house of worship. Nor do we have to check our Christianity on the Statehouse steps. (applause)

Like Congressman Walter Jones, Senator Sam Brownback was in town for a day to speak at our Raise the Standard Pastor’s conference. I’m more than humbled that he agreed to lend his public support to the launch of Reformation Ohio. Senator Brownback has served the State of Kansas as well as a former United States Congressman. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1994, taking over the venerated seat of Senator Bob Dole. He was again re-elected in 2004 with an impressive 69% of the popular vote. I think the folks in the great state of Kansas get it. Values voters have found their voices, fixed their resolve, firmed their gaze, and are ready to follow their commander and chief and principled leaders like Senator Sam Brownback.

My first occasion to meet him was in regard to the Sudan Peace Act where we’ve taken millions and millions of pounds of relief and spent millions to free slaves. He was there when a truck was being unloaded with slaves. He was standing there where a gentleman was saying” I set you free with funds provided by the people of faith at World Harvest Church and the Breakthrough Ministry.” A United States Senator witnessed it with his own eyes. He stood firmly with the Sudan Peace Act which is now passed into law. I’m more than honored that he would take time to stop by here today and lend his support to the launch of Reformation Ohio.

United States Senator Sam Brownback:

(applause)

SAM BROWNBACK:
Thank you, Rod. And, thank you Ohio. Are you ready to rock this state? (cheers, applause) Are you ready to change America from here? (cheers, applause) And we need you to. And we need your voices and we need your hearts and we need to say in unison that motto of this great nation: In God We Trust (applause) In God We Trust.

RESPONSE:
In God We Trust!

TOGETHER:
In God We Trust!

RESPONSE:
In God We Trust

SAM BROWNBACK:
Amen! He is going to do it. I applaud this effort. I applaud the effort that you’re launching this day. We need it. We must renew our culture. We must renew our families. And to do it, we must first renew ourselves. It’s one soul at a time. (yes) One soul at a time. (yes)

We need a culture that buttresses our families, not attacks them. We need a society that honors what is good and condemns what is bad. We need Americans that will rise with goodness ‘cause we certainly fall with selfishness. We need big hearts and open minds to see the beauty in others, and we must care for the needy and show it with our faith in action.

There’s an old saying said many years ago, “Use deeds, and when you run out of those, use words.” We’re gonna speak with deeds. We’re gonna speak with deeds and helping those that need help. We’ll speak with deeds that help the hurting that are hurting so much. We’re gonna speak with deeds. We don’t’ need a slogan or a PR campaign. We need changed hearts (amen) and lives. Changed hearts and lives with a desire to love and to serve others.

And that’s what this campaign is about in Reformation Ohio. Changing hearts to be alive. To help others. And with that, we’re gonna speak to this country and to the world launching from here this day. I can see the dream. I can see it happening in you. I can see it happening here. It’s what we need for the nation.

One quick story. A young Parliamentarian in Great Britain-- the late 1700s, early 1800s by the name of William Wilberforce harvesting-- harvesting the revival of the Methodist revolution in that country, led the effort in the British Parliament to end the slave trade, and to reform their culture. And to give a new breath of freedom and life to Great Britain and around the world. That’s what I see happening here, that harvest of souls leading to a changed society and a better world with it.

Will you do it?

RESPONSE:
Yes

SAM BROWNBACK:
Will you get it done?

RESPONSE:
Cheers

SAM BROWNBACK:
Will you find yourself doing it?

RESPONSE:
Cheers

SAM BROWNBACK:
We are counting on you. We need you. And with you it will happen.

God bless you all! And God bless this great country!

ROD PARSLEY:
Thank you. Thank you Senator.

The Bible says that a seed shall be accounted to him for a generation. What that actually means is that if he can get the seed he can get the entire harvest. Are you that seed?

(cheers)

ROD PARSLEY:
But a seed can’t spring to life unless first it falls to the ground and dies. Are you ready to move yourself out of the way. (Cheers) Are you ready to decrease so that He can increase in the Buckeye State and in America? (cheers) Well then, here’s what I say. Sound an alarm. A Holy Ghost invasion is taking place. (cheers, applause) Ready your weapons. Lock and load! (cheers, applause!) Let the reformation begin with a shout of the hymn that has not only called us to war (not understandable) but empowered us to win. One more time. Let the reformation begin.

RESPONSE:
Let the reformation begin.

ROD PARSLEY:
Thank you to all our guests. Thank you for being here. Now let’s go get it done in the name of Jesus Christ. Slap somebody a high five and tell ‘em let the reformation begin.

(Free At Last redux. Rally breaks up.)