The Holy Ghost Said 'Preach Again' By Pastor Billy Ball The Covenant News ~ August 01, 2006
(Editor's note: The following commentary is a Pastor's Letter published here for your edification. When I first read this letter I said, Wow! We need pastors like this in all fifty states. "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." Luke.10:2)
Dear Brethren,
First of all let me say thank you to all of you who have prayed about the circumstances surrounding our arrests at the annual pride fest event at Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta on Saturday, June 24th.
We had approximately 25 men including Pastor Kevin Whitman from Jefferson, GA. and Pastor Randy Bryson from Easley South Carolina. We arrived at approximately 9:00 AM with several men from both of their churches and 18 men from our own church.
We had already been preaching about 4 hours when we proceeded to one of the main gates of the park where they were about to hold a "dyke" parade. The trouble really started after I rebuked some lesbian officers and refused to move to the other side of the street.
Brethren I am sick and tired of being told when, where, and what I can preach. Those days are OVER!
Although there were two people already there on the same sidewalk that were preaching and distributing literature we were told that we must move to the other side of the street. I refused to move and five of us were immediately arrested. Keep in mind that even 1 hour later after we were taken to jail they were allowed to remain on the same side of the street preaching and witnessing.
They transported three men handcuffed in the back of one cruiser. We later found out that they drove to an unknown location and carried on a conversation with some other officers while our men sat in the back seat suffering from the 95degree temperatures with no air. One of our men said he finally had to bang his head on the Plexiglas partition before they would roll the window down.
Meanwhile, Bro. Doug Pitts and I remained standing handcuffed on the street corner as if we were on public display in the sweltering heat for 1 hour without water waiting on transportation to the jail as we watched officers eat popsicles in front of us just to spite us.
The Holy Ghost said preach again. So for the next hour, preach we did, handcuffs and all!! Surrounded by lesbian police officers, God prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies.
Finally, for sake of a better word, what looked to be a dog pound truck arrived already steaming hot, it was solid stainless steel. The space inside was approximately 2ft x 8 ft with absolutely no ventilation. I was made to crawl on my knees with my hands cuffed in the back into the van.
When the doors closed I knew immediately we were in big trouble. The traffic around the park was at a standstill. There was no air. It was probably 100+ degrees inside the van and we were already pretty much dehydrated. The van wasn't moving and I couldn't breathe. I began to yell to the officer that I couldn't breathe and that I needed help. I was yelling as loud as I could to get their attention. At first they shrugged it off and said you're o.k. Finally after I continued to cry out, they pulled over. I simply collapsed on the sidewalk as they checked my pulse and blood pressure. I refused to be transported to the hospital and we were then loaded back into the van still handcuffed. At this time they placed a drunk in the van with us however, he was never handcuffed.
We were then taken to a precinct in CNN center, where we were paraded through the food court handcuffed together for all to see. All five of us sat here handcuffed together for approximately 3 hours. Two of our men had to urinate while handcuffed to one another which the officers thought was pretty funny. When we asked about our Miranda rights being read to us they said "you fellows have been watching too much TV."
At first they said we would not be transported to the Fulton County jail in the van because of the heat. The officer then told me that she had complained about the circulation in the van but she said that no one cared. However, all five of us were transported to the jail in the same van.
Upon arriving to the Fulton County jail, we were put into a 10 x 20 cell with approximately 25 "men of the baser sort" to whom we were able to give many tracts and witness to most of them for the next 8 hours or so. They were actually much kinder than the queer officers. We were released from jail at about 5:00 am Sunday morning. As we were marched out of the jail in hand cuffs, the inmates were "hi-fifing" us and saying "pray for us preacher, and don't let them get you down."
I arrived home and lay down about 6:15. I slept 2 hours and headed to Sunday school. I did not have a clue as to what God would have me to preach, but the power of God was very present in the service that morning. While sitting on the platform, God led me to Acts 20:1. I preached that morning on the subject "And when the uproar was ceased". Hallelujah God moved in!! We left weeping and on fire for God.
We were all five charged with "CRIMINAL TRESPASS" which I have been told carries a max penalty of $1000 or 12 months in jail (per person) Which I do not intend to pay. We are planning at this time to return to the same area this Saturday the 1st of July. Please continue to pray for us and I will keep you updated.
Finally let me say, to my dear preacher brethren, stop praying for revival, get back on the streets, and do what you know we should all be doing. Or at least do something while you're praying for revival.
Evangelism does not follow revival. Revival follows evangelism.
Thank you Bro. Kidd for allowing such a lengthy post. It was actually abbreviated. Pride fest in Atlanta will never be the same in the years to come so help me God.
Now brethren are you ready for this? As they began the parade the day after they arrested us God sent a torrential rain and lightening storm which flooded the streets this Sunday with ankle deep water in less than 1 minute. Approximately 25,000 people were dispersed and pride fest ended 9 hours early. God as always had the last word. Brethren "pray for us".
Sincerely,
Pastor Billy Ball
Pastor Billy Ball has served as Pastor for 22 years. Located 60 miles south of Atlanta, the good folks at Faith Baptist Church in Primrose, Georgia have been involved in street ministry for 16 years. You may contact Pastor Ball here.